Clothes Make the Man – How About Makeup?

D.B. Cooper famously lacked fashion sense, at least on the day of the highjack. A russet-colored suit, skinny tie – even his shirt collar was thought to be out of fashion. His receding hairline was suspiciously black – possibly from hair dye or shoe polish, a popular quick-fix for stubborn grays back in the day. Some recently uncovered old interviews with one of the three stewardesses on Flight 305 brought up some rather shocking news – was Cooper wearing makeup? That’s what was reported to two independent parties.

When we profile Cooper’s appearance, we typically say he was rather tall, thin, around mid-to-late 40’s, dark hair…and olive skinned or “swarthy”. Fair-haired guys and ruddy fellows are quickly dismissed for their complexions. Oddly, on the night of the highjacking, none of the witnesses said anything either way about Cooper wearing some sort of skin-coloring product. Self-tanners back then were notorious for turning the user a sick shade of orange. If Cooper WAS attempting to change his hue, I say he would use traditional foundation or powder.

Does makeup really matter at this point? If Cooper did indulge, I think then his whole outfit was a deliberate attempt to alter his appearance. Are we dismissing some pale men unnecessarily?  That is surely the case if liquid magic was involved. Perhaps Cooper’s everyday look is as big a mystery as who he was – and where he went.

-Pat