The Doctor is known for the ability to find a solution to almost any problem, be it small or galactic-sized in proportion. Supreme intellect, lifetimes of experience, and Time Lord DNA makes up a threat that few villains across the universe take lightly. Unfortunately, the Doctor sometimes turns up short when it comes to fashion sense.
Throughout the Doctor's many incarnations, the wardrobe has changed to reflect the distinct personality of each one. Whether it's madcap colors, miles-long scarves, or bow ties, Doctor Who certainly has given the word "eccentric" a whole new meaning. Here are five of the Doctor's best outfits, and five that should have stayed buried in the depths of the TARDIS.
10 Best: The Tenth Doctor (David Tennant)
The Tenth Doctor blended only the slightest bit of quirkiness into his snug pinstripe suit, opting for a mixture of immaturity and class, especially when it came down to the sneakers. When paired with his long brown trench coat, the Doctor could easily blend inconspicuously into his environment.
The Doctor switched up his wardrobe colors several times throughout his run, but the core elements remained, making him one of the hippest, most stylish Doctors ever to pilot the TARDIS.
9 Worst: The Seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy)
The Seventh Doctor's wardrobe reflected his character arc near the end of the original classic series, with a strong emphasis on the question mark which featured heavily in his outfit. This may have been a direct reference to his mysterious actions towards enemies like the Daleks and the Cybermen, suggesting he might have been undertaking covert ops missions for the Time Lords.
Whatever the case, the outfit is hideous. Only polka dots could be more awful. Still, it was an appropriate outfit for such an impish, deceitful, and manipulative (yet charming) Doctor, which may have been designed to throw his opponents off guard.
8 Best: The Thirteenth Doctor (Jodie Whittaker)
The Thirteenth Doctor's outfit made many nods towards past incarnations of the character, taking visual styling cues from several to create a patchwork, with a few twists thrown in for good measure. The high waisted pants and suspenders feature prominently for perhaps the first time, while the '70s inspired tee and trench coat clash in a way that would make the Fourth Doctor proud.
Since the character's debut, the Thirteenth Doctor has also added a few more items to the mix, including an over-sized colorful scarf - another nod to a previous Doctor. Where the character's wardrobe goes from here is anyone's guess.
7 Worst: The Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton)
Patrick Troughton was a fantastic choice to pick up the mantle of the Doctor following William Hartnell's retiring of the role due to health concerns. Unfortunately, his exuberant personality and mischievous charm failed to resonate in his odd outfit choice.
The Second Doctor is widely regarded as looking like an impoverished hobo, thanks in no small part to his tattered plaid pants, disheveled shirt, and run down overcoat. It could be argued that he was the first real eccentric Doctor, which was capitalized on by his later selves.
6 Best: The Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee)
The Third Doctor was a commanding presence, thanks to a superb performance by the dynamite Jon Pertwee. This Doctor owned his role, and wasn't about to take any flack from anyone who questioned his rather flamboyant wardrobe choices. In truth, the Third Doctor's wardrobe was right at home in the 1970s, showcasing the decade's unhealthy obsession with frills, crushed velvet, and abnormal color choices.
Eccentric, over-the-top, and wholly outdated, the Third Doctor wore it well. It's a rare instance of a time-locked fashion trend actually working in a character's favor, much the same as ripped jeans and Aquanet were staples of the '80s hair metal genre. This Doctor didn't care what anyone thought, and if he was pushed too far, he'd respond with a Venusian aikido chop as a reminder that he doesn't need to listen to anyone.
5 Worst: The Fifth Doctor (Peter Davison)
Peter Davison's Fifth Doctor had a wardrobe that can best be described as the nightmare child of the Tenth and Sixth Doctor's wardrobes. It contains elements from each, yet it's overpowered by the latter. It came hot on the heels of a very quirky and odd wardrobe choice by the Fourth Doctor, while ditching the '70s browns in favor of cream fabric with ugly red accents and a stick of celery on the lapel.
The outfit didn't exactly sync well with the Fifth Doctor, who was far more serious and prone to overreaction than his predecessors. He lacked much of his previous quirky wit and goofy humor, which made this wardrobe choice seem like an ill fit. Still, Davison knocked the role out of the park.
4 Best: The Twelfth Doctor (Peter Capaldi)
Peter Capaldi turned out an excellent performance as the Twelfth Doctor, and his fashion sense didn't hurt, either. In many ways, it was an amalgamation of several of the Doctor's past wardrobe choices, including the Third and Tenth Doctors.
This Doctor was decked out in a simple pair of business pants, a long buttoned-up coat, vest, and a pair of Wingtip Oxford Italian leather boots. It helped him bring back the authoritative persona of the Third Doctor, without losing his eccentric wit in the process.
3 Worst: The Sixth Doctor (Colin Baker)
Most fans wholeheartedly agree that the Sixth Doctor's fashion choices are the absolute worst of the bunch, and it's easy to see why. In an effort to capitalize on the oddball wardrobe of the Fifth Doctor, the showrunners went all out with a retina-scorching patchwork of reds, yellows, pinks, and blues, all married to Colin Baker's frizzy golden locks.
It's about as far from subtle as one could possibly imagine, and caused him to stick out like a sore thumb, even in the craziest of environments. By the time Colin's run had finished, most were happy for the return of their eyesight.
2 Best: The Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker)
Tom Baker doesn't just stand the test of time as one of the favorite incarnations of Doctor Who - his wardrobe is positively iconic, representing one of the most easily-recognized Doctors, even for those who never watched the show. Insane by every standard, the Fourth Doctor's wardrobe choices were a perfect match for the unbridled insanity of the character.
It's no wonder fans were so enchanted by Tom Baker's enthusiastic, wide-eyed performance. From the long overcoat to the signature hat, the Doctor would turn his own outfit into a character unto itself, and the source of countless comedic gags. The most iconic part of the Doctor's wardrobe was undoubtedly the long scarf. This ended up becoming one of the most beloved aspects of the character's fashion sense.
1 Worst: The War Doctor (John Hurt)
One can't fault the War Doctor for his outfit, especially given that he spent most of the time as a certified Dalek destroyer for what could have been centuries (if his youthful regeneration is any indicator). Maintaining his fashion sense didn't seem to be a priority when the threat of galactic annihilation was so high.
Nevertheless, this is perhaps the worst the Doctor has ever looked through the ages. He's disheveled, raggedy, and unkempt in a way that no other Doctor has been, which shows the toll the Time War was taking on his psyche.