Court Martial: why are Spock and McCoy wasting time?

[ZapBrannigan]

"Court Martial" is the episode where Kirk wears his green wraparound every time he's in Commodore Stone's office, but changes into his yellow fatigues every time he leaves.

In universe, I say the first season wraparound, with gold braid at the collar, was a middle step between his yellow "Class C" uniform, and the satin full dress uniform. It was a step up in uniform class, like today's officers putting on a necktie to go from the Class C to Class B uniform (Class A adds the suit coat). Thus Kirk was dressing up for the Commodore's office.

Others have said Kirk flipping between uniforms was a film editing issue in "Court Martial." But to me it doesn't play like a mistake.

 

[BK613]

And the real reason they are not in dress uniforms during the proceedings onboard is so Kirk can get his tunic torn in Engineering.

 

[The Lensman]

None of the uniforms in Star Trek were complex affairs. Spock or McCoy could have easily stopped by a wall comm and requested their dress uniforms be brought to them as they walked, pulling the standard uniform off over their heads and putting the dress uniform on as they walked with the assistance of a crewman. Not really a complex problem here.