MovieChat Forums > Klute (1971) Discussion > Jane Fonda's Shag:

Jane Fonda's Shag:

posted 15 years ago by axxellien
27 replies | jump to latest

John Sahag was credited with inventing/transforming the ultimate in stylish hairstyles: Check out actress Jennifer Salt's wicked Shag in Woody Allen's "PLAY IT AGAIN SAM" 1972, & "SISTERS" 1973 with margot Kidder. Jennifer Salt would fly from L.A. to Sahag's NYC salon just to have Her shag trimmed & styled!! Another take/offshoot on the Jane Fonda version was Barbara Feldon' in the 1972 tv movie: "Getting Away From It All" cool!! La Fonda herself sported a longer cersion of Her "KLUTE" haircut in 1972's "TOUT VA BIEN" with Roger Vadim. I have a Haircutting book written/illustraded/drawn in 1976, by New York City Hairstylist, in which He showcases the "JANE FONDA SHAG"!!

[–] axxellien 15 years ago

For a British version of the Shag. Youtube: ''FOLLYFOOT" with Gillian Blake as Dora, 1971-74!! The ultimate in Feathered, Layered Haircuts!! Terminally cool & sexy!!Very Elegant!! David Cassidy wore a version in the last season of "The Partridge Family" 1973-74. Unisex hairstyle very popular with Rocker Dudes!!

[–] AliciaHuberman59 15 years ago

Pardon me if this is a dumb question, but is the name of the haircut a variation on its inventor's name?

P.S. I was digging mine circa 1972!

[–] axxellien 15 years ago

Well, "SHAG" is an olde Middle Ages English term decribing a cormorant, a beautiful, blue, full feathered, large wing seabird that flies the oceans!! Very Majestic!!

[–] AliciaHuberman59 15 years ago

"...full feathered"...

I remember my Dad remarked that he liked my "feather cut" when I got Shagged the first time!

[–] axxellien 15 years ago

Getting "SHAGGED"!! Really, really cool!! Getting "Feathered"!! LOL!

[–] AliciaHuberman59 15 years ago

If I'd really gotten "Shagged", I would have been tarred and feathered! (Mind you, I was only 13 at the time, lol.)

[–] axxellien 15 years ago

LOLOL!! The early 70s were so cool!!

[–] TheMemphian 15 years ago

I just bought the 2005 rerelease of this book and in it's cover photo, Diane Arbus has always reminded me of Klute-Jane Fonda... Shag hairstyle/leather pants. The photo was taken sometime in 1971 and Arbus committed suicide about a month after Klute was released (summer of 71). I've often wondered if she saw the movie and was influenced. I'm certain she would have related to Bree Daniels.

This link may not work, but It's the portrait by Eva Rubinstein, Arbus' student.
Diane Arbus: A Biography
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Diane-Arbus/Patricia-Bosworth/e/9780393326611

"What rotten sins I've got working for me. I suppose it's the wages." -Bedazzled (1967)

[–] cookiela2001 15 years ago

I'm sorry, but I've always detested this haircut. (Carol Brady wore a variation of it, too.) I understand it's appeal to women at a time when they were taking on a more forthright, no-frills position...but it's a blunt look that just doesn't look very good on anyone except for 12-year-uld boys, IMHO.

Donna Mills wears it in Play Misty for Me, as well.

It's kind of...prison-esque.

[–] bill-520 13 years ago

I'm sorry, but I've always detested this haircut. (Carol Brady wore a variation of it, too.) I understand it's appeal to women at a time when they were taking on a more forthright, no-frills position...but it's a blunt look that just doesn't look very good on anyone except for 12-year-uld boys, IMHO.

Donna Mills wears it in Play Misty for Me, as well.

Yes, Donna Mills wore the same cut in "Play Misty for Me", as did Judy Carne (of "Laugh-In" fame) back in the early 70's.

But I would say Carol Brady's cut resembled a mullet more than a shag.

[–] sansradio 11 years ago

Diana Ross rocks one on the cover of her Last Time I Saw Him album.

Helga, I'm not mad at you; I'm mad at the dirt.

[–] zwolf 11 years ago

I agree, it's freakin' awful. It looks like what happens when a toddler gets ahold of a pair of scissors. I even found it hard to believe that Fonda would've been successful at picking up men with that escaped-idiot-on-the-loose hairdo.

[–] SusanJL 11 years ago

Worst hairstyle of all time!!!

[–] I_Love_Hutch 10 years ago

that escaped-idiot-on-the-loose hairdo.
-----------------------------------------

LMAO!!! That was hilarious. If you don't mind, I think I'll have to use that line sometime.

[–] kdk7 10 years ago

Gotta agree with you on this one. It's pretty hideous to me, no matter who's wearing it-- even David Bowie. Watching Klute for the first time tonight, it was just a bit too distracting, and i never really got into Jane Fonda's famously lauded performance (though i've never thought she was much of an actor anyway-- she's always rubbed me the wrong way). Good film otherwise though, even though it is lesser Pakula, the director of some of my very favorite films.

[–] xdayton 10 years ago

Normally I'm anti-shag, but Jane's is gorgeous. She looks so beautiful in this film, and the hair frames her face perfectly. It also was so new at the time, really groundbreaking in the age of long hippie hair.

I think the real problem came later with the feathering, when people feathered the sides of the shag back and then glued it into place with hairspray.

Then again, I like Keith Partridge's shag too. Sometimes those flowing locks just worked in the early '70s. I so wanted one.

[–] kaskait 11 years ago

It was an ugly, ugly hairstyle.

Straight long hair was more in style in the city then. Why did they have to saddle Fonda with such awful hair?

[–] cinles 10 years ago

The only thing wrong with this hairstyle is the same with all layered hairstyles - the growing out part. If this haircut was cut properly, like Jane Fonda in this movie or Donna Mills in Play Misty for Me, it was beautiful. But it was a hard cut to get right. Mrs Brady's haircut was a mullet.

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] oscarunger 10 years ago

I love the haircut, hope it comes back! - could be that I love the era though (-: (yeah mrs bradys was a mullet, and not a good one)

[–] puplover 10 years ago

I thought she looked fantastic in that cut. Between her hair and her clothes, she looked utterly sexy and cool. I would love to dress like that.

[–] AnaElisa 10 years ago

I did dress like that...the midi-length skirts, the boots, the shoulder bag. What a terrific look. And, for a number of years in the 70's, I sported the shag hair style, too. I didn't look as lovely as Fonda, but it all seemed to work well for me.

While I no longer have the shag, I still often have that same style of dress...the longish skirts, boots, etc. It really is a timeless and classic look, and it still works for me.

-AnaElisa

[–] j72coburger 10 years ago

I just saw this movie for the first time yesterday. I kept teetering between liking and not liking the hairstyle. Finally I realized that I would have liked it better if it were longer and slightly modified. Jane Fonda has great hair though, and the layers always fell into place perfectly.

Several years ago I read an offhand comment that after Klute was released, women everywhere went out and got this cut. I can only imagine how what a disaster it must have been for some women. Your hair really has to be the right texture for this style.

Whadda ya hear, whadda ya say!

[–] oscarunger 10 years ago

the "Rachel" of its day (-{

[–] iluvmytxkids 9 years ago

I love the hairstyle and think Miss Fonda looks gorgeous in the film. It frames her face perfectly.