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Published Mar 5, 2021

You Wear It Well: The Uniforms of Star Trek 

Turns out, "dress for the job you want, not the job you have," might still be a phrase heard in the 23rd Century and beyond!

StarTrek.com

The Delta Shield. The colors: red, gold and blue. The form-fitting jackets and often black trousers. Even the confining jumpsuits. Star Trek uniforms have a special place in pop culture, equal in renown maybe only by the jerseys and full kits of certain sports teams. Let’s take a look at some of the uniforms over the years and what messages they are sending to the galaxy.

Star Trek: Discovery — Of Terran Capes And Crowns with Gersha Phillips

Star Trek: The Original Series

The TOS uniforms are arguable the most recognized and iconic of uniforms in the canon. They are the blueprint for all other uniforms in Star Trek . While they carry some of the elements from the “The Cage” unaired pilot episode — tunic-like top, Section colors, black capri-length trousers and boots — the cut and fit of the garments are narrower, the colors much sharper and for the women, no pants. Looking back from our vantage point the uniforms feel more inspired by the 1960s' mod culture, or the era’s British rock bands, not what a fleet of earth-based space explorers would be wearing in the 23rd Century. However, the athleisure vibe of it all was as portentous to our time as the TOS-inspired technology and gadgets that we use on a daily basis. Comparing these uniforms from the garments of other space traveling cultures seen throughout TOS is where you can really see the youthfulness of Starfleet. While Romulans’ uniforms echo the turtleneck silhouette, knit fabric and ultra miniskirts of Starfleet, the rigid textures, exaggerated shoulders, and the addition of a scarf or half vest overlays connotes a sense of the authoritarian militaristic society. Comparing the two looks, without context, you wouldn’t be at fault for easily assuming that Starfleet was the newest team in a galactic travel league.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek: The Next Generation was all about the jumpsuit, with a touch of individuality. The best examples of this is Lieutenant Worf’s beautiful Klingon military sash or baldric and Lt. Troi’s flowing dresses and jumpsuits. The Next Generation also famously changed command colors from gold to red, ending a fan favorite “red shirt” trope from TOS. You see other examples of Starfleet uniform styles on the flagship Enterprise , including skants and tunics. The men’s TNG dress uniforms could even be worn as dresses due to their somewhat elongated line. However, from a design and storytelling point of view, the jumpsuit's utility is matched with the artful graphic design which evolves easily into the dress uniform’s elegance and formality.

Into the #Starchive Featuring Captain Picard's Uniform

We can see Starfleet’s evolution of mission and the number of lightyears traveled in the precision of the TNG uniform. Interestingly, the need to continuously mirror the delta design — in the shoulders, sleeves, even in the transition from bodice to trousers both section colors, front and back — is like a monogram. For the many species Jean-Luc Picard and his crew will make First Contact with, this uniform conveys a simple message: We are Starfleet.

Star Trek: Enterprise

We cannot talk about jumpsuits without talking about Star Trek: Enterprise ! The uniforms on this series most closely represent what our beginnings of further flung space travel might look like. In fact, rather than trying to create something that feels brand new and “science fiction,” the Enterprise crew looks like a team from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The command colors are placed in a simple elegant line framing the shoulders ending, of course, in a point or delta shape. The jumpsuits have the wonderful addition of actual pockets, which actually makes you wonder where all the pockets have been all of this time. Hallelujah — there will be pockets in the future! The jumpsuits are reminiscent of a behind-the-scenes pit or union crew, workers who are laying the important foundation for the future. Yet, similar to workwear from the 20th Century, there is an elegance of how a non-gender specific garment function matches and enhances its form. A more advanced culture may be more fancily dressed, but no one can jump on a nacelle rigging faster than Charles “Trip” Tucker, III.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager

These series combine the streamlined look of the TNG jumpsuit with the function of Enterprise series jumpsuits — jackets, pockets, and pleated trousers. The colors: command red, operations gold, and sciences blue continue with the addition of a mock turtleneck undershirt in grey, which evolves later in a uniform variant where the section colors are the turtleneck and the upper bodice detailing is a quilted grey. Grey as a standard color for Starfleet uniforms appears in Star Trek: The Motion Picture and seen again in Star Trek: Discovery season 3, discussed below.

Into the #Starchive with Captain Janeway's OG Uniform

Deep Space Nine uniforms are particularly interesting in the way all clothes are, in relation to the places and people we associate these outfits with. What makes DS9 unique is the variety of dress everywhere on the starbase, from the Bajoran military uniforms with even more emphasis on the upper bodice and shoulders than Starfleet’s uniforms, to the regalia of the Bajoran monks.In the context of running a space station, Starfleet uniforms need to balance a message of both authority and hospitality. In a sea of colorful people and outfits on the space station’s promenade, the Starfeet uniforms’ relative dark color scheme is the easiest to recognize.

Star Trek: Discovery (Seasons 1-2)

At first glance the Discovery uniforms ignore all previous series. However, there are nods to past series that reveal themselves. While no longer jumpsuits, the jacket, and trouser-leggings of Discovery are blue and thus similar to the Enterprise series. As the series is set between Enterprise and TOS this for me, as a fan, a welcome nod. Most startling is the loss of the iconic red, gold and blue color scheme, it is seen nowhere unless you count the reddish-bronze for Operations. Out of all the series the Discovery uniforms are the most formal. Comparing them to other series, they in fact look like the uniforms of people who have been traveling throughout the galaxy for some time. The form-fitting suit with metal rather than rainbow colors seem to say, “We mean business.” Discovery leans into a militaristic style, more than with previous series. From the rigidity of the jacket to the stripes at the shoulder the uniform appears to, if not welcome , then at least expect conflict and war. The subtle pips on the delta shield could be interpreted to mean that while rank is important, the crew of the Discovery is a family — a band of brothers and sisters equally important and valuable as a captain or admiral. The biggest hint to where this series is going is the asymmetry introduced into Starfleet uniforms for the first time. The eschew collar which creates a delta shape in the front of the face (invoking TOS’ uniform) is closed by a bold metallic zipper that goes from the left of the neck to the center at the jacket bottom. These off-center details could be interpreted to mean that unexpected outcomes are coming!

Star Trek: Discovery (Season 3)

A conversation about Star Trek uniforms would be incomplete without some mention of Season 3’s far-flung future Federation uniforms. It’s not hard to see where these new uniforms took inspiration from other Trek series. In addition to the grey color seen most notably in Star Trek: The Motion Picture , the quilted-ridges at the top of the jacket mirrors that of Deep Space Nine ’s uniforms, and the asymmetry at the bottom of the jacket reminds us of Discovery ’s earlier uniforms. Season 3 even brings back the red, gold, and blue for command, operations, and sciences, this time in a bold sculptural color block down the right side of the jacket. Its appearance seems to state that knowing you and your colleagues’ place in the Federation and on your ship of duty is paramount for rebuilding. This is no time for subtlety. While this same meticulous design could also be overcompensation for the reduction of the Federation’s place, power, and purpose in the 32nd Century it could also be the Federation’s way of “dressing for the job you want (the premiere intergalactic union of planets), not the one you have.” And that’s a tip we can all take with us, to the board room or the Ready Room.

Designer Gersha Phillips Looks Back on Discovery Season 2 Costumes

Bio: Tereneh Idia (she/her) is a writer, fashion designer and fashion educator who has taught and designed in Pittsburgh, New York City, Nairobi, Kenya, Singapore and Bali, Indonesia. While missing out on Star Trek as a child, she expects the rest of her adult growing up to be inspired and entertained by Star Trek.

Star Trek: Discovery streams on Paramount+ in the United States, airs on Bell Media’s CTV Sci-Fi Channel and streams on Crave in Canada, and on Netflix in 190 countries.

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Starfleet.ca is the personal website of one Canadian STAR TREK fan, hosting articles, tutorials, and photo shoots related to Starfleet uniforms from STAR TREK: The Original Series (TOS).

Now more than fifty years later, high-definition video and dedicated fans have enabled an incredible resurgence of information about William Ware Theiss' original costume designs.

Our primary mission is to create a library of information for anyone researching TOS-era Starfleet uniforms: contributing to the ongoing analysis, linking to useful resources, and enabling Trekkers to construct and enjoy quality replica uniforms that are more "screen-accurate" than ever before!

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Star Trek Uniforms Fully Explained

Since its premiere more than 50 years ago, Star Trek has been at the center of a growing web of culture, television, film, and fandom. With nine television series and 13 films, with undoubtedly more to come, there is a wealth of material to analyze and enjoy. Today, an enthusiastic fan can take just a single aspect of the Star Trek universe and dive into it for weeks.

Take uniforms. A seemingly simple concept, right? Star Trek generally focuses on the experiences of people serving in Starfleet, essentially a futuristic version of the Navy in space. So, Starfleet uniforms should be fairly consistent, even boring. Everyone's supposed to look like a cohesive group, so there should be little variation.

However, the uniforms of Star Trek are so varied and connected to the intricate fictional world of the franchise that it's pretty fascinating. Someone appearing on Star Trek: The Next Generation and then showing up again in a film like Star Trek: First Contact will probably have to fit themselves into two very distinct outfits. With more than five decades of stuff to go through, says CNET , there's a dizzying variety of looks for what's supposed to be a pretty staid quasi-military organization.

Practically everything about the history of Star Trek uniforms is linked to behind-the-scenes stories, real-world creativity, in-universe drama, and even a touch of fashion history here and there. From color, to cut, to material, there's a lot to learn.

Color is key to Star Trek uniforms

In Star Trek: The Original Series , which ran from 1966 to 1969, you can't miss the brightly hued uniform shirts sported by the crew of the starship Enterprise . Captain James T. Kirk and other members of the command staff sport golden yellow tops, says Mental Floss . Blue is reserved for the science department and medical personnel, so you'll see it on Mr. Spock, the second-in-command, and the ship's physician, Doctor McCoy.

And what of the folk in red uniforms? According to Star Trek lore, these poor "redshirts" are little more than cannon fodder, though, officially, red is for communications, admin, and security. If you're watching an episode where a random, red-clad crewmember is asked to beam down to the planet with the main cast, don't get too attached. They're probably going to get zapped, eaten, or otherwise annihilated to further the episode's plot.

Of course, there are some exceptions. Statistically speaking, says Nerdist , redshirts are not that bad off. Consider also that red shirts adorn major characters like Scotty, the ship's chief engineer, who made it through the entire series.

Now that you've got that settled, remember that it's only good for one series. In later Star Trek shows, red and gold switched places. Captains like The Next Generation 's Jean-Luc Picard wore a dark red, while his security chief, Worf, wore gold.

Starfleet rank is shown by pips and stripes

Like so many real-world military organizations, Starfleet hinges on rank. Crewmembers are expected to follow orders, but on starships that can carry thousands of people, who are they supposed to take seriously? That's where the rickrack comes in.

In Star Trek: The Original Series , rank was denoted by stripes of gold ribbon on someone's sleeves. The more stripes, the higher the rank. Generally speaking, says Atlas Obscura , two or three stripes means a captain. Commissioned officers are a safe bet for one stripe. Non-commissioned people get either a bit of braid or nothing at all. The stripes were brought back for the reboot films beginning in 2009.

The follow up series, Star Trek: The Next Generation   went for something different during its 1987 – 1994 run. The colors became a more muted, and the old rank stripes, which, frankly, looked like something you might have picked up from your local craft store, were retired. In their place, officers wore "pips," subtle little pins, on their collars. The higher someone's rank, the more pips they sported.

Other films played around a bit with the rank symbols, like the different colors and badges shown in 1982's Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan . Still, they weren't too off the original mark. Generally speaking, the more junk on someone's uniform, the more likely it is that you'll have to follow their orders.

The original series went for velour

Futurama 's Zapp Brannigan character, a send-up of Captain Kirk, is all about his velour uniform. The first Star Trek series really was into luxurious velour, too, but the fabric proved challenging to maintain. It's not as if the 1960s were known for comfortable natural materials, after all.

According to Esquire , the fabric initially used in Star Trek: The Original Series was a little flashy. Costume designers used a stretch cotton velour for the tops, with a black synthetic Dacron infused with sparkles for the pants. Both materials were meant to subtly glitter under studio lights, lending the uniforms a shimmery, 23rd-century, spacefaring feel. 

Unfortunately, the velour was a flop. Many called it "that rotten velour," noting that the fabric tended to shrink in the wash and could tear easily. In the third and final season, designers substituted it for a double-knit nylon, says CNET , which proved to be a much hardier fabric, especially when it got thrown into the washing machine.

Captain Kirk's special green shirt was a little embarrassing

Originally, reports Atlas Obscura , the command staff of Star Trek: The Original Series was supposed to be sporting a muted green. Under the studio lights, though, the cameras read the green velour as a golden yellow. The production team simply went with it for the rest of the series.

Careful observers of the 1960s run will note that Captain Kirk is sometimes seen in a very green tunic-style shirt. According to an interview with series costume designer Bill Theiss , that's because it was made out of a different material. That particular shirt looked genuinely green. This is also why some of the colors in the original series seem to change, said Theiss. Even the miniature of the Enterprise could appear ever so slightly green under the right conditions.

William Shatner, the Canadian actor who played Kirk, wasn't necessarily fond of the tightly wrapped look, says Cinemablend . "It was a little embarrassing after lunch to have that tight green thing on you," he said.

Star Trek's women went from pants to miniskirts

The first pilot episode of Star Trek: The Original Series , " The Cage " is an odd duck. Though it was shot in 1964, it didn't make it to screens in its complete form until a Betamax release in 1989. Bits of the story were included in the season one two-parter "The Menagerie," but it contained only the briefest glimpses of what might have been.

These included things like a smiling Spock, different uniforms, and a woman in command wearing pants . Star Trek: The Original Series is notorious for its gendered uniforms. The men wore pants and long-sleeved shirts. Female crewmembers were confined to miniskirts so short that Lieutenant Uhura, the communications officer, always seemed on the verge of an embarrassing situation when she sat down.

That's partially why Number One, the second-in-command in "The Cage," stands out: She's wearing pants. Number One, played by Majel Barrett, is also a daring commander. But she wasn't considered right for the character. When Star Trek got its second pilot, none of the women were in command, and certainly none of them wore pants. Barrett returned, albeit as the emotional, mini-skirted Nurse Chapel.

Nichelle Nichols, who played Uhura, offers up a counterpoint. "I was wearing [miniskirts] on the street," she told the BBC . "What's wrong with wearing them on the air? [...] It was the era of the miniskirt. Everybody wore miniskirts."

The first Star Trek movie shook took uniforms in a weird direction

Star Trek: The Motion Picture looked like it was going to be a big deal. The 1979 film was the first time that fans would get to see their beloved crew on the big screen. Anticipation was high. Then, the movie debuted.

It landed with a dull thud. While die-hard fans still got enjoyment out of Star Trek 's film debut, most viewers couldn't get past the plodding story and dialogue-heavy scenes. It made just enough profit to justify a sequel, to be sure. SyFy contends that The Motion Picture did originate some interesting new trends for the franchise, like wearable communicators and redesigned Klingons . Still, few would point to this entry as their favorite Star Trek movie.

Some of the blame surely lies with the redesigned uniforms. Where The Original Series had colorful, if somewhat cartoonish togs for the crew, The Motion Picture made it look like everyone was going to the weirdest slumber party ever. According to Memory Alpha , the crew was now outfitted in two-piece tunics and one-piece jumpsuits in mind-numbing shades like pale blue and beige. At least the women on the crew were dressed in the same jumpsuits worn by the men. They might have looked oddly dull for space adventurers, but crewmembers like Lt. Uhura didn't look like they needed to worry about errant breezes. And, if nothing else, the space pajamas look pretty comfortable.

The Wrath of Khan redeemed Star Trek uniforms while cutting costs

Though Star Trek: The Motion Picture began the series tradition of changing Starfleet uniforms at every opportunity, rebooted uniforms didn't get very eye-catching until the second film. In Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan, both the plotting and the uniforms got a much-needed upgrade.

To be fair, the striking red jackets of The Wrath of Khan wouldn't have existed as we know them if it weren't for the beige jumpsuits of The Motion Picture . As revealed by Empire , costume designer Robert Fletcher, burned somewhat by his experiences on the first film, decided to stay on in an attempt to redeem his craft. Fletcher still had to work within budget, says Forgotten Trek . Indeed, the budget was smaller, since the studio had been spooked somewhat by the lackluster performance of the first motion picture. As a result, Fletcher rather cleverly utilized the old movie uniforms. His team dyed the tunics red because that was the shade that took best to the fabric. 

Meanwhile, Fletcher added a few more militaristic details to the revamped uniforms, like boxy shoulders, stripes, and shiny rank insignia. Fletch referred to it as "Hornblower in outer space," referring to the popular Horatio Hornblower series, set in the era of the Napoleonic Wars. The maroon color proved so successful that it persisted far beyond the film and back onto television with the follow-up series, Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Star Trek: The Next Generation's uniform was all about spandex

While the uniforms debuted in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan were structured, boxy outfits inspired by military getups, the theme wasn't going to last, for William Ware Theiss, who designed the costumes for Star Trek: The Original Series , was ready to completely revamp even his own designs. Theiss was called upon to design the costumes for the first year of Star Trek: The Next Generation , the follow-up series that premiered in 1987. According to Forgotten Trek , Theiss wanted to pull back from the structured look of Wrath of Khan and return to a softer appearance.

That meant spandex. Specifically, Theiss employed a heavyweight material, of the type often used for swimsuits. He also changed the color scheme, making red the color for command staff, while gold was switched to engineering and security. Blue remained the key shade for medical and science personnel.

While designers might have liked the spandex, it got poor reviews from the actors. The form-fitting material was unforgiving of a heavy lunch or brief dalliance with a slice of cake. Robert Blackman, who replaced Theiss in later seasons, came to the rescue with a different cut and wool fabric. Unfortunately, only the male actors got the best changes, like two-piece uniforms. Female actors like Marina Sirtis, who played Counselor Troi, were stuck in uncomfortable one-piece jumpsuits for a while longer.

Deanna Troi's exception confused Trek fans

In Star Trek: The Next Generation , ship's counselor Deanna Troi was actually a Starfleet officer, but you wouldn't know it from her clothes. While everyone else on staff was wearing the regulation Starfleet uniform, Troi was often stuck in revealing onesies that recalled the first film's unfortunate jumpsuits. 

It may have something to do with Troi's gender. As quoted at Forgotten Trek , Marina Sirtis, who played Troi, took a dim view of how the show treated female characters. "The women on this show are very non-threatening," she said. "You don't see women in power positions." Troi was meant to be a soft, caring therapist. Perhaps her clothing was meant to reflect that gentleness, but with an admittedly sexist twist that lowered her necklines and kept Sirtis trapped in revealing spandex for much longer than her coworkers. Too often, her clothes reflected stories where Troi was made to be helpless or even outright dull for the sake of the plot.

Counselor Troi finally got to wear the real uniform in "Chain of Command, Part 1," a season six two-parter. In it, Captain Jellico, an uptight fill-in for Captain Picard, curtly tells Troi to just wear the uniform already. While the impetus for the wardrobe change might have been embarrassing for her character, Sirtis was delighted. As she told the BBC , "I was thrilled when I got my regulation Starfleet uniform [...] I got all my brains back."

The "skant" tried to reach gender equality but fell flat

We should give Gene Roddenberry some credit. While he was often of his time for things like scantily clad secondary characters on Star Trek: The Original Series , he genuinely tried to push back against cultural assumptions. Sometimes, it worked and became practically legendary, as when he helped to create a diverse bridge crew on the first television series. Other times, he pushed for costume parity that simply didn't land.

Roddenberry was involved with the production of Star Trek: The Next Generation from its 1987 premiere until shortly before his death in 1991. He was part of almost everything in the series, including the costume design. As reported by Star Trek.com , Roddenberry directed designer William Ware Theiss to design what became known as the "skant."

This take on the minidress was made out of the same spandex as the other uniforms. It was also meant to be unisex. Crewmembers of any gender would be able to wear the thigh-baring skant. Yet, it was a hard sell. The skant was ever-so-briefly seen on a male crewmember here and there in the first season, says SyFy, but never after that. Female crew like Counselor Troi wore it a bit longer, but actors and viewers alike thought it just made her look like a space cheerleader. Though you can understand what Roddenberry and company were going for, the skant just couldn't stay. It faded into fan lore and obscurity soon after the first season.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine made the uniforms fit for actual work

Star Trek didn't stop with Star Trek: The Next Generation . The sequel series was followed up by a progression of films and further television series. These included Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , which premiered in 1993 and briefly ran concurrently with The Next Generation . Though both series are supposed to take place at roughly the same time, the uniforms seen on Deep Space Nine were a serious departure.

Costume designer Robert Blackman returned to the jumpsuit design but mercifully stayed clear of figure-hugging, back-breaking spandex, says Forgotten Trek . Instead, the looser jumpsuits were made out of wool. Blackman had, like earlier designers, discovered that wool took dye better than other fabrics and held up to repeated washings. 

The softer uniforms looked like they could exist in a real, workaday reality. Characters like Chief O'Brien can be seen in the bowels of Deep Space Nine, a scrappy space station inherited from its previous Cardassian occupants. His jumpsuit, based in part on a mechanic's outfit and NASA workaday gear, looks right at place in the more gritty, realistic world of Deep Space Nine .

Star Trek: Lower Decks brings back color and might explain a big mystery

Star Trek: Lower Decks is an animated comedy series, the first ever to take a look at the ridiculous side of Star Trek . While it's very definitely a silly take on the franchise, the Lower Decks series actually holds a clue to the ever-changing and seemingly inconsistent uniforms across the series.

In part, the uniforms of Lower Decks are an homage to a never-used 1994 redesign. According to Trek Movie , creator Mike McMahan realized the discarded uniform design for the Star Trek: Generations movie was just right for his series. It calls back to The Next Generation just enough to make connections but remains distinct and colorful in its new two-dimensional context.

This latest series might also help explain the constantly shifting Starfleet uniforms. Careful viewers may have already noticed that different ship and station crews sport wildly different looks, even when they're supposed to be taking place at the same time. 

Inverse points out the apparent fact that Starfleet uniforms seem to correspond to very specific ships and jobs. Someone sent to a space station like Deep Space Nine would wear one uniform, while another crewmember on Picard's Enterprise would sport something noticeably different. An outside viewer could still see they were Starfleet personnel but might correctly guess they were stationed in different places. The looks on Lower Decks , which are their own unique creations, add more evidence to support this theory.

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Star trek: every starfleet uniform & history explained.

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Star Trek's utopian idealism may be eternal, but Starfleet's fashion sense is in seemingly constant flux. Virtually every iteration of the franchise has featured a new uniform for its Starfleet heroes. Sometimes they come off more like superhero costumes, sometimes they seem like strict military wear, and many other times they're somewhere in between. From Captain Kirk's gold tunic to the sleek blue body suits of Star Trek: Discovery , there's no shortage of iconic Starfleet uniforms.

There's rarely an in-universe reason given for the constant costume changes in Star Trek , though the real world reason has always been to keep the franchise looking fresh and sleek, and often to echo real world fashion sense, as well as trends in sci-fi costuming.  Gene Roddenberry's original vision for  Star Trek  has gradually evolved as the series has grown and developed — it's only natural that the look of the franchise, including the iconic Starfleet uniforms, would change as well.

Related: How New Star Trek Shows Avoid A Classic Voyager Trope

The following discussion is a rundown of the primary Starfleet uniforms only; there are scores of variations, like dress uniforms, admiral uniforms, and away team gear. Bearing that in mind, these are all the iconic looks of the Starfleet uniform through the years.

Star Trek: Enterprise

As was appropriate for the prequel series about humanity's first forays into deep space, Star Trek: Enterprise featured economical, functional blue jumpsuits. Colored piping on the shoulders indicated which division each crew member was a part of - gold for command, red for operations, and blue for sciences. Rank insignia were displayed on the right shoulder, with an assignment badge on the left sleeve. Unusually for Star Trek uniforms, these featured plenty of 21st century details like zippers and pockets, sometimes making Captain Archer and crew look like the galaxy's most sophisticated janitors.

Star Trek (2009)

Featured briefly in the opening scene of J.J. Abrams first Star Trek film - with Thor's Chris Hemsworth as George Kirk - these uniforms were something of a middle ground between the look of Enterprise and Star Trek: The Original Series . The jumpsuits were now replaced by tight fitting spandex, but still in fairly muted colors, with blue for command, gold for operations, and grey for sciences. Rank insignia was displayed on the cuffs of the sleeves.

Related: Discovery Officially Makes J.J. Abrams' Star Trek Movies Canon

Star Trek: Discovery

A massive departure from what came before and what would follow, Discovery's all-blue uniforms featured a jacket and pants with striping down the sides, as well as chunky black boots. The striping on the shoulders indicated divisions - gold for command, silver for sciences, copper for operations - and the Starfleet badge worn on the right breast featured both a division symbol and rank pips. This uniform was in service at the same time as a slightly modified version of the classic TOS uniform.

Star Trek: The Original Series

Perhaps the most iconic uniforms in all of Star Trek , The Original Series' uniforms were also perhaps the simplest. These uniforms consisted of a colorful tunic, black undershirt and black pants with black boots. Command classes wore either gold or green tunics, operations wore bright red, and sciences utilized a baby blue. Rank was displayed on the cuffs of the sleeves. This uniform also offered numerous slight variations, like Dr. McCoy's short sleeves and Captain Kirks' wraparound tunic, while most female crew members wore a skirt variation.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture

A completely new look was introduced in Star Trek: The Motion Picture . Gone were the colorful tunics of TOS , replaced by muted jumpsuits in Star Trek: The Motion Picture 's   polarizing big screen debut . The variations are almost too numerous to list, but the basic look was a jumpsuit that was either blue, white, or beige, with division patch attached to the chest. The uniform also featured a life support belt, and shoes that were integrated into the trousers, creating some unfortunate footie pajama comparisons. The Motion Picture would be the only Star Trek project to utilize this style of uniform.

Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan

Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan would introduce one of the longest-lived uniforms in Starfleet history. These uniforms consisted of a red jacket, white long sleeved turtleneck and black pants with red piping. It also featured the now-iconic Starfleet insignia on the left breast, as well as new rank insignia on the right shoulder. Minor variations of this uniform would be used for all of the remaining TOS cast films, and even featured in some Star Trek: The Next Generation flashbacks and time travel stories.

Related: Star Trek: Every Mirror Universe Episode

Star Trek: The Next Generation (Version 1)

The debut of Star Trek: The Next Generation saw the next radical reinvention of the Starfleet uniform. The uniform featured a streamlined jumpsuit design, with the pants and shoulders in black, and the torso either red for command, gold for operations, or blue for sciences. The rank insignia were displayed on the collarbone. The Starfleet combadge made its debut with this uniform - the Starfleet insignia doubled as a communication device. The TNG cast infamously hated the spandex costumes, as the way they were designed caused several cast members to have back problems, and they'd be redesigned for the show's third season.

Star Trek: The Next Generation (Version 2)

Featured during seasons 3-7 of Star Trek: The Next Generation , this is perhaps the second most iconic Starfleet uniform after the colorful tunics of The Original Series . The tight bodysuit look was left behind for a gaberdine material, with raised collars and solid black belts added to the look. The rank insignia were moved up to the collar, and the shoulder piping removed. Captain Picard would wear a variation of this uniform in later seasons that featured a grey sweatshirt and a jacket with the two-toned pattern.

Related: Star Trek Reveals The Federation Knows What Happened To TOS' Spock

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Deep Space Nine ditched the formality of the TNG uniforms for something darker and more utilitarian. These uniforms were largely black jumpsuits, with only the shoulders in red for command, gold for operations, and blue for sciences. The Starfleet delta symbol was slightly updated, changing the back piece from an oval to a buckle shape. A grey undershirt was utilized, and it wasn't uncommon to see officers with their sleeves rolled up, something of a visual cue to the grittier, grimier stories DS9 intended to tell. And while tonally different, Star Trek: Voyager would use this uniform for its entire seven year run.

Star Trek: First Contact

The next major evolution of the Starfleet uniform, this version kept the basic shape of the TNG -era uniforms, though with new color variations. The uniform consisted of black pants and a black and grey jacket, with a colored shirt underneath to signify divisions, once again going with red for command, gold for operations, and blue for sciences. The rank insignia remained on the collar, though they were also added to the cuffs.

Related: Star Trek: The Kelvin Borg Ruined Picard's Most Iconic Moment

Star Trek: Lower Decks

Utilized concurrently with the uniforms introduced in First Contact -  as seen during the first season finale's heroic USS Titan moment - the Lower Decks uniforms are something of a middle ground between the look of the TNG movies and TNG the series. The division colors from TNG were maintained, though a new delta symbol with no backing was used. The uniform consisted of an angular dress shirt with black pants and boots.

Star Trek: Picard (Version 1)

The Starfleet uniforms featured in Star Trek: Picard's flashbacks were predominantly black with colored shoulders to indicate division, still utilizing the division colors established in TNG , and with the rank insignia still on the collar. The delta insignia first seen in Deep Space Nine and First Contact was still in use as a combadge.

Related: Star Trek Theory: Worf Replaces Data In Picard Season 2's Story

Star Trek: Picard (Version 2)

Extremely close to the look of the original DS9 uniforms, the Starfleet uniforms of Star Trek: Picard's relative present were, again, mostly black, with standard TNG division colors on the shoulders and collar. The delta symbol was updated to the version glimpsed in the possible future seen in the TNG series finale "All Good Things," and the rank insignia was moved to the chest.

Star Trek: Discovery Season 3

Star Trek: Discovery 's relocation to the 32nd century brought with it yet another new Starfleet uniform. This time the uniform is largely grey, with a stripe down the left side of the uniform signifying division - red for command, gold for operations, and blue for sciences, and white for medical. The combadge is now an oval shape, and is not only a communication device, but a holographic tricorder and personal transporter as well. The rank insignia are displayed on the combadge, while captains wore additional rank insignia on their shoulders.

Next: Star Trek: Every Major Character Who Died & Was Better For It

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Smarter.com

The Ultimate Guide to Authentic Star Trek Uniforms: Everything You Need to Know

Star Trek has captivated fans around the world for decades with its imaginative stories, groundbreaking technology, and iconic costumes. One of the key elements that make Star Trek so beloved is the authentic uniforms worn by the characters. Whether you’re a die-hard Trekkie or just starting your journey into the final frontier, this ultimate guide will provide you with everything you need to know about authentic Star Trek uniforms.

The Evolution of Star Trek Uniforms

Star Trek has seen various iterations over the years, each with its unique take on uniforms. From the original series in the 1960s to the latest Discovery series, there have been significant changes in design and color schemes.

In the original series, Captain Kirk and his crew donned vibrant primary-colored uniforms that became synonymous with Star Trek. The gold shirts were worn by command personnel, blue shirts by science and medical officers, and red shirts by security personnel – often referred to as “redshirts” due to their unfortunate fate on away missions.

As Star Trek progressed into subsequent series like The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine, a more subdued color palette was introduced. The red command uniforms transformed into maroon, while gold shifted towards a richer shade of yellow-gold. Blue science uniforms remained relatively consistent throughout these iterations.

Materials and Authenticity

If you’re a dedicated fan looking for an authentic Star Trek uniform, paying attention to materials is crucial for an accurate representation. In earlier series like The Original Series (TOS), costumes were made from various materials such as polyester or spandex blends. However, as technology advanced in later series like Voyager or Enterprise, more durable fabrics like nylon were used.

To achieve authenticity in your costume choice, consider researching specific episodes or seasons where costume designs may have changed subtly over time. Additionally, paying attention to details like insignias, rank pips, and department colors can help you find the perfect authentic Star Trek uniform.

Where to Find Authentic Star Trek Uniforms

Finding authentic Star Trek uniforms can be a challenge, but there are several avenues you can explore. One option is to search for licensed merchandise from official Star Trek retailers or websites. These products are often made with attention to detail and offer a wide range of options for different series uniforms.

Another option is to look for custom costume makers or cosplay communities. These talented individuals often create handcrafted replicas that closely resemble the original uniforms seen on screen. Connecting with other fans in online forums or attending conventions can help you discover trusted costume makers who specialize in creating authentic Star Trek uniforms.

Displaying and Caring for Authentic Star Trek Uniforms

Once you’ve acquired your authentic Star Trek uniform, displaying it properly is essential. Consider investing in a display case or mannequin to showcase your costume while protecting it from dust and damage. Displaying your uniform prominently not only adds an aesthetic touch to your home but also serves as a conversation starter for fellow fans.

Caring for your authentic Star Trek uniform involves proper cleaning and storage techniques. Always follow the care instructions provided by the manufacturer or costume maker. It’s important to handle your uniform with care, especially if it contains delicate elements like embroidered patches or metal insignias.

In conclusion, authentic Star Trek uniforms play a significant role in capturing the essence of the beloved franchise. Understanding the evolution of these costumes, paying attention to materials and authenticity, finding reliable sources for purchase, and caring for your uniform will enhance your overall fan experience. So go ahead and boldly go where no one has gone before with an authentic Star Trek uniform.

This text was generated using a large language model, and select text has been reviewed and moderated for purposes such as readability.

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Continuing Mission

Uniform Guide

Welcome to a  Star Trek 101  article .

T he intent of this blog is to provide a quick graphical guide of the evolution of the uniform.

Types of Uniform

In most eras, there are two types of uniform: the standard duty uniform and a formal dress variant. Duty uniforms are worn when on shift at a duty station, such as on the bridge or engineering.  Dress uniforms are worn on formal occasions, such as diplomatic functions, weddings, and occasional court apperances.

Some eras have additional uniforms. Service or work uniforms are sometimes worn, typically when performing manual labour or similar work. This was especially true of medical staff, who often had labcoats or different coloured uniforms when serving in the medbay, and engineers. Captains also occasionally have casual duty variants, such as wrap-around tunics or jackets. 

Cadets attending Starfleet Academy also typically have a variant uniform or badge denoting their trainee status.

Starfleet uses a variant of naval ranks.

Line officers were assigned to a single posting, typically a starship or starbase, which was their sole responsibility. Captains are generally in command and each is assigned to a starship. Beneath them are commanders , who might be officers working their way to the rank of captain and their own command, or simply be a highly experienced officer. In some instances, a commander might be granted command of a space station, colony, or similar posting. When a commander is in charge of a ship, they are given the rank of “acting captain”. In most eras, Starfleet also has the ranks of lieutenant and ensign , with the latter being the initial rank assigned graduates of Starfleet Academy.

Other ranks typically exist, but were not consistently shown. Lieutenant commanders are often recognized (informally addressed as “commander”, typically by more junior officers). The rank of lieutenant junior grade is sometimes also recognized, falling between the rank of ensigns and full lieutenants.

Above captains and not assigned a single ship were flag officers. Commodores were the lowest flag officers, falling between captains and admirals and commanded multiple ships in field operations. On occasion, this rank would be replaced/ renamed  fleet captain . Above commodores/ fleet captains were admirals who were in charge of fleets of starships, entire sectors of space, or divisions of Starfleet. Admirals are subdivided into rear admirals , vice admirals , admirals , and fleet admirals in increasing order of superiority. Fleet admirals reported to the Commander in Chief of Starfleet, who was the senior fleet admiral reporting to the Federation Council and its president.

On most starships there are a number of “ noncoms ” or non-commissioned officers: crewmembers who did not graduate from Starfleet Academy. In some instances these are not distinguished and treated as ensigns or lack a display of rank. At times when differentiation between noncoms was needed they are given the ranks crewman , specialist , petty officer , chief petty officer , senior chief petty officer , and master chief petty officer . Higher ranking noncoms, such as senior and master chiefs, could have decades of experience and included among the senior staff of a starship or starbase, but were technically below a rookie ensign in rank.

In theory, there are also warrant officers in Starfleet: trained specialists whose expertise in a field grants them an informal commission. Despite not having attended the Academy, a warrant officer would have a rank equivalent to an ensign, lieutenant, or higher. However, no warrant officers have been identified as such on the show. In their place Starfleet potentially uses provisional or honorary ranks.

Description: The uniform of the United Earth Starfleet is a navy blue jumpsuit. This uniform was worn until the founding of the United Federation of Planets, including the period of the Earth-Romulan War.

It’s one of the few designs with pockets.

Division Colours: A strip of colour framing the shoulders denoted the officer’s department. Yellow was command, red was operations (security and engineering), and teal was sciences  (medical and science)

Badge: Circular assignment patches on the left arm denoted the officer’s ship.

Rank: Rank was denoted with rectangular pips on the upper right breast.

Description: This was presumably the first uniform of the United Federation Starfleet. Similar to the Earth Starfleet jumpsuit, this uniform is a utilitarian light grey jumpsuit with coloured patches on the shoulders and cuffs as well as stripes down the chest and pants. The assignment patch on the upper arm remains, signifying the officer’s assigned ship. 

Division Colours: The patches and stripes denote the wearer’s department: yellow is command, red is operations, and blue is sciences.

Badge: Gold pins of the Starfleet delta were worn on the left breast.

Rank: Unknown. No rank emblems seen on-screen.

Description: A minimalistic change from the jumpsuits, this two-piece uniform featured dark trousers and coloured tunic. A raised stripe of piping ran along the upper arms and across the chest.

Division Colours: The shirt denoted the officer’s department. Command wore blue, operations wore tan/gold, and sciences wore grey.

Badge: A raised silver outline of the Starfleet delta was on the left breast.

Rank: The shirt’s sleeve had metallic bands denoting rank.

Description: A tight two-piece blue uniform with metallic highlights on the shoulders and along the sides of the torso. 

Division Colours: The huge of the metallic highlights denote division. Gold is command, silver is sciences, and bronze is operations.

Badge: Two-piece metallic insignia badges are worn on the left breast. The colour of the badge matched the metallic department colour of the rest of the uniform. 

Rank: Raised bumps on the insignia badge identify an officer’s rank. The captain’s shoulders features additional gold highlights. 

Note: Ostensibly, this uniform should be the same as the uniforms seen in early episodes of The Original Series , which takes place at roughly the same time. Tie-in novels state the brighter uniforms were newer diplomatic uniforms being phased in, starting with the exploratory Constitution -class starships.

Second Note: On  Discovery  several officers with black badges were shown. These were not identified on the show, but a deleted scene identified the black badge as belonging to Section 31. Why Section 31 would identify themselves or have Starfleet badges (when they were a separate organisation) is unknown.

W here It Was Seen: Star Trek The Original Series (the two pilot episodes: The Cage and Where No Man Has Gone Before )

Description: A coloured turtleneck sweater with dark trousers.

Division Colours: The colour of the shirt denotes division. Yellow for command, blue for science, and tan for operations.

Badge: Assignment patch worn on the left breast. It’s unknown if every ship had its own patch, like in the 2260s, or if every ship had the Starfleet delta.

Rank: Golden braids on the sleeve denote rank. Not all ranks were seen on-screen during the few episodes these uniforms were worn.

Description: A brightly coloured shirt with black collar with dark trousers.

Division Colours: The officer’s shirt colour signifies their department: yellow is command, blue is science, red is operations.

Badge: In place of the Starfleet delta insignia on the left breast, all ships and stations had their own unique assignment patch; the Federation’s flagship, U.S.S. Enterprise , retained the delta.

Rank: Golden braids on the shirt’s cuffs denote rank.

Note: This uniform was seen in The Original Series and theoretically also shown in the Kelvin Timeline films. In the first two Kelvin films, the black collar is instead a black undershirt and the coloured top is textured with Starfleet deltas. In Star Trek Beyond , the top is a heavier jacket with a high collar.

Description: Muted blue, white, beige, or grey uniforms. These uniforms came as jumpsuits or two-pieces with matching top and trousers.

Division Colours: The colour of the circle behind the unform’s printed insignia denoted the officer’s department. A white circle signified command, orange is sciences, green is medical, red is engineering, yellow is communications and helm/ navigation, while grey is security.

Badge: The Starfleet insignia was printed on the left breast.

Rank: Golden braids along the sleeve or on shoulder patches denote rank.

Description: A crimson tunic worn over a colour-coded turtleneck undershirt. The uniform’s  dark trousers featured a coloured stripe running down the leg that matched the undershirt (except for command officers, who had a red stripe). 

Division Colours: An officer’s department was identified by the colour of their undershirt, shoulder clasp, and a stripe running down their trousers. White was command; grey was sciences, communication, and navigation; ochre was engineering and helm; light green was medical; dark green was security; and red was cadets and junior officers. Non-coms wore jumpsuits, but also had black undershirts.

Badge: A metal variant of the Starfleet insignia with a large rectangular backing was worn on the left breast.

Rank: A metal badge worn on a shoulder clasp denoted rank.

Note: A long serving uniform, this design was used until the 2350s. In later years the belt and turtleneck ceased to be worn and the insignia pin was replaced by a combadge.

Early 2360s

Description: A tight one-piece jumpsuit with a low collar. The chest, back, and sleeves were brightly coloured, as was a stripe running along the collarbone and shoulders.

Division Colours: The colouration of the upper jumpsuit denoted department. Command was red, operations was yellow, and sciences was blue.

Badge: All officers wore a combadge: a silver delta backed with a golden oval that functioned as a communicator.

Rank: Round gold pips on the upper right breast denote rank.

Where It Was Seen: Star Trek The Next Generation (seasons 3 onward)

Description: A looser two-piece modification of the earlier jumpsuit with a high collar.

Division Colours: The jacket’s colour was associated with the wearer’s department: red for command, yellow for operations, and blue for sciences.

Badge: A communicator shaped like a silver delta with a golden oval backing was worn on the left breast.

Rank: Gold pips worn on the right collar denoted the officer’s rank.

2360s (Variant)

Description: Dark trousers and jacket worn over a blue-grey turtleneck undershirt. The shoulders of the jacket were brightly coloured.

Division Colours: The colour of the shoulders denoted one’s department. Red was command, yellow was operations, and blue/ teal was sciences.

Badge: A communicator was worn on the left breast. Initially this combadge was a silver delta backed with a golden oval. In the late 2260s and early 2270s this was replaced with an updated model that substituted a trapezoidal shape for the oval.  

Rank: Gold pips worn on the right collar of the undershirt denoted rank.

Note: This variant was service dress, or “work uniform”. It was typically worn on less formal posting, such as space stations and colonies where more “hands on” work might be required. When the current duty uniform was being phased out, this variant saw regular use for a year or two.

Description: A dark jacket with light grey shoulders and matching trousers worn over a coloured undershirt.

Division Colours: The colour of the undershirt was associated with the officer’s department. Red was command, yellow was operations, and blue was sciences.

Badge: Combadge worn on the left breast: a silver Starfleet delta backed by a gold trapezoid.

Rank: Round gold pips worn on the right collar of the undershirt signified rank.

Where It Was Seen: Star Trek Picard

Description: A dark jacket with matching trousers with coloured shoulders and bands along the flared cuffs.

Division Colours: The colour of the shoulders and cuffs denoted one’s department. Red was command, yellow was operations, and blue was sciences.

2390s (Alternate)

Description: A double-breasted jacket with high waisted dark trousers. Black piping ran along the chest and shoulders.

Division Colours: An officer’s department was displayed by their jacket colour. Red was command, blue was science, and yellow was operations.

Badge: A combadge was worn on the left breast. The badge was a silver outline of a delta backed by two gold trapezoids

Rank: Gold round pips worn on the upper right breast above the black piping.

Description: Dark trousers and jacket worn over a black turtleneck undershirt. The shoulders of the jacket were brightly coloured.

Division Colours: The colour of the shoulders denoted one’s department. Red was command, yellow was operations, and blue was sciences.

Badge: A combadge was worn on the left breast. The badge was a silver outline of a delta backed by two silver trapezoids

Rank: Silver round pips worn on the upper right breast.

2410s (Potential)

Description: A dark jacket and trousers worn over a coloured undershirt. The jacket has a high collar with a wide band of colour running along the chest and shoulders. In officers, the shoulders above the coloured band are dark grey, while the commanding officer’s shoulders are white.

Division Colours: The undershirt and coloured band signify an officer’s department. Red is command, blue is sciences, and yellow is operations.

Badge: A combadge is worn on the left breast, shaped like a solid silver delta.

Rank: Silver rectangular pips on the right collar.

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5 responses to “Uniform Guide”

As a retired 23 year Senior Master Sergeant of the USAF your statement concerns me, as it lacks an important concept of the Military community:

“Higher ranking noncoms, such as senior and master chiefs, could have decades of experience and included among the senior staff of a starship or starbase, but were technically below a rookie ensign in rank.”

while technically true, does not really explain the mentoring that occurs between these Senior NCO’s and the lower ranking Officers. These Junior Officers live in a world where “Officers eat their young” and the SNCO’s keep them from getting beaten up by the Colonels (Captains in Navy and Starfleet speak).

Long love the NCO rank and God help the Officer who forgets the value of his mentor.

Scott Reu, USAF, SMSgt (Ret)

Great comment! Nice to get feedback like this and a real world perspective. I like to think, in the more idealistic/ positive future of Star Trek that the relationship between senior and junior officers is a little less adversarial.

I like to think I touched on the mentoring slightly in my article on playing NCOs: https://continuingmissionsta.wordpress.com/2018/04/11/playing-enlisted-officers/

[…] of Starfleet’s Uniforms throughout the […]

The uniforms from DSC and theif Enterprise version are made after the uniforms from The cage story which is taking place 13 years before Kirk’s era,DSC is taking place with 10 years (9 years for the season 2) before Kirk’s era.

Yeah, this gets into funky continuity territory. Mostly because Discovery didn’t care much for continuity so we have to handwave explanations.

As you say, Starfleet should be using the colourful jumper/pajama uniforms seen in The Cage before Discovery, which are also seen in the first Kirk episode, Where No Man Has Gone Before.

The explanation given in the novels is that Discovery and Starfleet command is using an older blue uniform with metallic highlights, while the flagship of the Federation and other exploratory craft get the new brightly coloured shirts a few years early. (This is the explanation I assumed at the time of writing this blog.) Alternatively, exploratory ships are given different uniforms in that era.

The trailers of Discovery season 2 complicate this and raise a different continuity issue as Pike has yellow tunic but a dark collar and Operations has red rather than tan. It might be easier to declare the uniforms of WNMHGB and The Cage non-canon and just jump right from DIS to the Kirk/TOS uniforms.

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Starfleet uniform (2250s-early 2270s)

A group of officers in Starfleet uniforms, 2265

Officers in different division colors, 2259

The different division colors and uniform varieties, 2267

Starfleet had 4 types of uniforms that were used from around the mid- 2250s to the early 2270s . The general tailoring of these uniforms was a "tunic and pants" design and was worn by Starfleet service people. This design was maintained throughout this period, but with changes in collar, rank insignia , and revised colors for Starfleet divisions and departments. ( TOS : " The Corbomite Maneuver ")

In the 2250s, a previous uniform design was also being used concurrently with this one at least until 2258 . ( DIS : " The Vulcan Hello ", " Brother ", " Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2 ")

All uniforms of this era were made of an organic, algae -derived fabric called xenylon . ( TAS : " The Terratin Incident ") In addition, they had built-in temperature controls to accommodate for cold weather environments. For example, upon beaming down to the surface of Sigma Draconis VI , Captain Kirk instructed his landing party to set their " suit temperatures to 72[° Fahrenheit ]. " ( TOS : " Spock's Brain ")

These uniforms were drastically replaced in the 2270s, with a change of many uniform variants sometime after 2270 . ( Star Trek: The Motion Picture )

• 1.1.1 High collar variant
• 1.1.2 Seamed variant
• 1.2.1 Variants
• 1.3.1 Skant variant
• 1.3.2 Wraparound tunic
• 1.3.3 Outpost variant
• 1.4 Cadet's uniform
• 2.1 Medical uniform
• 2.2 Lab coat
• 2.3 Short-sleeved tunic
• 2.4 Surgical gown
• 2.5 Medical gloves
• 3 Flag officer uniform
• 5.1 Heavy jacket
• 5.2 Field jacket
• 5.3 Winter jacket
• 5.4 Utility jumpsuit
• 5.5 Environmental suit
• 5.6 Galley vest
• 5.7 Hazard vest
• 5.8 Protective suits
• 5.9 Combat uniform
• 5.10 Body armor
• 6.1 Pajamas
• 6.3 Sportswear
• 7.1.1 Equipment belt
• 7.1.2 Life support belt
• 7.2.2 Knit cap
• 8.1 Station personnel insignia
• 8.2.1 Type A
• 8.2.2 Types B and C
• 8.3 Rank insignia
• 8.4 Epaulet
• 9.1.1 Type A
• 9.1.2 Type B
• 9.1.3 Type C
• 9.2 Background information
• 9.3 Apocrypha
• 9.4 External links

Standard duty uniform

This style of uniform lasted from before 2254 , to provisionally at least 2268 . ( DIS : " The Vulcan Hello ")

This uniform was used by the crews of the USS Enterprise , the Antares and officers visiting Deep Space Station K-7 . ( TOS : " The Cage ", " Where No Man Has Gone Before ", " Charlie X ", " The Trouble with Tribbles ") In the late 2250s, this uniform design had been somewhat phased out, but it made a resurgence briefly around the mid 2260s . By 2267, it only saw occasional use and was for the most part replaced by newer variants. ( TOS : " Friday's Child ", " Dagger of the Mind ")

The standard duty uniform consisted of dark gray or dark blue trousers and a division-colored top, following the color code below. The previous Earth Starfleet-style of wearing a patch based on assignment continued, but the patch was moved to the chest. Rank was displayed by sleeve stripes. ( TOS : " The Cage ") The top's collar was initially designed with a mock turtleneck appearance but many of them came straight up on the neck later on. ( TOS : " Where No Man Has Gone Before ")

The original command " greenish -gold" uniforms were actually lime-green off camera, away from the stage lights. [1] Also, some have described the "khaki-beige" operations uniforms as "gold", leading to confusion over the fact that they were two distinct colors. The remastered episodes restore the original colors and clear distinction between the uniforms.

High collar variant

One uniform style had a cowl neck collar and closed with a zipper down the back. This uniform also had black trousers similar to the regular uniform. This variant was mostly worn by women at the time. ( TOS : " The Cage ", " Where No Man Has Gone Before ")

Seamed variant

A command division officer in a duty uniform in 2265 (left)

A variant worn by certain personnel included a closing seam radiating from the side of the neck. ( TOS : " Where No Man Has Gone Before ")

According to The Making of Star Trek , a zipper was added to make it easier to get actor Leonard Nimoy out of his uniform shirt with his Vulcan makeup still on. George Takei also wore this type of shirt in " The Corbomite Maneuver ".

This style, in use by 2254, is a simplified evolution of a variant of an earlier uniform . It did away with the zipper and collar, and was designed to be more causal and comfortable. ( DIS : " Brother "; SNW : " Strange New Worlds ", " Among the Lotus Eaters ")

In 2254, at least some officers on board the Enterprise used this uniform, although it only went into wide use around 2259. ( SNW : " Among the Lotus Eaters ", " Strange New Worlds ") By 2265, the crew of the Enterprise had abandoned this design to briefly revert to the original version before adopting a new version the next year . ( TOS : " Where No Man Has Gone Before ")

Some officers wore variant versions of the uniform with black tunic sides, sleeves and shoulders in addition to division colors. Additionally, officers of either gender could wear a skant or jumpsuit version of the uniform. ( SNW : " Strange New Worlds ", " Spock Amok ")

All three division colors: sciences blue, operations red, and command gold

This style is a further simplified evolution of the previous version from 2259. It was initially put into use on some starships by 2265 , but other starship crews or individual service members continued to wear the older style until 2268. ( TOS : " Charlie X ", " Dagger of the Mind ", " Friday's Child ", " The Trouble with Tribbles "; TAS : " The Counter-Clock Incident ")

As with earlier Starfleet uniforms, the divisions were distinguished by color, and were generally described as gold (or green) for command, red for operations (engineering/special services), and blue for the sciences. ( TOS : " Dagger of the Mind "; DS9 : " Trials and Tribble-ations ")

According to uniform-designer William Ware Theiss , " The colors were chosen purely for technical reasons. We tried to find three colors for the shirts that would be as different from each other as possible on black-and-white [television sets] as well as color. " ( Star Trek: Costumes , p. 17)

Into the 24th century , scholars of Starfleet history will note the division colors of this era. Miles O'Brien and Benjamin Sisko told Julian Bashir of the different practices when, in posing as "contemporary" Starfleet officers during an unplanned visit to 2268, the doctor, admitting he was no historian , initially did not understand why the captain wore a "gold" uniform and the engineer a red one, as the uniforms of his career conformed to a different standard. ( DS9 : " Trials and Tribble-ations ")

While dialog corresponds with what visually appeared on screen, the gold command uniforms' color were actually a shade of green. ( The World of Star Trek , p. 95)

Theiss explained, " It was one of those film stock things. It was photographed one way – burnt orange or a gold – but in reality, the Command shirts were definitely green. " ( Star Trek: Costumes , p. 17)

The standard duty uniform consisted of a tunic and pants worn with standard issue black leather boots.

The duty uniform top was a long-sleeve, division-colored tunic, with a closing seam from the collar to the left shoulder. ( TOS : " The Corbomite Maneuver ", " Charlie X ") Furthermore, tunics typically bore rank insignia , displayed as sleeve stripes, and an assignment patch on the left breast was worn by all personnel. The tunics had either a black collar with a V-shaped bottom, or were collarless, allowing for the wearer to instead wear a black undershirts. Though generally worn under the short-sleeved tunic and jumpsuit uniform tops, they were not strictly required for everyday wear. ( TOS : " The Naked Time ", et al.) The black boots rose above the calf and zippered along the inside. ( TOS : " Charlie X ", " Obsession ", " Wink of an Eye "; DS9 : " Trials and Tribble-ations ")

Black pants were worn that ended in length midway down the shank of the boot and terminated in a one-inch-wide flare, similar to the style worn by sailors on old Earth.

According to actor James Doohan , " Personally, I didn't like the flare legs on the trousers. I didn't like the way they stuck out, I thought that they came on kind of fey. But after a while, it worked out, I got used to it. I think though, that it might have been just as good if they had just had a band of red down the trousers, you know, red for engineering, blue for scientific, green for command, and so on. " ( The World of Star Trek , p. 95)

Skant variant

Crew members could choose between a standard uniform tunic with pants, or a one-piece uniform that continued down into a miniskirt over matching high cut shorts, worn with black hose and boots, though this uniform was mostly worn by females at this time. Skant uniform tunics also had a large open collar, the seam closed right at the assignment patch. There were two variations of the skant tunic: one with a black collar and another version which had the collar colored the same as rest of the tunic. ( TOS : " The Man Trap ", " Charlie X ", " The Naked Time ", " What Are Little Girls Made Of? ")

Some later variants of the skirt uniform seem to have been two-piece uniforms. ( TAS : " The Lorelei Signal ")

Wraparound tunic

Similarly to type B, Captains had a choice of more casual clothing to wear when on duty. Both Christopher Pike and James Kirk favored a green wrap-around tunic. Kirk favored two variations of a green wrap-around tunic, the first with rank stripes spread across the left and right shoulder, and the second with sleeve rank stripes like the standard uniform. Unlike the standard uniforms, the assignment patch was used as a fastener near the waist. Charles Evans wore a beige version of this uniform with a cream colored undershirt. Evans' uniform didn't have any rank insignia. ( TOS : " The Enemy Within ", " Charlie X ", " The Doomsday Machine "; ENT : " In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II "; SNW : " Spock Amok ", " Charades ")

It isn't entirely clear where Evans got the beige uniform, either from the ship's stores or if he made it himself, so it remains unknown if it was Starfleet issue.

The tunic worn by Evans was an early version of the costume originally designed for Kirk. ( The Star Trek Compendium )

Kirk's wraparound jacket was light green, one variation in " Charlie X " with captain's braid on one shoulder, two other variations in TOS Season 2 with gold trim only with rank on the sleeves appearing only in " The Doomsday Machine " and with both gold and black trim with rank on the sleeves for the remainder of the season. The mirror universe Jonathan Archer wore this variant uniform in ENT : " In a Mirror, Darkly ". This style was not seen at all in TOS Season 3 .

Outpost variant

The uniforms worn by some outpost personnel, as opposed to starship and starbase personnel, varied in form of having a shinier fabric, with a dull beige color worn over a standard black undershirt, and lacked rank insignia on the sleeves. ( TOS : " Balance of Terror ", " Arena ")

Cadet's uniform

Starfleet cadets who were serving at outposts and starbases wore a uniform that consisted of a tunic top made out of a reflective gray material with a black V-shaped collar and black trousers. A a ten-pointed star patch insignia was worn on the left breast. These uniforms had been introduced by 2252 and were still in use by 2268. ( TOS : " Shore Leave ", " The Trouble with Tribbles ", " Wolf in the Fold ")

The script for "Shore Leave" stated that Finnegan was "Dressed in Cadet's Uniform. Quite different from anything we've ever seen on the Enterprise ."

In the late 2250s, cadets assigned to starships wore standard duty uniforms. In place of the standard officer badge, a cadet badge was worn on the left breast indicating Academy year, similar to those used in the previous uniform style . ( SNW : " Strange New Worlds ") By the mid 2260s, cadets still wore the same badge but sported a unique uniform, consisting of a two-tone long sleeve top and black trousers and boots, with the shoulders and outer half of the sleeves colored to indicate division. ( DIS : " Through the Valley of Shadows ")

Medical attire

Medical uniform.

In the 2259 variant, medical personnel wore special uniform colors – light blue for doctors and white for nurses . ( SNW : " Strange New Worlds ")

A lab coat could be worn by the chief medical officer for consultations with patients. The short-sleeve coat was worn over the standard uniform. It appeared in pale blue with the ship's decal on the upper breast. ( TOS : " Where No Man Has Gone Before ")

Short-sleeved tunic

A medical short-sleeved tunic

A short-sleeved "smock" tunic was often worn by medical personnel. It appears to have been made from a fabric similar to that of the jumpsuits and gave the user more free use of their hands than the standard long-sleeved tunic. ( TOS : " The Corbomite Maneuver ", " The Naked Time ", " Mudd's Women ", " The Changeling ", " Journey to Babel ")

As scripted for "The Corbomite Maneuver", this uniform variant was instead to have been "a white smock".

It was later described as a "short-sleeved smock-type medical tunic." ( Star Trek: Costumes , p. 37)

Surgical gown

Nurse Chapel and Doctor McCoy wearing surgical gowns

A long-sleeved surgical gown was worn during surgery. ( TOS : " The Naked Time ")

Medical gloves

White or blue medical gloves could be worn during medical procedures or laboratory work. ( SNW : " Charades "; TOS : " The Naked Time ")

Flag officer uniform

From 2259 to about 2265, flag officers wore blue-gray uniforms with golden epaulets. ( SNW : " Strange New Worlds ")

Dress uniform

Starfleet dress uniforms of this period were typically worn for diplomatic or court functions.

A Starfleet officer in a dress jacket in 2254

In the early 2250s , a dress jacket, edged with gold trim, with matching epaulets, was worn over the standard issue uniform top and pants. ( TOS : " The Cage ")

The only indication as to the intent of this uniform, as stated in the script of "The Cage", was that the man in question was "a uniformed space officer (not from the Enterprise )."

This version was in use in the late 2250s . ( SNW : " Ad Astra per Aspera ")

A new version of the dress uniform was introduced in the mid-to-late 2260s. ( TOS : " Court Martial ", " The Savage Curtain ")

Doctor Leonard McCoy was not especially fond of the entire hoopla that went along with meeting dignitaries, including the " dress uniforms, spit and polish, " going on to describe his dress uniform's affect on him: " I feel like my neck's in a sling . " Later, during the arrival of the Vulcan delegation, he asked Spock to review how to do a Vulcan salute ; upon his attempt to replicate it, he said " That hurts worse than the uniform. " ( TOS : " Journey to Babel ")

Fully dress uniform consisted of a tunic with a Nehru collar worn with standard pants and boots in the male version and a miniskirt with a back collar, similar to the standard skant uniform but with a longer skirt and gold piping along the collar, for the female version. Variations on each uniform's style depended upon rank:

• Lieutenant dress uniforms bore an assignment patch, with a thin gold piping around the collar (and running down the front of the high-collar version) and their rank stripes;
• Lieutenant commanders wore the tunic with similar piping, but decorations were worn in lieu of the assignment patch and rank stripes for lieutenant commanders and above;
• Commanders had a much thicker braid around the collar;
• Captains had additional piping down their shoulder seams;
• Commodores and above had an additional gold piping running the length of their sleeve.

A kilt and sporran was also optional dress uniform attire. ( TOS : " The Savage Curtain ")

According to actor James Doohan , " Actors can put a lot of things into a show. I remember, for instance, I suggested Scotty's dress uniform be a kilt. They immediately grabbed onto the idea. They sent to Scotland for the Scott tartan, which is one of the really old tartans. There are really only about four, and the Scott family is one of the originals. They sent to San Francisco for some other stuff and had the uniform made and it look pretty good. It was only too bad they didn't have it earlier. There were other episodes when it might have been used. " ( The World of Star Trek , pp. 94-95)

Dress uniforms appeared in the TOS Season 1 episodes " Court Martial ", " The Menagerie, Part I ", " The Menagerie, Part II ", and " Space Seed ", the TOS Season 2 episode " Journey to Babel ", the TOS Season 3 episodes " Is There in Truth No Beauty? " and " The Savage Curtain ", and the TAS Season 2 episode " The Counter-Clock Incident ".

Heavy jacket

A heavy jacket , in blue-gray, was standard issue for landing parties during the early 2250s. A utility harness was worn underneath, and is where the individual's laser and communicator were held. ( TOS : " The Cage ", " The Menagerie, Part I ", " The Menagerie, Part II ")

With regards to this attire, the script simply stated that the landing party prepared: " Heavy boots and jackets have been added to regular uniforms, and all are putting on Laser belts and holsters. "

Each of the cuffs of these jackets were either adorned with a white stripe, a blue stripe, or no stripes. The white stripe was on jackets worn by officers and the chief petty officer ; the blue stripe was worn by technicians (as indicated in the script); the yeoman wore no stripes.

A variation of this heavy excursion jacket remained in use on an individual basis as late as 2266 . It consisted of a black mock turtleneck with a ribbed collar and a blue-gray jacket with a split cowl collar. It was paired with black pants and black boots. An insignia was worn on the left breast. It also featured five brass or gold decorative studs on each shoulder. ( DIS : " Through the Valley of Shadows ")

Field jacket

Lieutenant Commander Una Chin-Riley in a field jacket in 2259

This black leather jacket, worn over the standard issue uniform, was used by landing parties during the late 2250s. It was often worn with a pair of black gloves. ( SNW : " Ghosts of Illyria ")

Winter jacket

Robert April in a Starfleet arctic jacket

Winter jackets were black heavy jackets with an emblem shoulder patch on the left side. ( SNW : " Strange New Worlds ")

Utility jumpsuit

In the mid-2250s, work coveralls, with assignment patch embroidered on the breast, were issued in all division related colors. Instead of the brighter colors of the duty uniform, they were in muted colors of olive (command), khaki (operations) and blue-gray (sciences). ( TOS : " The Cage ")

Later, everyday work jumpsuits were usually worn with no assignment or rank patches visible (even if the jumpsuit was worn by a senior officer). Duty jumpsuits came in a division color. Some versions had embroidered writing and insignia on the left breast. The jumpsuit had medium length sleeves and was worn open in the front, sealing at the waistline. A standard black undershirt was worn underneath, in contrast with jumpsuit uniforms of the previous style with division-colored undershirts. The jumpsuits came in red (operations), green or brown (command), and blue (sciences). ( TOS : " The Naked Time ", " The Enemy Within ", " Mudd's Women ", " Balance of Terror ", " Dagger of the Mind ")

When Technician Fisher beamed aboard with an unknown magnetic ore on his jumpsuit in 2266, he was instructed by Montgomery Scott to " decontaminate that uniform. " Later, while explaining a subsequent transporter malfunction , Scott made note of said substance on Fisher's "suit". ( TOS : " The Enemy Within ")

Later that year, when the stowaway Simon Van Gelder was discovered aboard the USS Enterprise , wearing such a jumpsuit, it was simply stated that he was " someone in engineering uniform. " (" Dagger of the Mind ")

Environmental suit

Galley vest

Workers in the ship's galley , such as the galley chef , wore a tan colored vest over their uniform. ( TOS : " Charlie X ")

Hazard vest

A hazard vest, seen in beige, was in issue for excursions or technical personnel, such as during maintenance work on the shipboard atmospheric system . Sometimes the hazard vest was worn in conjunction with protective gloves and head cover, and could be worn over the uniform tunic or the uniform undershirt alone. ( TOS : " The Corbomite Maneuver ", " The Man Trap ", " Dagger of the Mind ")

This vest was previously used as part of a radiation suit seen in the The Outer Limits episode " Production and Decay of Strange Particles ." [2]

The final draft of the script for "The Man Trap", dated 16 June 1966 , described the crewman as wearing a "highly identifiable costume".

Protective suits

At least four types of protective suits were available for the wearers' protection. They were relatively flexible in design and were suitable for hazardous environments. ( TOS : " The Man Trap ", " The Naked Time ")

The suit worn by a dead Psi 2000 crewman was described in the final draft of the "The Naked Time" script, dated 28 June 1966 , as "heavy gear."

The suits worn by Spock and Tormolen were described (in the same script) as " cold weather gear ."

Combat uniform

Black uniforms with division-colored sleeveless undershirts were worn in combat situations, often under body armor. They were usually worn without armor by medical and science personnel during the Klingon War . ( SNW : " Under the Cloak of War ", " Hegemony ")

Protective tactical gear with flashlights on the shoulders could be worn in combat situations over the uniform. It was mostly black, with a division-colored breastplate and worn over the black combat uniform. ( SNW : " Lost in Translation ", " Hegemony ") Some personnel, like special operations officers, wore a version with a black breastplate instead. ( SNW : " Under the Cloak of War ")

Casual wear

Starfleet crewmembers wore black regulation pajamas to bed, consisting of either long-sleeved or short-sleeved shirt and pants or boxers. ( SNW : " Ghosts of Illyria ")

Cadet Uhura wearing a durag

Crewmembers could also wear a cloth with Starfleet insignia tied around the top of the head to protect their hair during sleep. ( SNW : " Ghosts of Illyria ")

Athletic wear was available for use during sporting or other leisure activities. Several varieties were issued, in various colors from black to red. ( SNW : " Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow ", " Charades "; TOS : " Charlie X ")

One set included red leggings, black socks, a tunic, and a belt. The belt was colored, possibly indicating a certain ranking within a sport. Another option was a red unitard. The assignment patch was placed on the left breast of the tunic, and on the left side of the leggings or unitard. ( TOS : " Charlie X ")

Accessories

Equipment belt.

Equipment belts were worn with the standard duty uniforms, often by security personnel to carry laser pistols or phaser pistols . ( TOS : " Where No Man Has Gone Before ", " Miri ", " The Galileo Seven ", " Arena ", " The Savage Curtain "; DS9 : " Trials and Tribble-ations ")

The original belts, described as "a light-brown suede wrap-around belt via Velcro," were early on in TOS Season 1 . They were later replaced by what was described as "a wide black leather-type waistband." ( Star Trek: Costumes , p. 24)

Life support belt

A uniform hat in 2254

Officers had an optional service cap that could be worn along with their uniform. ( TOS : " The Cage ", " The Menagerie, Part I ")

The captain's uniform hat was never worn, but was only seen on a console in the captain's quarters . It was originally created as Robert April 's officer cap mentioned in an earlier version of the script of "The Cage."

See also: Mid-22nd century Starfleet headgear .

Spock wearing a Starfleet knit cap

A regulation beanie knit cap with a Starfleet delta badge could be worn along with the uniform. ( SNW : " Charades ")

While only seen on screen worn by Spock while trying to disguise his ears, it can be assumed to be an actual optional headwear for cold weather environments.

Embellishments

Station personnel insignia.

Commander Pelia wearing a Starfleet station personnel insignia with an additional medal

In 2259 , while conducting an inspection and upgrade of the USS Enterprise 's systems, Commander Pelia 's Starfleet delta badge was mounted on a black trapezoid with curved corners and a gold border. ( SNW : " The Broken Circle ")

Assignment patches

Starfleet personnel of this era wore an assignment patch on their left breast. These patches varied in design by the service person's posting. An icon representing the wearer's division or department was located in the center of many of these patches. ( TOS : " Charlie X ", " The Omega Glory ", " The Tholian Web "; DS9 : " Trials and Tribble-ations "; ENT : " In a Mirror, Darkly ", " In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II ")

Until 2266, it was not uncommon to see personnel with a mismatched uniform color and assignment patch icon. The following uniform color / assignment patch icon combinations have been seen: command / operations, operations / sciences, sciences / operations, and sciences / command. In addition, security personnel circa 2254 wore blue uniforms with a unique insignia resembling a squared-off letter C. By 2265, this insignia was dropped in favor of the standard operations insignia. ( TOS : " The Cage ", " Where No Man Has Gone Before ")

In 2018, costume replica company Anovos released a replica version of the above-mentioned "C" insignia patch as part of their first "Official Patch Collection", listing it as a "Cadet" insignia rather than for security. [3]

Types B and C

The above assignment patches were used by the crew of the Enterprise from 2266 to 2270, and are typical of the era's ship assignment patches. They depict the usual divisional insignia patches used on corresponding color uniforms, although these were absent from some other styles of patches.

Although the division symbols and colors were standardized by this period, Uhura is depicted wearing a sciences patch on her early command gold uniform in " The Corbomite Maneuver ". This is presumably a holdover from the mixed-division practice still in use as late as 2265.

Nurse Christine Chapel's unique patch was initially a sciences patch with a red cross painted or attached to it, as the circles of the sciences design were visible. ( example ) She later received an updated red cross patch. Furthermore, though labeled above as "medical", this patch was only seen worn by nurses during the series. [4] Other medical officers, such as Doctors Leonard McCoy and Joseph M'Benga, wore standard sciences division patches. The red cross patch was designed by Majel Barrett-Roddenberry . Relayed Richard Arnold , " [She] said that (as she remembered it) Gene [Roddenberry] asked her to come up with something special for her uniform as Christine Chapel – and that's what she came up with. " ( Star Trek: Communicator  issue 151 , p. 75)

A screw operations division officer wearing an unknown department insignia

According to an anything but canon account, one operations division officer wore a uniform with a division insignia with a depiction of a Phillips head. ( VST : " Skin a Cat ")

Rank insignia

Throughout this uniform 's use, rank was indicated by cuff stripes of various styles. In the 2250s , enlisted personal had no rank stripes and all commissioned officers wore a single gold stripe. Chief petty officers wore a specially-patterned stripe. By 2265 , the system remained unchanged, except that captains would wear two stripes. ( TOS : " The Cage ", " Where No One Has Gone Before ")

In the type B uniform style, the cuff stripes generally matched the division color – gold stripes for command division officers , red stripes for operations division officers, and blue stripes for sciences division officers. Medical officers ' ranks were indicated by silver stripes. In this system, each rank had its own insignia instead of one for all commissioned officers. ( DIS : " Brother "; SNW : " Strange New Worlds ", et al)

In the mid 2260s , the rank system was updated. Full-width stripes were replaced by a slightly more intricate design while half-width stripes became dotted. ( TOS : " The Corbomite Maneuver ", et al)

The cuff braids were reminiscent of the "scrambled eggs" used by modern, real-life military uniforms. Uniform-designer William Ware Theiss recalled in a 1988 interview, " The rank on the old show was a braid we had custom-made and was based on our current naval ranking. " ( Star Trek: Costumes , p. 24)

These charts represent the rank insignia seen on screen throughout these uniforms' appearances.

Uniform epaulets (2250s)

In 2254 , at least one Starfleet uniform Starfleet bore an epaulet, possibly indicative of rank. ( TOS : " The Cage ")

It is unknown if this indicates admiralty; the officer in question was wearing one stripe.

Appearances

• " The Cage "
• " Where No Man Has Gone Before "
• " The Corbomite Maneuver "
• " The Man Trap " (recycled footage)
• " Charlie X "
• " What Are Little Girls Made Of? " (image on bridge monitor)
• " The Menagerie, Part I "
• " The Menagerie, Part II " (archive footage)
• " Catspaw " (recycled footage)
• " Wolf in the Fold "
• " The Trouble with Tribbles "
• DS9 : " Trials and Tribble-ations " (archive footage)
• DIS : " If Memory Serves " (archive footage)
• LD : " Strange Energies " (image on viewscreen )
• " Children of the Comet " (image)
• " A Quality of Mercy " (image)
• SNW : Every episode
• " Holiday Party "
• " Holograms All the Way Down " (hologram)
• TAS : Every episode
• " Trials and Tribble-ations "
• " What You Leave Behind " (flashback)
• " In a Mirror, Darkly "
• " In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II "
• ST : " Ephraim and Dot "
• " No Small Parts " (image on PADD )
• " Kayshon, His Eyes Open "
• " We'll Always Have Tom Paris " (hallucination)
• " Reflections " (images on cutout)
• " I Have No Bones Yet I Must Flee " (on action figure)
• " Parth Ferengi's Heart Place "
• " Kobayashi " (hologram)
• " All the World's a Stage "
• " Farewell " (photograph only)
• " Seventeen Seconds " (photograph only)
• " No Win Scenario " (photograph only)
• " Skin a Cat "
• " Walk, Don't Run "

Background information

In the original pitch for the series, Gene Roddenberry generalized the uniform design, stating "Crew uniforms are ' naval ' in general appearance, attractively simplified and utilitarian. Again, surprise variations are possible here too."

The Starfleet uniforms worn during Star Trek: The Original Series were designed by William Ware Theiss , who returned to design the Star Trek: The Next Generation uniforms (which were further adapted into future versions on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , Star Trek: Voyager , and in the TNG-era films by Robert Blackman ).

The "Type A" uniform was in use only for the two Star Trek pilots, with the tunics appearing in several later episodes ( see above ) and the matched pants having been worn by extras in several early first season episodes, with the new updated tunics.

Although the "Type C" command division uniform tunics looked gold on most color TV sets, the costumes were actually lime-green. [5] This issue was made light of in an in-joke from the first draft script of DS9 : " Trials and Tribble-ations ", in which Department of Temporal Investigations agents Dulmur and Lucsly – just prior to leaving space station Deep Space 9 – asked Benjamin Sisko one final question: what color had Kirk's uniform been. Sisko, having seen Kirk in both a duty uniform and wraparound tunic, simply answered, " Green. " The greenish hue of the command tunics can be seen more clearly in the third season, when the fabric used for the tunics was changed from satin velour to a double-knit fabric that reflected the set lighting differently. The dress uniforms, made of a silk material, were always clearly green by comparison, and some darker green jumpsuits and wraparound tunics that were more clearly seen seemed to confirm that all the "gold-to-green" variations were part of the same color scheme. The so-called "beige" Type A uniforms which originated with " The Cage " were ironically a much more yellow color, but likewise appeared beige or pinkish under the lights.

The Type C first appeared in " The Corbomite Maneuver ". Chronologically, the Type C uniforms first appeared in late 2265 in the flashback scenes in " Dagger of the Mind " and the recording of Dr. Leonard McCoy's visit to Capella IV in " Friday's Child ".

With a few exceptions, all women in the Type C uniforms wore the skirt variant. One uniform seen on extras in TOS Season 1 was a woman's gold command uniform with pants. It was created for a scene in " Charlie X " where a pretty crewwoman was transformed into an old hag, who might not have looked appropriate in a skirt uniform. It also made an appearance in " The Man Trap ". In regards to the collars on female uniforms, blue-collared uniforms were seen in TOS and TAS on Nurse Chapel, and red-collared uniforms were seen in TAS. Female gold command uniforms were rare on both series and were never seen with colored collars.

This uniform style was last seen in TAS : " The Counter-Clock Incident ", although it was later recreated for DS9 : " Trials and Tribble-ations " and ENT : " In a Mirror, Darkly ".

Engineering officers in the 2250s ( Crew )

Female officer dress ( Early Voyages )

In the IDW comic series Star Trek: Crew , engineering officers were depicted as wearing a Type A red uniform, with a red collar, alongside the beige uniforms as depicted in "The Cage" and "Where No Man Has Gone Before". In particular, these uniforms were depicted as only being worn in engineering, rather than elsewhere on the Enterprise , suggesting that since the engineering section of the Enterprise was never depicted during this era of TOS, such uniforms could have actually existed side-by-side with the beige Operations uniforms, thereby continuing the red division color established in Enterprise .

In the Marvel Comics series Star Trek: Early Voyages , an alternate Type A female duty uniform was depicted as a short dress with a high-necked collar, similar to the variant worn by Nurse Chapel during the late 2260s .

Starfleet officers in the late 2230s

The alternate reality Starfleet uniform introduced in Star Trek were based on the Type C design, though the timeframe of that film, and its sequels, has them in use when the previous uniform design and the Type A were being used. Star Trek: Countdown to Darkness , Issue 2 depicts the alternate reality version of this uniform already in use by 2239 , suggesting that in the alternate reality the previous uniform and Type A were never adopted at all, unless they were used briefly after 2233 .

External links

• Starfleet uniform (2240s-2265) at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• Starfleet uniform (2265-2270) at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• Starfleet uniform (2245-2265)  at Spike's Star Trek Page
• Starfleet uniform (2265-2270)  at Spike's Star Trek Page
• 22nd and 23rd century Starfleet uniforms at Ex Astris Scientia
• 1 Bell Riots
• 2 Obi Ndefo
• 3 Gabriel Bell

• Stranger Things
• The Lord of the Rings

From TOS to Star Trek Beyond: The Evolution of Uniforms

From its humble – and somewhat precarious – beginnings in 1966, Star Trek’s place in science fiction has grown to epic proportions, unmatched by others in its genre (which, of course, is a bone of contention).

Arguments aside, there’s one constant element in Star Trek that we cannot do without: their wonderfully designed uniforms. I have to admit – there’s not much sexier than a person in uniform. Especially if they’re in Star Trek.

I’m not saying outlandish alien features and costumes don’t add to a story’s appeal, but Star Trek’s crew members – from TOS to Star Trek Beyond – hit the spot with their simple but “look at me” vibe.

So, how well do you know your Star Trek uniforms?

If your memory is a little hazy, let’s help you with that. Here is a Star Trek uniform guide which showcases the threads from The Original Series, The Motion Picture, The Next Generation, Generations, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, Enterprise, and the most recent movies.

Perfect timing for Star Trek Beyond, don’t you think?

Which uniforms do you like best?

Related: Which Star Trek Villain Are You?

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Ranking Every STAR TREK Uniform, From The Original Series to STRANGE NEW WORLDS

Starfleet has had several uniform designs in over 55 years of Star Trek . And we mean several . It’s wild how often Starfleet changes tailors. But while some uniforms have been fashion-forward, others… not so much. Here, we rank all the main Starfleet uniforms seen in the franchise thus far. We are skipping Alt-timeline uniforms , except for the J.J. Abrams Kelvin universe, since it made prominent appearances. And we skipped ones with very brief screen time, such as the U.S.S. Kelvin crew uniforms. So, let’s set phasers to stunning, and talk about some future fashion, ranking from best to worst.

1. Wrath of Khan through Generations (1982-1994)

Costume designer Robert Fletcher designed some of the worst Starfleet uniforms ever for 1979’s Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Luckily, he got a “do-over” for The Wrath of Khan in 1982, and the subsequent five films . These uniforms are the crème de la crème of Trek wear. Yes, unlike most Starfleet uniforms on this list, they are only one color, maroon. But their design recalls 19th-century nautical uniforms, and so they just look so very regal. Officers must have loved these, because as TNG flashbacks showed us, they stayed in circulation for over fifty years.

2. The Next Generation , Seasons 3-7 (1989-1994)

These are the uniforms most think of when they think of TNG. After seasons one and two costumes were retired (we’ll get into why later), designer Robert Blackman came up with new yet similar uniforms for TNG year three . These had the same color designs as the earlier seasons, but were two-piece jackets and pants combos, and now with a more dignified collar instead of a V-neck. There is something about these that are just simple and classy, and there’s a reason they have remained iconic. Maybe it’s also because we always loved when Jean-Luc pulled down on his shirt in a huff.

3. Picard, Seasons 2-3 (2022-2023)

These first appeared in season two of Picard , and feature prominently in season three . Why do we love these so much? They take the color combo and general aesthetic of the Deep Space Nine/Voyager uniforms, but add the details and front “open flap” of the ‘80s movie uniforms. And it just all works. We kind of wish the black was on the shoulders instead, but hey, it’s ok. These new uniforms rock. Let’s keep them around.

4. First Contact, Insurrection, Nemesis, Deep Space Nine Season 5-7 (1996-2002 )

Usually, we hate gray tones in Starfleet uniforms. But the uniforms introduced in the 1996 film First Contact really are very smooth. And the pop of color in the undershirts/collars keeps them from looking bland and lifeless. Much like the original maroon movie uniforms, these look the most “military” of all the Starfleet uniforms. This fits, as they introduced them in a war with the Borg , and later used them on DS9 when the Federation was at war with the Dominion.

5. Strange New Worlds (2022)

A very recent addition to the canon, the retro-modern uniforms introduced in Strange New Worlds totally evoke the Pop Art colors of the original series. Only with much better fabrics that show much more in terms of details. The little Starfleet Deltas on the shoulders and sleeves? We love that touch. These uniforms prove that the basic concept of the classic ‘60s series still works today if you do them right. Kudos to SNW costume designer Bernadette Croft for bringing that classic style to the modern day.

6. Star Trek (2009) , Into Darkness, Beyond (2009-2016)

Similar to Strange New Worlds , the “retro chic” uniforms of the Kelvin timeline movies were meant to evoke the bright, primary colors of The Original Series . And they really did just that, just as SNW’s uniforms currently do. The only reason that SNW ranks a wee bit higher is that we’re not super crazy about the “shirt over another shirt” thing the Abrams films had going on. Luckily, that was modified for Star Trek Beyond . But other than that detail, we love these.

7. The Original Series, The Animated Series (1966-1969, 1973-1975)

Yes, to modern eyes, these old-school uniforms look kinda cheap. The shirts scream “your Mom’s favorite fabric store,” and instead of a metal badge, it looks like someone slapped a Starfleet Delta sticker on the shirt. But, these bright primary colors instantly grab your eye, and make you think of a fun rainbow-hued future you actually want to live in. So hats off to TOS designer William Ware Theiss, who made these velour uniforms pop on all those tube television sets back in the day. They will live long and prosper.

8. Deep Space Nine Season 1-5, Generations, Voyager (1993-2001)

These uniforms first appeared on Deep Space Nine in 1993, then in the film Generations in 1994 , and finally in Voyager from 1995-2001. Since they were lost in space, Janeway’s crew was stuck with one uniform design for seven years. They are very classic Trek, and are pretty much the TNG era uniforms, only with color on the shoulders and black in the torso. We dig them, and they’d rank higher, except for one thing. The cut and fit of these really make them look like cozy space pajamas. And once you see it, you can’t unsee it.

9. Discovery Season 4 (2021-2022)

We were not big fans of the original early 23rd-century designs, seen on Starfleet officers on Discovery. Star Trek only really got away with “one color” uniform standard one time (see entry #1). But when Discovery jumped to the 32nd century , the crew got some snazzy new uniforms to go with their new home in the far future. These costumes evoke the best of TOS, TNG , with a touch of the classic nautical tradition seen in the original movie uniforms, right on the shoulder. We hope these stick around in season five and beyond.

10. Lower Decks (2020-Present animated, 2023 live-action)

Yes, this is an animated show. But it’s canon, so we are counting them. We are not sure why the U.S.S. Cerritos has different uniforms than the rest of Starfleet, but we must admit, these are kind of cool. Much like the current Picard season three uniforms, they combine classic ‘90s Starfleet aesthetic with a little bit of the classic film uniforms, with the open flap on the shirt. The real reason we know these are good is that on the Strange New Worlds episode “Those Old Scientists,” both Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid) and Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome) wore the animated uniforms in live-action, and they were quite fetching.

11. The Next Generation Season 1-2 (1987-1989)

During the first two seasons of TNG , creator Gene Roddenberry decided that in the future, no one would want to see wrinkles. Look, he had a lot of wacky ideas. So he had his original series costume designer William Ware Theiss design jumpsuits that looked like spandex. To avoid wrinkles, they came with a foot strap to go over the shoe so that they could pull it taut. This was pure hell on the backs of the cast. Later, they demanded they be changed for season three into two-piece costumes. The basic design is still iconic, but they just look uncomfortable, making these awkward designs rank this low.

12. Discovery Seasons 1-3 (2017-2020)

Discovery’s first two seasons were set ten years prior to TOS, but the leap from these uniforms to what we saw later is head-scratching. While we like the blue hue, the silver piping on them and the accompanying shoes really just make these uniforms look like space tracksuits. It’s as if Starfleet decided to hire Adidas to design for them. When the crew of the Enterprise showed up in season two in classic colors, it just made us dislike these uniforms even more. Luckily, the Discovery crew eventually ditched them for snazzier threads when they landed 900 years in the future in season 3.

13. Prodigy (2021-2022)

Technically, the uniforms used by the kids on the Protostar in the animated series Prodigy are not quite official Starfleet. But these unique uniforms have a cool design overall. We dig the asymmetry in the torso. But we would love them way more if they ditched the grey and gave us some classic gold, red, and blue. Maybe we’ll get there someday. This series is just in its infancy.

14. Picard Season 1 (2020)

We didn’t see that many Starfleet uniforms in the first two seasons of Picard . But the ones we did see didn’t hit the mark. The basic design recalls the old DS9/Voyager uniforms, but there are just too many extra details on the shoulders. They are just a bit too busy. At least for the higher-ranking officers. The lower-ranking officers were ok, the collars are just awkward. Set phasers to “meh.”

15. The Original Series , Pilot Episodes (1965)

Think of these as prototypes. This sweater/pant set was seen first on Captain Christopher Pike in the first TOS pilot “The Cage.” Then again on Kirk in “Where No Man Has Gone Before,” the second pilot. The design is actually kind of snazzy, in a mid-‘60s Mad Men- era way. But the color palette? Just way too muted. They’re just gray/blue and a boring pale yellow. Kind of yawn-worthy. Not awful, but they didn’t last long enough to make an impression. Luckily, when Star Trek went to series, they got much more fun in terms of color choices.

16. Enterprise (2001-2005)

We understand that Enterprise , set only 150 years in the future , was supposed to look more like our own modern era. But man, these Starfleet uniforms really just look like Captain Archer and crew were working as mechanics in a space garage. They are just a tad too real-world looking, and lack any sci-fi fun and fantasy. They’re still better than the Enterprise theme song though. And luckily for them, they are not the lowest ranked on this list.

17. The Motion Picture (1979)

Talk about coming full circle. Robert Fletcher, the same designer who made these lowest-ranked costumes for The Motion Picture , later designed the best uniforms in Star Trek in our estimation, from films II – VI . Much like the DS9/Voyager uniforms, these straight-up look like pajamas. But unlike the ones worn by Sisko and Janeway, these come in boring tones of beige, gray, and white. I’m sorry, Earth tones are Star Wars . We come to Star Trek to taste the rainbow. And Kirk’s regular duty uniform looks like he’s an interplanetary dentist. These made only one appearance, and there’s a reason why. Blow them out the airlock.

Originally published March 1, 2023.

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Every Starfleet Uniform From 'Star Trek,' Ranked

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When a Starfleet officer is preparing to "boldly go where no one has gone before," they need every bit of confidence they can muster. Not knowing what awaits them on undiscovered worlds, the clothing they wear is vital. A Star Trek officer's uniform serves a very important role. It not only protects its wearer from alien climates and environmental elements, but it instantly impresses an idea of status.

Star Trek officers are ambassadors, representing Starfleet to galaxies far beyond the stars. Besides the differences used to signify varying roles, the overall unity in design sends a visual message to other cultures that they are all part of the same organization, and work together as a team. Over the decades, Star Trek uniforms have undergone several redesigns. But which one stands out as the best? Here is every Star Trek uniform, ranked.

13 'Star Trek: Prodigy'

Tv series (2021).

A visually stunning animated series, Star Trek: Prodigy follows the exploits of a group of young misfits who happen upon an abandoned Starfleet ship. As they discover their strengths, both individually and collectively, they get to have some pretty entertaining adventures. Luckily for the young would-be cadets, a hologram of Captain Kathryn Janeway ( Kate Mulgrew ) is programmed into the vessel and provides them with some much-needed guidance.

Since the young confiscators are not official Starfleet ensigns , it is understandable that they don't start the series in uniform. However, the choice not to have them wear uniforms makes the show feel a bit more like a saga befitting Guardians of the Galaxy rather than Star Trek . When the ensemble finally does don fatigues, they are all the same, with no distinctions or special notice given.

Star Trek: Prodigy

A group of young aliens escape captivity by commandeering a derelict Starfleet ship, the U.S.S. Protostar. As they navigate the galaxy, they must learn to work together and uncover the ship's secrets. The show blends adventure and discovery, appealing to both new viewers and longtime Star Trek fans.

12 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds'

Tv series (2022).

Captain Christopher Pike ( Anson Mount ) is famously Captain James T. Kirk's ( William Shatner ) predecessor and mentor. The series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds finally gives his character a chance to have a storyline in his own right and get the spotlight he deserves.

Despite the exciting concept, the uniforms used in the series are lackluster. They are fashioned similarly to the 2009 movie with an aesthetic that resembles sports clothing rather than military dress. They use colors from the classic series, black top borders from Star Trek: The Next Generation , and don't give the audience anything new to emulate.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds follows Captain Christopher Pike (played by Anson Mount) and the crew of the starship USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) in the 23rd century as they explore new worlds throughout the galaxy in the decade before Star Trek: The Original Series.

11 'Star Trek: Nemesis'

Movie (2002).

Finding a way to differentiate the uniforms used in the television series and those used in the films is tricky. In the movie Star Trek: Nemesis some fantastic performances are given by the actors, including a younger Tom Hardy as the principal villain, Praetor Shinzon. But not much can be said about the costumes.

In a nod to other Star Trek television shows taking place around the same time, the uniforms feature predominantly black bodies with colored top portions and shoulders. However, in Star Trek: Nemesis , instead of using the bright colors on top of the uniforms, they chose to use gray on every uniform and the undershirts being the predominant form of color designation. This decision leads to a washout of originality and an underwhelming visual picture.

Star Trek: Nemesis

Not available

10 'Star Trek: Picard'

Tv series (2020).

A flash-forward saga, Star Trek: Picar d follows Captain Jean Luc Picard ( Patrick Stewart ) several years after his first missions aboard the Enterprise. He faces new foes with the help of some familiar faces. Fans of the character's debut series, Star Trek: The Next Generation will enjoy multiple cameos from fellow costars.

Comfortable and casual seem to be the motif for the clothing in this iteration of the Star Trek universe. If human history serves as any indicator, this is indeed where fashion is headed. Out are the tight corsets and laced bodices of the Victorian era, and in are the stretchy yoga pants of the 21st century. It is no wonder that the fabricators for Star Trek: Picard took their cues from realistic trends to envision a future where uniforms are understated and informal. Albeit sleek and stylish, the ensembles used in Star Trek: Picard lack the pizzazz that is synonymous with other uniforms in the genre .

Star Trek: Picard

Admiral Jean-Luc Picard, long retired from Starfleet, is thrust back into the heart of galactic intrigue when a desperate young woman seeks his aid. Determined to uncover a vast conspiracy and protect her, Picard recruits a diverse team of allies. As they navigate a galaxy fraught with new dangers and old enemies, Picard faces personal demons and ethical dilemmas, all while trying to uphold the ideals he has always stood for.

9 'Star Trek: Voyager'

Tv series (1995).

Star Trek continued to be a show that promoted gender ideals that were not yet the norm in everyday life, including women as high-ranking officers. One of the highest and most prestigious ranks within the Federation was that of a starship captain, and the series Star Trek: Voyager gave audiences the confident and tenacious Captain Kathryn Janeway ( Kate Mulgrew ).

While imagination and innovation inspired the character choices and writing for the series, the costume department didn't reinvent the wheel. Borrowing identically from the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine lookbook, the uniforms that the crew members onboard the Voyager wore were nothing special.

Star Trek: Voyager

8 'star trek', movie (2009).

Going for a sinuous appeal, the wardrobe designers for the 2009 film Star Trek must have taken inspiration from athletic wear companies. While the sleek and figure-hugging fabric used in the cinema reboot is contemporary, it leaves something to be desired when it comes to being scientific or military garb.

With the t-shirt style cuts and microfiber cloth, the actors in the film look like they are about to embark on a cross-fit workout session, rather than a historic and significant quest across the galaxy . In terms of modernization and trying to reach a younger audience, the clothing choices may have worked, but for the overall tone of the characters, they fall short.

Star Trek (2009)

J.J. Abrams' 2009 movie Star Trek rebooted the iconic sci-fi franchise in a totally new timeline. When a Romulan ship travels back in time and alters the past, the lives of James T. Kirk (Chris Pine), Spock (Zachary Quinto), and the future crew of the USS Enterprise are drastically changed. In this new timeline, the Romulan Nero (Eric Bana) sets out for revenge on Spock, setting off a chain of events that reshape the entire universe.

7 'Star Trek: Enterprise'

Tv series (2001).

Even though Star Trek: Enterprise was filmed more recently, it is a prequel, set nearly a century before the original series with Captain Kirk (William Shatner). Due to the antiquated setting of the series, the crew's solid-colored jumpsuits are a visual nod to NASA and early space exploration. The uniforms are also emblazoned with an insignia on the arm, similar to NASA astronauts wearing mission patches.

Even though the classifications have some differentiation by using colored stripes around the shoulders, they are still largely monochromatic and not the most visually appealing . The large, bulky zippers add to the nuance of the timeline, but do little to earn fashion points.

Star Trek: Enterprise

A century before Captain Kirk's five-year mission, Jonathan Archer captains the United Earth ship Enterprise during the early years of Starfleet, leading up to the Earth-Romulan War and the formation of the Federation.

6 'Star Trek'

Tv series (1966).

The uniform that started it all. The original series boldly went where no show had gone before in many of its themes, plot lines, and on-screen firsts. The show also used color very vividly to distinguish between different duties within Starfleet command. Most military fatigues use small details to denote status, like pins, embellishments, or insignia. But Star Trek was unique in that it so clearly denoted the different roles onboard the ship. This could be a necessary way to communicate quickly to other cultures of alien species which officer(s) they need to interact with.

All marks given for originality, the 1966 uniforms are not the most elegant or stylish of the show. The Starfleet crest is present on the uniforms, but it is only embroidery . The uniforms were also heavily gendered, with women's dresses being very short. The female officers looked like they were dressed for a party at a disco, rather than a diplomatic voyage to new worlds.

Star Trek: The Original Series

In the 23rd Century, Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise explore the galaxy and defend the United Federation of Planets.

5 'Star Trek: Lower Decks'

Part Star Trek , part Rick and Morty , Star Trek: Lower Decks ' creator Mike McMahan brings satire and absurd adult humor to the galaxy. Fans of the live-action shows will get a kick out of the many inside jokes and meta references that only a true Trekkie/Trekker will appreciate. The animated series follows the daily routines of lower-ranking crew members onboard a starship, instead of largely focusing on officers of command rank, like most of the other series.

The uniforms in Star Trek: Lower Decks have the distinctive colors, small collar pins, and black pants that make a Star Trek uniform great. They also feature the recognizable top black border that is reminiscent of Star Trek: The Next Generation with a new, sleek off-center cut that makes them stylish and futuristic looking.

Star Trek: Lower Decks

Behind every great captain, is a crew keeping the ship from falling to pieces. These are the hilarious stories of the U.S.S. Cerritos.

4 'Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan'

Movie (1982).

The most imperialistic looking uniforms the good crew aboard the Enterprise ever wore were the red uniforms in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan . The uniformity and regal quality of the costumes evoke feelings of militia. Perhaps this feeling was too much felt by audiences, and that's why the wardrobes were short-lived. Future designers chose to go back to more sci-fi stylized designs.

With the crisp lines and contrasting thick black belts, the regimentals worn in the movie look more like those worn by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police than those in other Star Treks . Even if the costuming was a little off the mark, the movie itself is considered to be one of the best in the canon .

Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan

With the assistance of the Enterprise crew, Admiral Kirk must stop an old nemesis, Khan Noonien Singh, from using the life-generating Genesis Device as the ultimate weapon.

3 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'

Tv series (1993).

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine not only flipped the script by focusing on the activities taking place on a starport rather than a starship, but it also flipped the colors of the traditional uniforms. Instead of having the top portion be black and the body of the uniform be colored, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine used a black body as the base for the outfits, with only the top portion of the shoulders being colored .

Another stylistic decision was to use v-necks instead of the standard crew necks. Gray undershirts were worn beneath the uniform as well, giving the audience more of a visual separation between the character and the role they performed. They weren't merely a uniform with a person in it, but rather a person wearing a uniform .

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

In the vicinity of the liberated planet of Bajor, the Federation space station Deep Space Nine guards the opening of a stable wormhole to the far side of the galaxy.

2 'Star Trek: The Next Generation'

Tv series (1987).

Adapting a classic TV show for a current audience is no small task. From the writing to the costumes, everything has to be refreshed to give the drama an appeal to modern viewers. The wardrobe designers for Star Trek: The Next Generation did a fantastic job of taking inspiration from the old while envisioning the new. The first revamp of the original series, this adaptation has remained a favorite for many years.

The standard colors of yellow (gold), blue, and red were given a reprieve, but the designations changed. Red now represented command, gold for operations, and blue for science. The show started with crew members in one-piece jumpsuits, but later changed to two pieces with black trousers and high-collared shirts. The designers of the show also upgraded the Federation's crest. Now it was not merely an embroidery on the uniform, but a shiny, metallic, and functioning communicator that was worn like a pin on the left side lapel. Another important upgrade was that these uniforms were not gender-isolating. The female and male officers wore the same uniform.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Set almost 100 years after Captain Kirk's 5-year mission, a new generation of Starfleet officers sets off in the U.S.S. Enterprise-D on its own mission to go where no one has gone before.

1 'Star Trek: Discovery'

Tv series (2017).

If Star Trek is about exploring all worlds, can the costume department give the best of both worlds when it comes to the crew's uniforms? The designers for Star Trek: Discovery have done exactly that. The series is a prequel to the original TV show, but falls in the timeline after Star Trek: Enterprise . It is uniquely positioned to have a visual bridge between the old and new uniforms, and it accomplishes this with great style.

In the first few seasons, the uniforms are solid blue with large, obnoxious zippers running up the front, (a nod to Star Trek: Enterprise ) with gold, silver, and bronze stripes and panels down the shoulders and sides to denote rank. But, as the story goes forward , the uniforms begin to change color, more closely resembling those worn by the cast in the 1966 series. By season four, the prominent colors of yellow, red, and blue are used to denote command, operations, and science, respectively. Even though the earlier uniforms are less immediately identifiable as Star Trek uniforms, they are still stylish and a favorite for audiences to cosplay. This series not only manages to give fans something new to enjoy, but something old to reminisce about as well. And simply using color to evoke the ethos of the beloved show, serves as a testament to the series' iconic wardrobe legacy.

Star Trek: Discovery

Taking place almost a decade before Captain Kirk's Enterprise, the USS Discovery charts a course to uncover new worlds and life forms.

NEXT 'Starfleet Academy' Just Beamed Up Another Oscar Nominee

“The Lost Era” Uniform Timeline

• January 5, 2022
• General Star Trek costumes , TNG , TWOK

As a preface to my updated TNG costuming resources and my upcoming TWOK-era uniform projects, I thought it would be neat to examine what we know of the “The Lost Era” uniform timeline, from the TOS-era movies to TNG.

I’ll be discussing the evolution of the TWOK-era uniforms in my upcoming TWOK-era costume analyses , so for now I’ll only be mentioning uniform changes that I believe pertain to “The Lost Era” and TNG-era uniforms.

Also, for this discussion I’ll be confining my observations to (what I believe were) intentional creative decisions, NOT errors, omissions, or “goofs.”

QUESTIONS ...

In canon – that is, only taking into consideration what was actually seen on-screen during the film/TV franchise – it’s not clear when exactly William Ware Theiss’ TNG-era uniforms became the standard uniforms for Starfleet.

All we really know for sure is that it seems to have been during “The Lost Era” between the launch of the Enterprise B (as seen in Generations ) and “Encounter at Farpoint” (as seen in The Next Generation ).

How and when the transition between the TWOK-era uniforms and the TNG-era uniforms took place is a vague issue that’s prompted considerable speculation over the years.

Was there another uniform style at some point in the meantime?

Were the TNG-era uniforms phased in slowly, or were they implemented all at once?

After the heavily-structured, naval, even militaristic TWOK-era uniforms, at what point did skin-tight spandex jumpsuits and unisex mini-dresses become the new standard for Starfleet?

The unenviable task of dealing with these questions in a way that would make sense – both chronologically (in-universe), and to the audience (visually) – first fell to William Ware Theiss, as The Next Generation ’s initial costume designer.

WILLIAM WARE THEISS' APPROACH

Prior to the launch of Star Trek: The Next Generation , William Ware Theiss had also been the costume designer for Star Trek: The Original Series and the aborted Star Trek: Phase II .

Between Phase II ’s abandonment and The Next Generation ’s launch, however, there had been four feature films with the original cast, for which Robert Fletcher was costume designer and Gene Roddenberry had had limited involvement.

These films featured different Starfleet uniforms and numerous classes/variations, many of which are loved by fans (particularly the “Monster Maroons”), but none of which bore much resemblance to any of Theiss’ costume designs for The Original Series .

After the success of these films, the spinoff TV series was green-lit with Gene Roddenberry “restored to power” as a showrunner, who recruited Theiss to be the costume designer for TNG.

Roddenberry is said to have been unhappy with certain aspects of the films, including what he saw as the militarization of Starfleet, which was also reflected in the movie-era uniforms.

I suspect that one reason the TNG-era uniforms were so drastically different from their TWOK-era predecessors was an attempt by Roddenberry to visually distance – or even disassociate – The Next Generation from the TOS-era movies as far as possible.

Furthermore, Theiss’ approach to designing the costumes for the new series seems to have simply been to “pick up where he left off,” perhaps acknowledging superficial aspects of Robert Fletcher’s movie-era uniforms but mostly just ignoring them.

Theiss favored knit fabrics and unstructured uniforms toward the end of TOS, Fletcher favored heavily-structured wool uniforms for ST2 through ST4, and then Theiss designed unstructured spandex uniforms for TNG.

Theiss established three division colors in TOS, Fletcher introduced more and changed their associations, and Theiss returned to the three division colors for TNG.

… etc., etc.

It is my personal belief that Theiss may have felt slighted by Fletcher’s radically-different uniform designs and, after Phase II never made it off the ground, the success of the movies was salt in his wound …

In Star Trek Costumes: Five Decades of Fashion from the Final Frontier , Theiss is quoted saying, “Bob Fletcher is a very fine designer, and I mean that sincerely – but we don’t design the same way, and there’s no reason we should. Apples and oranges. My personal feeling is, if you go to a structured, woven fabric, and use the kind of tailoring and structuring he’s done, it puts those costumes back, historically, five hundred years, with shoulder seams and shoulder pads of that type.”

But regardless of the personal feelings of anyone involved or the creative direction from The Powers That Be, Theiss’ approach to “The Lost Era” uniform transition appears to have basically been, “Ignore the TOS movie uniforms and pretend they never happened!”

With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that, right from the beginning of The Next Generation ‘s pilot, everyone was already wearing Theiss’ TNG-era uniforms.

The characters on Farpoint Station waiting for the Enterprise to arrive were already in uniform, as well.

(It wasn’t like the Deep Space Nine pilot in that regard, when the show’s cast members were first introduced wearing the existing TNG-style uniforms and gradually switched over to the new VOY-style uniforms over the course of the episode.)

The only (other) instance in which Theiss had to address the uniform transition was about a third of the way through The Next Generation ‘s first season, in the episode “The Battle.”

During the episode, Captain Picard mentally relived the events from 2355, which was approximately eight years prior to the episode.

By now, it shouldn’t be surprising that for these flashback events, Theiss dressed the former Stargazer crew in his TNG-era uniforms. 

Considering Theiss’ apparent attitude AND the fact that this was ultimately just a mental hallucination inflicted by an illegal telepathic device (with malicious intent), I believe it worthy of mention here … but ONLY as a possible example of the Starfleet uniform timeline, not necessarily a factual one. 

That said, in The Next Generation ’s pilot, Theiss DID dress Admiral McCoy in trousers reminiscent of those from the TWOK-era …

I believe this to have been intended to represent the character as a sort of relic and/or “living legend” from generations prior.

Curiously, for the original wardrobe/make-up tests (as seen on The Next Generation season 1 Blu-Ray set ), McCoy was dressed in a variation of his TWOK-era “monster maroon” uniform.

Note the TNG-era communicator, and the lack of the right shoulder strap.

This may have been done purely for convenience, since Deforest Kelley would’ve probably had several uniforms readily-available from the first four TOS movies, or perhaps Theiss’ TNG-era uniforms weren’t quite ready yet.

It could have simply been an experiment, an abandoned creative direction, or any number of other possibilities.

In any event, it never made it on-screen (in-universe), so it technically “doesn’t count.”

I mention it here because it may have been a source of creative inspiration for Robert Blackman, costume designer on The Next Generation from the third season forward.

ROBERT BLACKMAN'S APPROACH

Whereas William Ware Theiss had created this issue and then more or less ignored it (Gene Roddenberry’s potential directions notwithstanding), Robert Blackman inherited it by default when he came on board the show in season three … and he had to contend with it several times over the remainder of the franchise. 

(Durinda Rice Wood was costume designer for TNG’s second season, although the issue of the uniform transition never arose that production year.)

Blackman’s strategy for addressing the uniform transition – aside from actually acknowledging it, of course! – appears to have been to “bridge the gap” between the two uniform styles by gradually transforming the TWOK-era uniforms into the TNG-era ones to the best of his ability.

He had numerous opportunities to present various stages of the transition, as he seemingly envisioned it.

Robert Fletcher’s TWOK-era uniforms and William Ware Theiss’ TNG-style uniforms were so radically different, transforming the former into the latter was certainly no easy task – probably not even practical to even attempt, but Blackman certainly did the best he could, considering the situation he inherited!

Some fans have criticized various errors and faux-pas with the TWOK-era uniforms seen during Blackman’s tenure, but personally I’m inclined to overlook most of them considering the incredible difficulty of his position.

Blackman inherited a wardrobe full of notoriously uncomfortable uniforms which needed to be redesigned and upgraded, in a way that stayed true to the essence of their original design while still being new, different, and more comfortable for the cast.

In addition to the monumental task of upgrading an entire production’s worth of uniforms AND introducing a whole line of new ones, he also had to continually crank out costumes for the guest stars and “aliens of the week.”

Whenever a flashback/time-travel/etc. scenario showed up in the script, Blackman would probably have had a week or less to make it all happen, with all the other stuff going on as well!

Fletcher’s TWOK-era uniforms were probably the most intricately-detailed costumes in the franchise, particularly regarding all the various accessories, trinkets, accents, detailing, positioning of the various components

Dedicated fans study for weeks, months, or even years trying to wrap their brains around Fletcher’s uniforms, often with the intention of getting their own, personal costume “just right.”

But Blackman would have a fraction of that time AND would nearly always have to address the issue of the uniform transition, each time never knowing if or when the writers would revisit “The Lost Era,” or during what specific window any future visit(s) would be set.

In short, Blackman had to incorporate the work of five (!) other costume designers into the show, carrying their legacies forward while cleaning up other peoples’ messes AND making his own creative contributions, under weekly deadlines.

With that in mind, I’ll outline what we do know about the Starfleet uniform timeline here, in approximate chronological “stardate order” – that is, the order that events took place in-universe, although the actual episodes/movies referenced were in a different production order.

Unsurprisingly, the TWOK-era uniforms were in full-swing in 2278, approximately 85 years prior to “Encounter at Farpoint,” as evidenced by the crew of the Bozeman .

Interestingly, that actually predates the events depicted in The Wrath of Khan by several years, making this the earliest example of the TWOK-era uniforms seen in-universe!

As mentioned previously, the TWOK-era uniforms were still in style at the time of the Enterprise B’s launch in 2293, approximately 71 years prior to “Encounter at Farpoint.”

The following year, 2294, Scotty was aboard the Jenolen when it crashed onto the Dyson Sphere.

He and one other person survived the crash, and he rigged the transporter to preserve them indefinitely until they were rescued.

When the TNG crew discovered the crashed ship and completed the transporter cycle, we saw that Scotty was still wearing the more casual class (or variant) of his movie-era uniform, like he’d worn for most of the final three original movies.

Since he wound up being the sole survivor of the crash, we don’t know what the other Starfleet passengers or crew was wearing, but I think it’s safe to assume they were still wearing the movie-era uniforms at that point.

And I find it interesting that after his wounds were treated and he’d cleaned up, he continued to wear this uniform style for the rest of the episode.

He didn’t seem to feel the need to switch to the present-day Starfleet uniform, nor did any of the Enterprise crew seem at all inclined to make an issue of it.

It made sense for the characters, but I also think it was a great creative choice for two reasons:

First, our most recent (and perhaps strongest) visual association with Scotty by this point was like this ; sticking him in the TNG-era uniform would’ve seemed disrespectful somehow.

And second, it was a great visual representation of Scotty’s situation and what his character was dealing with in this episode; he was a man out of time, a relic of the past who wanted so badly to be useful in a world of new engineering and technology that was beyond him.

Aaaand that’s where things start to get a little hazy …

In 2327, approximately 36 years prior to “Encounter at Farpoint” and shortly after Jean-Luc Picard graduated from Starfleet Academy, the TWOK-era uniforms were still in use.

However, the quilted turtleneck-style division shirts had been replaced with what appeared to be a plain, T-shirt style division shirt underneath. 

In 2343, approximately 20 years prior to “Encounter at Farpoint,” the TWOK-era uniforms were still worn in this manner, as evidenced by the memory of Ian Troi that Deanna experienced inside of Lwaxana’s mind during their telepathic connection.

It IS worth noting that this telepathic projection may not have been Ian Troi as he appeared at the time of his death in 2343, but possibly Deanna’s memory of him sometime prior to that year.

Around that time, major changes seem to have been made to the TWOK-era Starfleet uniforms.

By 2344, approximately 19 years prior to “Encounter at Farpoint,” the TWOK-era uniforms were still worn by Starfleet crew, but the undershirts had been eliminated entirely, as had the belts.

Curiously, though, the uniforms worn by the enlisted crew members were still worn with belts …

A few years later, around 2348 (approximately 15 years prior to “Encounter at Farpoint”), the TWOK-era Starfleet insignia pin worn on the left chest had been replaced with the TNG-era communicator, as evidenced by the hologram Jack Crusher made for Wesley shortly after his birth.

It also looks like the division stripes running down the trousers’ pant legs may have been removed, but it’s difficult to tell for sure …

Chronologically and in-universe, that was the last time that any variation of the TWOK-era uniforms were ever seen on-screen.

As a side note, a minor modification Blackman made to nearly all of the aforementioned “Lost Era” TWOK uniforms was to replace the gold trim on the left sleeve band with red.

In-universe, this trend may have begun as early as 2293 (albeit intermittently), considering these Demora Sulu and actor Tim Russ’ costumes from Generations :

However, at that point it definitely wasn’t a universal change.

If one wanted to, I suppose one could make a case that, in-universe, the “red trim” thing only kicked in with younger and/or junior officers at that point … but I really just think it was one of the (many) confusing ways that Generations fumbled.

On the other hand, Generations did give Blackman the opportunity to further nudge the TWOK-era uniforms toward their TNG-era successors with Captain Kirk’s vest.

The black panels on the sides were not only slimming (definitely more flattering on Shatner at that point), but they were subtly evocative of the black panels on the sides of the TNG jumpsuits and TNG skants .

This was a great way to suggest the beginnings of a uniform transition, and as a crossover/“passing-the-torch” movie the context was perfect!

Considering the beginning and ending, that’s about as fluid a uniform transformation as could be reasonably expected, short of whipping up some transitional skin-tight, spandex, jumpsuit-style “monster maroon” uniforms …

… or some short-sleeved, skirt-length “monster maroons” worn without pants …

Good call, Mr. Blackman!

Opinions vary regarding the aesthetic appeal of Blackman’s transitional “Lost Era” uniforms and quite a few logistical errors were made over the years, but I think he made a great creative decision to approach the issue the way he did, and I don’t think anyone could’ve done a better job reconciling two radically different uniform styles.

By the time of Jack Crusher’s death in 2353 (approximately 10 years prior to “Encounter at Farpoint”), it appears that Theiss’ TNG-era uniforms had become the standard, as evidenced by Beverly Crusher’s flashback of herself and Captain Picard going to view Jack Crusher’s body at what appeared to be a morgue.

As mentioned previously, as of 2355 (approximately 8 years prior to “Encounter at Farpoint”), Starfleet crew seem to have donned Theiss’ TNG-era uniforms, as evidenced by Captain Picard’s hallucinatory recollection.

I find this is somewhat curious, though, since the Stargazer appeared to be a TOS movie-era ship …

In fact, the bridge of the Stargazer looked eerily familiar …

On the other hand, consistency in Starfleet ship design makes sense, and they often built these ships to last!

We know of numerous starships that were in service for decades, perhaps most famously the Excelsior -class.

And in the episode “Relics,” Geordi even told Scotty that the Jenolen – a ship over eighty years old – might’ve still been in service if it weren’t so banged up.

(And I’m sure that the existence of the TOS movie-era sets at the time of The Next Generation had absolutely nothing to do with any of this …) 

A few years later, in 2358 (approximately 5 years prior to “Encounter at Farpoint”), Blackman wedged in this curious variation of a Starfleet admiral uniform …

It appeared to be a stylistic hybrid of both the TWOK-era and TNG-era uniforms, albeit with the Voyager -era communicator – whoops!

Again though, all three of the previous examples I mentioned were telepathically-induced recollections/hallucinations/impersonations, forcibly imposed by malicious aliens, so their reliability as evidence is questionable for our purposes.

However, they do seem to lend a certain amount of credence to each other.

Even if we disregard all three of the previous examples, though, Theiss’ TNG-era Starfleet uniforms had still at least appeared by 2353, as evidenced by the photo of Jeremiah Rossa’s parents.

This seems to validate the Starfleet uniform timeline, as seen in the aforementioned visions/hallucinations/recollections/etc.

There were three additional examples prior to “Encounter at Farpoint” during which we saw Theiss’ TNG-era uniforms being worn by Starfleet crew.

The first was in the Victory ‘s away team sensor logs, about a year before “Encounter at Farpoint,” during which Geordi La Forge was still a junior officer on an away mission with several other crew members, all of whom donned Theiss’ TNG-era uniforms.

The second was Lieutenant “Thomas” Riker, the transporter clone of “William” Riker from perhaps a year or so prior to “Encounter at Farpoint.”

Curiously though, while his uniform was obviously the Theiss-style, it was an unusual variant in two ways:

First, it was a jacket, rather than a jumpsuit.

And second, it appears to have been made from wool gabardine, as Blackman’s TNG-era uniform jackets were, rather than the appropriate jumbo spandex. It was also lined.

And lastly, in The Next Generation ‘s final episode, we saw that at the time of the Enterprise D’s launch, all the crew members were already in Theiss’ TNG-era Starfleet uniforms (again, unlike the Deep Space Nine pilot, in which the cast was introduced in one uniform style then changing to the new one). 

IN CONCLUSION

I have the greatest respect for Robert Fletcher, William Ware Theiss, and Robert Blackman as costume designers … even if their artistic visions for future Starfleet uniforms were radically different. 🙂

I think they all three did fantastic work on the franchise, and assuming my outsider’s perspective is reasonably accurate, I understand why they each made the decisions they did while making their respective contributions.

Personally, I think Robert Blackman chose the best approach to address “The Lost Era” uniform transition, and I believe he did as good a job as could possibly have been done – particularly under extraordinarily difficult circumstances.

If you enjoyed this blog post, please support my costume research on Ko-Fi .

Every bar of gold-pressed latinum goes toward producing more sewing/costuming resources like this, for everyone interested in Star Trek costumes. 🙂

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Awesome article and video! Although there may have been another in-between uniform, as seen in Jean-Luc's crate in his Stargazer cabin in "The Battle". Something I noticed a few years ago.

https://twitter.com/gaghyogi49/status/1284601458265137152?s=20

That was actually Larry Marvick's costume from the TOS episode, "Is There In Truth No Beauty?"

In-universe, I can only assume that it might be in Picard's possession because of his interest in history ... but it might've been Theiss just slipping it into the episodes for reasons of his own.

It's neat to consider it as an in-between uniform concept, but I don't really see any canonical evidence for it.

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• Entertainment

Zip me up, Scotty: 50 years of Star Trek uniforms

The colorful uniforms worn by the crew of the Starship Enterprise count as some of the most iconic looks ever. Here's how they've evolved over the past 50 years.

Star Trek uniforms

Ask any cosplayer : One of the most enduring aspects of Star Trek is the famous Starfleet uniform.

The instantly recognizables colors and iconic pointy badge have been adapted for new TV series', movies and games from The Original Series up to the latest Trek adventures Discovery , Picard ,  Lower Decks  and Strange New Worlds . Check out the many outfits worn by the crew of the Enterprise on their continuing mission to explore strange new worlds, seek out new life and boldly look cooler than anyone before.

Star Trek: The Original Series

Originally conceived by costume designer William Ware Theiss, the colorful pop art outfit debuted in 1966 in The Original Series.

Star Trek: The Animated Series

The multicolored uniforms looked great in the luminous cartoon world of The Animated Series.

Star Trek movies

In a series of Star Trek movies, the crew of the Enterprise adopted maroon tunics for the big screen.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

The crew of The Next Generation  saw a new take on the multicolored Starfleet uniform.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Aboard Deep Space Nine , a darker version of the uniforms reflected the darker stories told in this series.

Star Trek: Voyager

Crew members on Star Trek: Voyager  also wore the darker uniform.

Star Trek: Enterprise

Prequel series Enterprise showed us an early Starfleet uniform.

Star Trek rebooted

Stepping outside of the established TV timeline, a new series of movies sleekly updated the iconic uniforms for a new generation of fans.

Star Trek: Discovery

Sonequa Martin-Green (centre) and Michelle Yeoh (right) lead the cast of Star Trek: Discovery on CBS All Access and Netflix. (Disclosure: CBS is CNET's parent company.) 

Star Trek: Picard

Patrick Stewart returns for Star Trek: Picard on CBS All Access and Amazon Prime Video.

Star Trek: Lower Decks

Animated comedy Star Trek: Lower Decks will introduce to a side of Starfleet we don't normally see, with a new twist on the uniform.

Let's look at the development of Starfleet's uniform in chronological order. The earliest version appears in prequel series Star Trek: Enterprise, featuring Captain Archer and his crew in flight suits with colored accents presaging The Original Series and shoulder panels like The Next Generation.

Prequel series Discovery is set shortly before The Original Series, and gives the zip-up jumpsuits of Enterprise a more sci-fi twist with metallic side panels and shoulders.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

By season two of Discovery, we see a nifty combination of various eras of the uniform, which will continue as we return to the starship Enterprise in new series Strange New Worlds.

In 1965, the first pilot episode for The Original Series starred Jeffrey Hunter as Captain Pike, wearing a prototype version of the uniform we know and love.

The pilot episode, The Cage, features colored tunics with ribbed collars.

The womens' tunics boast a stylish pointed collar, and were much less revealing than what would come later.

On away missions, the crew donned special jackets.

Spock and Captain Pike in their blue-grey planet-exploring garb.

For the second pilot the uniform went through some changes. In the episode entitled  Where No Man Has Gone Before , William Shatner and Sally Kellerman wear uniforms in the familiar colors but with a different collar.

Although it's tough to see in the series itself, in the pilot you can see the famous "gold" uniforms were actually lime green. They only appeared gold under studio lighting.

When the series proper began in 1966, the familiar black neckline appeared.

The different colors represent the job each crew member does: Blue is worn by science and medical officers, gold by command officers, and red by security and engineering officers.

The colored shirts are paired with black boots and naval-influenced trousers.

Lieutenant Uhura and Nurse Chapel model the rather more daring version of the uniform worn by women crewmembers.

Other lower-ranked crew members wore color-coded jumpsuits.

Yeoman Janice Rand shows off a Starfleet regulation hairdo.

The Enterprise's lethally high turnover of red-garbed security officers gave rise to the expression "red shirt," meaning a minor character who's pretty much doomed.

Series creator Gene Roddenberry believed clothes would have no visible fastening in the future, so the zips are concealed in the shoulder. Initially, the uniforms were made of velour. 

For the third series, the costumes were made of nylon fabric similar to baseball uniforms -- because the previous velour versions shrank.

The Animated Series made the gold color official.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture

The 1979 film  Star Trek: The Motion Picture  did away with the bold colors of the series, adopting new tunics in shades of grey, beige and white.

The new uniforms didn't prove as popular as the iconic shirts from the series, lasting just one film.

The new uniforms were rather snug.

From 1982's Star Trek: Wrath of Khan onward, designer Robert Fletcher put the original crew in tunics that evoked Starfleet's naval tradition, including bell-bottom trousers. 

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

The differing colors for different departments returned on the wrist and shoulder straps, and an undershirt.

The film also saw some warm jackets for away missions.

In 1987 The Next Generation began with the crew in form-fitting spandex jumpsuits. The colors return, but this time it's command wearing red, engineering and security in mustard, and science and medicine once again in blue. 

Unfortunately the futuristic-looking outfits gave some cast members backache, so the spandex only lasted two seasons.

For the third series, Mister Worf and his crew mates donned more relaxed wool gabardine tunics, designed by Robert Blackman.

After the switch to the new uniforms in The Next Generation, lesser crewmembers were sometimes glimpsed in the older outfits. Their poor backs.

In 1993 Captain Sisko and the crew of Deep Space Nine adopted a black uniform with colored shoulders, previously seen in The Next Generation as the uniform of Starfleet Academy.

From 1995, Captain Janeway and the crew of Voyager wore the black uniforms.

Lost in the Delta Quadrant, the Voyager crew didn't keep up with the latest fashion and so didn't make the switch to the grey-shouldered uniform.

When The Next Generation  crew made the leap to the big screen, they donned a new uniform with grey shoulders. The department colors are seen on the undershirt and the rank stripes on the wrist.

Star Trek: Lower Decks follows the escapades of junior officers Starfleet officers aboard the USS Cerritos, wearing a new take on the Next Generation uniform.

Lower Decks is set in 2380, a year after the Next Generation crew's final mission, Star Trek: Nemesis. It seems Starfleet has ditched the black and grey for a return to bright colors, perfect for the palette of a cartoon.

The Lower Decks uniform includes a simplified badge, a line of silver piping and a point at the bottom. The folding front harks back to the movie tunic. 

In Deep Space Nine's fifth season, the DS9 crew switched to the uniform worn by the Enterprise crew in the movies.

Star Trek: Picard sees a return for the beloved Next Generation captain. He's long left Starfleet behind so he isn't wearing a uniform, although those shoulders look pretty familiar. Picard streams on CBS All Access in the US and Amazon Prime Video elsewhere. 

The show features flashbacks to Picard's final days in Starfleet, when TNG-style coloured shoulders were given a striking striped flourish.

In Picard's present day, the more streamlined shoulders have returned, but with a new collar.

This is the admiral's version of the 32nd century uniform.

As Discovery continued, the ship jumps forward to the future where Starfleet's uniforms are grey with subtle colored accents and an oval badge. 

In season 4 of Discovery, the 32nd century uniforms invert their colors for a black stripe on familiar blue, gold and red tunics.

Sometimes our heroes are seen in alternative uniforms.

Captain Kirk occasionally wears a green tunic.

Captain Picard got his own version of the Captain's uniform with this blue tunic and red jacket.

Throughout the movies, the captains wear different variations on the captain's vest.

Doctor McCoy gets in on the action with his medical smock.

Captain Kirk gives a martial arts lesson, complete with Starfleet-issue uniform.

Mister Spock models a spacesuit.

The Discovery crew in a modern take on the spacesuit.

For special occasions, the crew don Starfleet dress uniforms.

A fancy Captain Kirk meets the villainous Khan while wearing his dress uniform.

The dress uniform appeared in different forms throughout The Next Generation. Here's the version worn by the crew for a wedding in the 2002 movie Star Trek: Nemesis .

Counsellor Troi got to wear her own clothes throughout The Next Generation. Troi eventually started wearing the official uniform in later seasons, but she wasn't the only character to appear in their own gear.

Child prodigy Wesley Crusher wasn't officially a Starfleet officer, so he wore an outfit that hinted at the uniform style.

Another youngster in the series, Deep Space Nine's Jake Sisko, got to show off much jazzier duds.

When Voyager rescued Seven of Nine from the Borg collective, she expressed her new freedom with some very tight outfits.

Vulcan officer T'Pol also got to wear her own (very tight) outfits. Most illogical.

The crew of the Enterprise have encountered many other uniforms during their voyages, like these Klingon outfits in The Original Series.

Star Trek the movies

The Klingons underwent a serious makeover for the movies and The Next Generation.

Klingons get a modern makeover in Star Trek: Discovery, influenced by their brief appearance in Star Trek Into Darkness.

The Romulans appeared in uniform in The Original Series.

By the time The Next Generation aired, they too had a striking new look.

Eagle-eyed fans will notice that the uniforms aren't always spot-on, like when Uhura was seen in a command uniform in the episode The Corbomite Maneuver.

Occasionally, the crew have to slip out of uniform, like when a time-travelling Kirk and co had to blend in with 1930s America in The City on the Edge of Forever .

Yes, well, anything to blend in, right?

Some of the best alternative uniforms are seen in a parallel universe in the episode Mirror, Mirror.

The mirror universe is home to a fascist version of Starfleet, complete with evil versions of our heroes -- and their uniforms.

Discovery updated the Terran Empire's uniforms in the mirror universe with striking armor.

In 2009, big screen  Star Trek  reboot reinvented the look of the classic series.

In the films Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness , gold is once again the color of command, with metallic insignia on the chest and sleeves. The V-neck shirts are worn over black undershirts.

The film's prologue showed us this glimpse of an earlier uniform, styled somewhere between the blue-ish flightsuit of Enterprise and the colored shirts of The Original Series.

The new films also feature planetside uniforms that nod to the lines and colors of 1979's Star Trek: The Motion Picture .

In the 2016 film Star Trek Beyond , the uniforms are subtly altered, with more built-up shoulders and slightly darker panels down the sides.

The neckline nods to the rounded collar of later Next Generation uniforms.

The new films continue the tradition of skin-tight outfits with this diving uniform worn by Lieutenant Uhura.

Star Trek Beyond also sees the crew don blue and yellow jackets when escaping the ship.

The new films recognise that the original Starfleet uniform is one of the most iconic movie or TV costumes ever.

With more Trek on the way, here's to another 50 years of cool uniforms!

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What Do the Different Uniform Colors Mean on ‘Star Trek’?

Gene Roddenberry may have dreamed of a perfect future when he created Star Trek , but parts of his vision were firmly rooted in the real world, specifically in the physical makeup of the crew of the Enterprise itself.

Roddenberry, along with the show’s producers, decided to take numerous cues from the United States Navy when creating the official ranks on the show, including a captain overseeing a crew made up of a commander, a handful of lieutenant commanders, lieutenants, and several subordinate roles. But it’s the different colors of the Starfleet uniforms that really tell the story of how the Enterprise operates.

Fans know the basics: an array of blue, red, and gold shirts line the bridge of the ship every episode. Those colors weren’t just randomly picked for the sake of diversity, though. They actually correspond to the ship’s various service roles . The gold shirts are worn by the command division, which includes Captain Kirk, Lieutenant Sulu, and Pavel Chekov. Red uniforms belong to the engineering/communications division, including chief engineer Scotty and communications officer Uhura. The blue shirts are worn by the science/medical staff, including McCoy and Spock .

As with everything in Star Trek , though, it’s a lot more complicated than all of that. In addition to the red shirts belonging to engineers and communications personnel, they are also assigned to the security division. What’s the purpose of the security division on the Enterprise ? Well, they’re usually the supporting characters who are immediately killed whenever the crew is confronted by a new enemy. This is something of a running gag for fans of the franchise, as whenever one of the “Red Shirts” is seen on screen, you know they’re not long for this world .

Also, those gold shirts worn by Kirk and crew might not have been so gold after all. According to an interview with Star Trek ’s costume designer, William Theiss, the idea was for the show’s uniforms to be red, blue, and green. In fact, on the set, Kirk’s outfit certainly looked to be an avocado (or lime) green, but the end result was a little different when the studio lights finally hit the uniform.

“It was one of those film stock things,” Theiss said, “it photographed one way—burnt orange or a gold. But in reality was another; the command shirts were definitely green.”

This might come as a surprise to Trek fans until you remember that Kirk actually did wear green on a few occasions, including the times he was in formal dress and his seldom-seen alternate green get-up, seen in the clip below.

These alternate uniforms were all the exact shade of green Theiss describes, but they were made from a different material than the standard Enterprise shirts and apparently had no issue retaining their natural color scheme when lit on set. The gold shade may have been a production mishap, but the color has since entered the Trek canon as the official hue of Kirk and his command staff. So, in the Star Trek universe, Kirk wears gold; in the real world, though, the bridge of the Enterprise was designed with a completely different color palette in mind.

It gets more confusing when you look at the later Trek series, like The Next Generation , which had the command staff in red and operations in yellow—basically the reverse of the original series. Then, of course, the movies switched costumes and colors with nearly every entry, including the powder blue monstrosities worn in Star Trek: The Motion Picture .

Roddenberry’s eye for detail was unique for sci-fi TV at the time, and everything on the Enterprise had a specific purpose. Despite some production fumbles, ill-fated redesigns, and inconsistencies later on, the colors that make up Starfleet’s uniforms tell a story that many viewers probably never even noticed.

A version of this story originally ran in 2016; it has been updated for 2023.

What Do The Star Trek Uniform Colors Mean & Why Are They So Important?

"Star Trek" is definitely a technicolor wonderland of a show. That sense of eye-catching brilliance trickles down from the background scenery to the props used by each cast member, all the way to the uniforms the show's central crew wears as a part of their duties. 

It's easy to notice that the crew of the Starship Enterprise wear tunics in varying shades. Those colors are quite important — they denote which job class each crew member belongs to. Those classes were devised by series creator Gene Roddenberry and costume designer William Ware Theiss, and are intended to resemble the classifications used by the United States Military on noise-heavy aircraft carriers. 

Sometimes there are differences allowed for dress uniforms; the command staff, for instance, will wear green uniforms during formal occasions. And these rules aren't hard and fast ones; across the whole universe of "Star Trek" series, films, and other ephemera, the colors various officers wear on the show and the meanings behind them change depending on when the scene takes place in the show's general timeline. But these are the color codes that most often denote each character's job on the ship, and the ones used during the original "Star Trek" series to explain who is who and what they do.

The term 'red shirt' gained a negative connotation

Even if you're not a "Star Trek" fan, you've probably heard jokes about how often red-shirted officers are introduced to the show, only for them to quickly die during away missions. For a period of time, the term "red shirt" became a dirty word in the "Star Trek" world; it's gone on to take on a larger cultural significance, indicating that a person is a disposable background element easy to get rid of. And yet many of the show's red-toting characters are the franchise's longest-lasting individuals. The class encompasses the engineering, security, and communication staff positions on the Enterprise. Lt. Nyota Uhura (Nichelle Nichols) and Montgomery "Scotty" Scott (James Doohan) are among the most prominent crew members who wear scarlet hues. To wear red on the bridge is definitely a high honor.

Are 'red shirts' more doomed than their counterparts? Mathematician James Grime weighed in on the subject during a talk at New York's Museum of Mathematics in 2017. A simple statistical calculation revealed that 10% of the show's red-shirted denizens die during the original show's run — compared to 18 percent of golden-shirted characters. "There is some truth in the old 'Star Trek' myth if you look at security officers ... 20 percent of security officers died. So I think the moral of the story is, if you're on the starship Enterprise and you want to survive, be a scientist," he said.

Ironically, crimson red was eventually used to denote a position of authority on the ship; the uniforms that debuted in "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" place the crew in scarlet togs, with no color divisions to mark them.

Blue denotes a scientific mind

If you're feeling blue during your time on the Enterprise, then you're probably logically-minded. Throughout much of the original "Star Trek" series, blue uniforms were given to the show's science and medical officers. That's why Spock (Leonard Nimoy), Nurse Christine Chapel (Majel Barrett), and Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy (DeForest Kelley) can be seen sporting blue tunics throughout the series' run. The designation of blue uniforms hasn't changed much during the course of various "Star Trek" series; blue and purple shades are used to indicate ship medics in such continuations of the universe as "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

Blue was also the chosen shade for the crew uniforms in "Star Trek: The Motion Picture," with splashes of brown, oatmeal and white. This change didn't go over well with the cast. Their rebellion against the baggy uniforms went beyond their alleged unsightliness; costume designer Robert Fletcher sewed shoes into the bottom of each uniform, forcing the actors to ask their assistants for help in completing simple tasks such as going to the bathroom. A change was promptly made for the next film, and the red Navy-style uniforms stuck with the whole movie franchise until "Star Trek: The Next Generation" was launched.

Golden shirts denote power

Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), meanwhile, sports a gold-colored shirt. These are the outfits worn by those in command: largely, captains and other figures of authority. In other iterations of the show, gold tunics are worn by members of the ship's security staff. In any event, it's a uniform that denotes power.

But those shirts weren't actually intended to be golden at all; in reality, they were pale green tunics that were filmed as golden or orange-looking thanks to the sort of film the show used. According to an interview conducted with Bill Thiess in 1988 for Star Trek Prop Authority , it wasn't the show's intent to present Kirk and other captains as wearing gold at all. "It was one of those film stock things; it photographed one way – burnt orange or a gold. But in reality was another; the command shirts were definitely green." Unfortunately, thanks to that mistake the look has stuck, and Kirk's uniform is more often remembered as golden instead of green.

Whether they're sporting green or dodging danger in red, there's one thing officers on the Enterprise definitely know how to do – look stylish in a timelessly classical way.

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Star Trek TOS Pilot Uniform Fabrics and Such

• Thread starter AnthonyD2199
• Start date Jun 10, 2022

AnthonyD2199

Well-known member.

• Jun 10, 2022

Craft Velour - Fabrics - Crafts

Commodore Kirk

• Jun 14, 2022

I would love to know as well! I've always been keen on making a Pilot-Era tunic. You might be interested to know that these pilot uniforms were repurposed in "Charlie X" as the uniforms for the Antares and for Charlie's sweater . Search up the HD screencaps for "Charlie X" and you may be able to see the Pilot Uniforms and the TOS uniforms side-by-side and with the same film-grain/color grading. However it seems like the uniforms used for "Charlie X" are actually that third beige color, and not the gold used in either the pilots or in the rest of TOS. So, really, I don't know how useful that is. But I could be wrong. I'm no expert. You could also try reaching out to James Cawley on Facebook. The man really knows what he's talking about. He's seen tons of the uniforms firsthand and worked diligently to recreate a lot of them. It couldn't hurt to try. Cheers  

"The command was identical, however the blue was a bit brighter and less on the grey side than that used in the regular episodes" Click to expand...

"Both command and sciences uniforms for the pilot were modified by changing the collars to black and used in the earliest first season episodes on extras and guest stars. You can see one prominently on the character of Greene in Man Trap" Click to expand...

Commodore Kirk said: So I actually just went ahead and reached out to James myself and he got back to me super quickly. I hope this helps! Click to expand...

Commodore Kirk said: It was no problem - I've always wanted a Cage uniform myself! It's definitely a little scary reaching out at first, but usually it's the best way. Especially in a niche little community like this. Just gotta be gracious, honest, and forward and most people will be more than happy to help you out Really good catch with "The Corbomite Manouever". I'm not even sure how you caught that, because that's some real eagle-eyed viewing. Seems to back up what Cawley said too! Any other questions about the Pilot uniforms? I've found a few good forums/threads over the years that might help you out. Click to expand...

• Jun 15, 2022

Unfortunately those questions I don't quite have answers for! I think ShadowDaleCreations sells his own "The Cage" uniform, but beyond that I don't know anyone else making them. I asked Cawley if he'd ever consider making patterns, but he said he wasn't very interested. The pants are pretty similar to the TOS pants, so I'm sure you could get by on those. And the shirts, from what I can tell, are a different pattern from the TOS shirts. It's pretty simple though. It's a pretty generic shirt. I did ask Cawley why the collars in "The Cage" sort of "bubbled out" since they don't do it in "Where No Man Has Gone Before", and he said it was just because the costume designers "let out" the collars so the actors would be more comfortable. Also, the field jackets are apparently made out of some sort of upholstery fabric (headliner foam) with the foam-side out. I found this out from this thread and Cawley confirmed it for me over Facebook. Of course, the foam was easily scarred, snagged, and gouged by surfaces, so I'd probably recommend finding a similar but different fabric. Also, if you're curious about the rank insignia, Captain Chase of Starfleet.ca wrote a really interesting article on it! The meaning of the rank braids actually differ between "The Cage" and "Where No Man Has Gone Before".  

Commodore Kirk said: Unfortunately those questions I don't quite have answers for! I think ShadowDaleCreations sells his own "The Cage" uniform, but beyond that I don't know anyone else making them. I asked Cawley if he'd ever consider making patterns, but he said he wasn't very interested. The pants are pretty similar to the TOS pants, so I'm sure you could get by on those. And the shirts, from what I can tell, are a different pattern from the TOS shirts. It's pretty simple though. It's a pretty generic shirt. I did ask Cawley why the collars in "The Cage" sort of "bubbled out" since they don't do it in "Where No Man Has Gone Before", and he said it was just because the costume designers "let out" the collars so the actors would be more comfortable. Also, the field jackets are apparently made out of some sort of upholstery fabric (headliner foam) with the foam-side out. I found this out from this thread and Cawley confirmed it for me over Facebook. Of course, the foam was easily scarred, snagged, and gouged by surfaces, so I'd probably recommend finding a similar but different fabric. Also, if you're curious about the rank insignia, Captain Chase of Starfleet.ca wrote a really interesting article on it! The meaning of the rank braids actually differ between "The Cage" and "Where No Man Has Gone Before". Click to expand...

Oh, I'm sorry to hear about ShadowDale! And I apologize for recommending them - I've only ever seen one person order from them and it turned out very nice. I wasn't aware of that reputation. I'm glad you let me know, because I was thinking about saving up for some of his stuff! Also, something I found out on my own - the equipment belt used in "The Cage" looks very similar to a WWII M1936 pistol belt. I'm 99% positive. I've found reproductions of that belt on Amazon, and intend to purchase one! I read one thread awhile ago where people speculated it was an olive green belt painted silver/white, but when I spoke to Cawley he recommended I find a white belt and paint it silver. I'm not sure which color is actually the most accurate, but if you're painting over it anyway I'm sure any color is probably fine. This is the belt I plan to pick up - olive green, and the proportions for all the eyelets seem correct. Here's a white reproduction I just found , though I think the buckle seems a bit off. Honestly though? I'm sure either would work!  

It's okay, I almost got something from them many years ago until I found out, about the person who ordered from them, was it recently or years ago? The Pistol Belts I know well from researching Battlestar Galactica belts, the belt you've picked looks good!  

• Jun 16, 2022
• Jun 18, 2022

Alas! At least the Pilot stuff don't seem too tricky to make. What is it from New Voyages/Phase II were you interested in checking out? To be completely honest, I haven't seen most of them.  

• Jun 19, 2022

I loved when he introduced some of the unused Phase 2 costumes into the series like the Division Colour dungarees, he also put together a perfect replica of the Season 1-2 TOS women’s uniform also I’m not certain if I did this to the costumes on his series but the Uniform Tunics made for Phase 2 had a bit of a sharper collar made of rib knit rather than springweave.  

Captain Dunsel

Legendary member.

• Jun 20, 2022

Woah! The colors really faded on that one, huh? It just looks like straight purple. I'd almost call it berry. That's a very cool find, even if the colors have faded into almost unrecognizability. I think it does support the idea that the blue velour in the pilots were much closer to an indigo than the teal-y blue used in post-pilot TOS uniforms.  

• Jun 22, 2022

Commodore Kirk said: Woah! The colors really faded on that one, huh? It just looks like straight purple. I'd almost call it berry. That's a very cool find, even if the colors have faded into almost unrecognizability. I think it does support the idea that the blue velour in the pilots were much closer to an indigo than the teal-y blue used in post-pilot TOS uniforms. Click to expand...

• Jun 26, 2022

I'm not sure. I suppose if the colors are different than there could be more than one kind of velour in use. I also recently spoke to Scott Nakada of the old XScapesProps website. He mentioned that some fans believe both velour and brushed tricot were used as the shirt fabric for TOS uniforms, and that he himself believes the same. I don't know how true that is, but he's a very reliable source. If you have examples of these more "plush" velour shirts I can ask him what he thinks. Remember though, "The Cage" had different film conditions than "Where No Man Has Gone Before". The difference you're seeing could just be that. James Cawley had also said the gold used in the pilots was the same as used across the rest of TOS. Maybe take a look at "Charlie X" again to compare the beige Antares uniforms (repurposed pilot uniforms) to the texture of the TOS uniforms?  

Commodore Kirk said: I'm not sure. I suppose if the colors are different than there could be more than one kind of velour in use. I also recently spoke to Scott Nakada of the old XScapesProps website. He mentioned that some fans believe both velour and brushed tricot were used as the shirt fabric for TOS uniforms, and that he himself believes the same. I don't know how true that is, but he's a very reliable source. If you have examples of these more "plush" velour shirts I can ask him what he thinks. Remember though, "The Cage" had different film conditions than "Where No Man Has Gone Before". The difference you're seeing could just be that. James Cawley had also said the gold used in the pilots was the same as used across the rest of TOS. Maybe take a look at "Charlie X" again to compare the beige Antares uniforms (repurposed pilot uniforms) to the texture of the TOS uniforms? Click to expand...

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Looking at Brushed Tricot, it’s possible that those were used for the original Pilot Uniforms which would account for the more fleecey look of the fabric in modern pictures while the look of the surviving Series Uniforms is rather different. Here are Two of Spock’s Tunics, one from the Pilot and one from Season 2, the look of the fabric is similar but not identical. (Pictures from Star Trek Prop Authority)  

Expanding on this, the Tricot revelation has made me think about the TOS Uniform Recreations created for ‘Trials and Tribble-ations’ and ‘In a Mirror, Darkly’, I now believe that with the exact type of velour used in TOS being so difficult to find they may have used Brushed Tricot as a substitute, this accounts for the Recreations having the lack of sparkle and fleecy look of the Pilot Uniforms rather than the Series ones.  

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How Star Trek Brought Its Most Underrated Uniform Back

Costume designer Bernadette Croft reveals how she rebooted the look from “The Menagerie” for Strange New Worlds .

In November 1966, Star Trek aired a game-changing story. In its only two-part episode ever, “The Menagerie,” Spock goes on trial for mutiny, leading to a memorable courtroom storyline that retroactively established the Captain Pike backstory. For the occasion of the courtroom drama, the entire crew rocks their dress uniforms, which introduced a fancy variant of the famous Starfleet uniform. And now, in Strange New Worlds , that classic dress uniform is back.

“We actually call the formal dress uniforms on Strange New Worlds , ‘The Menagerie uniforms’,” costume designer Bernadette Croft tells Inverse . “It’s our colors and our fabric, but we’re really leaning into the nostalgia.” Ahead of Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 2, “Ad Astra per Aspera,” we caught up with Croft to discuss these the new/old dress uniforms, the fairytale vibe from last year’s “The Elysian Kingdom,” as well as a secret very retro uniform she and her team created, that fans barely noticed. Spoilers ahead.

Kirk and Spock in their dress uniforms in "The Menagerie."

Number One’s trial in “Ad Astra per Aspera” is deeply meta on a canon level. Several of the beats of this episode will remind Trek fans of Spock’s trial in “The Menagerie,” an episode that essentially gave birth to Strange New Worlds in the first place. When Gene Roddenberry decided to repurpose footage from the rejected 1964 pilot episode, “The Cage,” and use it as an extended flashback in “The Menagerie,” the idea of Captain Pike, Number One, and Spock on the Enterprise pre-Kirk became possible.

Tonally, “Ad Astra per Aspera” isn’t much like “The Menagerie,” but considering Spock stole the Enterprise in the previous episode, “The Broken Circle,” the argument that Strange New Worlds is doing its best to be a 2023 update of the 1960s show is strong. For Croft, that aesthetic has to come across in the costumes. Though, because Strange New Worlds comes chronologically after Discovery Season 2, influences from that series are felt, too.

“It’s kind of like a fusion of both shows,” Croft explains. “The trim around the neck and down the center front to just have more detail. We also did a collar decal. That hides the zippers. I learned that trick from [costume designer] Gersha Phillips on Discovery . Our dress uniforms also have that heroic silhouette, with a bit more power. It's also kind of the same silhouette as our normal staff uniforms. Their rank is on their shoulders, and that's in cadence with the Admiral uniform. People have reacted well to it. It seems the fans think it’s a pretty good update.”

The Vulcan judge and Captain Batel during the big trial.

In 1964 and 1965, Star Trek: The Original Series used velour for the uniforms in the first two pilot episodes: “The Cage,” and “Where No Man Has Gone Before.” Because Discovery Season 2 and Strange New Worlds take place after “The Cage,” the uniforms are somewhere between 2254 and 2265. But, what about before that? What did the uniforms look like when Captain Pike served under Captain April in the 2240s? If you look closely at a photograph in Pike’s quarters in the Season 1 finale, you’ll see the answer. In the photo, Pike and April are rocking very velour, retro Starfleet uniforms. But, Croft reveals this wasn’t a Photoshop trick.

“It was so funny because it was a last-minute request. We didn't have much time at all,” Croft explains. “But yeah, with the picture in the frame, we were’ like ‘we gotta do The Cage.’ We obviously checked with our showrunners and producers to make sure that the uniform makes sense for April and Pike to be wearing. Usually, we tweak things. But this time we were like, let’s just do that velour look. We found this olive velour fabric locally, and we whipped that together.”

The photo in 'Strange New Worlds,' and the '60 inspiration.

As Emmy season approaches at warp speed, Bernadette Croft is hopeful that the world beyond eagle-eyed Star Trek fans takes notice of the work of her amazing costume team. Specifically, the Season 1 episode, “The Elysian Kingdom,” is eligible for a costume Emmy. In that episode, the entire USS Enterprise was transformed into a fairytale world, thanks to a telepathic alien who read the memories of Dr. M’Benga’s daughter, Rukiya. And, as a result, the entire crew gets costumes that feel worthy of an entire sword and sorcery fantasy series.

“Because the world was from Rukiya’s imagination, I got to tap into that feeling of being a kid and how vibrant your imagination can be,” Croft explains. “So, for Christina’s [Chong] dress, I designed her dress the way I would draw princess dresses as a kid. It was exaggerated and had a life of its own when she walked around the halls of the Enterprise .”

Christina Chong in “The Elysian Kingdom.”

The range that Croft demonstrated in the costumes from “The Elysium Kingdom” in Season 1 is on full display in Season 2. From updated Klingon armor to new elegant gowns for the Vulcans to some very big surprises later in the season, the eye-popping costumes of Strange New Worlds are at least part of the reason to watch. Like the ground-breaking costumes of William Ware Theiss for the 1960s Star Trek , Bernadette Croft is pushing the envelope, not so much to make a show that is futuristic, but one that treats the realm of this corner of the Star Trek franchise, less like science fiction and more like historical fiction.

“We take all sorts of inspiration,” Croft explains. “Sometimes it's a retro-futuristic world and we have to lean into fashions and silhouettes from the past. But other times, we’re going further into history. Our team needs to show that they're about to embark on this adventure. What does the weather look like in that society? How does the clothing take on the work that society is doing? And I think the costume is such an important visual storytelling tool.”

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds streams new episodes on Paramount+.

This article was originally published on June 22, 2023

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