Alan Cumming Says Being a ‘Fashion Icon’ Comes with a ‘Bit of Pressure’: ‘Where Do I Go From Here?’ (Exclusive)

Alan Cumming says yes when it comes to his fashion Traitorsthe rules are: there are no rules.

“I think it’s exciting,” says the 59-year-old host, who wears berets, capes and plenty of tartan suits on the competitive murder mystery series Peacock. He describes the PEOPLE aesthetic as “an emphatic, flashy, ornate kind of look.”

“Every time we go into it thinking, ‘What can we do?’ There is pushing the limits of what we can get away with, but it also has to be practical in the sense that I need to be able to walk around the place in Scotland Lake.”

Alan Cumming in ‘The Traitors’.

Euan Cherry/Peacock

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Cumming occasionally incorporates elements of the episode’s mission into his outfit. For example, in episode 2 of season 2, he copied a scarecrow’s outfit and wore a matching straw headdress. In episode 5, for the bird call mission he incorporated feathers into his appearance.

“We’re trying to nod to what species [focus] is”, says the Scottish actor. “It’s about the story and the character.”

Alan Cumming on ‘The Traitor’ Season 2, Episode 5.

PEACOCK

Cumming collaborates with stylist Sam Spector to create each standout look. For the first season, they pulled a lot from Cumming’s wardrobe.

“The first season was a lot of my own suits. I seem to have a huge collection of tartan suits,” says Cumming, adding that “it doesn’t feel like it’s my own clothes because they’ve been so enhanced with belts and hats and brooches and things like that. I’m really happy to have helped bring the cape back into fashion.”

The Tony winner says he “could actually wear” a lot of his Traitors clothes in “real life”, especially the white faux fur coat from the funeral mission in season 2 episode 4.

Alan Cumming in ‘The Traitors’.

Euan Cherry/Peacock

“The funeral thing, I thought it was so fantastic and so hilarious and so crazy,” says Cumming. “At the beginning of that mission when we were tramping around with the horses and everything, I said to the producer who was in my ear, ‘Oh my God, I look like Queen Victoria.’ And he said, ‘Yes, you have.’ I thought: great, mission accomplished.”

Cumming is particularly fond of his footwear from the series. “And they’re all vegan shoes because I’m vegan,” he says.

Alan Cumming in ‘The Traitors’.

Euan Cherry/Peacock

Well before TraitorsCumming was known for his bold red carpet and event looks.

“I’ve always enjoyed dressing up,” says the four-time Emmy nominee. “I think that, given that I am a man, and certainly a man of my age, I will definitely wear things that other men might refuse. That hasn’t changed.”

Cumming feels the weight of being expected to constantly dress to impress. “It’s great to be a fashion icon, but it’s also a little pressure,” he jokes. “Where do I go from here? Am I just going to be drowned in tartan robes for the rest of my life?”

Alan Cumming.

Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty

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Traitors certainly exceeded expectations when it came to Cumming’s style choices.

“People expect something because Traitors,” says Cumming. “So I’m trying to find a balance of looking cheesy or not cheesy, looking like I’m dressing up and making an effort, but not just looking like I walked off the set. It’s a fashion nightmare!”

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Ultimately, Cumming tries to combine both trendy and comfortable cuts. “I like to wear things that are modern and in which I feel good,” he says. “I’m one of those people who think, if you have good hair and good shoes, then the middle is not that important. That’s not true, of course, but that’s my motto.”

New episodes Traitors drop Thursdays at 9pm ET on Peacock.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education