We need to have a serious talk about Claudia Winklemanâs outfit on the second episode of her new BBC One talk show, because I am actually obsessed. If you tuned in to see Rachel Zegler or Niall Horan, you probably stayed for the fashion masterclass courtesy of Claudia.Â
Claud showed up wearing a total Bella Freud classic â the baby blue Minnelli shirt â and yes, Â it is named after Liza Minnelli. It is honestly the sky-blue dream I didnât know I needed.
First off, letâs get into the specs of this shirt because itâs doing a lot of heavy lifting. Itâs a classic cut made from that gorgeous, liquid-looking silk satin. But the real Winkleman touch? That massive 70s pointed collar and the signature black silk necktie.
Itâs got that perfect âI just threw this on but also Iâm the coolest person in the roomâ vibe.Â
Now, usually, youâd think sky blue and chestnut brown would be a bit⊠odd? Like a vintage car interior? But Claudia teamed the Minnelli with a brown coloured velvet suit, and somehow it just works. If I had to put money on this being a ME+EM suit, I would. Claudiaâs longtime stylist Sinead McKeefry is a big fan of this brand for Claudiaâs Traitors wardrobe.
The mix of the shiny silk and the heavy, plush velvet is genius. Itâs bold, itâs slightly retro, and it makes traditional tailoring look a bit, well, boring.
The reason this look is such a win is that it doesnât feel âTV presenter-y.â There are no safe floral midi dresses here. Itâs sharp, itâs a bit androgynous, and it feels like something youâd actually want to wear to a fancy dinner â provided you donât spill any wine on that silk.
Bella Freud has always been the queen of that London âcool girlâ aesthetic, and seeing Claudia rock it on prime-time BBC One is exactly the energy we need for 2026.
Putting the Look Together
To really nail the Claudia aesthetic:
- The Trousers: Go for the matching velvet trousers if youâre feeling brave, or just some high-waisted black flares.
- The Hair: You know the drill â the fringe needs to be just slightly too long.
- The Attitude: Lean into the sofa and prepare to be the most charming person in the room.
The Claudia Winkleman Show only premiered on BBC One last week (Friday the 13th, naturally), and the reviews were a real mixed bag. Some critics called the first episode a bit of a âmessâ or a âbore,â mostly because of a divisive new feature where random audience members chipped in to the conversation But in true âAunty Claudâ fashion, sheâs been her own biggest critic. She actually went on the radio and jokingly told everyone not to watch it, calling the first episode âawfulâ and saying she was too nervous to even discuss it.Â
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