Love Letter to the Log Lady’s Outfits

At the upcoming Fayetteville Comic Show in Fayetteville, Arkansas, fellow Twin Peaks fans and I will be dressing like the Log Lady as a tribute to the late Catherine Coulson. Her performance as Margaret Lanterman, affectionately known as the “Log Lady,”  is still one of the most memorable (and quoted) characters from David Lynch and Mark Frost’s series. While researching which outfit to model, I wrote this love letter to her rustic-inspired wardrobe. Here’s a look at every outfit from the Pilot Episode to publicity photos and more.

PILOT EPISODE

We first see the Log Lady as “the most beautiful woman in the state,” Josie Packard, enters the Twin Peaks Town Hall. She is standing in the back of the room by the main doors holding her log.

We get a better look when she makes the lights flicker. This is the only time we’ll see her in this particular outfit.

Once last glimpse of Margaret is seen in this brief shot of townsfolk at the meeting. Gosh, I wish I knew who some of these people are (Locals? Hired extras?). It’s one of my favorite shots from the Pilot (just look at the guy in the black bowler hat!).

EPISODE 1001

The Log Lady returns in Episode 1001 at the Double R Diner. Cooper is eager to say “hello” after spotting her at the counter. She is wearing an iconic sweater that will appear several more times. I haven’t identified it yet (though I’m leaning toward a vintage Pendleton, as they provided several shirts for actors and actresses).

As Margaret speak with Cooper and Truman, we see more of her sweater. As she departs, she is seen carrying a coat and leather handbag. All three items will return in future episodes.

EPISODE 1003

Margaret wears the coat she was carrying in Episode 1001 to Laura Palmer’s funeral in Episode 1003. The wood brooch now pinned to her overcoat was also worn as a bolo-like necklace in the previously mentioned episode. You’ll see it many more times throughout the series.

EPISODE 1005

The law enforcement team make an unscheduled stop to Margaret’s cabin in Episode 1005. With log in arms, she greets them wearing her most iconic sweater. Notice the wood brooch is now attached to her collar.

As she serves tea to the lawmen, we get a wonderful look at the back of the sweater.

Here are additional looks at her outfit from Episode 1005, including a rare look at her shoes (which appear to be camel-colored hiking boots). This was her final appearance in Season 1.

EPISODE 2001

Margaret Lanterman is seen  in a corner booth at the Double R Diner in Episode 2001 chewing “pitch gum” (most likely made from Spruce tree resin). She is sporting a new Pendleton Board Shirt (one of their most classic styles) with wood brooch at the collar. Look carefully to see her leather handbag and a cardigan sweater that won’t fully appear until Episode 2018.

EPISODE 2002

While Major Briggs enjoys coffee at the Double R Diner in Episode 2002, Margaret sits next to him at the counter. Another new outfit including another Pendleton Board Shirt and different cardigan sweater.

You can get a better look at this outfit in the official publicity photos of Catherine Coulson as the Log Lady.

There is a brief medium close-up of Margaret at the counter noticing Major Briggs’ outfit. She is wearing small ball-like earrings for this scene.

EPISODE 2007

My most favorite cardigan sweater returns in Episode 2007 when Margaret visits Truman and Cooper at the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department.

Just look at those wooden earrings!

Margaret takes the lawmen to The Roadhouse. We see another rare look at her hiking boots.

EPISODE 2011

At the Milford’s wedding reception in Episode 2011, the Log Lady joins a table with Pete Martell and Dwayne Milford.

While Lana and Dougie cut the cake, we see a better look at her outfit complete with a beret.

Margaret returns to Pete and Dwayne’s table to rave about the wedding cake.

Thanks to The Mauve Zone, we have some promotional and publicity photos from Episode 2011. The top image was taken by Paula K. Shimatsu-U who was a Unit Publicist, photographer, and Mark Frost’s assistant during the first two seasons of Twin Peaks. The bottom photo provides one of the best looks of Margaret’s handbag. I’d love to find a replica of it!

EPISODE 2017

Major Briggs and the Log Lady visit the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department in Episode 2017. You may recognize the Log Lady’s overcoat which hasn’t been seen since Episode 1003 at Laura’s funeral.

Margaret is wearing a Pendleton Board Shirt first seen in Episode 2002. She’s also sporting the same long, striped skirt that she wore at her cabin in Episode 1005.

When she shows Deputy Dale the tattoo on the back of her leg, we also get a better look at the detail of that long skirt.

I love this shot of all three which gives an even better look at the Log Lady’s entire outfit.

EPISODE 2018

The Log Lady enjoys more pie at the Double R Diner in Episode 2018. She is now wearing the cardigan sweater seen sitting next to her in Episode 2001. Notice she is also wearing a new necklace made of wood.

In this behind-the-scenes image from The Mauve Zone, David Lynch and Catherine Coulson share a laugh on set. We get a wonderful look at the Pendleton Board Shirt first seen when she was chewing pitch gum in Episode 2001.

I love her cardigan sweater in this scene. I am also guessing it could be a vintage Pendleton one.

EPISODE 2021

Mr. Pinkle fawns all over the Log Lady during the Miss Twin Peaks Pageant show in Episode 2021. Margaret is again wearing the wooden brooch on her label, not collar.

WINDOM EARLE IN 2021

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Windom Earle’s Log Lady-inspired outfit in Episode 2021.

Windom hits Bobby with a log while backstage of the Miss Twin Peaks Contest.

As Earle sneaks along above the stage, we see he is even wearing camel-colored boots like Catherine.

The image above is an odd one as it’s actually reversed. The brooch he is wearing is on the opposite lapel compared to other scenes.

The last look at Windom’s outfit is seen when he grabs Annie Blackburn just after the ceremony is completed. Strangely, the next time we will see him he will be wearing his signature disheveled black suit and tie.

EPISODE 2022

For Margaret Lanterman’s final appearance in Season 2, she wears the same jacket she was carrying in Episode 1001 and wore in Episodes 1003 and 2017.

FIRE WALK WITH ME

The same jacket reappears in Twin Peaks – Fire Walk With Me during the Log Lady’s brief-but-moving encounter with Laura Palmer outside the Roadhouse.

THE MISSING PIECES

There was a deleted scene of the Log Lady from David Lynch’s classic 1992 film. The Log Lady is seen sitting outside her house while wearing the same coat as the Roadhouse scene.

LOG LADY INTRODUCTIONS

For the Bravo TV broadcasts in the mid 1990s, a series of introductions hosted by the Log Lady were produced. She changes outfits several times during these brief introductions.

For the Pilot Episode to Episode 1007, she wears her iconic sweater first seen in Episode 1001.

For Episodes 2001-2007, she wears a different sweater and top. She continues to wear the wood brooch at her collar.

For Episodes 2008-2009, Margaret wears a new plaid jacket. The maroon turtleneck, however, appears in Episodes 2001 and 2017.

The maroon turtle neck stays in Episode 2010 but the sweater changes again.

Her favorite sweater returns for Episodes 2011-2021. She even wears the same wood earrings first seen in Episode 2007.

In Episode 2021, the Log Lady gives us a better look at the log.

For the final introduction seen in Episode 2022, the overcoat returns.

As the camera slowly zooms in, we get a better look at her earrings and red glasses.

SEASON 3 – PART 1

The Log Lady returns to the screen in Part 1 of Season 3.

SEASON 3 – PART 2

For all of her appearances, she wears the same outfit most likely the result of filming all of her scenes around the same time at her former home in Oregon.

SEASON 3 – PART 10

It seems like she is wearing another brown cardigan and perhaps a turtle neck shirt. The outfits in Parts 11 and 15 are the same as the other episodes.

PUBLICITY PHOTOS

Thank you again to The Mauve Zone which posted additional publicity images of Margaret’s outfits.

This image of the Log Lady in the Double R Diner is from a recent vinyl soundtrack release. It was published backward but I’ve corrected it for this article.

This photo by Paula K. Shimatsu-U was also used on the StarPics trading cards released in the early 1990s. It appears these photos were all taken about the same time before the start of Season 2.

Two shots of the Log Lady wearing costume pieces seen in the series including the wood brooch and the overcoat. The shirt (most likely from Pendleton) appears unique.

The final publicity image from The Mauve Zone shows Catherine Coulson wearing a completely unique outfit not seen in any episode.