Patrick Troughton was the first “new” Doctor. A mammoth of a task for any actor, Troughton rose to occasion with aplomb and managed to win over an entire generation of Doctor Who fans.
His performance succeeded by being quintessentially different to that of his predecessor – something which would set the standard for decades to come.
When Troughton wakes up on the floor of the TARDIS having regenerated from his older, more worn out body, we see that his clothes have miraculously regenerated too. Fans have discussed why this happens at great length, but in truth, it was probably nothing more than an oversight on the part of the production crew.
The costume we see the second Doctor wearing throughout his tenure is remained relatively unchanged throughout. Naturally, certain aspects were added, removed, or replaced as the production needed, but the silhouette of the “Cosmic Hobo” remained relatively unchanged throughout his run.
Troughton’s mismatched costume of various found items naturally lent him a scatty, haphazard sense of style which painted the second Doctor as a bumbling buffoon which masked the sharp intellect and keen adventurer hidden beneath.
The look presented here has taken a lot of similar pieces and injected some colour, a variety, and texture. The silhouette has (as ever!) been slimmed down slightly but should, in theory, retain that classic 1960’s style.
The bow tie offered here is a self-tie styled bow tie in the classic thistle shape. This is a departure from the screen-worn piece in the sense that Troughton’s bow tie was actually a pre-tied option held in place with a safety pin of all things! I’d recommend tying the tie properly, however, if you want to get the slouchy, beatnik style you can always tie it looser than necessary and keep the top button of your shirt open.
This one is by OTAA on Etsy and seems to be a beautifully designed tie. Alternatively, a textured and pre-tied option would be this navy and yellow knitted bow tie from Tyler & Tyler – the softer shape and rumpled texture definitely gives a louche attitude to the tie and helps to dress down what could, otherwise, be a very formal accessory.
As with the first Doctor, the second Doctor was a huge fan of checked trousers. Troughton’s on screen trousers (though seen to be grey and black due to the black and white TV!) were mainly greys, blacks, and browns. The Relco trousers featured are a slim, 60’s style cut and feature a vibrant red tartan. The use of colour and pattern lends the outfit a mod/punk edge while remaining quintessentially eccentric.
Alternatively, a grey based pair of checked trousers would work just as well. Check our 12th Doctor lookbook for some options!
The braces (or suspenders, for our friends across the pond!) worn by Troughton were the classic button on style and can still be easily found today. These cheaper eBay options are a nice low-end option and will work with any pair of trousers (providing you’re willing to sew some buttons onto the waistband)!
Troughton’s screen-worn shirts tended to be either pale blue or white with a wide, open collar. In order to modernise this look, we’ve replaced the slouchy and roomy shirts favoured by the second Doctor for a slimmer fit cotton offering in pale blue. The shirt shown above is by Selected/Homme and is currently on sale! Alternatively, any pale blue shirt will work just as well.
Perhaps the most noticeable different between Troughton’s on-screen costume and the lookbook shown here is the fact that we’ve replaced the Doctor’s morning coat with a long-line waffle-knit cardigan. Even the most confident of men would struggle to pull a morning coat off for any other occasion than a wedding so it’s ill-advised to wear one on a day-to-day basis.
The cardigan retains the dark colouring and longer styling of the morning coat while simultaneously making the outfit more relaxed and comfortable. The one shown here is from River Island, but long-line cardigans are becoming more and more popular for men these days, so be sure to check your local high-street stores!
As ever with these posts, the most priciest piece of this lookbook are the boots. These are a beautiful pair of suede Chelsea boots from Jules B – they feature a classic profile and a slightly higher heel than usual. The overall shape is incredibly 1960’s and will help to ground the look in the past while offering modern comfort and quality.
“I should like a hat like that!” goes the well-known second Doctor line. Troughton’s incarnation of the Time Lord had a penchant for hats (which later made a return with Matt Smith’s eleventh Doctor) and was known for sporting a variety of styles. In the cooler months, this fishman’s beanie will make a welcome companion for any traveller and is available from Asos.
Troughton was known to sport a large fur coat on-screen when the Doctor found himself in less hospitable environments. While fur coats are still available, the ethical implications are questionable and the style is notoriously difficult for men to wear.
In lieu of this, we’ve found this slouchier parka. The parka is a classic piece of British menswear and features a fur piped hood and shearling lining. The slightly chunkier styling helps to reference the original screen-worn coat while also being a key piece of 1960’s outerwear. The parka is from Burton and is currently on sale!
Lastly, for those who want a nice pocket prop, the second Doctor was obsessed with his recorder. Descant recorders can be bought relatively inexpensively from any good music shop and are easy to learn tunes on!
What do you think? Would you wear this look inspired by the second Doctor? Let us know in the comments below!
An Adventure With Ties In Space 