Stylist Sam Spector on Creating Alan Cumming’s Extravagant Looks for ‘The Traitors’

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One Can’t Miss “The Traitors,” and a major factor contributing to this is undoubtedly the flamboyant and mischievously eccentric style sported by Alan Cumming.

The numerous distinct looks of Cumming are a product of a joint effort between Cumming and celebrity stylist Sam Spector. As Spector explains, “It’s truly an incredible collaboration where everyone contributes their own skills or expertise to the project,” which includes Cumming, the production team of The Traitors, and Peacock.

He mentions that the network caters to what they believe viewers prefer, while the producers base their decisions on the missions and challenges set forth; furthermore, the cast contributes their ideas, and ultimately, it’s me and Alan who add our own creative touch.

The stylist explains that the timeframe for selecting looks can stretch over a few months. He listens for input from producers and the network regarding challenges, which triggers a period of extensive research and idea-gathering that typically takes around two weeks. Following this, he needs to present his ideas to Alan and gauge his response.

As you can tell, we put a great deal of effort into personalizing each item, which naturally requires some time,” Spector explains. “Following this, we send it all the way to Scotland.

Spector mentions that working with Cumming in terms of styling is smooth-sailing. “If I spot something on a runway, I quickly snap a picture, send it to him and suggest, ‘This could work wonderfully for the upcoming season,’ and he often agrees. It seems we share similar visions regarding that aspect.

During the third season of the acclaimed competitive show, Spector created even more intricate outfits. “The producers often say, ‘You were given this task, but we never imagined anything as unconventional and outlandish as a baby doll head used as a pocket square.’

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Spector expresses his difficulty in choosing a preferred outfit from the season’s collection. “I adored the chess-themed episode. I was captivated by the baby doll-themed episode. There are countless episodes that I cherish. Every single one of them feels like a newborn to me because we pour so much care and creativity into each one. The intricate details we add make each one incredibly dear to my heart,” he explains.

The speaker finds it amusing because they thought each of their actions would elicit a specific response, but the responses from the fans turned out to be totally different from what they had expected.

Coming open about his role on the series The Traitors, Cumming has likened it to any other part he plays. “Just like being on a film, I get dressed in the morning, put on my costume and makeup,” he shared with THR previously. “Understanding who the character is” is crucial for him in this process.

Spector believes the wardrobe significantly contributes to his character’s image. We collaborate with his hairstylist to enhance the style, which, in his opinion, amplifies the drama. Additionally, Spector suggests that Alan being aware of the social media response, the comments and feedback, is driving his ambition to embody this captivating character even more. He seems genuinely enthused by the reaction.

Spector praises Cumming’s bold approach to fashion. “He isn’t shy about trying out new styles,” he notes. “The freedom to mess around with gender by dressing Alan in a skirt and a tuxedo is inspiring for me as an artist.

He adds: “I think Alan pulls it off so perfectly. I don’t think many guys can do that.”

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2025-03-12 13:24