Sees clad characters - but lowered in status (8)
I believe the answer is:
declasse
'lowered in status' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I cannot judge whether this works.
'sees clad characters' is the wordplay.
'characters' indicates an anagram.
'sees'+'clad'='seesclad'
'seesclad' with letters rearranged gives 'DECLASSE'.
'but' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for declasse that I've seen before include "stripped of social standing" , "down the social ladder" , "having lost status" , "Having fallen in social status" .)