TMP Uniforms

[Lance]

On the flip side I've always disliked TWOK uniforms. These definitely didn't look like future wear. They looked very retro and not at all believable as comfortable everyday wear. The TMP uniforms look credible as an evolution of what we saw in TOS although I'd argue a little more colour was needed. And it's easy to see an evolution from TOS to TMP to TNG and DS9. TWOK uniforms don't look even of the same universe. Instead of tweaking the overall TMP concept (in which we might have gotten something like the TNG concept only years earlier) they simply reacted by making an arbitrarily drastic change that was wholly inconsistent with what had come before. Indeed the whole feel of TWOK is like a reboot where they want you to forget TMP as if it never happened...but thats really a different discussion for another time.

While I am a fan of the TWOK uniforms, I also agree with this. In the grand scheme of things, the TMP uniforms fit into a template, a gradual progression from the TOS uniforms right through TNG, DS9 and beyond. The rank insignias of TNG owe far more to the TOS and TMP template than is often acknowledged.

By contrast, the TWOK uniforms are a clear violation of this. They're off doing their own things. When stacked up alongside the rest of the uniforms, they're a clear aberation in what is otherwise a fairly smooth evolution of styles. Even TNG seemed to acknowledge this, as flashback sequences featuring the TWOK uniforms often made pains to (for example) remove the undershirts, somehow trying to fit them into the chronology, to try and create some progression between them and the arguably more casual open-collared versions seen in TNG's first season. If you look at the uniforms of Star Trek as a whole, the TWOK ones stand out. And not necessarily in a good way, sometimes.

That said, I am a fan of them, and I think they're probably Trek's most stylish uniform. But I definitely agree with Warped9 that they don't tend to fit very easily into the chonology.

 

[Warped9]

We have to take another thing into account: contemporary materials. Today we have lightweight materials that could probably allow for a TMP like style without all the uncomfortable under bits to create the smooth look. Those materials didn't exist in the late 1970s and so you had to fake it in some way.

I didn't mind the all-one-colour scheme so much, but the slacks didn't look right, but then again it could well be a problem of ill-suited materiel rather than concept. What I didn't like was the one-piece jumpsuit like Decker wore. They would have been better to have gone for a more loose fitting style like DS9.

The real problem with a one-piece jumpsuit of any kind is that it really isn't the most comfortable thing to wear and doesn't allow for the easiest body movement. A two-piece will always be better in that regard. I also liked the TNG uniforms of the first two season, but again it was a problem of materiel and being a one-piece affair. Better materiel and make it a two-piece and you're much better off.

 

[sbk1234]

I was never bothered by the one-piece jumpsuits of TMP, since they had one-piece jumpsuits, albeit differently designed, on TOS.

 

[cbspock]

The uniforms in TWOK were the best movie uniforms in any Trek. The TMP uniforms looked like pajamas. The TNG uniforms were lame especially in the first season. The com badges were really stupid too. Im glad when they did the series reboot, JJ went back to the classic uniforms and updated their look.

The First Contact / DS9 uniforms were much nicer.


-Chris

 

[Warped9]

I was never bothered by the one-piece jumpsuits of TMP, since they had one-piece jumpsuits, albeit differently designed, on TOS.

The jumpsuits in TOS were more like fatigues and looked more credible than what we saw in TMP.

TWOK suits looked fine in their own right, but they were inconsistent with what had been established. If they were used in a futuristic military SF film with a completely different background then they would work. But as uniforms for the Starfleet we know and what kind of organization it was supposed to be the design was way off base.

There are a lot of things to like in TWOK as a film and as a story, but some things they got totally wrong in terms of it being Star Trek. The uniforms are one of them.

Now I've heard different reasons for the designs, real world reasons like they were meant to camouflage the less-than-ideal physiques of the aging cast. Granted I don't know if thats true or not. It's also been said they were meant to inject more colour into the film. It could be both or neither or a combination or something else entirely. Maybe it was just an arbitrary decision to stroke some's ego. Whatever, they just blew it.

Then again TWOK uniforms were but one of quite a few touches that don't ring true in the film.

But thats another discussion.

 

[Uxi]

The enlisted jumpsuits from TOS make perfect sense for engineering, etc. Coveralls would/should be used far more than radsuits everywhere but the reactor area.

On the same lines, let's not forget the TWOK enlisted uniforms are the TMP uniforms. What a difference the colors make!

There is indeed Real Life™ continuity in the uniforms that TWOK bucked... a mix of Rodenberry's hangups on having them unrealistically tight (see Stewart always yanking on his shirt) and usually an insufficient budget.

 

[J.T.B.]

The jumpsuits in TOS were more like fatigues and looked more credible than what we saw in TMP.

Agreed, as Uxi said, the TOS (and even "The Cage") jumpsuits are more like coveralls (or a flight suit), with enough room to be pulled on over something for certain kinds of work.

The TMP one-pice, OTOH, is pretty much like a tight-fitting catsuit, almost like it was supposed to go under something else.

Perhaps most importantly, the TOS types seem to have a convenient fly front, for, you know. The TMP model, not so much.

Justin

 

[cbspock]

The nice thing about TWOK, they brought back the landing party jackets. If we compare TWOK to say TOS, the red jackets were more inline with the TOS dress uniforms, not the standard duty uniforms. I think if they just had the turtle necks as a stand alone top it would have been more like the TOS standard duty uniform tops.


-Chris

 

[Warped9]

TWOK field jackets were one thing I did like in the film. They had field jackets in TMP also, but they were of a different design. TWOK versions looked heavier as if for more inclement climates.

 

[cbspock]

TWOK field jackets were one thing I did like in the film. They had field jackets in TMP also, but they were of a different design. TWOK versions looked heavier as if for more inclement climates.

That's right, I forgot about the tan jackets they wore when they went out to Vger.


-Chris

 

[J.T.B.]

TWOK field jackets were one thing I did like in the film. They had field jackets in TMP also, but they were of a different design. TWOK versions looked heavier as if for more inclement climates.

Yeah, TMP jackets lose a lot of points in my book because they didn't have collars. Ever tried to keep warm in something without a collar? The Cage jackets didn't have collars either, but at least the uniform shirt had one that stuck up a little.

TWOK jackets OTOH went to the other extreme, with a really wide fall-down collar. I didn't like those jackets either because they were too cluttered with boxes and patches and geegaws.

Justin

 

[Lance]

The uniforms in TWOK were the best movie uniforms in any Trek. The TMP uniforms looked like pajamas. The TNG uniforms were lame especially in the first season. The com badges were really stupid too. Im glad when they did the series reboot, JJ went back to the classic uniforms and updated their look.

I too was quite pleased about that particular aspect of Trek '09. When I seen the early leaked photos from the sets, they were all of the academy, remember? Everybody wearing those red fatigues? My first thought was that they were trying to 'do' the TWOK uniforms in a more primative state. And I didn't like it. I was delighted when I eventually seen the finished film, which had them wearing what are more less a more functional, cooler looking version of the TOS tunics instead.

 

[Galileo7]

The uniforms in TWOK were the best movie uniforms in any Trek. The TMP uniforms looked like pajamas. The TNG uniforms were lame especially in the first season. The com badges were really stupid too. Im glad when they did the series reboot, JJ went back to the classic uniforms and updated their look.

I too was quite pleased about that particular aspect of Trek '09. When I seen the early leaked photos from the sets, they were all of the academy, remember? Everybody wearing those red fatigues? My first thought was that they were trying to 'do' the TWOK uniforms in a more primative state. And I didn't like it. I was delighted when I eventually seen the finished film, which had them wearing what are more less a more functional, cooler looking version of the TOS tunics instead.

Agree, the JJ Trek '09 made the updated TOS uniforms look as good as ever.

 

[cbspock]

The uniforms in TWOK were the best movie uniforms in any Trek. The TMP uniforms looked like pajamas. The TNG uniforms were lame especially in the first season. The com badges were really stupid too. Im glad when they did the series reboot, JJ went back to the classic uniforms and updated their look.

I too was quite pleased about that particular aspect of Trek '09. When I seen the early leaked photos from the sets, they were all of the academy, remember? Everybody wearing those red fatigues? My first thought was that they were trying to 'do' the TWOK uniforms in a more primative state. And I didn't like it. I was delighted when I eventually seen the finished film, which had them wearing what are more less a more functional, cooler looking version of the TOS tunics instead.

Agree, the JJ Trek '09 made the updated TOS uniforms look as good as ever.

Now let's hope get we get a good engineering set this time.

-Chris

 

[comsol]

I actually liked the TMP uniforms. I think they were kind of "realistic" for a futuristic space navy, but not something you'd want to wear on current-day Earth.

I read somewhere that Kirk's initial uniform wasn't a special admiral's uniform, but a formal dress uniform and that there were other versions of it in gray, tan, etc., for other personnel.

There were also a ton of different variant uniforms including body armor for security personnel.

There were a number of preliminary drawings by Robert Fletcher of standard uniforms with a gray-and-white color scheme and a tan-and-white version as well. The forgottentrek site has the gray one for Spock (with science-blue shoulder tabs), and the tan version was for sale on eBay several years ago and featured two women and was labeled "rec-deck" , if I remember correctly. Unfortunately I lost my saved copies of the images in a computer glitch, and I haven't been able to find that seller again on eBay.

I also like the TMP uniforms, but I would have liked to see some more color as well. I think that the two-tone design is more interesting, but maybe with the center panel a darker color than the rest of the uniform. I also didn't like the one-piece pants/shoe combination, it kind of spoiled the lines of the outfit below the knees.

 

[cbspock]

The Admiral Uniform was interesting. Well one uniform design that stood the test of time, was the Klingon uniforms from TMP, they sort of defined the Klingon look from this time forward.


-Chris

 

[Data Holmes]

The Admiral Uniform was interesting.
-Chris

It's a dress uniform, not an admiral uniform. There is an unknown captain wearing one on screen in the tram station background, and one was made for Jimmy Doohan, with commander rank insignia, for a scene that was later cut from the movie.

All were made the same as Kirks uniform with the olden green and white color scheme.

 

[Kirby]

^^^ I thought it was a nice touch that they had Pike in one at the end of Trek 09.

 

[Therin of Andor]

All were made the same as Kirks uniform with the olden green and white color scheme.

"The Making of ST:TMP" calls it "loden green", not "olden". Olive green with a hint of grey.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070928192434AAn3oZR

Wikipedia says "Loden" may refer to: "Water-resistant material for clothing made from sheep's wool, without removing the lanolin. It is usually green..."

 

[Data Holmes]

All were made the same as Kirks uniform with the olden green and white color scheme.

"The Making of ST:TMP" calls it "loden green", not "olden". Olive green with a hint of grey.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070928192434AAn3oZR

Wikipedia says "Loden" may refer to: "Water-resistant material for clothing made from sheep's wool, without removing the lanolin. It is usually green..."

Typo. Meant loden not olden.