Ncuti Gatwa is the moment. And with his style as the Fifteenth Doctor in the upcoming season of Doctor Who, it seems the moment has been prepared for. In a new interview with Rolling Stone UK, Gatwa took the chance to spill about the sartorial choices the new Doctor will rock in the upcoming seasons — and there's lots to look forward to.
Gatwa prefaced his fashion talk speaking of his fondness for the outfits of the Third Doctor, Jon Pertwee, who was the first Doctor to welcome episodes produced in color. In particular, Gatwa felt strongly drawn to Pertwee's "lovely velvet jackets and frilly shirts." He also confessed amid laughs that "our Doctors are the only two who dress like sluts" — so, picture us excited.
British Vogue reported in June that one of the looks that Gatwa's iteration of The Doctor will be rocking involves "a glossy leather trench paired with a sweatshirt zipped down to expose his chest and a set of delicate gold necklaces." (Give us a TARDIS key now!)
In the new interview, Gatwa also spoke about suggesting Ralph Lauren's collab with HBCUs Spelman and Morehouse Colleges as a point of reference early on in the costuming process for The Doctor. "I love those pieces; they're so preppy and so Black. But then [the team] asked what else [I had envisioned] because they'd been thinking about lots of outfits, almost a different one each week, which is new! I love it. The Doctor has traveled all of time and space; they're going to have a sick wardrobe." We agree.
Over the past several months, the show's social channels have released photos of Gatwa and Millie Gibson (who plays his companion Ruby Sunday) from their forthcoming adventures, where we see the pair styled across eras. Unveiled last year alongside a candid IG video, Gatwa also gave fans a 360 degree of his official look, which consists of a bright tangerine knit with brown-and-black tartan bottoms, an overcoat, as well as rings and a necklace to accessorize.
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Since then, we have also gotten peeks of Gatwa's Doctor sporting a '60s blue double-breasted pinstripe suit and an Afro — "It's such a shot into the bloodstream. It's a statement. The Doctor is f*cking Black," Gatwa told Rolling Stone UK — as well as a Regency ensemble with a plum velvet tailcoat. Not going to lie, the latter one has him seemingly ready to blend in with his Sex Education co-star Simone Ashley in Bridgerton. "Dressing up is so much fun 👀 It's giving…trouble," Gatwa wrote of the look on Instagram.
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The Doctor's affinity for velvet coats harkens as far back as Pertwee and as recently as the Twelfth Doctor, Peter Capaldi. Fans of the show are more than familiar with the unbridled joy of Capaldi taking Pertwee's original velvet coat for a spin. Clearly, Gatwa's in good company.
Being the British institution that it is, Doctor Who has often been remembered through the decades by the familiarity of each incarnation's costume. Gatwa's predecessor, Jodie Whittaker, wore an amalgamation of the Doctor's iconic 'fits in her swansong, The Power of the Doctor — Peter Davison's celery stick, David Tennant's necktie, and Sylvester McCoy's question mark vest all made an appearance. For now, it's unclear whether Gatwa's Doctor will become associated with a singular outfit or accessory like the incarnations before him, but what's on offer is certainly welcome. Whether he'll be defeating Daleks or reuniting with an old friend, the Gatwa Doctor is ready to save the world in style.
Gatwa takes the reins as the Doctor in a festive special this December, followed by a brand new season alongside companion Millie Gibson and guest stars Jinkx Monsoon and Jonathan Groff in 2024. The series will stream on Disney+.
Want more like this from Teen Vogue? Check these stories out:
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