A new muse has entered the fashion arena – she might be wearing a lady blouse with a bomber jacket; a silk slip and a tiara (a la Courtney Love) and would think nothing of donning Gucci’s silk moiré suit and kipper tie to visit her financial advisor.

She’s an eccentric; a one off and stands proud as a unique blast of craziness in a uniform world in which we are all put in a box by big data. At first glance, Miss Fashion Eccentric might appear like a theatrical extra or a damsel suffering a touch of Spring madness. She certainly cares nothing for convention or what for others think. On a double take, there is brilliant, optimistic cheeriness to the way she dresses and an intelligent attitude that mark her out as a leader in the pack. Where the eccentric goes this season, we might well follow.

Her kinfolk are a generation of designers headed up by the bearded genius, aka Alessandro Michele the creative director of Gucci. Michele, tiring of style clichés, has re rooted the fabled Florentine house to champion a dizzying mix of aristocratic eccentricity and street-smart individuality.

He is not alone. That slightly unhinged look is at the core of Massimo Giornetti’s new vision for Pucci where souvenir print silks combine with frayed edge tweeds in a compelling mash up. In London, Roksanda dressed her heroine in candy-striped blouses with ginormous puff sleeves and in New York Proenza Schouler revealed an almost pathological obsession with ribbons, ruffles and bows. The eccentric is very partial to trimmings including Tabitha Simmons Edwardian button up boots and a pile up of glittering jewels.

This eccentric spree is an antidote to the considered taste of norm-core and the figure has a long history in fashion. Consider icons like Italian fashion doyenne, the late Anna Piaggi who seemed to wear every trend at once topped with an eye patch and a Stephen Jones hat. Or the English Isabella Blow who had a penchant for mixing McQueen’s theatrical tailoring with S&M rubber. Even at 9am.

There are eccentrics to suit every age both male and female. The 70s boy wonder designer Ossie Clark favoured hand knit tank tops, silk blouses and velvet flares. Aristocratic photographer, Cecil Beaton likewise cut an uncommon dash in velvet lounge suits and a fez. Arbiter of style Diana Vreeland would think nothing of donning gaucho pants with a Schiaparelli jacket for an uptown lunch in 1960s New York. Long live the eccentric.

That the eccentric has hurtled from the edges to the apex of style is a sign of shifting wings. Individuality, excitement, an urge to experiment is what excites us now – a sense of style that does not follow outdated rules. How best to channel that spirit? Try blindfolding yourself in front of your closet and start to get dressed by touch and luck alone. The results, we promise, might pleasantly surprise you.