Even if you have absolutely no Scottish ancestry, you're likely aware that kilts have been around for a long time. A kilt skirt, however, is a relatively newer invention, and one that's currently cropping up all over the internet thanks to both the trend cycle and The Traitors host Claudia Winkleman. While traditional kilts date back as early as the 16th century, kilt skirts, on the other hand, are a term coined by contemporary fashion to refer to a more modern interpretation. The kilt skirt borrows the pleats, hardware and heritage-coded aesthetic of the original kilt but differs with its circular shape and closed fastening. So, although a kilt skirt might look like a kilt, particularly if you're looking at the likes of Le Kilt's or Brora's designs, it actually only resembles the traditional kilt.
And it's these kilt skirts that have been sighted everywhere at the moment. On the runway, Chopova Lowena leads the charge with its punk-folk aesthetic, while on your TV screens, Claudia Winkleman has been leading the charge with her lineup of kilt skirts. Winkleman, who currently has Britain's most coveted TV gig as she hosts season four of The Traitors, has, with the help of long-time stylist Sinead McKeefry, perfected her outfit formula and can often be found pairing Saint Laurent with COS and Zara with Bottega Veneta.
The real combination that gets people talking, however, has to be when Winkleman is spotted wearing a kilt skirt. Back in season one, Winkleman dabbled with the trend for the very first time with a Miu Miu black coat that fanned out from a double-breasted style into a pleated mini skirt. Although it wasn't until season two, when Winkleman was seen wearing a Kapital green cable knit and a Brora Scottish Mohair Wool Kilt, that the nation found themselves suitably influenced to invest in said skirt. Now, in her latest appearance on season 4, she's dug into Le Kilt's collection.
Winkleman's love of kilt skirts in The Traitors also acts as a reminder that a skirt doesn't necessarily need loud tartans or novelty prints to work. Take the Prada Pleated Flannel Skirt she wore while filming The Celebrity Traitors as an example of how the modern kilt skirt can be minimalist, grown-up and deeply chic.
Shop: Claudia Winkleman's Exact Kilt Skirt From The Celebrity Traitors
When I spoke to Winkleman's stylist, Sinead McKeefry, ahead of the release of season four, she told me, 'I feel like each season brings a new theme,' which could explain the subtle evolution of the kilt skirt throughout The Traitors. Earlier seasons leaned into a more outdoorsy feel (hence the green wellies), and now it seems as if the kilt skirt is treated as more of a statement piece, paired with structured coats, dark palettes and smart loafers. McKeefry herself has commented that she's 'enjoying seeing the looks evolve from series 1.'
So, never one to be discouraged by a challenge, I went through every single one of Claudia Winkleman's Traitors outfits, from season one to season four, spanning across the civilian version of The Traitors to the A-lister The Celebrity Traitors special, in search of the best kilt skirts à la Claudia Winkleman. Here are the best styles I found...
Shop: The Best Kilt Skirts, As Inspired By Claudia Winkleman
Main image credit: BBC/Studio Lambert
Gemma Lavers is a fashion commerce writer at Grazia, where she tracks down viral pieces and is as comfortable navigating the M&S new-in page as she is dissecting the latest celebrity look. When not writing, shopping or at Reformer Pilates (a cliché but she's hooked), Gemma will likely be planning her next holiday (and what she's going to wear). For a glimpse into said travels, outfit inspo and life as a journalist, follow her on Instagram.