Entertainment3 min(s) read
The 'serious' health reason that Diane Keaton always wore hats and turtleneck jumpers
As the world mourns the loss of Diane Keaton, who passed away on October 11 at age 79, many fans have been reflecting on her remarkable career and unforgettable sense of style.
From her oversized suits to her signature hats and turtlenecks, Keaton’s look became one of Hollywood’s most recognizable - elegant, quirky, and timeless all at once.
But behind her signature fashion choices was something much deeper than style. The Annie Hall star’s wardrobe became both a creative expression and a practical form of self-protection.
Why Diane Keaton always wore hats and turtlenecks
In an interview with PEOPLE last year, Keaton summed up her classic look simply: “A turtleneck, suit, large belt and, of course, a hat and glasses! Some things will never change for me.”
While many saw it as a fashion statement, Keaton revealed that her outfit choices were also shaped by her long battle with skin cancer.
In a 2019 conversation with the Los Angeles Times, the actress explained that she had dealt with “many skin cancers” throughout her life, and her hats and high collars helped “protect” her skin from further damage.
Her signature turtlenecks, she said, were “protective,” while her hats offered crucial shade from the sun.
Her long battle with skin cancer
Keaton’s relationship with sun safety came from painful experience.
She was first diagnosed with skin cancer at just 21 years old, and decades later, she faced squamous cell carcinoma, a more serious form of the disease.
Speaking to Total Beauty, Keaton recalled how the diagnosis changed her approach to health and skincare. “
Wear sunscreen. You’ve got to put it on,” she urged.
“I had it for a very, very long time before it was diagnosed. I knew something was up, but no one could find it.
"I had three biopsies before they found it, and it was deep. A squamous cell cancer is second to melanoma, and you can die from it because it will spread. It’s really not a joke.”
After her diagnosis, the actress said she always carried SPF 50 sunscreen, became diligent about dermatologist visits, and encouraged others to do the same.
Diane Keaton’s enduring legacy
Though Keaton admitted she didn’t start taking proper care of her skin until her 40s (saying, “Back in my 20s, I didn’t pay attention much… and that was stupid”) she became a vocal advocate for skin health later in life.
Her signature hats and turtlenecks, once seen as eccentric Hollywood trademarks, now stand as symbols of resilience and self-care.
As tributes continue to pour in following her death, fans remember Diane Keaton not only for her Academy Award-winning performances but also for her authenticity, humor, and individuality, both on-screen and off.