Diane Keaton on Her Black & White Aesthetic (and Cary Grant)
Diane Keaton — known for films like Annie Hall, Book Club, Because I Said So, 5 Flights Up, and more — has been acting in major blockbuster films for over four decades. And though her film portfolio is quite impressive, she’s also well known for her signature aesthetic.
No one rocks black and white quite like Diane Keaton, and the actor has managed to claim the coveted title “style icon” as a result. So, what is behind her look? Why does Keaton love black and white so much?
Diane Keaton talked to Ellen DeGeneres about her look a few years back
When speaking about finding her own style, Keaton told DeGeneres:
“As early as age 15, I already knew that I was living in black and white. I love black and white, and I was in love with Cary Grant. And, in fact, I named my daughter C.K. Dexter Haven after Carrie Grant in the Philadelphia story…”
Keaton looked up to Grant and his style, explaining to DeGeneres that he had “these horn-rimmed glasses, and he was just the epitome of style…he was the one who said clothes make the man…”
Keaton explained to DeGeneres that she has always been drawn to a black and white color palette, and Grant helped her define that look.
Keaton once said that her fashion is ‘protective’
During an interview with InStyle, Keaton explained that her style is more protective than it is empowering. She shared:
“Yes, it’s very protective. It hides a multitude of sins. Flaws, anxiety — things like that. I would not feel comfortable in a short skirt or something cut off with my arms hanging out there. And I’ve always liked hats. They just frame a head. But, of course, nobody really thinks they’re as great as I do. And, you know, hats also protect you from the sun — I’ve had so many skin cancers.”
Keaton said that different public personalities often have different signature pieces — items that define their look, and are essential to their wardrobea. Keaton said she is the “master of the hats…” She shared:
“I was watching Karl Lagerfeld, and now he’s no longer with us, which is a shame, but, gradually, what happened with time was he looked just like this [points to the turtleneck she is wearing with elongated sleeves covering her hands]. He wore gloves. But I’m the master of the hats.”
Keaton | InStyle
Keaton may view herself as the “master of the hats,” but to her fans, she is much more — she is the master of owning a look and sticking to it. She is the master of finding a wardrobe that acts as an impenetrable armor.
