Secret Style Icon No.17: Secret Agent Dale Cooper

“Harry, I’m going to let you in on a little secret: every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don’t plan it; don’t wait for it; just let it happen. It could be a new shirt in a men’s store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot, black, coffee.”

And with that, I had found my muse. Special Agent Dale Cooper is handsome, articulate and well mannered, meticulous and committed to his work, and he wears his black suit, slim tie and white shirt with far more style than Mr Draper ever could. As soon as he arrives in the sultry, dreaming backwater of Twin Peaks, he is besotted. He wonders at the quality of the pie they serve in the diner. He accepts without a murmur every quirk and nuance of the locals. He’s especially enamoured of his coffee. It is a joy to watch Dale’s relationship with police officer Harry S Truman (yes, namesake of the 33rd president) as they work together to unravel the escalating mystery of what happened to Laura. Harry watches Dale with an admiration that is deeply felt but barely expressed; you imagine, in a life stuck in a dawdling backwater, the reticent and unassuming Harry is just glad to have the company of someone with their head screwed on.

With great solemnity, Agent Cooper entices the local police to listen to his dreams and drive the investigation on intuition and maverick guessing games. He gives approval with two thumbs up and a big smile, and much to Harry’s bafflement, he’s endlessly enthusiastic about the beauty of the douglas fir trees, stirring in the distance. I love him because he wholeheartedly commits to the pleasures of his daily life. Rising early, working late, dressing exquisitely every day, brave and cautious at once, never without his cassette to record any interesting thoughts he may have – keeping ever part of his life under control – Dale Cooper knows that what really matters is taking a second to savour a damn fine cup of coffee.