What’s your Signature

I like to think that we all have something that is our signature. As unique as each of us, something that is so quintessentially us, even if those around us, or even ourselves, aren’t aware of it. Maybe it’s the way you walk, the specific pen that you use, which shoulder you have your bag on, the bag that is uniquely yours that someone may recognise you from. It could even be an unusual quirk that most people look oddly at. You might have one, you might have several, you might think you have none at all – but I like to believe we all have one, somewhere.

Mine is the simple scrunchie. My preferred hair accessory that I only discovered in the past few years, this small elastic; fabric creation has become a signature piece of me, my form of self-expression; being my true authentic self. Such a minor addition to my day, a scrunchie has proudly accompanied my every outfit for the past few years, from your everyday casual look, to the special occasion; extravagant pieces. Simple, subtle, yet signature.

I distinctly remember my first scrunchie; a scarlet red piece, drawn from a large plastic jar filled with similar pieces at The Other Palace Theatre in London, the then home of Heathers The Musical. For a long time treated as stardust, this silky accessory found its purpose only once per year, completing the fierce façade of Heather Chandler at Halloween. Yet it lived, as one might expect, within my hair, a role which was soon to become, unusually for a scrunchie, its secondary purpose.

I wrote recently about my love for my hair; as it continued to grow, yearn for decoration, I needed something more substantial to tame my new locks. Having come out of my ponytail phase, emerging the second my hair was long enough to be put into one, a hairband was no longer going to cut it. So what was I to do? I needed something that would be able to hold my hair when I needed it up, give it a newfound flair and yet would still be stylish when not being used…

Since discovering my love of scrunchies, I no longer go anywhere without them.

Completing my every outfit and style, I have amassed a large collection, complete with different colours, shades, materials, styles and moods to fit any occasion, some bought or chosen by the people that I love the most, some with beautiful memories weaved into their stitching, that bring me so much unbridled joy, but not only when in my hair. My signature accessory now more often lives on my left wrist, a space free from bracelets and other jewellery to allow it to pop yet still jumping to form that pretty ponytail when it’s time to get to work.

The scrunchie, a part of every girl’s childhood that many leave behind, is now one of my most defining features. A rainbow of expressionism that is bright and proud no matter how the girl wearing it may be feeling that day. A colourful scrunchie on my left wrist is my signature – what’s yours?

Written by, Sophie Layton (she/her)