Seldom will the clothes a man has worn change the course of film history but that’s something Diane Keaton accomplished while giving the world some of its most indelible performances. It’s a loss that gives pause when it’s learned that she’s gone aged 79. This leaves a body of work and cultural impact that span a half-century-plus lifetime that has provoked generations of film aficionados, style aficionados and artists.
1. Annie Hall and the Making of a Cultural Icon
In Woody Allen’s 1977 film Annie Hall, Keaton did not simply portray the lead role but injected a dash of personal style, from bowlers to oversized men’s coats. Woody Allen, the character’s screenwriter for the film, asked Keaton to bring pieces from her own clothes and merge them with old pieces and separates by Ralph Lauren. Costume designer Ruth Morley characterized the style as that of “a girl that didn’t quite know who she was” but complimented it for its “originality” and creativity. The end result was a performance that made Keaton receive the Academy Award for Best Actress and a style that remains a designer’s source of inspiration to date.
2. The Quiet Strength of Godfather
In playing Kay Adams Corleone in The Godfather Parts I and II, Keaton brought to life the trilogy’s only fully realized female character. Her performance built to its emotional peak in the second film, when Kay confronts Michael Corleone for his lies and nastiness and tells him she will never again bring a Corleone into the world. This scene remains a testament to this ability to play vulnerability and toughness.
3. Versatility Across Decades
From the business farce Baby Boom to the love romps of Something’s Gotta Give, Keaton showed that she could evolve with shifting tastes yet maintain her charm. She received four Academy Award nominations once winning for Annie Hall and co-starred with icons such as Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep, and Morgan Freeman. Her later projects, such as Book Club and Summer Camp, appealed to audiences looking for tales of love, friendship, and midlife reinvention.
4. Lesser-Known Directional Works
Keaton’s talents went beyond acting. She also directed several episodes of the show Twin Peaks and China Beach, and a succession of music videos by Belinda Carlisle, such as “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” and “I Get Weak.” Carlisle labelled her “kind and eccentric” and summed up her contribution to the look of those successes.
5. Fashion as Self-Expression
Keaton’s look was as unique as her voice. Predisposed early by the thrift store excursions of her mother, she mixed menswear tailoring and fun-accessorizing to create a signature style that accompanied her from red carpets to sound stages. Ralph Lauren penned the words “Annie’s style was Diane’s style. She was authentic, unique and full of heart,” when describing the style icon. Her hats, belts, and glasses were mere accessories but a part of her identity.
6. Resilience and Personal Meaning
Her love for hats also played a protective function. Diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma when she was 21 and later diagnosed with squamous cell cancer, Keaton learned sun protective principles while in mid-40s. Her personal history dictated style choices such that style played a function of self-protection.
7. Impact Upon Hollywood Women’s Roles
Keaton’s career reflected the change in the role of the woman in films. During the 1970s, she played complicated, imperfect, and identity-seeking characters. During the 2000s, she played women that were self-assured, independent, and unconditionally themselves. Her characters frequently developed strength throughout their films and encouraged the audience towards the acceptance of spontaneity.
8. Tributes and Public Memory
The news of her passing drew tributes from every corner of the industry. Pink called her “a muse for me in every way” for the wit, the humor, the charm. “One of a kind” was the way that Ralph Lauren characterized Keaton, while Thom Browne opined simply that “There was no one that did it like her.” This will be the way the larger world will remember Keaton not merely as a performer, but a cultural icon.
9. A Legacy of Authenticity
On screen or off screen in a tightly fitted suit, Keaton personified the notion that substance and style are compatible. She portrayed women who either started strong or found their strength so that the audience exited the theater with characters that felt realistic, recognizable, and goals-oriented. Her apparel and performances went hand in hand and increased the impact of the other so that together they developed a legacy that will have influence for generations to come.
