Marlo Thomas

NEW YORK — Feminist actress, author and activist Marlo Thomas hopes to empower women with clothes.

Thomas is debuting her ready-to-wear and accessories collection for HSN called “That Woman” targeting older women with clothes in vivid colors and nice fabrics.

“I’m really trying to create a closet for women,” said Thomas, 79, of the 15-piece collection. “You put it together your way. You can mix and match it anyway you want to do it.”

Thomas helped smash gender stereotypes with her “Free To Be ...” children’s entertainment series and joined Gloria Steinem to fight for the Equal Rights Amendment. She said her spirit — if not her body — will be with the women marching in Washington Saturday to demand a stronger voice in society.

“I don’t know if you need me in the political arena right now. ... I will always fight for those rights, but I don’t think I need to right now,” she said.

Instead, she’s taking the long view that her clothes can spark strength in every woman who wears them, from XS to 3X. “A lot of it is about feeling confident,” she said. “Confidence begets hope.”

The collection includes dresses, tops, pants, skirts, dusters and two pieces of jewelry. Prices range from $39.90 for a heart choker to $169.90 for a perforated moto jacket. The line’s label is a play on her 1960s show “That Girl,” the first sitcom to portray an independent young woman.

Thomas said she got the idea to design the line after meeting many older women who “want to get back into the action and they’re not quite sure how to do it.” They told her they wanted to know how to dress for an interview or what to wear on the job.