The Hat Was Her Armor: How Diane Keaton’s Style Told a Story of Survival

When Diane Keaton passed at 79, she left behind a legacy not just of film, but of a unique and inimitable style. Central to that style was her ever-present hat, an accessory that was far more than a fashion choice. For Keaton, the hat was her armor in a lifelong battle against skin cancer, a story of survival told through her wardrobe.
The adoption of this armor began at age 21, following a skin cancer diagnosis. This wasn’t a random health scare; it was a known enemy, as the disease had afflicted her father, brother, and aunt. The hat became her primary defense, a practical measure against the sun that she transformed into a symbol of her eclectic and independent spirit.
Over the decades, this battle required more than just protective headwear. Keaton underwent multiple treatments, including two surgeries for squamous cell cancer, a more aggressive form of the disease. She used her experience to caution others, lamenting her “stupid” failure to use sunblock in her 20s, a mistake she felt had permanent repercussions.
While the hat protected her from an external threat, she fought another war internally against bulimia. This struggle, born from industry pressure, was an invisible battle she waged for years, describing it as an addiction that was all-consuming. Her recovery from this required a different kind of armor: the emotional resilience built through intensive therapy.
In the end, Diane Keaton’s style was inextricably linked to her substance. The hat, her most famous piece of armor, tells a story of a woman who faced her health challenges head-on, with pragmatism, grace, and an unforgettable sense of style.