Okay folks if you are watching "The Traitors" you know the real competition is not just about catching the murderers it's about who can rock the craziest outfit and let's be honest Alan Cumming wins every single time. Season 3 just wrapped and while the betrayals and backstabbing were juicy as ever it's Alan's over-the-top looks that have us completely obsessed. Seriously his wardrobe deserves its own reality show.
From Bridal Gowns to Moss Vests: Decoding Alan Cumming's Most Outrageous Looks on The Traitors Season 3
Alan Cumming isn't just hosting "The Traitors" he's basically cosplaying as a fabulous Scottish castle lord and we are living for it. This season his stylist Sam Spector really cranked up the volume. We are talking berets fedoras pillbox hats and outfits so extra they make the contestants gasp when he walks in the room. It's not just clothes it's performance art.
Spector spilled the tea to The Washington Post revealing they see Alan's style as a character in itself. Season 1 was about establishing him as a Scottish dandy lord. Season 2 started weaving in themes from the show's missions into his outfits. But for Season 3 they had to go even bigger because the contestants themselves started stepping up their fashion game! Apparently Bob Harper from "The Biggest Loser" was rocking Thom Browne exclusively and Bob the Drag Queen showed up in a cobalt blue suit with a floor-length skirt and saucer hat that was apparently to die for. The pressure was on.
Spector said this season was all about being "more theatrical detail oriented and more accessorized". They wanted Alan to always be "a step of a step ahead" of everyone else. And get this Alan himself wanted more "queer representation" in his looks. So they played with masculine and feminine elements mixing things like a bridal gown with a tuxedo or a vest made of actual moss. Yes real moss!
Alan Cumming's Iconic Looks: A Must-See List from 'The Traitors' Season 3 Wardrobe
Want a taste of the fashion madness? Here are some of Alan Cumming's most unforgettable ensembles from The Traitors Season 3:
- The Celtic Warrior Cape: For his grand entrance on a white horse Alan rocked a glittery monogrammed cape a pleather harness a kilt and some teal. Spector was going for "Celtic warrior meets 'Outlander'" vibe. It was dramatic entrance to set the stage.
- The Mossy Kilt: For a mission involving Easter Island statues Alan wore a kilt from Atelier Cillian made of fabric resembling stone. The real kicker? Real moss on his lapel. Memes compared it to broccoli but Spector loved the campiness.
- The Steampunk Ringmaster: Sequined pants gold boots tartan details and a single black tear of makeup. This look was for a creepy clown funhouse challenge. Spector called it "steampunk-ringmaster" but admitted it was almost "tame" by Alan's standards.
- The Finale Glam Bond Villain: Glittery purple velvet lounge suit and an even more bedazzled cape with silver fringe. Spector wanted Alan to look like "a glam Bond villain" for the finale reveal. The cape is a recurring item being embellished more each season.
- The Baby Doll Pocket Square Suit: A deconstructed Paul Smith suit with puffed sleeves and a baby doll head as a pocket square. Yes a baby doll head with ruby eyes and a "deadly patina". It was for a creepy dollhouse challenge and totally unsettlingly brilliant.
- The Yellow Tartan Corset Kilt: A yellow tartan kilt and corset designed by Scottish designer Siobhan Mackenzie. Spector wanted to play with gender so he paired the corset with a shirt and tie and added a hoop skirt to echo the mission's cage theme.
- The Chess Piece Headband Look: A red Charles Jeffrey Loverboy suit that looks like a kilt over trousers plus a headband covered in chess pieces made by Spector's team. This was for a giant chessboard challenge and paid tribute to "Survivor" legend Parvati Shallow's headbands.
- The Mary Queen of Scots Ruffle Collar: A cobalt blue Michael Ngo creation inspired by Mary Queen of Scots. It featured a dramatic ruffle collar and gilded pleather breastplate. Spector also gave it a "punk vibe" to match Alan's East Village icon status.
- The Statue of Liberty Bridal Gown: An iridescent aqua blue Alin Lekal bridal gown. Initially intended for an outdoor mission weather changes led Spector to alter it on the fly detaching sleeves and adding a headpiece. It ended up looking "angelic" for a church setting.
- The Bride of Death: The ultimate over-the-top look a custom-made bridal gown for a face-to-face murder scene. Masculine on top feminine below with red appliqué from Zero Waste Daniel. Spector called it his "baby" mixing Madonna's "Like a Prayer" video with "Game of Thrones".
And those are just a few highlights. Seriously you need to see these outfits to believe them. Alan Cumming and Sam Spector have turned "The Traitors" into a high-fashion reality competition.
Beyond the Castle Walls: What is 'The Traitors' Anyway and Why Are People Obsessed?
If you are just here for the fashion you might be wondering what "The Traitors" is actually about. It is a reality competition show based on a Dutch series and now remade in over 30 countries. Think murder mystery meets elimination game show like "Survivor" but with way more drama and fabulous outfits.
The US version streams on Peacock and what it might lack in "normal" contestants compared to UK Australian and New Zealand versions it more than makes up for in celebrity personalities and Alan Cumming's sheer presence. The show is set in a Scottish castle and features Reality TV stars playing a game of "Mafia". Some players are secretly "traitors" tasked with "murdering" (eliminating) the "faithful" players. The faithfuls have to figure out who the traitors are and banish them before they are all picked off. It is full of deception strategy and roundtable accusations and it is seriously addictive.
Who Will Brave the Scottish Highlands Next? Dream Cast for 'The Traitors' Season 4 and Why Jeff Lewis Said 'No Thanks!'
Season 3 is done and fans are already dreaming about Season 4. Peacock has confirmed another season is coming and speculation about the cast is wild. NJ.com even put together a dream cast list including some seriously juicy Reality TV names like Jax Taylor and Katie Maloney from "Vanderpump Rules" Joey Graziadei from "The Bachelor" NeNe Leakes from "Real Housewives of Atlanta" and Bowen Yang from SNL. Imagine the drama!
One person who will definitely NOT be in Season 4? Jeff Lewis. The real estate mogul and reality star revealed he has been asked to do "The Traitors" multiple times but he is just not interested. He told Cynthia Bailey on his SiriusXM show that leaving his real estate career his dad duties and his own SiriusXM show for a month just is not going to happen. Plus he apparently has not even considered if he would play as a faithful or traitor that is how uninterested he is. Never say never but for now no castle for Jeff.
Get Ready for More Fashion Betrayal and Scottish Castles: 'The Traitors' is Here to Stay
So "The Traitors" is not just a hit show it is a cultural phenomenon. Alan Cumming's wardrobe alone is worth tuning in for but the drama the strategy and the sheer entertainment value are what really make it shine. Season 3 may be over but get ready for Season 4 because this reality TV juggernaut is not going anywhere anytime soon. And who knows maybe Season 4 will top even Season 3's fashion game - challenge accepted Sam Spector!