Samantha Armytage divides opinion over 'awkward' Today show outfit: 'It's a fail!'

Sam Armytage divided viewers on Monday when she showed off the 'awkward' outfit she donned on the Today show. 

Channel Nine shared an image of the look to its style account on Instagram, with the former Sunrise host, 49, rocking a white blouse tucked into grey pleated shorts.

The ensemble appeared to be a summery, casual take on a business look, as Sam teamed the outfit with pointed black pumps.

However, while some fans praised the attire, other viewers said the TV star looked 'awkward', labelling the look a 'fail'. 

'Just no,' one person wrote, as another added: 'It's a fail! Boring look for morning TV.'

'Seriously! Not a morning TV look at all,' a third agreed, as someone else wrote: 'Oh no, looking awkward.'

Others said the outfit wasn't suitable for the winter season. 

'Looks ridiculous in shorts in mid-winter & those bloody high heels!' one said.

'Not sure about [that] outfit for winter,' another wrote.

Some fans came to Sam's defence, with one user commenting, 'Luv the look Sam,' alongside a red heart emoji.

'Summer wear in winter, most interesting indeed from Samantha Armytage,' someone else said. 

'Great show today!' another added, while others commented with white and grey heart emojis to match Sam's colour scheme for the day. 

It comes after Channel Nine quietly reshuffled the deck at Today this week, with veteran reporter Mike Willesee Jr removed from the breakfast show as the network trials a fresh on-air pairing.

In a move sure to spark speculation about the program's long-term direction, former Farmer Wants A Wife host Sam has been joined by respected 60 Minutes journalist Tom Steinfort at the desk while regular co-host Sarah Abo is away on maternity leave.

The temporary partnership marks a return to breakfast television for Sam and reunites Tom with a role he knows well.

Before becoming one of 60 Minutes' most recognisable faces, Tom served as Today's newsreader during the Deborah Knight and Georgie Gardner era in 2019, making him a familiar figure to the show's viewers.

According to industry insiders, Tom is highly regarded by Nine management and remains a popular member of the Today team behind the scenes, with executives optimistic he and Sam will strike the right chemistry on air.

The pairing is expected to be closely watched by network bosses, particularly as breakfast television remains one of the most fiercely contested battlegrounds.

While Nine is understood to be treating the arrangement as a temporary hosting solution, the chemistry between Sam and Tom will inevitably come under scrutiny as executives continue searching for ways to improve the breakfast program's ratings performance.