A couple of uniform questions?

[GalaxyClass1701]

When DS9 debued so did a new uniform, color on top black on bottom ans apposed to TNG black on the sholders color on the bottom. When ever someone from a starship came to DS9 they wore the TNG uniform.

1. Were the TNG uniforms for starship personel and the DS9 uniforms for starbases and other grounded facilities.?

Only problem with this was Generations showed both uniforms on the Enterprise.

2. Why didn't the Voyager crew upgrade to the new Uniforms from FC once they were in contact with Starfleet.

 

[Sector 7]

While I think the FC uniforms look the most like a military uniform:
http://movies.trekcore.com/gallery/albums/bonus_fc/publicity/Picard_Data2.jpg
These uniforms seemed to be the most comfortable and practical for everyday wear:
http://www.trekcore.com/specials/albums/rare/article28/belanna_rejected_s5.jpg
[Thanks to Frontier for his wonderful pictures.]

One of Voyager's greatest issues was lack of resources. Perhaps they did not think those resources, or time, should be spent on fashion upkeep? If I were Janeway I would not want to give up a comfortable, practical uniform (with pockets!) to wear those hot FC uniforms.

 

[GalaxyClass1701]

While I think the FC uniforms look the most like a military uniform:
http://movies.trekcore.com/gallery/albums/bonus_fc/publicity/Picard_Data2.jpg
These uniforms seemed to be the most comfortable and practical for everyday wear:
http://www.trekcore.com/specials/albums/rare/article28/belanna_rejected_s5.jpg
[Thanks to Frontier for his wonderful pictures.]

One of Voyager's greatest issues was lack of resources. Perhaps they did not think those resources, or time, should be spent on fashion upkeep? If I were Janeway I would not want to give up a comfortable, practical uniform (with pockets!) to wear those hot FC uniforms.

Yea but if they had enough to keep the hohdecks running and Nellix's damn show they could have made the new uniforms.

 

[captcalhoun]

in-universe no explanation was given for Voyager's non-change. Out-universe it was to differentiate the two shows, that the ship was out in the DQ, wearing old uniforms.

 

[C.E. Evans]

I always imagined the original DS9 uniforms to be "Class B" (or optional) duty uniforms myself, with where they were worn being at the discretion of individual commanding officers.

But I heard in real-life, those uniforms were uncomfortable as hell for the actors to wear.

 

[The Wormhole]

When DS9 debued so did a new uniform, color on top black on bottom ans apposed to TNG black on the sholders color on the bottom. When ever someone from a starship came to DS9 they wore the TNG uniform.

1. Were the TNG uniforms for starship personel and the DS9 uniforms for starbases and other grounded facilities.?

Only problem with this was Generations showed both uniforms on the Enterprise.

2. Why didn't the Voyager crew upgrade to the new Uniforms from FC once they were in contact with Starfleet.

1) The original intent was that the DS9 style uniforms would be starbase uniforms, which was adhered to faithfully on DS9. Whenever we saw a Starfleet officer who did not serve on a space station, they wore the TNG uniforms. In fact, when Sisko returned to Earth, he wore the TNG uniform.

Matters get inconsistent with Generations, though the mixture of uniforms there was the result of proposed new uniforms being abandoned at the last minute and the costuming people just had to grab any Starfleet uniform that was kicking around.

Then you have Voyager, which for some reason depicted all Starfleet wearing the DS9 uniforms. Voyager's crew, the crew of the Equinox, personel at Jupiter Station and Starfleet Command on Earth.

2) Budget issues. Starfleet uniforms are very expensive and the costuming department was burning up money when they had to make DS9-style uniforms for the DS9 and Voyager casts and regular background extras. When the newer style uniforms came around, that helped things out a little. DS9 acquired all the costumes from First Contact, and Voyager got the ones DS9 would no longer need.

 

[sbk1234]

I always imagined the original DS9 uniforms to be "Class B" (or optional) duty uniforms myself, with where they were worn being at the discretion of individual commanding officers.

I always figured this. Also, comparing it to real life, in the military today, there are many, many uniforms being used at the same time. I mean for each service. So for there to be several uniforms all being used on a starship at once is easy for me to accept.

 

[Anji]

Not a good move to invert the colors. It always made more sense to put black on the bottom of the jumpsuit to slim down the hip and thigh areas.

 

[Therin of Andor]

I always imagined the original DS9 uniforms to be "Class B" (or optional) duty uniforms myself, with where they were worn being at the discretion of individual commanding officers.

But I heard in real-life, those uniforms were uncomfortable as hell for the actors to wear.

No, the ones most often complained about were the Seasons 1-2 TNG jumpsuits. The spandex was so tight the actors could barely bend over and the stretching fabric caused backaches. In Season Three, they switched to two-piece costumes for the foreground people.

The DS9 outfits were meant to be the 24th equivalent of tradespeoples' overalls, complete with sleeves that could be rolled up.

 

[sbk1234]

Not a good move to invert the colors. It always made more sense to put black on the bottom of the jumpsuit to slim down the hip and thigh areas.

Actually, there were designs done of the jumpsuits having the same color scheme and placing as the TNG uniforms. I think I would have agreed with your opinion, Anji, but it was also nice to see some variety.

 

[C.E. Evans]

I always imagined the original DS9 uniforms to be "Class B" (or optional) duty uniforms myself, with where they were worn being at the discretion of individual commanding officers.

But I heard in real-life, those uniforms were uncomfortable as hell for the actors to wear.

No, the ones most often complained about were the Seasons 1-2 TNG jumpsuits. The spandex was so tight the actors could barely bend over and the stretching fabric caused backaches.

I recall Robert Beltran complaining about how the original DS9/VOY uniforms were extremely tight on the shoulders and how uncomfortable wearing those stirrups were. Like the later TNG uniforms, raising your arms over your head was apparently not exactly easy or comfortable either.

Garrett Wang almost split his uniform on a regular basis when sitting down apparently (atomic wedgies seemed to be common in those costumes).

 

[RegFan]

At one point, I thought the original DS9 uniforms were for starbases. But Voyager and Generations doesn't support this theory at all. Perhaps those uniforms were originally for starbases but were later used on both starbases and starships. As for Voyager's old-style uniforms, I think it was because Janeway didn't want to waste resources on new uniforms.

 

[Lor'Vela]

Personally, I wished the uniforms stuck with the TOS style where every officer and crewmember of starships and bases wore their own unique insignia. That way you would know their assignment regardless of the style of uniform.

 

[Nardpuncher]

Your thread title makes it look like you want to be asked acouple of Star Treck uniform questions!

 

[The Wormhole]

Personally, I wished the uniforms stuck with the TOS style where every officer and crewmember of starships and bases wore their own unique insignia. That way you would know their assignment regardless of the style of uniform.

It's cheaper to have one insignia for all Starfleet.

 

[Orcus]

Personally, I wished the uniforms stuck with the TOS style where every officer and crewmember of starships and bases wore their own unique insignia. That way you would know their assignment regardless of the style of uniform.

It's cheaper to have one insignia for all Starfleet.

Although I agree that the TOS style - separate tops and bottoms - make more sense for comfort and serviceability.

Actually, thinking about it, the ENT overalls make the most sense - even if they are the least Trek unis about and the ones I like the least...

 

[Timo]

The original intent was that the DS9 style uniforms would be starbase uniforms, which was adhered to faithfully on DS9.

Not without exceptions, though. The Vulcan who challenged O'Brien to darts, as well as his shipmates, wore the DS9 style.

So overall, it's probably better to assume that the TNG style was the classier version, to be worn on "important" duty or when your CO was uptight, while the DS9 style was for dirty work and everyday use or when your CO was more relaxed. That'd also explain ST:GEN just fine: people there change to the DS9 style when going dirtside or working on heavy equipment etc.

Personally, I wished the uniforms stuck with the TOS style where every officer and crewmember of starships and bases wore their own unique insignia.

Except TOS, too, had its exceptions. The most blatant is "Court Martial" where almost everybody at Starbase 11 wears the same insignia (the "Enterprise" arrowhead) even though only a fraction of the people there should be from Kirk's ship. Then there's "Tholian Web" where the Defiant crew wear the arrowheads (although ENT "In a Mirror, Darkly" retcons this).

Probably the insignia styles would reflect one's membership in a wider sub-organization than mere individual starship or base, then. A Fleet, perhaps?

Timo Saloniemi