The Doctor as a Fashion Icon

Today I’m wearing an outfit that, to fans of Doctor Who, will look overtly inspired by Peter Capaldi’s interpretation of the title character. To non-Whovians it’ll look, perhaps, quite dandy and fashion forward – more at home in London, Paris, or New York than on the rainy streets of a rural town in Lincolnshire.

Interestingly, my obsession with Doctor Who fashion started with my introduction to the show. The first episode I watched was David Tennant’s first ‘proper’ outing as the 10th Doctor, 2006’s ‘New Earth’, the start of series two of the revived Doctor Who.

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The “Fashion Journalist” Eleven

Matt Smith’s original, less considered look was something of an anti-fashion statement when the first images of the then new Time Lord were released.

Featuring a vintage tweed jacket, bow tie, braces, and a punk-ish pairing of big boots with turned up jeans, his look was a mixture of youthful reverence and elderly tradition. What Smith’s incarnation of the Time Lord did for both bow ties and the tweed industry has been well documented and rightly so. The eleventh Doctor almost single-handedly changed the face of men’s fashion (especially in the UK) over night.

The look mixes elements of classic tailoring with modern, slimmer styling. The use of matching elements and heritage fabrics creates the air of consideration and stylishness which often goes hand in hand with a certain degree of fashion-mindedness.

Smith wore two jackets in series five, both of which have proven elusive to replicate so many casual fans and cosplayers alike simply find close-enough weaves in vintage jackets and modify the fit and details accordingly.

The “Urban Explorer” Rory Williams

While he certainly comes second compared to the Doctor, it can’t be denied that Rory Williams was heroic in his own right. Willing to wait for the woman he loved for 2000 years and to travel the universe trying to find his baby daughter, Rory certainly earns the title of badass.

Initially a comic foil for the drama of the series, Rory developed and matured over the course of his time on the show, to the point where he’s considered a proper companion by the fans. Having travelled with the 11th Doctor and married the wonderful Amy Pond, Rory had to contend with some strong personalities but refused to fade into the background.

While his sense of style was more conservative than the bow tie clad Time Lord, he definitely had his own distinct look.