The Enduring Allure of a Signature Look
When you think of Claudia Winkleman, what comes to mind? For most people, it's that distinctive heavy fringe, thick eyeliner, and concealer lips that have become her trademark. The broadcaster began cultivating this signature style at just 21 years old, and it has since inspired countless imitators, dedicated Reddit forums, and even a now-defunct Twitter account solely focused on her iconic fringe.
Winkleman isn't alone in her fashion fidelity. Consider Diane Keaton's masculine tailoring, Anna Wintour's neat bob paired with oversized sunglasses, or Dolly Parton's gravity-defying blonde blow dry. These women have maintained their distinctive looks for decades, creating visual identities that are instantly recognisable worldwide.
The Psychological Grounding of Personal Style
According to psychotherapist and life coach Ioana Rotaru, there's profound psychological significance behind maintaining a consistent personal style. "A signature look can act like psychological grounding," Rotaru explains. "It gives continuity and familiarity in a world that is constantly changing. It communicates a sense of identity—you're defining yourself rather than chasing trends."
This perspective helps explain why some individuals form decades-long relationships with their unique aesthetics, finding comfort and self-expression through consistent visual presentation.
Three Women Share Their Style Journeys
Maddy Alexander-Grout: The Rainbow-Haired Rebel
Maddy Alexander-Grout, a 42-year-old from Southampton, discovered her signature look at age 15 when she immersed herself in punk and metal culture. "I fell hard into punk and metal music, and dyed hair was part of that culture," she recalls. "It was expressive, rebellious, creative, and unapologetic."
As a teenager who later discovered she was neurodivergent, Maddy found that her brightly coloured hair helped her embrace her differences. "I was louder, more emotional, more excitable, more intense," she says. "Dyeing my hair bright colours helped me feel like those differences were intentional and that my 'whacky' personality wasn't something to be ashamed of, but just me being Maddy."
After almost three decades of vibrant blues, reds, purples, and countless colour combinations, Maddy cannot imagine herself with conventional hair. "At this point, my look feels embedded," she explains. "It's part of how people recognise me, but more importantly, it's how I recognise myself."
Following her ADHD diagnosis, Maddy has embraced her rainbow hair even more enthusiastically. "I no longer feel the need to mask," she reveals. "I dress brighter precisely because I don't need approval anymore." She jokes about becoming "the granny in the care home with a rainbow rinse," adding with conviction, "and I mean it."
Maria Pike: The Fringe That Defines Her
For Maria Pike, a 57-year-old actress from Derby, her fringe has been a constant companion since childhood. "My fringe has carried me through since I was four years old," she says, noting how her parents insisted on the classic pageboy cut throughout her youth.
Remarkably, Maria's fringe has remained largely unchanged for 53 years, even surviving colour transformations from dark to blonde. "I think it was just a style that developed and I almost didn't realise that the look had stuck for so long," she reflects. "I just knew this was me!"
About fifteen years ago, Maria perfected her signature look by transitioning to blonde to avoid visible grey roots. "Now, when my roots come through you can see the dark hairs rather than the grey... Result," she notes with satisfaction.
Without her trusty bangs, Maria feels "bare" and "exposed." She quips, "I've got such a tiny forehead that it's not really worth showing off anyways." The practical benefits also appeal to her: "I really do love the fact that because my forehead hasn't seen the light of day in decades, I've not got any wrinkles up there! That's a win win in my books."
Even when working as an actress requiring different looks, Maria feels unsettled without her fringe. Recalling a filming experience where her fringe was slicked back for a role, she says, "It freaked me out, it didn't look anything like me!"
Emma Pruen: The Bob That Became Her Identity
Emma Pruen, a 60-year-old transpersonal coach from Winchester, discovered her signature look—a black bob with red lipstick—at age 14 after watching Liza Minelli in Cabaret. "I wanted to model myself on Liza Minelli," she explains. "Annoying, I couldn't persuade anyone to give me a fringe with a pointed centre, like hers, so I was given a blunt fringe instead. I added the red lipstick and voila."
Emma has maintained remarkable loyalty to both her hairstyle and her hairdresser, visiting the same salon since she was 25. When she once considered growing out her bob, her hairdresser Andrew remarked, "We have loads of time for that when you're old."
Her look also held special significance for her late husband, who adored her bobbed haircut. "He'd always admired the 1930s flapper, Louise Brooks, so if I toyed with the idea of change, he'd ask me not to," Emma shares.
Now, following her husband's passing in 2024, Emma contemplates whether to finally try something different. "I'll keep the bob for my trip, but I might try something different when I get back—but it's only a 'might'!" she says, demonstrating how deeply intertwined personal style becomes with identity and relationships.
The Lasting Impact of Fashion Fidelity
These three women's stories illustrate how signature styles evolve beyond mere fashion choices to become integral components of personal identity. Whether serving as psychological grounding, tools for self-expression, or connections to loved ones, consistent personal aesthetics provide stability in an ever-changing world.
As psychotherapist Ioana Rotaru emphasises, maintaining a signature look represents a powerful form of self-definition—a conscious choice to present oneself authentically rather than conforming to passing trends. For individuals like Maddy, Maria, and Emma, their distinctive styles have become inseparable from how they perceive themselves and how the world recognises them.
The enduring appeal of signature styles suggests that in our rapidly changing society, there remains profound value in visual consistency—a personal aesthetic that stands the test of time while providing psychological comfort and clear identity expression.
