January is looking up. Because? The return of the hit BBC series The Traitors, obviously.
And we’re not just waiting for the treacherous, twisting plot and exciting race for a minute towards a cash prize.
No, it’s host Claudia Winkleman’s outfits that also provide much of the show’s appeal.
Her looks, devised by her longtime stylist, Sinead McKeefry, lean heavily toward the countrycore aesthetic of the show’s Scottish castle setting: “Ronnie Corbett meets Princess Anne and has that phase where “Madonna suddenly found the field through Guy Ritchie,” as Winkleman has said. described it.
But don’t let that eccentricity put you off: Winkleman’s look is as recreational and relatable as it is aspirational. No wonder retailers are reporting crowds of shoppers asking for “the Traitors look.”
Read on for our guide on how to incorporate enough Claudia gothic glamor into your January wardrobe…no castle owner’s budget required!
Claudia Winkleman in her Luxury Family Affair cape and red leather fingerless gloves
Joules Waterproof Bibury Layer (£64, joules.com)
capable of layer
So far we’ve seen Claudia in two capes in this series: one, a black wool design from Luxury Family Affair (£730) and the other, a bespoke tweed creation by the same London fashion house.
Do you hear the word cloak and think they are the sartorial reserve of Tudor kings and fairy tale villains? Think again.
Claudia shows us that the cape, in the inherent drama it exhibits due to its lack of lines and clean silhouette (sleeves = superfluous), has a modern appeal.
Adds chic elegance to even the simplest jeans and boots. Monsoon’s Cecily Cape (£80, monsoon.co.uk) features military buttons that are all kinds of Claudia, while Joules’ Bibury Cape (£64, joules.com) is waterproof. Its relaxed fit means there’s plenty of room for layering, too.
Need for tweed
Claudia surrounds the contestants in a striking tweed jacket costing £875 from Bella Freud
…or you can opt for an older version for a fraction of the price
It’s no surprise that the camouflage of nobility – tweed – features prominently in Claudia’s Traitors wardrobe. Warm, moisture resistant and largely self-cleaning, it is perfect for Scotland’s rugged landscape.
The tweed jacket Claudia wears in this series costs £875 and is by British designer Bella Freud. But the ‘haute country’ look doesn’t have to cost: head to vintage site Vinntry, dedicated to country fashion, to find authentic tweed jackets that cost nothing (vinntry.com).
Crucially, don’t forget this: the cool factor of Claudia’s wardrobe lies in the addition of incongruous elements to clothes that could be bulky, like the tweed jacket. I mean, Claudia pulls this off with punk fingerless gloves.
If your £24.99 red leather Amazon shoes are too bank-robbing for you, try Rosie Sugden (rosiesugden.com) for more wearable cashmere versions.
new gothic
The presenter’s black velvet tuxedo jacket, by Saint Laurent, costs £2,500
Anna James The Label’s version, however, costs less than £200.
In The Traitors, the gothic is less Wednesday Adams, more adult glamour. Think opulent velvet tailoring and Dracula-style ruffled white shirts.
Claudia’s black velvet jacket is Saint Laurent and comes with a corresponding price tag of £2,500.
However, the appeal of Claudia’s style comes courtesy of the high and low juxtapositions, so the Saint Laurent jacket is paired with a much more affordable shirt from Sister Jane. The exact t-shirt is already sold out, but luckily another London brand, House of Disgrace, has a similar design available (£159, houseofdisgrace.co.uk).
Pull out the ruffled cuffs from the sleeves of Anna James’ black jacket (£197.50, annajamesthelabel.com); his satin lapels are all kinds of Tom Ford.
Oh, and the £439 black velvet Sandro jumpsuit Claudia wore in last Thursday’s episode? You can rent it for just £6.07/day through By Rotation (byrotation.com).
Heritage fabrics
Japanese designer Kapital puts a Fair Isle knit twist on Claudia with the bones of a skeleton in the design.
Take advantage of the Campbell’s deal for a more versatile deal that’s also easier on your bank balance.
Remember Claudia’s smiley face jumper from the last series, the one that went viral and sold out everywhere?
Their Fair Isle jumper this season comes courtesy of the same brand, Japanese designers Kapital (£455). In true Claudia style, a punk twist is added to the traditional Fair Isle by adding a skeleton motif to the back and sleeves of the jumper.
Her jeans (£145) are from Holland Cooper and her boots are her trusty Dr. Martens (£161).
For a more bag-friendly Fair Isle that still lasts forever, traditional Scottish makers Campbell’s (campbellsofbeauly.com) are your best bet – you can currently pick up a tank top on sale for £115 and they make the tweeds on the King, no less. !