The question marks were JN-T's idea from the outset, thinking that he could market the "?" in some way. June Hudson was instructed to include them when she was designing Tom Baker's Season 18 costume, but tried to make them subtle as she (and many others, including Tom) thought they were a ridiculous idea.
While looking up a similar costuming/clothing analysis for the Tenth Doctor's outfits, I came across a quote that went something along the lines of "the Doctor will generally put a bit of his own style/idiosyncrasy into his own outfits, even though they might emulate the idea of something else." And I think no incarnations of the Doctor better exemplify that than both Five and Ten. Ten's suit is unusual in the respect that it's four-buttoned (unheard of in men's fashion), has a breast pocket with a flap on it (?) and a belt in the back (helps with waist suppression and presumably a token nod to fashion statements of the 1940s). There are a few historical examples of suits that may tick some of those boxes, but none that tick ALL. Also, the trousers are quite flared/baggy in the leg, giving the ensemble a more casual appearance (as they're cut to look more like bootcut jeans). His dress shirts are typically worn with the top button undone (which gives his ties a more functional job holding his collar together, rather than as mere adornment) and this adds to the "more casual" look of the suit and adds a rakish quality. His double-breasted brown overcoat is also cut very long and has a single vent (and a blue lining)--some of the details were in vogue for the time (I still think they're stylish). The sneakers with the suit thing was a big fashion faux pax up until the early-to-mid 2000s, and its arguable that celebrities like Elijah Wood and David Tennant were the first to really popularize it; apparently there's some backlash on the look now that nearly twenty years have gone by, but I still think it looks good in general. And as far as the show goes, it's in keeping with the theme of the Doctor being someone who runs a lot, and therefore would want comfortable shoes. Five may not wear cricket spikes on the shoes, but I think you're right in thinking that his white hi-top sneakers are a good reconceptualization of the idea for a character that's typically running a lot in a variety of venues. The trousers may not be strictly regulation, but the stripes do add a bit of visual interest that I do think would have been missed had they subbed them out for flat cricket whites. Same goes for the lining on the shirt; gives a bit of visual interest, and compliments the piping on the cricket sweater nicely (although I'm in agreement with everybody in the world that the question marks specifically have to go). And I think the cream/beige coat with the red piping brings the whole ensemble together quite nicely. Along with the white hat with the red band. And the celery (it's a decorative vegetable!). And it's a very comprehensive look that is a LOVELY change of pace after seeing the Doctor in mostly dark colors and heavier fabrics during his first four incarnations.
What a great response, Mike. Thanks for taking the time to write something substantial. And an interesting discussion there on Tennant's original costume!
I think Peter Davison’s pants may have been inspired by striped patterns like those at 6:08. It may have been an attempt to bring cricket designs into the outfit, even if they aren’t meant to be on the trousers, specifically.
It's possible, although, as I point out in the video, the original idea to have a frock coat and top hat likely meant stripes of a different nature (ie: the grey and black stripes that go with that look), and as the costume morphed into lighter colours, so did the stripes. I wish the designer was still alive and/or had spoken more about the costume while alive, to know more.
You didn’t mention the celery. 😜 The Fifth Doctor’s clothes might not have been conventional Edwardian cricketing gear, but the Doctor is far from conventional. Though I will concede, the question marks went a little too far.
I've been impulsively planning out a fifth doctor cosplay after starting my watch of classic who and this video is really helpful for planning out what I'm going to need.
Yknow I don’t know if it shows MY awful fashion tastes but I don’t get the hatred towards bright, wacky clothing on The Doctor. We’re talking about an alien who is NOT from our planet. If they wanna wear a patchwork rainbow frock coat and question marks to go with their whole “Doctor Who” joke, at least they still look rather cool
Not really Dave. The story that 'involved playing cricket' is Black Orchid, which is the 5th adventure the Davison Doctor had; I used clips from it in this video, which I presume you didn't watch? And it was more the 1980s Doctor, under producer John Nathan-Turner, that stuck to their costumes like a uniform. That includes the final season of Tom Baker, then Davison, then Colin Baker, then Sylvester McCoy. All had slight variations - CBaker had different waistcoats and cat badges, for example, while McCoy changed coat colour for his final season. But prior to that, the Doctor would change up his look. There are several distinct versions of the Hartnell costume, a couple for Troughton, and Pertwee has many variations.
@@daveofyorkshire301 ...Peter Davison and Colin Baker's takes on the Doctor are like night and day. Yes, Six was arrogant and a bit rough and "shouty", but the whole narrative conceit behind the Fifth Doctor was that he was well-meaning but ineffectual. It's why he has the darkest tenure among any of his other incarnations. Just check out "Warriors of the Deep": by the end of it, everyone is dead and all Five can do is just brokenheartedly look at the chaos around him and say "there should've been another way." I feel, by the nature of your comments, that you're not really familiar with the show at all.
@@mikebliss3153 The Doctor was NEVER ineffectual, he often presented as naive or no threat, but he always knew what he was doing. The Doctor often pretended to be detached and unaware, but that was his approach. He rarely took authority or played the superiority card... As I said I don't like Davidson or Colin Baker, so I didn't keep any video of them. I don't rewatch and therefore my recall is from long ago. But there is little point continuing since you do not value my opinion. Conversation over...
