Her style: Androgynous, minimalist, alien

This poised Scottish thespian is as daring and eccentric in her style choices as she is in her artistic roles. When she isn't stupefying audiences with modern performance art and complex indie film characters, she's gracing red carpets and photo spreads in futuristic, clean-lined ensembles by designers like Haider Ackermann, Lanvin and Jil Sander.

So what inspires Swinton's distinctive, gender-bending aesthetic? Her dismissal of conventional beauty started early. She told W Magazine, "Being beautiful was never really something I associated with people I knew -- certainly not girls. Boys, maybe. Horses, yes. And certainly my great-grandmother Elsie Swinton, whose imperial grandeur was like a watermark."

As Swinton's career has grown, so has her reputation as an unapologetic style icon. Think: slender, monochromatic pantsuits, sheet-like gowns and slick, bare makeup.

Photograph courtesy of Vogue

Her style: Surreal, rebellious, Victorian-punk

This fiery-haired English designer has lived many lives in her 74 years. Jewelry maker, costumer for the Sex Pistols and haute couture designer have been just a few of her myriad titles.

In the '70s and '80s, Westwood helped pioneer the aesthetic of modern punk rock and New Wave music, and we have her to thank for the mini crinis and frayed tulle that continue to define punk style. Today, the anti-establishment legend herself is rarely seen without several bold pieces of metallic jewelry, a voluminous silhouette and her signature shock of orange hair.

Photograph courtesy of Spinning Bird Kick

Her style: Bright, tailored, regal

Likened by many to Jackie O, the First Lady has established a trademark style over the years that includes bright colors and patterns, paired with feminine, tailored silhouettes. Style experts say it's this consistency that has allowed Michelle Obama to create an aesthetic that everyday women can recognize and relate to.

"She has taught us the importance of defining your dress code, the importance of developing a signature style that works for you," says Essence Editor-at-Large Mikki Taylor, author of "Commander-in-Chic: Every Woman's Guide to Managing Her Wardrobe Like a First Lady." "She made cardigans, which she owns in a rainbow of hues, youthful. She made sheath dresses fresh and revived the kitten heel.... She likes to mix classics with a twist." Think: Rocking an unexpected belt with a printed dress or a fun pair of bright suede pumps.

Photograph courtesy of Vogue

Her style: Playful, dapper, menswear-inspired

It all started with 1977's "Annie Hall," where Diane Keaton inspired women everywhere with her high-waisted trousers, neckties and bowler hats to transcend traditionally feminine style. Since then, the Oscar-winning actress' fashion influence has earned her icon status.

Over the years, we've seen Keaton in wide leather belts, tweed blazers and shoulder pads -- but her loyalty to structured suits and other menswear-inspired touches has remained constant. What inspires her look? Keaton says she simply wears what she thinks looks good on her, regardless of trends or expectations. Finding what you like and embracing that individuality is key, she says. Hats, gloves, suits, ties, heeled boots, the color black -- these are the elements she has always loved, and her style has simply developed from there.

Photograph courtesy of Ruven Afanador, Random House

Her style: Feminine, simple, high-end

This elegant Venezuelan-born designer "was born into high-end style," explains Style Consultant Sherrie Mathieson. "Her background was very affluent -- well-heeled and well-traveled," and that lay the foundation for her aesthetic.

In her early days, Herrera ran in the same stylish circle as Andy Warhol and former Vogue Editor-in-Chief Diana Vreeland, first landing on the International Best Dressed List in 1972 and in the Best Dressed Hall of Fame in 1980. Today, in her mid-70s, "she manages a natural look, while still being glamorous -- not easy when so many [women her age] look too 'done,'" Mathieson says.

The designer's signature white button-up blouse (collar up, sleeves rolled), paired with a dark taffeta knee-length skirt is a favorite look in the fashion world. Still designing new collections every season, "Herrera's forward-moving lifestyle and two lovely daughters keep her modern and truly ageless," says Mathieson.

Photograph courtesy of Carolina Herrera