On The Traitors, the wrong word can mean banishment or death, but the wrong jumper could be just as damaging. Contestants on the reality show, which has gripped the nation this January, are using style camouflage to manipulate perceptions and stay under the radar.
Paul Gorton, the 36-year-old traitor who evaded suspicion for weeks, understood the power of optics. His wardrobe of white T-shirts, normcore shirts, smart-casual jumpers and blue jeans reinforced his everyman persona. Stylist Rikki Finlay, who worked on the series, said Gorton was “quite happy to come across as the normal dad, wearing sportswear” despite being a business manager.
Finlay stressed that styling on the UK version is minimal. Contestants bring their own clothes and receive a style pack with mood boards and colour palettes. The show’s look this year was “very much influenced by Knives Out”. Finlay only intervenes if several contestants wear the same item, such as a mustard hoodie.
Some contestants use accessories to send subtle signals. Traitor Harry Clark, 23, wears a pearl necklace, single earring and silver rings, creating a juxtaposition with his army background. Finlay noted that “nobody would really expect that of him”. In the US version, style plays a bigger role, with contestants like former House of Commons speaker John Bercow wearing “hideous ties” to shape perceptions.
Finlay agreed that the right outfit can give an advantage. She cited Christian de la Torre, a traitor in US season one who hid his army past by dressing as a “surfer dude” in leopard print and baseball caps. On The Traitors, fashion is another tool in the game of trust and deceit.
