A female-bonding story adapted from the play by Robert Harling and based around the lives of six women who regularly get together in a Louisiana beauty parlour to discuss their lives and the men that invade them. Shelby (Julia Roberts) is the youngest of the group and despite suffering from severe diabetes, plans her wedding and then the birth of her first child like any other newly-wed. Ouiser (Shirley Maclaine) is a bitter divorcee, while Truvy (Dolly Parton) is the sexy, sassy hairdresser.