Claudia Winkleman’s wardrobe on The Traitors has become almost as talked-about as the show itself. From sweeping wool coats and sharp tailoring to velvet, corduroy and flashes of tartan, her wardrobe is a lesson in how texture can make even a fairly simple outfit feel distinctive.
It is also surprisingly good sewing inspiration. Look beyond the styling and many of the outfits are built from very wearable pieces: wide-leg trousers, blouses, simple skirts, oversized coats and relaxed tailoring. So we’ve taken some of our favourite Claudia looks and matched them with fabrics and sewing patterns that can help you create the same mood at home.
Satin & Corduroy
One of the easiest Claudia-inspired combinations to recreate is the contrast between a fluid blouse and more substantial trousers. Satin gives the top movement and a subtle sheen, while corduroy adds texture and weight below.
The Assembly Line Tie Bow Blouse would work beautifully in a fluid satin, while the Wardrobe By Me Palazzo Pants give you that relaxed, slightly dramatic trouser shape. Try them in Stretch Corduroy in Plum for the rich, tonal look that works so well with Claudia’s wardrobe.
Velvet Worn Well
Velvet is one of those fabrics that immediately adds depth to a simple garment, particularly in the dark jewel shades Claudia often wears. Black, wine, forest green and deep navy all work brilliantly if you want something dramatic without relying on print.
For sewing, velvet works particularly well for jackets, relaxed trousers, skirts and occasion pieces. Keep the garment shape fairly uncomplicated and let the pile and colour do the work.
Statement Coats & Serious Wool
If there is one part of Claudia’s Traitors wardrobe worth borrowing, it has to be the coats. Oversized collars, long lengths and strong silhouettes appear again and again, usually in dark, earthy or beautifully muted shades.
A coat with a confident shape really comes into its own in a good wool coating. Look for cloth with enough body to hold the silhouette while still feeling comfortable to wear. Cashmere jacketing, alpaca blends and traditional Melton are all good choices depending on whether you want softness, texture or a more structured finish.
The Ada Coat and other coat patterns and fabrics featured in this post can be found in our Winkleman’s Wardrobe edit.
Tartan Trousers
Tartan is very much at home in The Traitors’ Scottish setting, but it doesn’t have to mean heavy wool. A cotton tartan lawn makes a lighter, more relaxed alternative and works particularly well for trousers where you want a crisp finish without too much bulk.
Royal Stewart gives you the unmistakable red tartan look, while Black Watch is darker and easy to pair with an everyday wardrobe. Both work beautifully with a simple knit, blouse or black jacket, allowing the check to become the focus.
The Long Grey Coat
A long grey coat is perhaps one of the most wearable ways to borrow from Claudia’s wardrobe. Herringbone and softly textured wool give a plain coat far more character while remaining neutral enough to wear year after year.
The Tessuti Oslo Coat has the relaxed proportions that suit this look particularly well. Pair a strong coat shape with a grey herringbone or similarly textured wool and you have something that feels distinctly Traitors-inspired without looking like a costume.
A Hint of Scotland
Tartan doesn’t have to dominate an outfit. Used for a skirt, it gives you colour and pattern while still working beautifully with plain black, charcoal, olive and cream.
Wool tartan is particularly good here because its warmth and structure suit simple skirt shapes. A straightforward pattern allows the check and texture of the cloth to take centre stage, and it’s an easy look to style with boots and a chunky knit once the weather turns.
Mixing Texture & Tailoring
One of the cleverest things about Claudia’s wardrobe is the way different textures are worn together. A chunky knit might sit alongside smooth black jersey and softly structured wool suiting, all within a fairly restrained colour palette.
That’s an easy trick to borrow when planning your own makes. Start with two or three colours – olive, grey and black work particularly well – then vary the surfaces rather than adding more colour. Knits bring softness, wool suiting adds structure and a simple jersey makes a useful base layer. The result feels considered without everything having to match.
Chunky olive wool, grey suiting and fine black jersey make a particularly good combination if you want to recreate the look without copying a complete outfit. You can find the fabrics featured here in our Winkleman’s Wardrobe edit.
Earthy Wool & Relaxed Tailoring
Olive is another colour that appears naturally within this style. It has the versatility of a neutral but feels softer than black and more interesting than plain grey, particularly when teamed with checks and warm brown tones.
Merino and lambswool fabrics are ideal if you want to bring that look into everyday sewing. For jackets, skirts and relaxed tailoring, look for wool with enough body to hold the shape of the garment while still feeling comfortable rather than overly formal.
Create Your Own Winkleman’s Wardrobe
You don’t need to recreate an outfit piece for piece to borrow from Claudia’s Traitors style. Start with the fabrics: substantial wool, soft corduroy, fluid satin, velvet and tartan, then keep the shapes strong and the colours grounded.
We’ve brought together the fabrics and sewing patterns featured throughout this post in our Winkleman’s Wardrobe edit. Whether it’s a sweeping wool coat, tartan trousers or a beautifully draped blouse that has caught your eye, you can find everything in one place.
