Gloria Steinem's Signature Style Was An Intentional Facet Of Her Feminist Work

Gloria Steinem, who passed away at the age of 92 on September 2, 2026, was many things: co-founder of "Ms." magazine, second-wave feminist icon, and even stepmother to Christian Bale. (Who knew?) She was also, throughout her life, a serious fashionista. Some may believe such a passion is necessarily at odds with a dedication to feminism, and Steinem certainly had many critics who questioned her focus on fashion, but she viewed her style as an extension of her activism, not a conflict of interest. Gloria Steinem's beauty philosophy went hand-in-hand with her feminist ideals, and so did her approach to fashion.

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"Fashion in the past meant conforming and losing oneself," Steinem pointed out in the 2011 HBO documentary about her life, "Gloria: In Her Own Words," but "fashion in the present means being unique and finding oneself," she continued. For Steinem, that came to mean a "power outfit" (above) that often included a fitted Henley shirt, flared jeans, a low-slung belt, funky jewelry, and a rotating collection of political badges and buttons, topped with her iconic aviator glasses and highlighted hair teased to the sky. There was a purpose to her style beyond expression and confidence, however. "She made it okay to be attractive and to be a feminist," friend and designer Diane von Furstenberg told Glamour.

Every capsule wardrobe enthusiast knows there's room for mixing and matching even within the most limited wardrobe, and Gloria Steinem definitely didn't stick too strictly to her "uniform" in the '60s and '70s. She often swapped the Henley for a polo shirt or a sweater, and she had an enviable collection of belts. When it came to accessories, she preferred "something that's Native American or Indian, or something that has a resonance from the past before patriarchy came along," she told Lena Dunham for Elle in 2015. Another favorite outfit formula was miniskirts and knee-high boots.

In the '80s and '90s, however, as Steinem moved through her forties and fifties, she leaned into her glamour girl era. She was frequently photographed out on the town at film premieres, fundraising galas, and at least one Cher party in all manner of feathers, fur, sequins, and gowns fit for a movie star. Over the 2000s and beyond, she found a way to marry the two looks. The sequins stayed, and a bit of fur, but she was back in sweaters and flares when she appeared at award shows and benefits, plus her signature multicultural accessories. Just like Gloria Steinem's take on aging with confidence, her style only got better — and more meaningful — with time.