Diane Keaton was one of the most beloved and accomplished actors of our time. Her legacy is also that of a true style icon. Her unique sense of fashion never deviated from the thrift shop chic she embraced out of necessity as an aspiring actor in 1960s New York.
Everyday-wear for Diane was a creative combination of tailored menswear pieces and dainty accessories. It was sophisticated and whimsical at the same time and it drew attention to her years before her name appeared on movie theater marquees.
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Her breakout role in the 1977 film “Annie Hall” not only earned her an Academy Award, it created an unintended, massive retail fashion phenomenon.
The Annie Hall Aesthetic was the foundation of an approach to dressing that Diane Keaton would adhere to for the rest of her life. For six decades, she just reinvented the same basics over and over.
Adopting a fashion formula is not only a practical approach to dressing, it can also create a signature look that enhances your individuality.
Here’s a list of famous individuals who’ve figured that out:
*Singer-actress Janelle Monae has clearly been inspired by Diane Keaton’s love of menswear and manages to make it her own. She merges elegant elements in a way that results in festive and funky.
*Designer-director Tom Ford has adopted a simple, all-occasion uniform that consists of a black blazer, crisp white dress shirt (devilishly unbuttoned), fitted jeans, and exquisite loafers - all, no doubt, bearing his label.
*Author-public speaker Fran Leibowitz wears the the exact same combo as Tom, but she’s never unbuttoned and swaps out loafers for cowboy boots. The effect may seem severe to many, but she’s made the International Best Dressed list more than once.
*Anna Wintour is the Global Editorial Director of American Vogue (and inspiration for Meryl Streep’s character in “The Devil Wears Prada” and its sequel in current production). Her wardrobe arsenal is anything but off-putting - simple sheath dresses (often sleeveless), full skirts, slingback shoes, perhaps a demure cardigan, but it’s always topped-off with statement necklace.
*The late designer Karl Lagerfeld was a fan of skinny black suits that he intentionally overwhelmed with lots of accessories - be they leather, lace, studded, or satin - and usually all at once. His ultra-high, starched white collars bordered on architectural.
*Conversely, Hilary Rodham Clinton made soft pantsuits her signature. They were practical choices that clearly indicated fashion was not a priority, given the scope of her responsibilities.
*Social media magnate Mark Zuckerberg took corporate casual dressing to a new level (or “low” according to many observers). His idea of acceptable workwear was and still is the t-shirt/jeans/sneaker combo (mega-billionaire version).
*Dita Von Teese, the former Heather Renée Sweet from Rochester, Michigan, is known as the modern Queen of Burlesque and lives her life, 24/7/365, in vintage attire from The 1940s.
*Another Queen - a real one - the late Queen Elizabeth II had a specific fashion formula for her public appearances that consisted of a brightly-colored, matching dress, hat, and topcoat. Stand-out shades, some almost bordering on neon, were intended to do just that - stand out in the large crowds of subjects who clamored for a glimpse of their Sovereign. Her hats were essential to keep the Royal Coif neat and tidy outdoors. Many thought The Queen’s fashion formula was a bit dowdy, but I’d remind them that dowdy is easily elevated with a quick dive into the Crown Jewels.