What The Traitors Gets Right About Style, And Why British-Made Fashion Is Having a Quiet Comeback With Female Founders & Leaders
- Alexandra Standley
- Jan 29
- 4 min read
There’s been a lot said about the psychology, tension and theatre of The Traitors. But as a stylist and former fashion buyer I’ve been watching something else just as closely. The clothes.
Not in a “who wore what” way. But in the way the styling subtly communicates the theme of the show and authority, trust, and power. The way it feels deliberate rather than disposable. And how that mirrors a much wider shift I’m seeing in real life - particularly among founders, leaders and women stepping into greater visibility.
Because the success of The Traitors’ wardrobe isn’t accidental. It’s a reflection of where style is heading.
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Style as strategy, not performance
The show’s costume designer, Sinead McKeefry, has spoken about dressing contestants in a way that supports character and narrative rather than trends. And it shows.
Nothing feels frantic. Nothing feels overly “of the moment”. Instead, we see:
• Strong tailoring
• Thoughtful colour choices
• Texture doing the heavy lifting
• Pieces that feel grounded
This kind of styling doesn’t shout. It signals.
And that’s exactly what many women I work with are craving, especially when they’re leading businesses, speaking on stages, or becoming more visible in their industry. They don’t want novelty. They want clarity. Presence. Consistency. Authority. Something that feels like them.
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Why British-made suddenly feels relevant again
There’s also a noticeable leaning towards British design and manufacture within the show’s wardrobe. Heritage fabrics, traditional silhouettes, pieces that carry weight. That’s not just about nostalgia, it’s about credibility and creating something unique yet timeless.
Some of my favourite brands sourced by Sinead for this season include Brora knitwear, Grenson footwear (my leopard Nanette boots are probably my most commented on piece in my footwear wardrobe, bought preloved from eBay!). She's also introduced me to new brands I hadn't heard of including Duke & Dexter (those shoes!), Connolly, which is definitely an investment brand, but I love their heritage suiting, beautiful knitwear and leather pieces. The look below from the season finale was sourced from this brand.
When you choose something made closer to home, with skilled craftsmanship, with intention behind it, it lands differently. It carries a sense of integrity and increasingly, that matters.
I’ve seen this shift before.
In the 2010s, when I was working as a fashion buyer at Marks & Spencer, I was part of the buying team behind the Made in Britain collection. It was about reconnecting with craftsmanship, provenance and quality at a time when everything else was speeding up.
One of the pieces I still own from that era is a pair of silver brogues made in collaboration with Church’s. I’ve had them for years. They’ve been worn, loved, lived in. And they still feel relevant. That’s the difference.
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The quiet rejection of fast fashion
What The Traitors gets so right is that it never relies on excess. Outfit formulas are repeated, pieces are reworked. Styling changes, but the wardrobe itself stays intentional and true to the identity of Claudia and the show.
This directly challenges the fast fashion narrative that tells us we need constant newness to stay relevant.
But fast fashion doesn’t create individual style, it creates sameness.
It doesn’t build confidence, it fuels indecision. And it certainly doesn’t support women who want to feel anchored in who they are.
More and more, I’m seeing women turn away from that cycle. Not out of guilt or rules, but because it simply no longer serves them.
They want:
• Fewer pieces, chosen well
• Clothes that work hard across real life
• A style that reflects their values and their leadership
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What this means for female founders and leaders
When your visibility increases, your style stops being just personal. It becomes communicative.
That doesn’t always mean dressing formally or having to invest a small fortune. It means dressing intentionally.
British-made, independent and well-crafted pieces often make sense at this stage because they:
• Hold their shape and presence
• Age well alongside you
• Help you build a recognisable signature style
• Support businesses and values you believe in
This is where style becomes less about consumption and more about alignment.
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Investing differently and dressing with intention - The Edit
The resurgence of British-made fashion is about choosing better. If you're looking for some beautiful British staples for your own wardrobe, I've created a Traitors inspired edit from one of my favourite independent boutiques, Percy Langley. This includes some Made In Britain pieces from some of my favourite brands including Minkie London alongside some other brilliant independent brands. With footwear from Grenson and Church's. You can shop the edit here.
Percy Langley are a discovery platform for independent British designers, they work with the best independent fashion brands and design studios across the UK. They strive for supply chain transparency and confidence that everyone involved in the garment production is earning a living wage and working in safe conditions. Percy Langley are committed to championing the use of textiles already in existence when making new clothes, and only using natural fibres when using virgin material.
It’s about understanding that what you wear is part of how you lead, how you show up, and how you’re remembered.
Just like The Traitors, the most compelling wardrobes aren’t built on volume. They’re built on clarity and confidence in fewer, stronger choices.
And when your wardrobe starts working with you, rather than demanding more, everything shifts. If you’d like to explore how I can support you in aligning your style with your goals, personality and next chapter, book in for a free style consultation here.
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