Alan Cumming’s Stylist Reveals Secrets to His Killer Traitors Fashion

Alan Cumming’s fashion on The Traitors is to die for.

The Emmy-winning host sparks many of the show’s creative concepts, but it’s stylist Sam Spector who designs the incredible outfits you see.

“It’s always surprising to see what resonates with viewers,” Sam shared with TopMob News. “You often have a strong feeling about which parts of a series will be the most popular, but it doesn’t always pan out that way.”

Consider Alan’s popular coffin-shaped coat from the fourth season premiere (January 8th on Peacock). Sam and his team cleverly made it using two regular coats, cardboard, and beads.

He admitted he wasn’t initially impressed, saying he was just ‘okay’ with it. But now he thinks it’s really special. The ‘coffin coat’ is getting a lot of attention, and he’s become a fan.

Alan’s style on the show has become more dramatic since the first season in 2023, but he still loves the same things: tartans, gloves, berets, and jewelry. The core of his look hasn’t changed.

Sam explained that the designer aimed for a look that was stylish and a bit over-the-top, like a glamorous villain from a James Bond movie. However, Scottish clothing always played a role, creating a blend of glamour, Scottish tradition, and a slightly dangerous edge.

The missions in each episode also influence what the characters wear. Sharp viewers might even notice subtle clues about the missions hidden in Alan’s breakfast outfits – though they’ll never reveal who the Traitors are!

Sam admitted he’d never experienced seeing the show unfold live before, as he wasn’t on location for filming. He watches each episode with the rest of us and genuinely doesn’t know who the Traitors are until it’s revealed on screen, which he enjoys. “I don’t know who the Traitors are until I watch with you, so I’m not privy to that information, which is great.”

The stylist, who has dressed stars like Daniel Radcliffe, Andy Samberg, and Kevin Jonas, explained that they’re sometimes asked to hide clues in outfits. Once, they were specifically told to include a key that would be used later in a quiz. However, most of the time, the clues are revealed during breakfast.

Many people don’t know that Alan’s unique outfits are actually completely original – there’s nothing else quite like them.

Sam explained that they don’t make duplicate outfits. They create just one outfit per episode, and then add details to it as the episode progresses. For example, the outfit worn at breakfast is a simpler version of the one worn on the mission. Typically, the character starts with a plain suit, which is then modified for the mission scenes, and he often removes the jacket during roundtable discussions.

“But,” he emphasized, “we don’t create any extra looks.”

As a lifestyle expert working on set, I’ve found that keeping things minimal with wardrobe actually sparks a lot of creative problem-solving. When the shooting schedule inevitably changes, a streamlined wardrobe makes it so much easier to mix and match and come up with new looks on the fly!

Sam explained that plans often shift unexpectedly, even during filming. He’d frequently receive last-minute texts or calls asking to rearrange things, like the order of episodes, and they’d have to quickly adapt.

Ultimately, Sam isn’t concerned about having to make last-minute adjustments because he trusts his client completely. He believes Alan is incredibly adaptable and can handle any situation.

Besides Alan, many other celebrities are showcasing their personal style this season. Find out who’s competing on season four of The Traitors.