Truvy Jones runs a successful beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies in the neighbourhood have a standing Saturday appointment. Along with her anxious and eager assistant, Annelle, Truvy styles the hair of many of the women about town: wealthy widow and former first lady of Chinquapin, Clairee Belcher, local curmudgeon Ouiser Boudreaux ("I'm not crazy, I've just been in a bad mood for forty years”), intelligent and compassionate career woman M’Lynn, and her daughter Shelby, the prettiest girl in town. Shelby’s engagement is the talk of the town, but the joy and excitement of her wedding quickly turns to concern as she faces a risky pregnancy and a myriad of health complications. The story is a laugh-out-loud comedy with truly heart-rending moments of tenderness and grief.

Steel Magnolias was adapted into a film in 1989, starring Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, Dolly Parton and Julia Roberts. Several actresses received nominations and awards, including an Academy Award nomination for Julia Roberts and a BAFTA nomination for Shirley MacLaine. In German, the movie was released as Magnolien aus Stahl - Die Stärke der Frauen​.