Collars or No Collars?

[PicardSpeedo]

Star Trek: The Next Generation question: curious about what the fan population's opinion is - do you prefer the collarless tank-top-like jumpsuit uniforms of the first couple of seasons of The Next Generation, or the high-collared, two-piece ones that appeared in later seasons (and which introduced the 'Picard Maneuver' of the downward tug whenever someone stood up)?

 

[Kilana2]

I never liked the uniforms of the first seasons. And I don't like the collarless TOS movie uniforms. They look better with turtlenecks.

 

[Finn]

Collars definitely. I like the uniforms of the latter DS9 seasons the best.

 

[Jayson1]

Collars by far. In fact this seems like such a easy choice I suspect any vote for non-collars might be someone, trolling.


Jason

 

[Armus]

The collars made the uniforms look more formal but the two piece design made the male actors look overweight, and having to constantly tug downward to unwrinkle them was an obvious design flaw.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

The collars made the uniforms look more formal but the two piece design made the male actors look overweight, and having to constantly tug downward to unwrinkle them was an obvious design flaw.

Nevertheless, the actors all preferred the two-piece version with collars, because they were far more comfortable to wear.

And they actually looked professional, as well. The ones without collars just looked like pajamas (even more so than the TMP unis).

 

[JesterFace]

The ones without collars just looked like pajamas.

This, pajamas that had shrunk in too hot water when washed.
But, it was the 80s..

 

[Markonian]

Don’t like collar-less designs in any era.

 

[Armus]

If the two piece uniforms looked good, the women would have worn them too, rather than spandex. They look like a design cobbled together at the last minute, after the actors had trouble with maneuvering in the original third season design, which I did like. They should have started from scratch rather than put William Theiss's design into baggy military jackets.

 

[Orac]

The 1 piece spandex uniforms were the best, they showed everything on everyone. Apparently smelt pretty bad after a while though. In later seasons only Troi smelled bad, but she looked great.

The two piece uniform seemed designed to hide fat around the actors middles, in another reality they just replaced the actors with fitter ones and kept the spandex.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

If the two piece uniforms looked good, the women would have worn them too

Many did.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Collared by far over the uncollared. I liked the FC/late DS9 the best.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Any particular reason why a uniform like this would leave the chest uncovered on the sides?

 

[Marc]

Any particular reason why a uniform like this would leave the chest uncovered on the sides?

wouldn't say they are uncovered - just not sure it's a light material or a light breathable mesh fabric.

 

[Qonundrum]

Hard call as I personally like both TNG variants. William Ware Theiss was a brilliant costumier, IMHO. The original's with the shoulder angles add to the liveliness of the entire outfit, but the collars do offer a more "militaristic" look, while making actors look somehow taller. The midsection also being "collared" helps make what's otherwise a seam far less jarring.

Thank you, @Armus, for posting the pics! Looking at them, I now see what you mean by "rushed design". I still like it but, yeah, if they were working on something entirely new then one has to wonder why they ended up sewing on the doggie collars onto them...

Had never seen the (sideless?!) outfit before. Still has those angles, but a larger color palette. And yeah, what the heck is that all about - cutting budget corners by cutting out the sides to show some side-ab for the actors? Then imagine everyone's confusion whenever a season 3 story with both style of uniforms being shown! Or, worse, the actors all waddle in on day one and are now wondering if TNG is produced by one of those frowned-upon "blue movie" studios...

Still, covering the sides with another toned fabric would have added some contrast. I'm now imagining season 3, like TBOBW, with everyone in that style uniform. But with sides covered too. The sense of action in those sporty uniforms does get heightened...

Any particular reason why a uniform like this would leave the chest uncovered on the sides?

Either to save on the budget, or because this isn't "Doctor Who" where they'll remove budgets from sets to ensure nobody walks around as TVMA -- unless the companion's name is "Peri", go figure -- to make it easier for Gorn to rip from the actor to not only keep the union from going absolutely spare but to reveal the actor's hairless chest as well?

And is it just me or does the sideless shirt blonde hunky guy with 1981 catalog-worthy hairdo have a nickel-plated, quite visible zipper down there?!

 

[STEPhon IT]

Curious about what the fan population's opinion is - do you prefer the collarless tank-top-like uniforms of the first couple of seasons of The Next Generation, or the high-collared, military-cut ones that appeared in later seasons (and which introduced the 'Picard Maneuver' of the downward tug whenever someone stood up)?

I don't understand what you mean by - military cut ones because there's nothing military like the uniforms from the later seasons of TNG. I'm speaking US military so maybe there's a military who fashions crew personnel to be uncomfortable for extended tours of duty. As for your question, collar-less because I thought the first 2 seasons' uniforms appeared sleek and futuristic while the other one appeared heavier and not very practical... like Nick Meyer's Wrath of Khan dress uniforms. I would hate to wear those things during the summer, the women versions was a strange fit and I couldn't understand why there wasn't a fit which would apply a skirt or short sleeves I might add. Something I like to wear often.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

wouldn't say they are uncovered - just not sure it's a light material or a light breathable mesh fabric.

If that area is covered, then the material is clear. Why even bother with that? So officers who are really ripped can show off their abs?

 

[JesterFace]

This one looks like a hero from comics.

 

[Tim Thomason]

This should be in General Trek discussion, because really this covers multiple Trek uniform eras that have done odd experiments with collars.

 

[Terok Nor]

I like both. I don't have a preference. I liked it when the collarless uniforms showed up in later seasons.

 

[Tosk]

like Nick Meyer's Wrath of Khan dress uniforms. I would hate to wear those things during the summer, the women versions was a strange fit and I couldn't understand why there wasn't a fit which would apply a skirt or short sleeves I might add.

There was a skirt version. Uhura wears it in ST5 & 6.