Uniform question

[Quagmire58]

A better uniform question would be, Why do the guys that get killed on away missions always have red shirts?

 

[c0rnedfr0g]

^^ because they're security personnel

 

[cooleddie74]

Even in the 22nd century, exploding styrofoam rocks are color-prejudiced.

 

[rhodeschroma]

I liked how the uniforms were all 95% the same except for the pips and color stripes. It seemed a bit more genuine with the period. While some may have had complaints, I thought the uniforms on ENT were spot on. They looked both neat and workaday at the same time, and the patches conveyed that they were all part of a single organization. If you have ever seen one up close, there is a ton of detail that did not come through on the screen with regards to the patches, zippers, pockets, etc. They are second in my mind in coolness only to the TOS outfits.

Agreed wholeheartedly. Enterprise uniforms were an aspect of the show design that really showed attention to - in the timeline - what one would expect these characters to wear on a general space exploration mission in the 22nd century. They were not over the top, the patches made sense and related back to present day NASA and ship/organization afiliation, and had tons of functional places to store devices and other necessary items without velcro. TOS uniforms are cool, but I think conceptually Enterprise uniforms made more sense.

With regard to uniform color - I remember the episode in TNG ("tapestry") where Picard was wearing the blue (well, teal) sciences outfit and it was hard to make that mental leap after associating him with the then-established command red. Same when Worf had switched between mustard and wine. It's amazing how the color of the character's uniform become part of your definition of the character. I'm always completely thrown when I see Uhura in Yellow (then command) in the very early TOS episode(s) - not sure how many - I think just 2.

 

[commodore64]

I love the Enterprise uniforms. It's probably the only one from Star Trek, I'd give serious consideration to turning up to a convention in.

The lycra from the other shows, excluding TOS, is not very forgiving. I'm not a huge fan of the ENT uniforms, but you have a point -- they're functional.

 

[Nebusj]

Agreed wholeheartedly. Enterprise uniforms were an aspect of the show design that really showed attention to - in the timeline - what one would expect these characters to wear on a general space exploration mission in the 22nd century.

... assuming that clothing and uniform habits adopted by NASA in the 1970s continue without change for two hundred years of future history and are unchanged by World War III and a century of contact with alien life forms.

 

[rhodeschroma]

I would still contend that ENT uniforms are closer to what would come to pass than something such as the TOS uniforms, or some major alternate option. Without more information on the history / future events that happened between "now" and "then" - it's hard to make a definitive decision what exactly they would wear, but I think they chose a good general starting point. To me, they were uniforms that just made sense for where that crew was coming from and going.

 

[jamestyler]

Agreed wholeheartedly. Enterprise uniforms were an aspect of the show design that really showed attention to - in the timeline - what one would expect these characters to wear on a general space exploration mission in the 22nd century.

... assuming that clothing and uniform habits adopted by NASA in the 1970s continue without change for two hundred years of future history and are unchanged by World War III and a century of contact with alien life forms.

The impression the show gives is that humanity is still very sheltered and self contained thanks to the Vulcans. I wasn't keen on the first two series, but the uniforms were spot on to me - they made everything seem very real and down to Earth, that everything was brand spakin' new to them and we were still in our old habits.

Though the Admiral uniforms - they were hideous.