'Doctor Who's Outlandish Outfits

On Monday morning we were given our first glimpse of Matt Smith in costume as the eleventh incarnation of the heroic Time Lord in Doctor Who. The outfit has sparked plenty of debate, with the tweed jacket and bow tie resembling something a geriatric Physics teacher would wear to 'Parents Evening'. But given the outrage that initially greeted Christopher Eccleston's leather jacket - and its subsequent popularity - we're sure The Doctor's wardrobe is in very capable hands. Here's a look at the Gallifreyan's iconic costumes down the years...

The First Doctor

William Hartnell's Edwardian suit and walking stick (very useful for fending off the Zarbi) befitted an increasingly tired Time Lord heading towards a regeneration. When the show first hit the airwaves in 1963, the crazy fashions of that decade were starting to take hold and The Doctor's outfit helped to position him as a man of history and mystery. Interestingly enough, the original pilot episode saw him wear a contemporary garb, but this was wisely dropped for the broadcast version. He wasn't afraid of making slight wardrobe changes to adapt to his environment, as shown by the Wild West-style cowboy hat he wore in 'The Gunfighters'.

The Second Doctor

The Time Lord's change from a cantankerous grump to a cheerful 'cosmic hobo' involved the character, now played by Patrick Troughton, adopting a less meticulous approach to his wardrobe. The floppy mopped man wore a scruffy black jacket, crumpled blue shirt and a polka dot bow tie, with his top button often left undone to echo his deceptively casual approach. The baggy trousers certainly came in handy for sprinting away from the likes of the Cybermen and Ice Warriors during their various encounters. He also had a recorder handy to bang out a few tunes on, frequently while imprisoned.

The Third Doctor

Jon Pertwee's dynamic, karate-chopping Third Doctor was decked out in very elegant attire. Frilly shirts and bright orange, green and blue velvet jackets were perfect for a guy who savoured fine wines and drove a vintage car he called Bessie. In line with his 'man of action' status, bolstered by the addition of the 'Whomobile', he often donned a cloak and leather gloves! It certainly helped him to stand out from all those UNIT soldiers he liked hanging around with.

The Fourth Doctor

Undoubtedly the most iconic Doctorish image of them all belonged to Tom Baker's portrayal of The Doctor. The floppy hat, long brown coat and multicoloured scarf added to Baker's depiction of an enigmatic figure that often veered between the playful and the morose. He was armed with a few eccentric accessories too, stocking his deep pockets with a yoyo and seemingly endless supply of jelly babies. His scarf, which he claimed was knitted for him by Madame Nostradamus, occasionally helped his universe-saving endeavours such as when he used it as a lasso to throw an executioner off balance in 'The Masque Of Mandragora'. The hat was also great for impairing the vision of the odd Dalek too.

The Fifth Doctor

An inspirational blond man dressed in cricket clothing and defeating the old enemy while retaining a strong moralistic core. No, not Freddie Flintoff. It's Peter Davison's Doctor! Comfortably the youngest Doctor on show, this less formal outfit suited his effervescent nature and his wearing of plimsolls paved the way for David Tennant's costume. The cricketing motif wasn't just for show, as he displayed his fine abilities with both bat and ball in the story 'Black Orchid', although some trigger happy umpiring helped too! Finally, The Fifth Doctor also had question marks on his lapels and wore a stick of celery which he claimed would turn purple if he was in the presence of certain gases.

The Sixth Doctor

Not The Doctor's finest sartorial hour, but this multicoloured, garish outfit formed an interesting contrast with the dark and unstable Time Lord that emerged from a traumatic regeneration in 'The Caves Of Androzani'. Mind you, the Rupert The Bear-style trousers and panto coat did start to grate on the eyes after a while. Then again, this was at a time in the mid-'80s when bright shell suits were all the rage. The Sixth Doctor also had a nice set of cat pins on his lapel, although they perished after giving companion Peri a quick bunk-up (over a wall!) in 'Revelation Of The Daleks'.

The Seventh Doctor

Who needed intriguing scripts and an ambiguous portrayal to demonstrate that the character was taking on a more mysterious persona? All you had to do was look at the hordes of Question Marks emblazoned over his sweater and umbrella to take the hint. The white outfit, complete with a Panama hat that he wore for the first two seasons, gave way to a more moody dark coat for the last season of his tenure. At least that meant an extra action figure for the range. The Seventh Doctor also carried one lethal weapon in his pockets - the spoons. As soon as he whipped those out and started playing them it was time to hide behind the sofa.

The Eighth Doctor

Poor Paul McGann's Doctor only lasted for one television outing, but his costume was quintessentially British and allayed fears that even his wardrobe might be Americanised. Stolen from the locker of a medical Doctor planning on heading to a fancy dress party as gunfighter Wild Bill Hickok, the dark frock coat and Edwardian-style cravat harked back to the earlier incarnations of The Doctor and went down a treat with fans.


The Ninth Doctor

After many years off our screens, Christopher Eccleston's Doctor's clothing epitomised the modernised and streamlined version of our beloved show. Wearing a tight V-neck sweater under a black leather jacket, The Doctor blended in to the contemporary England he liked to spend time in. No question marks were required, as the sharp writing and excellent central performance were all what was needed to reveal the character.


The Tenth Doctor

Just like his predecessor sparked a trend for buying leather jackets, David Tennant's visual appeal in this role ensured that 'geek chic' was at the forefront of fashion. Bright Converse trainers enabled him to dash around the decks of various spacecrafts, while alternating between blue and brown pinstripe suits helped him to exude a knowledgeable and respectable demeanour that befits a guy heading towards a four-figure age. He was quite fond of donning tuxedos, too, often using them to infiltrate various social functions like in 'The Lazarus Experiment' and 'Rise Of The Cybermen'.

> Click here for our look at The Doctor's Regenerations