What was wrong with the TMP uniforms?

[dswynne1]

I kind of have a soft-spot for them, and felt that they allowed for a futuristic look for the film. If there was one flaw, I felt that the overall design was not consistent. I couldn't tell which department belong to what uniform, and there were too many collar variations. But I did like the idea of slipping on a jacket over your uniform, one that was designed to be utilitarian, and not bulky (compared to the field jacket in TWOK).

I do wonder if the field jumpsuits in STiD is a throwback to some of the TMP uniforms, but without the 1970s look...

 

[2takesfrakes]

Seriously, I LOVE the TMP uniforms! I think they're terrific! But they do not do a very good job at hiding beer guts and sagging boobs on aging cast members ...

 

[Vger23]

Seriously, I LOVE the TMP uniforms! I think they're terrific! But they do not do a very good job at hiding beer guts and sagging boobs on aging cast members ...

First of all Frakes, major respect for the Chuck Yeagar avatar from "The Right Stuff!"

I like the TMP uniforms too. They're so unique that I'm fascinated by them. My Star Trek Online characters all have TMP uniforms just because nobody else would use them...haha!

They're certainly not my favorite, but it don't hate them like so many others do.

 

[Grant]

I love revisionism.

At the time it was clear the cast hated them, the fans hated them, the critics hated them and now 35 years later there is nostalgia for the incredibly bland boring uniforms that would only have ever appeared in the 1970s aesthetic.

they look like pajamas with built in footies.

 

[Maurice]

There are things I like about them, but I hate the untucked shirt look of the two piece uniforms, the belt buckles on the men are too big (and the buckle design is blah), and the color choices are bland. I like the short sleeve variant a lot, though.

 

[Commishsleer]

They leave nothing to the imagination.
The colours are dull.
The short sleeve ones look too informal IMO. Not enough like uniforms at all.
And unfortunately I have to agree with 2TakesFrakes, probably the worst uniform if you weren't totally fit or were older. Not that the other Star Trek uniforms were much better in that regard.

Perhaps they were the most realistic uniform for the military. If you were in one of the beige ones you could blend right in with the background. Unlike the TWOK uniforms.

 

[Khan 2.0]

id say its the uniforms that mostly make TMP feel and look like its from another series of movies than that of 2-6

imagine if TMP had the WOK uniforms...or vice versa...

 

[Relayer1]

I preferred them. I love the look and feel of TMP. Despite loving some of the other movies, I'd have preferred it if they'd have carried on in that vein.

 

[MacLeod]

I would say the best looking of the TMP uniforms was Admiral Kirk's two-colour one.

 

[drt]

I have the impression that what audiences didn't like about them in 1979 were the colors, not the design. If they had kept the established departmental colors, I think they would have been a lot better received (probably even more so with black collars and pants for the two piece).

They also look more like a natural design progression from the rather minimalist original series uniforms than the overly festooned maroon ones of ST2-6.

 

[C.E. Evans]

I actually think up until the First Contact uniforms, the TMP uniforms were the most realistic Starfleet uniforms (in the sense of a futuristic space navy from a society centuries from now).

 

[Mytran]

Colour-wise, they're a more natural progression from the CAGE era uniforms (as is the bridge colour palette).

Design-wise I can see the lineage from the TOS uniforms. It's the integrated footsies that stand out the worst, IMO.

 

[2takesfrakes]

First of all Frakes, major respect for the Chuck Yeagar avatar from "The Right Stuff!"

Thank you, very much, sir! Chuck Yeager, the Man who broke the Sound Barrier, is still amongst us, as of this writing. And how he was depicted in The Right Stuff was just larger than life! He's from a bygone era, certainly, but his true grit, determination and heroism makes him a great source of inspiration to me. One Man can make a difference. Chuck Yeager is proof of that ... he's a Living Legend!

 

[SchwEnt]

^^^ wouldn't it be even better to have an avatar of the *real* Chuck Yeager?

 

[Cyke101]

I just can't with the TMP uniforms. They're bland in almost every way. By trying to be futuristic and sleek, they're, imo, the uniform that's dated the worst. The color divisions almost blend into each other, which can't be a good thing, either. The future is boring..

I will say, though, that I really like the admiral's uniform. But keep it separated from the other duty uniforms to maintain a unique look. It would stand out more among other officers wearing brighter colors.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Counting down to the inevitable posting of the infamous "Decker Unit" and "Spock Unit" TMP pics...

 

[Lance]

I would say the best looking of the TMP uniforms was Admiral Kirk's two-colour one.

Agreed. I'd have prefered everybody's uniform to be a variant of the Kirk one in terms of the two-tone look, but with maybe the different department colours combined with the white section.

 

[Starbreaker]

They're some bizarre space footie pajamas. Kirk's uniform was the best looking of the bunch. What's really weird is those belts

 

[Vger23]

^^^ wouldn't it be even better to have an avatar of the *real* Chuck Yeager?

No, because by having this picture, Frakes is able to combine the awesomeness that is Chuck Yeager AND the awesomeness that is "The Right Stuff" all in one.



DUH!!

 

[C.E. Evans]

I would say the best looking of the TMP uniforms was Admiral Kirk's two-colour one.

Agreed. I'd have prefered everybody's uniform to be a variant of the Kirk one in terms of the two-tone look, but with maybe the different department colours combined with the white section.

That was a proposed idea for the aborted Phase II series back in '77.
http://www.marcellorossi.info/ProfilesInHistoryTunic.jpg

I think costume designer Robert Fletcher eventually settled on an idea of Kirk's initial TMP uniform being a formal uniform.