The Celebrity Traitors already has us glued to our sofas for autumn. Along with the TV show’s high-stakes psychological warfare, Claudia Winkleman’s wardrobe has kept us captivated season after season.
Across five series, the presenter and her long-time stylist, Sinead McKeefry, have cultivated a signature look of punk glamour. A masterclass in method dressing, Claudia’s moody wardrobe mirrors the drama of the gameplay and the gothic grandeur of the Scottish castle. Think sharp tailoring, tartan, outrageously good knitwear, theatrical capes and magnificent faux fur coats.
The pair have worked together for 18 years – including on Strictly Come Dancing – and McKeefry tells me this shared history makes the process unusually intuitive. “I know all her likes and dislikes,” she says. “When you’re in that relationship, you can just go, ‘She won’t wear that. There’s no point bringing that.’”
This shorthand is helped by Claudia’s own enthusiasm for fashion. “Claudia’s got a keen eye,” McKeefry says. Their shared taste even extends to the season itself: “We both joke that we love when it gets dark at 4 pm. It’s so cosy. Bye, bye summer; give me a black military coat.”
The Traitors' impact on the high street is increasingly apparent: argyle, tartan, check and capes now dominate. “I noticed it about two years ago,” says McKeefry. “Chunky boots, plaid, heavy overcoats started to filter in.” Since then, the trend has only gathered pace. “If you search for a kilt in any [high street] store, you'd be hard-pressed not to find one,” she says. Her top pick this season? M&S’s city-friendly black kilt (£48, Marksandspencer.com).
Read more: This high street brand is channelling The Traitors for autumn
On the TV show, McKeefry effortlessly blends high street with pieces such as Givenchy black platform boots, Prada tartan trousers, Alexander McQueen outerwear, and Simone Rocha tulle. The magic of Claudia’s wardrobe lies in these high-low combinations. McKeefry has long loved the Scottish label Brora, particularly for “things like the cashmere socks” and men’s knitwear, while M&S and Cos are set to feature again this season.
Explaining the appeal, McKeefry says “the styling isn’t overcomplicated”. Claudia’s aesthetic is refreshingly wearable, providing just as much inspiration for the commute as for the castle. “The individual items aren’t scary,” McKeefry tells me. “A tweed jacket, a good jumper, a good shirt, a tie, great boots, gloves – it’s the kind of thing individually people can buy one piece and put into their wardrobe.”
Some pieces return series after series, including an affordable pair of Spanx leggings (£30, Spanx.com), Hunter wellies (£84, Schuh.co.uk), cashmere arm warmers (£39, Brora.com), and a bespoke pair of Dr Martens boots. And you don’t need to go full Claudia from day one. McKeefry advises starting with pieces you already own: “If you’ve got the jacket in your wardrobe, just wear it with a plain T-shirt, jeans, a loafer, or a pair of trainers. Start that way, and then work your way up to maybe wearing it with a full-length skirt or a brogue.”
For those looking to add some The Traitors style into their own wardrobe for autumn, I asked McKeefry for five styling tips to achieve Claudia’s covetable look.
Outerwear
If there is one piece that immediately conjures the Traitors aesthetic, it’s a great coat. Think military-inspired silhouettes, oversized wool, sharp tailoring and enough drama to withstand the wild Scottish Highlands.
For McKeefry, the key is investing in pieces with longevity. Vintage has played a significant role in Claudia’s wardrobe, with McKeefry sourcing everything from pre-loved Chanel to Saint Laurent.
“I love a good vintage find,” she says. “When you get brands that are timeless, like Chanel, like Saint Laurent, like Westwood, then they're the places where you want to be investing.”
A substantial wool coat, a tweed blazer or a military-inspired jacket can all deliver the same effect without tipping into fancy dress. The high street is as good a place as any to start. McKeefry keeps an eye on every new Zara drop, pairing a brown coat from the high street store with a Prada skirt and Bottega boots last season.
Spanx
The secret weapon underneath all those oversized coats and chunky knits? Spanx. “I mean, people must be sick of me saying the word Spanx,” McKeefry laughs. “So if you haven't got the Spanx, just get the Spanx.”
Her go-to is the legging style (£30, Spanx.com), which she describes as particularly versatile. “They're so great with a blazer. They work in the evening, but you can also wear them with a massive, big oversized jumper and a big statement boot.”
McKeefry also recommends investing in a good pair of evening trousers. Her current favourite is the Me + Em tuxedo trouser (£195, Meandem.com), which she likes for its slightly masculine cut.
Accessories
The accessories are where the Traitors look really comes together – and few are more recognisable than Claudia’s red gloves.
Interestingly, the now-iconic accessory was almost an afterthought. When the production team first asked McKeefry to introduce a signature element to the wardrobe, she was initially sceptical about the idea.
So she ordered an inexpensive pair from Amazon, expecting them to be a temporary solution. Instead, they became one of the show’s defining motifs.
McKeefry also cites cashmere arm warmers – Claudia’s are from Brora (£39, Brora.com)– and a good pair of brogues, particularly Church’s (£980, Church-footwear.com) as key pillars.
Knitwear
No Traitors wardrobe would be complete without an excellent jumper. Claudia’s knitwear is often oversized, tactile and layered, with fine polo necks forming the foundation of many of her looks.
McKeefry’s particular favourite is COS’s fine-knit polo neck (£45, Cos.com). “They have long, long sleeves that come down to your knuckles and a high, tight polo neck,” she says. “Those I've got a million of, and we use them in black.”
The trick is layering. McKeefry likes to wear the fine polo neck underneath shirting, or add another knit over the top. “I love layering those with good shirting over or another knit on top, multi-layering.”
Shirts
Shirting is another way to bring a slightly androgynous edge to the look. At The Traitors’ round table, McKeefry deliberately takes things in a more restrained direction, favouring fitted, understated pieces and tailoring.
“We always do like a more masculine look there,” she says. “We bring in a lot of Bella Freud pieces – that lovely kind of androgynous tailoring”.
The easiest way to introduce this into your own wardrobe is with a classic shirt, preferably slightly oversized, worn beneath knitwear or tailoring. McKeefry suggests adding a tie.
And don’t be afraid to build the look gradually. McKeefry says she regularly hears from people who love Claudia’s style but don’t know how to translate it into their own wardrobes. Her advice is to start with what you already own.
That’s the appeal of Claudia’s wardrobe on The Traitors. It might feature bold pieces, but the styling is remarkably down-to-earth: a chunky knit, a pair of leggings and some good boots are enough to get you started. The rest is all in the layering.
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