Forty-five years ago, Annie Hall opened in theaters and became a critical and box office success — and a fashion bellwether thanks to Diane Keaton.
In the actress’ fourth feature with director and co-star Woody Allen, her portrayal of an aspiring singer in an on-again, off-again romance with Allen’s Alvy became her signature role, earning her an Academy Award for best actress (the film won three additional Oscars, including best picture). Annie’s wardrobe — featuring layered, oversized menswear paired with neckties and bowler hats — launched a womenswear trend that continues to this day (see Elle Fanning’s Gucci suit at the Feb. 27 SAG Awards).
In her 2011 memoir Then Again, Keaton recalled Allen’s encouragement to trust her personal tastes, which led her to take inspiration from how women dressed in downtown Manhattan. “I did what Woody said: I wore what I wanted to wear, or, rather, I stole what I wanted to wear from cool-looking women on the streets of New York,” she wrote. “Annie’s khaki pants, vests and tie came from them.”
However, others on the film didn’t know what to make of the outfits at first. “I remember seeing it and thinking, ‘What is she wearing?’ — probably with some sense of parental disapproval,” Annie Hall editor Wendy Greene Bricmont tells THR. But Bricmont ultimately supported Keaton’s sartorial choices. “It melded with the character, who had qualities of modesty and was unassuming, at a certain point a little insecure. It seemed to be a perfect fit.”
This story first appeared in the April 13 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.
Source: Hollywood
