Jane Fonda says the 'iconic' red coat she was arrested in is the last piece of clothing she'll EVER buy as she vows to quit shopping to fight consumerism in move inspired by Greta Thunberg (8 Pics)
She's known for her flawless red carpet style, but Jane Fonda said that she's never shopping again as she continues her climate change awareness crusade.
The legendary actress, 81, told a crowd that the red coat she was wearing when she was arrested at her organized protest was the last fashion piece she will purchase, although she joked that if she lives to 100, she might reconsider.
The New York-born mother-of-three added that she grew up when consumerism felt like less of an issue but now that she is aware of the damage it's doing on the planet, she will 'walk the talk' and stop contributing to the fast fashion cycle.
Said coat is pretty symbolic too.
The ankle-length wool coverup was selected specifically by Jane because of the hue and its connection to fire. (The name Fire Drill Fridays was inspired by activist Greta Thunberg saying that people should act like their house is on fire when addressing climate change.)
The designer of the crimson coat is unknown, as the star and her stylist Tanya Gill have not yet revealed its origins, but its label isn't exactly the important part.
After Nancy Pelosi inspired viral memes when she was photographed in a red Max Mara coat after a showdown with Trump, Jane decided to take sartorial cues from the House of Representatives.
So far, she has worn her wide-lapel red power coat, which many fashion experts have suggested in a $750 design from Meghan Markle-approved brand Mackage, during two other protests in October.
Jane's impassioned speech was captured by journalist Nicholas Ballasy, who shared it on YouTube.
In the clip, the 9 to 5 star said: 'You see this coat, I needed something red so I went out and found this coat on sale. This is the last article of clothing that I am going to ever buy.'
She added that her decision was inspired by youth climate activist Greta Thunberg, 16, who had made her 'think a lot about consumerism.'
'I grew up when consumerism didn't have such a stranglehold over us so when I talk to people about how we don't really need to keep shopping - we shouldn't look to shopping for our identity; we just don't need more stuff then I have to walk the talk so I'm not buying any more clothes,' she said.
The actress joked that, without retail therapy, she would have a lot of free time going forward.
Washington D.C.-based political journalist Ted Johnson also filmed the moment and posted it on Twitter.
Soon after, Jane was arrested for the fourth time in as many weeks. Her actress friends Rosanna Arquette and Catherine Keener, both 60, were also arrested.
Jane was taken into custody following the demonstration inside the U.S. Senate Hart Building. She has vowed to protest every Friday in a bid to have politicians address climate change, in an initiative that has become known as Fire Drill Fridays.
The two-time Oscar winner was able to walk free after paying a $50 fine the first three times she was arrested, but her last arrest landed her in jail.
Fans: Female users declared their fondness for Jane's now infamous red coat on Twitter
Here’s Jane Fonda saying that her coat is the last article of clothing she will buy. She acknowleges it may not mean much given her age, but it was important to make the statement. (She also quipped that she’ll have some time on her hands with shopping no longer in the equation.
See Ted Johnson's other Tweets
Iconic: A crowd cheered loudly each time police placed Jane in zip-tie handcuffs and led them away
Waving: Jane waved to supporters watching on as she and others protested in the lobby of the Hart Senate Office Building
She had told reporters before her arrest: 'I probably will go to jail tonight. It will not be the first time. And I am prepared to do that.'
Jane opened up about her night behind bars in an interview this week with The Hollywood Reporter calling it 'not great'.
'Well, you know, I'm a white movie star. What are they gonna do,' she said. 'The conditions are not great, frankly, and you have to sleep on a metal slab. And I'm almost 82 years old and I hurt.
'I was in for 20 hours and for seven hours I was in a cell. It was a holding pen. All of the cells had multiple people in them except mine. In my cell it was just me and the cockroaches.'
She added that she talked to the other female inmates she met and heard their stories.
Jane also told the outlet that friends in the entertainment industry including Diane Lane, Brooklyn Decker, June Diane Raphael, Lily Tomlin and Taylor Schilling will join her at her Fire Drill Friday protests going forward.
As well as her newly-implemented self-imposed shopping ban, she has made conscious decisions to help the environment.
She takes the train rather than a plane, drives a hybrid and has cut out most fish, meat and single-use plastic from her life.
