“Ageing gracefully is the toughest thing for a rebel.” So says legendary film director, artist and author Mr John Waters, a man who’s managed to turn life-affirming non-conformity into a celluloid art form through films such as Pink Flamingos and Hairspray.

So how does a rebel of a certain age continue to look his absolute best? In his book Mr Know-It-All, the Comme des Garçons- loving, pencil moustached so-called Pope of Trash offers a few typically provocative fashion and beauty tips.

But can you really learn anything from a man who describes his signature style as “disaster at the dry cleaners”, who draws on his trademark ’tache with eyeliner because it’s easier than maintaining the real thing and who loves anti-perfumes because they smell of nothing and vanish from the skin? Turns out you can.

Here are five practical fashion and grooming tips from the man you might call the Serial Killer Of (Conventional) Style.