Diane Keaton once described herself as “hardly iconic.” But that exact outlook is what made her one to begin with.
Since Keaton passed away on October 11, countless tributes have been dedicated to her life, body of work, and unique personal style. Snapshots from Keaton’s early career align with the aesthetic she was known and admired for. And while the focus is usually on her fashion, her approach to beauty also encapsulates her powerful sense of self.
When picturing Diane Keaton over the years, a few emblematic elements come to mind: slouchy blazers, pleated trousers, statement hats. Gray hair, confidently embraced. A tooth-bearing, eye-crinkling grin. A short manicure on animated hands. As she aged in the public eye, Keaton’s sense of joy was unaffected by the standards and stereotypes pushed on women in Hollywood. She refused to be told that she was “too old” for anything, but she also never tried to look younger.
Keaton’s beauty formula was always relatively simple. The dark, tight eyeliner and a swipe of glossy lipstick she wore while promoting Annie Hall and The Godfather stayed with her through Something’s Gotta Give and Book Club. Her skin went seemingly untouched. And while there’s nothing wrong using injectables and surgeries to hide the natural effects of aging, it’s arguable that doing so has become an expectation for women in Keaton’s position. She became an outlier by remaining loud with her facial expressions—without trying to hide the fact that she was getting older.
