The world may breathe a collective sigh of relief knowing that I’m not gracing the streets in wide-brimmed hats, bloomin’ onion skirts and big ass belts. I’m not Diane Keaton–legend, icon, patron saint of individuality. But I’ve been trying to channel her essence presence ever since I first saw Annie Hall on my parent’s Betamax in high school. Diane makes it look effortless; I looked like an unhoused art school dropout. So what is the allure of Diane Keaton and her quirky charm?
Diane Keaton, Icon
In Hollywood (and let’s be honest, real life) women are expected to age backward and sport teeth that could guide ships to shore. Diane Keaton struts around in oversized suits with studded leather gloves looking like she raided a circus ringleader’s closet—and somehow makes it work. She has proven that talent, wrinkles, and the courage to wear pants that could hide a family of four have no expiration date. Her love for turtlenecks pulled up to her ears, and platform boots that suggest she might be preparing for a biblical flood. And then there are the hats—oh, the hats! From fedoras to wide-brimmed wonders that could eclipse small planets. She’s made them her trademark. Here is a tour of Diane Keaton’s hats. I try wearing hats, but I look like someone hiding from the police.
The Art of Being Diane
There’s something about Diane Keaton’s quirky charm that makes you want to split a bottle of wine with her and just listen to her talk. And by talk, I mean that signature Diane-speak: a delightful word salad of “um,” “yeah,” “well,” and “you know what I mean?” punctuated by those nervous laughs that somehow make her more magnetic. She’s mastered the art of making social awkwardness cool. But only for her. If I do that I sound like I’m leaving a voicemail for my ex at 3 am.
Diane has turned her eccentricities into a personal brand—like the way she gets explosively excited about a perfectly ripe avocado. When Diane does quirky, her whole existence screams, “I’m fabulous, and I don’t care what you think. So there!” I’ve been called quirky enough times to know it’s probably not the Diane Keaton kind of quirky, but more the confusing and weird kind. “Why is she smelling all the books in Barnes & Noble?”
Modern Diane: Quirky in the Digital Age
While most celebs are posting their poofy-lipped selfies and caviar facials, the allure of Diane Keaton’s Instagram feels like peeking into your eccentric aunt’s attic. One day she’s showing off her latest architectural obsession (usually something that looks like a concrete block had a baby with a medieval castle), the next she’s filming herself having a conversation with her dog. She’ll post a blurry selfie taken from what appears to be directly under her chin, followed by a thirty-second video of her hunting for her favorite boots in a closet that could house a small Caribbean nation. There are her daily outfit check-ins (always with the hats), random encounters with bewildered strangers on her walks, and yes, even casual beach strolls with Justin Bieber (because apparently that’s just a normal Tuesday for Diane). It’s not just what she posts, but how she posts it: captions in ALL CAPS that read like excited telegrams from your grandmother who just discovered the internet, photos taken at angles that would make a professional photographer weep, and endless commentary on her shoe collection. Young people seem drawn to her complete disregard for social media “rules” – She’s not breaking them on purpose; she’s just being Diane.
Living Life on Her Own Terms
While Diane has admitted that Al Pacino was the love of her life, she’s also living proof that you don’t need the Godfather to feel complete. She’s single, thriving, and out here living her best rom-com-free life. On any given day she’s most likely hosting dinner parties for Meryl Streep and collecting rare photography books. My single life is also thriving – binge-watching Miss Marple episodes on BritBox while eating white cheddar popcorn for dinner–without the millions, without Al Pacino, and with significantly less closet space for hat storage. I suspect it’s slightly easier to live life on your own terms when you can afford a house with ceilings tall enough to wear your hats indoors.
The Takeaway
Diane Keaton’s quirky charm and outsized-proportion style redefined what you’re allowed to wear when you’re 70 (or really, at any age)—proving that personal style doesn’t come with an expiration date and that sometimes, the best accessory is confidence. She’s a lodestar for embracing every stage of life with authenticity and flair. As for me, I’m still figuring out how to navigate my aging single life with my regular teeth, just-okay clothes, and Al Pacino’s new memoir. But if you want to channel Diane Keaton’s quirky charm, the lesson is clear: be bold, don’t care what others think, and take risks with pants. And…well…um….you know what I mean…La Di Da La Di Da.
