The Changing Styles of Starfleet Uniforms

Styles Through Eras and SeriesSummary

 

Starfleet's uniform styles change in extremely irregular intervals, and usually not consistently for all ranks, ships and divisions. Some uniforms must have existed for many decades, whereas others were apparently so unpopular that they lasted just one single year.

This article outlines the history of Starfleet uniforms, with focus on the 23rd and 24th centuries. These are the eras in which most of the TV series and movies take place and that also come with the most changes and hence the most potential problems with implausible change frequencies, odd concurrent uses or anachronisms. Only standard duty uniforms are taken into account, not dress uniforms, landing party jackets, engineering jumpsuits, medical tunics or special admiral variants.

 

Styles Through Eras and Series

Earth Starfleet uniform

The uniforms worn by Earth Starfleet in the 2150's are mentioned here for the sake of completeness. They predate any other style by 100 years, and there may have been an unknown number of modifications in the 100 years from the Enterprise era to "The Cage". Still, it is worth mentioning that on the otherwise navy blue jumpsuits the departments on Enterprise NX-01 are already distinguished by thin stripes of different colors, similar to those of the TOS uniforms: yellow for command, red for engineering and security, green for science. The latter is a presumption. It would make Hoshi a scientist, rather than an officer with an executive position.

Franklin uniform

In the records seen in "Star Trek Beyond", set in the year 2164, the crew is depicted with what is possibly the very first Federation Starfleet uniform. The style looks much like a blend of the Earth Starfleet jumpsuits and the colorful shirts that would be in use about a hundred years later in all universes. Even the department colors appear to be the same as at the time of TOS.

Kelvin uniform

The crew of the USS Kelvin in "Star Trek (2009)", set in the year 2233, can be seen with still different uniform colors than in any other time frame. The presumable "command" color, as worn by Captain Robau or George Kirk, is blue here. Since these events in the movie predate the TOS pilots by more than 20 years, it well is possible that a so far unknown uniform exists at the time. Still, it would be extremely odd if there used to be yet another permutation of departmental colors - unless Robau, Kirk and many more of the bridge crew of this science ship were wearing a blue science uniform.

Kelvin Timeline Enterprise uniform

More than 20 years later in the Kelvin Timeline, the Enterprise crew (and strangely only the Enterprise crew) are seen with colorful shirts, similar to the ones of TOS since 2266, but here as soon as in 2258, "Star Trek (2009)" and "Star Trek Into Darkness". These uniforms are slightly redesigned until 2263 ("Star Trek Beyond"). These parallel universe variations are not further taken into account in this article.

Discovery I uniform

Star Trek Discovery initially comes up with still different all-blue uniforms than in either "The Cage" or the Abramsverse. The department colors can be found as gold, silver and copper stripes on the uniforms and are hardly recognizable as such. This style is in use on all ships and in all other Starfleet facilities in the years 2256 to 2258 but also as soon as in 2239 (SHO: "The Brightest Star"). It remains an extreme outlier in the franchise.

Discovery II and Strange New Worlds uniforms

In the second season of the series, set in 2257, the Enterprise crew already has the uniforms (or at least re-imaginations thereof) that the TOS crew would wear as late as after 2265. The similarity to TOS is a tip of the hat (or a visual bridge), rather than a genuine attempt to adhere to the continuity of classic Trek. This is also evidenced by the decision to keep the weird asymmetric collars of the Discovery uniforms, which are even more noticeable on the TOS reboot uniforms. And although the Discovery-style Enterprise uniforms are explicitly called "new" in DIS: "Brother", they date back at least to the year 2254, as evidenced in SHO: "Q&A". The fact that Strange New Worlds introduces still different reimagined uniforms in its first season, set in 2258, ultimately creates an irresolvable mess. What's more, these allegedly still newer uniforms are worn by the crew members visiting Rigel VII five years earlier in SNW: "Among the Lotus Eaters".

Although they belong to the smaller problems of these prequels that were conceptualized as visual reboots, the above oddities in DIS and SNW remain inexplicable. Overall, the Discoverse creates as many uniform inconsistencies in four years as classic Trek did in four decades. They are disregarded in the conclusion for the sake of our sanity.

To complete the particular mayhem of Discoverse uniforms, SNW: "A Quality of Mercy" curiously shows the original uniforms as they existed in "The Cage" (and not DIS-style) on a photo that depicts Pike and April a couple of years earlier. The same episode also introduces a slight reimagination of the red uniform jacket as it would appear a couple of years later, as worn by future Pike.

TOS Pilots uniform

Pastel-colored uniforms were created for the first Star Trek pilot, "The Cage" (2254). The uniforms reappear in "Where No Man Has Gone Before" (2265), with slight modifications to the rank insignias. They are still worn by the Antares crew in TOS: "Charlie X" (2266). Hence, this style must have lasted for at least twelve years.

TOS uniform

With the beginning of TOS (2266), the more colorful yellow, red and blue uniform shirts were introduced. This is the by far most famous style in the real world, so much that the Abramsverse, Discovery and Strange New Worlds all created their proprietary re-imaginations of the pattern and the colors, to establish a visual bridge to pre-reboot Trek. Yet, the TOS uniform was extremely short-lived in-universe. It must have been abandoned some time prior to "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" (2271), at least as the Enterprise and Earth-based personnel were concerned.

TMP uniform

At the time of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture", diverse new uniform patterns with toned down colors can be seen, plus a standardized arrowhead emblem for all ships and departments of Starfleet.

Movie uniform

Some time between "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" (2271) and "Star Trek II" (2285), there must have been yet another switch of uniforms, and a radical one this time. The shirts were supplemented with asymmetrical jackets, the colors of most uniform jackets were narrowed down to red only, and the rank insignias became quite different from anything seen so far. The department is still indicated by the shirt colors, but usually only the collar is visible. These "monster maroon" uniforms must have been introduced prior to 2278, the year that the USS Bozeman came from, whose crew can be seen with this style in TNG: "Cause and Effect". The pattern remained in use unchanged for another fifteen years, at least until the maiden voyage of the Enterprise-B in "Star Trek Generations" (2293).

Basically the same untypical uniform style was preserved for an extraordinarily long time. A slight variant of the movie uniform can be seen as late as in the mid-24th century, only without the colored turtleneck collar underneath the jacket and later without the belt. The tailoring has remained the same. This simplified uniform is consistently used in in Q's recreated past TNG: "Tapestry" (2327), in TNG: "Yesterday's Enterprise" (2344) and still by Jack Crusher in a holographic recording in TNG: "Family" (2349). The re-use of the movie uniforms was an obvious choice, as it helped save production budget. Anyway, Starfleet must have eventually retired it between 2349 and 2355, seeing that Picard's crew in the flashbacks in TNG: "The Battle" (2355) wears Starfleet standard issue of the 2360's, the same as in early TNG.

TNG I uniform

Around 2350, after some 70 years, Starfleet's uniforms returned to a style of different uniform shirt colors for the departments (TNG I). Rank signs are since then reduced to small ranks pips, which are consistently worn also with the following 24th century uniforms. For some time there used to be a female variant with a skirt again, and even men were occasionally seen with a skirt (tentatively named "skant" by the costume designers).

In DIS: "Terra Firma I", Commander Yor, the "time soldier", can be seen in a Starfleet uniform from the early 2360's, although Kovich says he came from the year 2379 (of the Kelvin Timeline) and traveled forward in time (to the Prime Universe). There may have been reasons for him to wear an anachronistic uniform, or the depiction actually shows him on a previous time travel.

TNG II uniform

The TNG I unisex uniform of 2364 was a jumpsuit, but later modified to a shirt-&-pants version with a belt (2366). Also, a collar was added. This new uniform (TNG II) initially has two additional vertical seams that disappear after the first couple of episodes in season 3. It is only worn by the higher ranking officers (or rather, by the main characters) until the end of 2366 and then by the rest of the crew. On a different note, a variety of admiral's uniforms is known, all following the same basic pattern, but with slightly different jackets.

DS9/Voyager uniform

After only three years, yet another a new uniform is created, with the colors of the upper and lower half of the shirt reversed and a new bluish gray undershirt whose collar sticks out. Also, a new communicator is introduced, replacing the oval body with a rounded trapezoid. This uniform is worn on Deep Space 9 (2369), but does not affect the style on the Enterprise-D until the end of TNG (2370). Quite obviously the real-world reason is that it should be easier for the viewer to tell the two different series apart. Until some point is seemed that the DS9 uniform was simply an additional, maybe more practical variant to the TNG style. But the first TNG feature film "Generations" (2371) comes with a uniform chaos. Both the TNG and DS9 style are worn in parallel (the main characters are all in TNG attire at first), with a visible tendency towards the DS9 version.

Still, several branches in Starfleet must have retained the TNG version longer than on the Enterprise-D. Actually, most of the non-DS9 personnel seen until season 4, and all higher-ranking non-DS9 officers, seem to wear the TNG variant. Examples include Calvin Hudson in "The Maquis", Dr. Lens from the Lexington in "Explorers", the crew of the USS Odyssey in "The Jem'Hadar", Thomas Riker in "Defiant" and finally Worf in "The Way of the Warrior". Most obviously the TNG uniforms can be witnessed in DS9: "Homefront" and "Paradise Lost", where also Sisko switches to this style - curiously even before Admiral Leyton announces that he would become Earth's security chief! It is possible that specifically Earth- or planet-based personnel retain the old colors, while ship and space station crews adopt the new ones beginning in 2369 or even earlier. Moreover, the dress uniforms remains the same, also on DS9. There may have been a directive that both variants were permissible for a limited time. Voyager consistently sports the new colors from the start (2371), at a time when they are changing at random on the Enterprise-D. Riker appears in the TNG II uniform as late as in VOY: "Death Wish" (2372). But this Riker may have come from any year between 2366 to 2371.

First Contact uniform

The year 2373 brings us yet another new uniform. First featured in "Star Trek: First Contact" (2373), the new gray/black combination is adopted by DS9 personnel in the same year. Moreover, quite unlike it was the case with the inconsequential previous switch, all of Starfleet's personnel are seen with the new uniform after 2373. The crew of Voyager is the only notable exception. Equipped with replicators, they could easily switch after contact has been made with Starfleet (2374), but the old uniform is in use until the series finale (2378). Certainly the real-world reason is once again to establish a distinct look of the series. An in-universe explanation could be that Janeway decides not to waste their scarce energy reserves on new uniforms (bearing in mind that even in the real-world US Navy implementing a dress code is to some extent at the captain's discretion).

Lower Decks and Prodigy uniforms

Lower Decks takes place in the early 2380's, Prodigy in the mid-2380's. Both animated series feature new uniforms, which must exist concurrently with those in the live-action series and movies. At least Lower Decks also shows the "First Contact" style as it was the standard at the time. The animated-only variations are not further taken into account in this article.

Post-Nemesis uniform

In a flashback in PIC: "The End is the Beginning", we can see Admiral Jean-Luc Picard and Commander Raffaela Musiker with uniforms resembling the DS9 style. The most notable differences are that the border between the colorful shoulder portion and the otherwise dark gray shirt is not straight, and there is a separate colorful stripe. We see only the red and yellow colors, but it seems obvious that the blue variation of this style exists as well. This uniform apparently replaces the one that was introduced in "First Contact".

Picard I uniform

The regular Starfleet uniform of the year 2399 can be seen since PIC: "Maps and Legends". It closely resembles the DS9 variation. Most notably, a collar was added, and the rank pips were moved to the right chest. Admiral Clancy's uniform is somewhat different, and is gray instead of red. But that may be her prerogative as commander-in-chief.

Picard II uniform

Season II of Picard, set in the year 2401, brings another new Starfleet uniform. The basic colors are still the same, but the jackets now have some sort of asymmetrical lapel.

Alternate uniforms

Something that may be taken into account is the future and parallel timeline uniforms. The uniform in TNG: "Yesterday's Enterprise" had a different collar and an additional white belt. TNG: "Future Imperfect" and "Parallels" both show the same uniform variant with an identical pattern to the regular TNG II uniform, only with different communicators. But more interestingly, there exist three episodes set in the future with identical uniforms, namely TNG: "All Good Things" (2395), DS9: "The Visitor" (2422) and VOY: "Endgame" (2404). Before Star Trek Picard, there was a good chance that this would be the actual uniform of the future (or better: the uniform of the actual future), considering that it seems to be a constant in the repeated alterations to the timeline. Geordi still wears the "First Contact" uniform in VOY: "Timeless" (2389), which would put the introduction of the "alternate future style" between 2389 and 2395. This clashes with the various different uniforms seen in Star Trek Picard. However, Picard at least adopted the "future-style" Starfleet arrowhead, since "The Last Generation" even with the golden field.

32nd century uniforms

Uniforms from the far future, and particularly from the 32rd century of Discovery and Starfleet Academy, are not further taken into account.

 

Summary

Here is a summary of Starfleet's uniform styles with links to the galleries. Animated series and re-imaginations are not included.

Strictly speaking, there is nothing truly inconsistent about the lifespans of Starfleet's uniforms. On the contrary, with the exception of Discovery where this happens repeatedly, we never see any uniform versions, even in flashbacks or time travels, that we would have to reject as anachronistic. At most, we can notice overlaps and alternate styles, but these are puzzling only if we also choose to take Lower Decks and Prodigy into account.

The question remains whether Starfleet could possibly be so much into fashion that they would retain most of the various styles only for a couple of years, and replace them without any obvious reason. It would be somewhat more plausible if every single style had lasted at least one or two decades. The fact that Starfleet kept "Monster Maroon", the most untypical uniform of the many styles we know of, for the by far longest time remains an oddity.

 

See Also

The Starfleet Delta Symbol - how it evolved and whether it used to represent only the Enterprise or the whole fleet

Starfleet Uniform & Rank Issues - mismatched rank insignias, odd uniform choices and bloopers like missing pips

22nd & 23rd Century Starfleet Uniforms - incl. badges, ranks, spacesuits

24th Century Starfleet Uniforms - incl. badges, ranks, spacesuits

 

Credits

Some screen caps from TrekCore. Some info about uniforms has been taken from Trekmania. Thanks also to Alex Hoffmann, Kris, Dan, Guy Foster, Daniel, Nordic Knight, RotSman and Alexandre Oliveira for additional observations and suggestions about uniforms.

 

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