The Real Reason Diane Keaton Covers Her Neck: The Personal Story Behind Her Signature Style
Diane Keaton’s hats and turtlenecks weren’t just fashion—they were strategy. In a candid People interview, the screen icon breaks down the uniform she swore by: turtlenecks, tailored suits, a big belt, and those signature hat and glasses—and why some staples never go out of rotation.
Ever notice how Diane Keaton basically has a uniform? Hats, turtlenecks, suits, the works. There is a practical reason for all of it, and no, it is not just fashion. Quick note before we start: despite one piece floating around calling her 'late', Diane Keaton is very much alive at the time I am writing this.
The look was armor, not just aesthetic
Keaton has joked for years about her go-to outfit, but she has also been clear about why she sticks to it. She was first diagnosed with skin cancer in her early 20s, and the wardrobe became a shield.
'A turtleneck, suit, large belt and of course a hat and glasses! Some things will never change for me.'
She told the Los Angeles Times (also cited by Cosmopolitan) that she has dealt with 'many skin cancers' over her life. The hats were there to protect her from UV, and the high-neck sweaters were just as 'protective.' It is the rare case where a signature look doubles as literal sun armor.
The family history that made it urgent
Keaton says skin cancer runs in her family. Her Aunt Martha’s case was so severe, doctors had to remove her nose. Her father and her brother both had basal cell skin cancer. Keaton herself was first diagnosed at 21, admits she blew off sun care through her 20s, and only got serious in her 40s. Decades later she was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, which took two surgeries to clear.
She has estimated she has had around 20 skin cancers treated over the years and has said that if sunscreen had been widely used or if she had taken it seriously earlier, the tally might have been very different. She is rigorous now, and yes, she supplements vitamin D since she limits sun exposure.
'You have got to put the sunblock on, you have got to go to the dermatologist, you have to take care of yourself and pay attention.'
How it unfolded, in short
- Early 20s: First skin cancer diagnosis (age 21).
- Family: Aunt Martha’s extreme case led to removal of her nose; father and brother had basal cell skin cancer.
- 20s to 30s: By her own account, she did not research or care much about sun protection.
- 40s: Finally committed to sun care; the hats and turtlenecks became protective gear as much as style.
- Later: Diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma; needed two surgeries.
- Total tally: Says she has had roughly 20 skin cancers removed; believes consistent sunscreen earlier could have prevented many of them.
- Now: Strict about SPF, regular dermatology checks, and takes vitamin D.
The other battle she does not hide: bulimia
Skin cancer is only part of Keaton’s health story. She has also been open about a long fight with bulimia. According to her 2011 memoir 'Then Again,' the seeds were there early. As a kid and teen, she fixated on weight; her mother noted she was constantly chewing or sucking on candy, and Keaton’s own diaries were filled with anxiety about thinness.
The disorder kicked into high gear around 1968, when she landed the lead in the Broadway musical 'Hair.' The job came with a condition: lose ten pounds. That demand set off an extreme cycle. At the worst point, she says she could consume around 20,000 calories in a day, then purge. The specifics are harrowing: she describes ducking out during her relationship with Woody Allen to rush home and binge, then vomit.
Her 'typical dinner' at the peak of it: a bucket of fried chicken, several orders of fries with blue cheese and ketchup, a couple of TV dinners, a quart of soda, pounds of candy, a whole cake, and three banana cream pies. Allen eventually persuaded her to see a psychiatrist; she went five days a week for 18 months. She has said she sees herself as part of a much larger group of women and men who have navigated eating disorders and that sharing it is part of the work.
Bottom line
Keaton’s hats and turtlenecks were not just a vibe — they were self-preservation after a scary wake-up call in her 20s, compounded by a family history she could not ignore. And the way she talks about both skin cancer and bulimia is blunt, specific, and, honestly, helpful. The takeaway is not mysterious: sunscreen, checkups, therapy when you need it, and whatever armor you have to wear to make it through.