Now here’s an aspect of beauty I hadn’t considered in too much (any) depth before – can your hairstyle be determined by the job you do? Of course it can in cases where heavy machinery is in operation (well, just tie it back or whatever), but Oscar de la Renta of all people threw up a fresh angle when he was discussing Hillary Clinton’s coiffure in an interview for Gotham magazine.

After saying, “I love Hillary. She’s extraordinary, a symbol of where women want to go. I assume we will have a woman president soon”, he added, “I told her a while back [when she was Secretary of State] she should cut her hair. She said she couldn’t do it then because when she arrived in a foreign country and asked for a hairdresser, Homeland Security would have to check the person out. But doesn’t she look fantastic now?” 

Imagine, the process of security screening every individual who would be wielding scissors and tongs near the Secretary of State’s head was deemed too arduous, meaning Hillary had to keep her hair long so she could style it herself.

It reminds me of the days when models had to be adept at doing their own make-up and styling their own hair quickly and efficiently because there were no such things as hair stylists or make-up artists on fashion shoots. 

Women in the public eye, whether they’re politicians, economists, models or actresses, have their appearance relentlessly scrutinised – they’re seen as ‘fair game’ in a way that their male counterparts aren’t (although they do come in for some attention - think BoJo's barnet - it’s nowhere near the same level.) 

I find Oscar’s insight fascinating – it’s a glimpse behind the curtain, showing the decision process behind the final image that the public sees. Working women have to make choices about their style based on practicality as much as personal expression and when you’re one of the most powerful individuals on the planet that might mean having to fix your own ponytail (scrunchie and all).

And as she describes herself both as a ‘hair icon’ and a ‘pantsuit aficionado’ on her Twitter profile, it’s clear that the selfie-taking, Downton-loving possible POTUS is wryly aware of the attention her appearance garners. What a legend.