The Regenerating Fashions of Doctor Who
Yesterday, the we learned who will play the twelfth Doctor on Doctor Who. He may be the same Time Lord through regenerations, but each version of the Doctor has his own personality and his own distinct style. Let's hop in the Tardis for a trip back in time to each Doctor's signature style and see what we can borrow along the way.
The First Doctor
He set the tone for eccentric Doctor style. During the first shooting of the pilot he wore typical street clothes, but when it was reshot, the Doctor sported a loose bow tie, a vest, a striped scarf, a spiral cane and, occasionally, a monocle. A monocle necklace would make a subtle tribute to this well-dressed Sci-fi original.
Pictured: Monocle Necklace, BrooklynCharm on Etsy, $22
The Second Doctor
Following the well-put-together First Doctor, the Second Doctor took a more haphazzard approach to dressing. He clothes weren't quite tidy. He affixed his little, pre-tied bow tie with a safety pin and he wore loud plaid pants. These laid back plaid pants have a similar feel, but can be put together in a far more chic way.
Pictured: Tie-Waist Plaid Pants, ASOS, $37.33
The Third Doctor
The third time's a charm, at least for fashion. This version of the Doctor was referred to as "The Dandy Doctor" for his varied fancy shirts, smoking jackets, dress shoes, riding boots, ascots and Inverness cloaks. A frilly shirt can do a lot to dress up a look, and you want to look fancy when you don't know where in time or space you might end up.
Pictured: Ruffle Front Shirt, Sierra Trading Post, $99.95
The Fourth Doctor
While I'm not terribly familiar with the Doctors that came before Nine, I can always picture Four. He was eccentric and comic looking. And, most memorably, he wore an impractically long scarf. The costume designer knew little about knitting so she gathered a lot of colorful yarn and commissioned the scarf. The woman who made it used all the yarn she was given, resulting in the super long scarf. You can buy a replica of this exact scarf for authentic time travel.
Pictured: Doctor Who 12' Scarf, ThinkGeek, $49.99
The Fifth Doctor
Dressed in a variation of a Cricketer's getup, the Fifth Doctor had several eccentric touches on top of his striped pants, plimsol shoes, overcoat and v-neck jumper. The question marks on his collar were quirky, but the celery stalk he wore on his lapel was his most noticeable accessory. (It warned him of fumes that he was allergic to). If wearing a celery stalk, like this fabric one, on your lapel is too much, this little celery charm is a nice homage.
Pictured: Celery Stalk Lapel Pin, PaintFabricWhimsy on Etsy, $25; Celery Charm, Ever Charming, $8.50
The Sixth Doctor
The actor who played Six wanted a black jacket and dark look for his character. The producers went all the way the other direction. This Doctor wore plaid, colorblocking, polka dots, teddy bear buttons, a cat brooch, etc. Basically, he wore all the things. This look is easy to emulate, just wear all the garish items you can find. For a simpler way to capture Six, this cat brooch mimics his with added playful polka dots.
Pictured: Polka Dots Cat Brooch, iloveyoujewels on Etsy, $20
The Seventh Doctor
In contrast to Six, Seven had a more toned-down look to start. The look actually changed a lot throughout this Doctor's tenure, but his question mark pullover and question mark-handled umbrella were trademarks that harkened back the question mark lapels worn by previous Doctors and the constant question, "Doctor Who?" The fashion answer to all these question marks is a cute shirt collar pin set.
Pictured: Question Mark Collar Chain Pin, CatzLand on Etsy, $6.45
The Eighth Doctor
This Doctor appeared on TV only once in a 1996 film that was supposed to function as a backdoor pilot for a show on Fox (We all know Fox's track record with brilliant Sci-fi). The show never happened, but Eight became the doctor portrayed in various other media formats for nearly a decade until the series picked up again in 2005. Eight was a posh fellow who looked a bit like he walked out of a Jane Austen novel with his velvet jacket, brocade vest and satin-y ascot. A velvet jacket might be just as cozy as a towel for all that traveling.
Pictured: Velvet Tuxedo Jacket, Jones New York, $119
The Ninth Doctor
Bringing us back the fantastical science-fiction show, Nine was a darker, more modern Doctor who sported a simple leather jacket and jeans. These modern classics accompanied the Doctor as he introduced a new generation to the man in the blue box.
Pictured: Leather Jacket, DKNY, $398.99 from $895
The Tenth Doctor
When I think of the Doctor, I think of Ten. He was the first Doctor I watched. ("Blink" was my first episode. Jael introduced me. She's a good friend.) His look was a blue or brown pinstripe suit with a long suede jacket and various colors of trainers depending on the suit he wore. The shoes and long coat echoed some of the more eccentric fashion choices of the earlier Doctors.
Pictured: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star, Zappos, $55
The Eleventh Doctor
When Eleven popped onto the scene in his tweed jacket and bow tie he brought the zany style back to the Doctor. He has been on a mission to convince us that bow ties are cool, as are fezzes, Stensons and any other accessory he decides to adopt for the moment. You have to admit, bow ties are cool.
Pictured: Ceramic Bow Tie Necklace, JulesCermanics on Etsy, $15
Which Doctor has your favorite style? Which is your favorite overall? What should Twelve wear?
The First DoctorHe set the tone for eccentric Doctor style. During the first shooting of the pilot he wore typical street clothes, but when it was reshot, the Doctor sported a loose bow tie, a vest, a striped scarf, a spiral cane and, occasionally, a monocle. A monocle necklace would make a subtle tribute to this well-dressed Sci-fi original.
Pictured: Monocle Necklace, BrooklynCharm on Etsy, $22
The Second DoctorFollowing the well-put-together First Doctor, the Second Doctor took a more haphazzard approach to dressing. He clothes weren't quite tidy. He affixed his little, pre-tied bow tie with a safety pin and he wore loud plaid pants. These laid back plaid pants have a similar feel, but can be put together in a far more chic way.
Pictured: Tie-Waist Plaid Pants, ASOS, $37.33
The Third DoctorThe third time's a charm, at least for fashion. This version of the Doctor was referred to as "The Dandy Doctor" for his varied fancy shirts, smoking jackets, dress shoes, riding boots, ascots and Inverness cloaks. A frilly shirt can do a lot to dress up a look, and you want to look fancy when you don't know where in time or space you might end up.
Pictured: Ruffle Front Shirt, Sierra Trading Post, $99.95
The Fourth DoctorWhile I'm not terribly familiar with the Doctors that came before Nine, I can always picture Four. He was eccentric and comic looking. And, most memorably, he wore an impractically long scarf. The costume designer knew little about knitting so she gathered a lot of colorful yarn and commissioned the scarf. The woman who made it used all the yarn she was given, resulting in the super long scarf. You can buy a replica of this exact scarf for authentic time travel.
Pictured: Doctor Who 12' Scarf, ThinkGeek, $49.99
The Fifth DoctorDressed in a variation of a Cricketer's getup, the Fifth Doctor had several eccentric touches on top of his striped pants, plimsol shoes, overcoat and v-neck jumper. The question marks on his collar were quirky, but the celery stalk he wore on his lapel was his most noticeable accessory. (It warned him of fumes that he was allergic to). If wearing a celery stalk, like this fabric one, on your lapel is too much, this little celery charm is a nice homage.
Pictured: Celery Stalk Lapel Pin, PaintFabricWhimsy on Etsy, $25; Celery Charm, Ever Charming, $8.50
The Sixth DoctorThe actor who played Six wanted a black jacket and dark look for his character. The producers went all the way the other direction. This Doctor wore plaid, colorblocking, polka dots, teddy bear buttons, a cat brooch, etc. Basically, he wore all the things. This look is easy to emulate, just wear all the garish items you can find. For a simpler way to capture Six, this cat brooch mimics his with added playful polka dots.
Pictured: Polka Dots Cat Brooch, iloveyoujewels on Etsy, $20
The Seventh DoctorIn contrast to Six, Seven had a more toned-down look to start. The look actually changed a lot throughout this Doctor's tenure, but his question mark pullover and question mark-handled umbrella were trademarks that harkened back the question mark lapels worn by previous Doctors and the constant question, "Doctor Who?" The fashion answer to all these question marks is a cute shirt collar pin set.
Pictured: Question Mark Collar Chain Pin, CatzLand on Etsy, $6.45
The Eighth DoctorThis Doctor appeared on TV only once in a 1996 film that was supposed to function as a backdoor pilot for a show on Fox (We all know Fox's track record with brilliant Sci-fi). The show never happened, but Eight became the doctor portrayed in various other media formats for nearly a decade until the series picked up again in 2005. Eight was a posh fellow who looked a bit like he walked out of a Jane Austen novel with his velvet jacket, brocade vest and satin-y ascot. A velvet jacket might be just as cozy as a towel for all that traveling.
Pictured: Velvet Tuxedo Jacket, Jones New York, $119
The Ninth DoctorBringing us back the fantastical science-fiction show, Nine was a darker, more modern Doctor who sported a simple leather jacket and jeans. These modern classics accompanied the Doctor as he introduced a new generation to the man in the blue box.
Pictured: Leather Jacket, DKNY, $398.99 from $895
The Tenth DoctorWhen I think of the Doctor, I think of Ten. He was the first Doctor I watched. ("Blink" was my first episode. Jael introduced me. She's a good friend.) His look was a blue or brown pinstripe suit with a long suede jacket and various colors of trainers depending on the suit he wore. The shoes and long coat echoed some of the more eccentric fashion choices of the earlier Doctors.
Pictured: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star, Zappos, $55
The Eleventh DoctorWhen Eleven popped onto the scene in his tweed jacket and bow tie he brought the zany style back to the Doctor. He has been on a mission to convince us that bow ties are cool, as are fezzes, Stensons and any other accessory he decides to adopt for the moment. You have to admit, bow ties are cool.
Pictured: Ceramic Bow Tie Necklace, JulesCermanics on Etsy, $15
Which Doctor has your favorite style? Which is your favorite overall? What should Twelve wear?
Comments
This makes me instantly want to start dressing like the Doctor every day!!
Me and 2 of my friends went as female adapations of 9, 10 and 11 to our pop culture convention here in sydney recently and we've all been using parts of our costumes in our everyday wear.
I do think that seeing 12 regenerate into 11's clothes is going to be quite funny!!
(sorry about the 2 long comments, as I'm sure you can tell I'm rather a huge Whovian)