Pinstripes and Plimsolls
Introduction
On July 25th 2005 David Tennant wore his costume as the Tenth Doctor for the very first time, in a series of photographs taken to unveil the new look to the public before filming for his first full episode – The Christmas Invasion – kicked into gear that afternoon.
The costume; a brown suit with blue pinstripes, a long tan overcoat and a pair of Converse Hi-Tops, went on to be as iconic in the mind of the general public as the Fourth Doctor’s multi-coloured scarf.
Fifteen years later, the costume remains as popular as ever. It’s a cosplay staple at conventions around the globe, and Tennant himself even occasionally slips back into the old gear, a decade after leaving the show.
Loads has been written about the costume over the years. Guides on tailoring to create your own copy, extensive searches to uncover the right fabrics and brands that make up the full ensemble, and more.
But I’ve never really seen a complete history of the costume. A guide to the creation of the different elements, and a catalogue of all the variations on the costume that Tennant wore during his time on screen.
So that’s what I’ve put together here. Medium.com/tennant-costumes is made up of three key sections;
Designing the Doctor – a history of how the costume came together.
Costume Elements – a general guide to the pieces that make up the costume.
The Costume Catalogue – a breakdown of the 38 different costume combinations worn by David Tennant in Doctor Who.
During the research and writing of this blog, I asked Costume Designer Louise Page – the woman responsible for this piece of Doctor Who history – how she felt about her work a decade-and-a-half later;
‘I can’t believe that suit was 15 years ago! It feels like yesterday. It’s lovely that the outfit was so well received. I wanted to create a modern stylish Doctor who would appeal to men, women and children and over the years the reaction definitely fitted that brief.’
‘I am very proud of my 4 years on the show. We had the most fabulous time, and laughed so much. I will always have happy memories. I loved working with everyone and made lifelong friends there.’
