W Magazine cover star Jane Fonda on being a fashion icon at 77

The actress stars on the cover of the July issue of the magazine.

Jane Fonda has landed the cover of the new issue of W Magazine. The 77-year-old fashion-forward actress is pictured on the cover wearing a Giambattista Valli haute couture dress with a feathered cape.

In a shoot, photographed by legendary Steven Meisel and styled by Edward Enninful, the actress demonstrates that age is no barrier to fashion as she models an array of designer gowns, including a revealing v-neck dress by Lanvin.

Jane Fonda in Lanvin for W Magazine

In the glossy publication, Fonda, who is well known for her fearless approach to the industry, discusses her status as a fashion icon.

“I think it’s a hoot that, at my age, people are calling me a fashion icon,” she explains.

“Truthfully, my relationship to fashion has always been strained. When I was starting out as an actress in New York, I worked as a model because I needed to pay for acting classes. But I didn’t have what it took to be a model. I hated all the emphasis on how I looked, and I never paid much attention to clothes.”

Fonda discusses a recent example of one of her red carpet hits - a green Balmain jumpsuit worn to the Grammy awards.

"I took one look at that Balmain jumpsuit, and I said, ‘That’s it!’ I’m best when I’m wearing something structured, with no frills or bows. Something that will show my waist and bum, because I’ve always had a good bum.”

Fonda has been out in force during Cannes film festival, appearing on the red carpet last week wearing a blue cutaway gown by Atelier Versace.

The magazine cover is the latest in a string of ad campaigns and runway appearances by older models - demonstrating the increasing willingness of the fashion industry to embrace diversity of age.

W’s June/July issue hits newsstands on 2 June. wmagazine.com