When it comes to crime drama style, The Killing heroine Sarah Lund and The Bridge’s Saga Noren have long slayed the prime-time competition. But Scandi jumper and leather trouser-wearers now need to make way for a new wave of well-dressed case crackers. Here are four guaranteed to distract you from plot twists next time you’re watching telly.
Commander Elise Wassermann in The Tunnel
Cynics might call Clémence Poésy’s character Saga with a French accent, but Sky’s twist on The Bridge, using the Channel tunnel instead, has its own set of fans and a new series coming up later this month. Wassermann has her own style, too, a sort of French take on streetwear: a neat and tidy chunky jumper, well-cut bomber and perfectly tousled blonde layers. Makes Stephen Dillane’s parka and slightly crumpled shirt look even more British. Parfait.
Marcella Backland in Marcella
Anna Friel’s character sees her life unravelling in the new ITV drama, written by The Bridge’s Hans Rosenfeldt. But she still manages to look pretty fabulous during the fallout. Much has been made of her parka, but we’d also like to draw attention to her veil haircut, M necklace and Sarah Lund-worthy knitwear. A masterclass in how to work a look as your life falls apart: keep it simple, practical and add a bit of cool to help with the self-respect.
Maya Cobbina in Undercover
Sophie Okonedo’s defence lawyer Cobbina is basically an advertisement for how much a white shirt can make a busy jet-lagged woman look like the kind of professional who can take on the maximum security of a US correctional facility and look the part. Her Peter Pan collar short-sleeved shirt, complete with pen, could, finally, be competition for Stella Gibson’s satin blouse, though the new series of The Fall has yet to air. Watch this space, satin fans.
Kate Fleming in Line of Duty
Vicky McClure’s role as Lol in This is England is a hard act to follow. Kate Fleming, the detective constable on Line of Duty, doesn’t have the skinhead haircut and mom jeans, but she does have a sharp crop, quite Saint Laurent outerwear (a khaki parka, and black leather biker) and classic grey marl T-shirts. Very London 2016. Add the police lanyard for extra alpha take-no-prisoners chic.
