Voyager Uniforms

[Bry_Sinclair]

A strange thought popped into my head this morning. At the started of DS9, they didn't use the TNG uniforms to give the characters the appearance of workers rather than explorers, then in GEN we saw a mix of the two uniform styles being used on the E-D.

Back to DS9 and we saw Sisko switch back to the TNG-style when he was briefly reassigned back to Earth, and also a few background extras using them in "Rapture" during the conferences about Bajor becoming a Federation member (this was after the main cast had switched to the FC-style uniforms).

So to my point: Would you have liked it if VOY to use the TNG-style uniforms?

 

[Allyn Gibson]

I've often wondered if the new uniforms for Star Trek Generations (which went unused) were intended to be reused in Voyager. The expense for the costumes would have been booked to the film, and then the series would have had them for basically free.

 

[Orphalesion]

It really didn't make sense in-universe. Probably the creators just liked the Ds9 style better?

 

[Finn]

^We saw early TNG uniforms well past Season three, mostly with extras. Many organizations offer a variety of uniforms. It isn't unusual in real world as well.

 

[Timo]

I rather like the division to "show" and "work" uniforms. The Federation Flagship would insist on the former, but many smaller vessels (including some visiting DS9 in the later seasons) and installations would allow for the latter. And even Picard would relax a bit after his first seven years and allow for casual Fridays.

It's just that I don't quite see why Starfleet personnel would wish to wear the DS9/VOY style when they could have the TNG style. I mean, in terms of on-set costuming, the former must have been uncomfortably hot while the latter were uncomfortably tight - but in in-universe terms, the TNG style looks much more comfortable. And it seems to self-clean better than the DS9/VOY style (that is, there are more continuity mistakes with stains in TNG!)...

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Catarina]

I am not familiar with DS9 variations but I like the Voyager uniform. I didn't initially but it is striking color wise verses the grey recent ones which is more subdue with the command color placement. Yeah, looks more polished but meh...I haven't grown to love them. maybe.

I can say this with absolute certainty I HATE the modern white dress uniform. They look like a bunch of waiters.

 

[MacLeod]

I've often wondered if the new uniforms for Star Trek Generations (which went unused) were intended to be reused in Voyager. The expense for the costumes would have been booked to the film, and then the series would have had them for basically free.

Unfortunantly I don't think it works that way, the principals would have had uniforms taliored specifcally to fit them. So even if VOY had used the aborted GEN unifrom the best they would have got it some that extras could have used.

I am not familiar with DS9 variations but I like the Voyager uniform. I didn't initially but it is striking color wise verses the grey recent ones which is more subdue with the command color placement. Yeah, looks more polished but meh...I haven't grown to love them. maybe.

I can say this with absolute certainty I HATE the modern white dress uniform. They look like a bunch of waiters.

Strictly speaking there is no such thing as the VOY uniform it's the DSN uniform as VOY is the only Trek show which did not have a new uniform designed for it.

 

[Captain Kathryn]

I don't because it wouldn't have even made sense. I mean...first of all, they would not have known about the uniform change until after they made contact with Starfleet. I suppose after that, if they were going to change uniforms they would have to replicate hundreds of new ones and in theory they were supposed to be conserving energy.

However, given that they were so happy to reconnect with Starfleet, I would think that maybe going up to date on the uniforms would have made them feel more "a part" of Starfleet again.

 

[Captain Kathryn]

Catarina, love your new avatar!

 

[Dukhat]

I've often wondered if the new uniforms for Star Trek Generations (which went unused) were intended to be reused in Voyager. The expense for the costumes would have been booked to the film, and then the series would have had them for basically free.

Unfortunately I don't think it works that way, the principals would have had uniforms tailored specifically to fit them. So even if VOY had used the aborted GEN uniform the best they would have got it some that extras could have used.

Perhaps not the exact uniforms used in Generations, but uniforms of the same style fitted for the regular cast. The unis that would have been used in the film could have been given to background extras.

*edit* Yeah, pretty much what MacLeod said.

Strictly speaking there is no such thing as the VOY uniform it's the DSN uniform as VOY is the only Trek show which did not have a new uniform designed for it.

Honestly the entire crew should have ditched the uniforms after the second season and just worn civilian clothes. But Janeway had to keep yammering on about being a "Starfleet crew."

 

[Catarina]

I would have pushed for casual Mondays :-). hahaa


I like that they didn't update because yes, I suppose it could boost morale but it already was because they had frequent contact. The keeping outdated uniform kept with atmosphere that they are still out there. They can always update upon arrival. That being said...how many might feel a twinge of sadness to change as that uniform was their existence together in the DQ and it's another reminder the family is spreading out and moving on.

 

[F. King Daniel]

The "Caretaker" concept art in A Vision of the Future has really cool-looking uniforms. A bit like the ones in the Countdown comic prequel to the reboot.

I really dislike the TNG unis, and although I loved them at the time, the FC ones are too bland. IMO the Voyager ones are the best of the 90's Treks.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I don't because it wouldn't have even made sense. I mean...first of all, they would not have known about the uniform change until after they made contact with Starfleet. I suppose after that, if they were going to change uniforms they would have to replicate hundreds of new ones and in theory they were supposed to be conserving energy.

IIRC, Starfleet uniforms are cleaned by throwing them into the replicator for recycling, so it shouldn't take any more energy just to change the replicator pattern to put out DS9-style uniforms rather than the old ones. Although Voyager's replicator rationing may have forced the crew to change how they cleaned up.

But I always assumed the reason why Voyager's crew didn't switch was "really" out-of-universe: the showrunners wanted each show to have a unique look.

 

[Lance]

I've often wondered if the new uniforms for Star Trek Generations (which went unused) were intended to be reused in Voyager. The expense for the costumes would have been booked to the film, and then the series would have had them for basically free.

I've long held this theory myself (although as far as I know there's never been any corroborating evidence to prove it). Not so much the bit about using the same exact costumes, as the VOYAGER cast would've needed to be fitted for their new togs anyway because all costumes were made to fit the actors, but more the idea that the GENS unis were designed to be the 'new look' for VOYAGER, until somebody saw them in action and realised they hadn't worked out quite as well as they'd hoped... so the DS9 jumpsuits were quickly substituted instead.

Either way, it's clear that GENS is supposed to condition the audience into accepting that starship personel will now wear the DS9 jumpsuit, and we see a kind of 'transitioning' to it as standard "Starship wear".

(The stuff about Sisko etc changing back to the TNG style for "Homefront/Paradise Lost" I chalk up as being the Earth stationed officers having a more 'formal' uniform ettiquete, though obviously it might just be possible that uniforms are dictated as the disgression of COs anyway and if Janeway had've insisted on it everybody on Voyager might've been required to wear the formal TNG variant...)

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

The crew was on occasion wearing the dress uniforms which were very similar to the TNG style.
Looked pretty good, thouch was lacking a belt and it didn't disguise the growing bellys that well.

 

[MacLeod]

I don't because it wouldn't have even made sense. I mean...first of all, they would not have known about the uniform change until after they made contact with Starfleet. I suppose after that, if they were going to change uniforms they would have to replicate hundreds of new ones and in theory they were supposed to be conserving energy.

IIRC, Starfleet uniforms are cleaned by throwing them into the replicator for recycling, so it shouldn't take any more energy just to change the replicator pattern to put out DS9-style uniforms rather than the old ones. Although Voyager's replicator rationing may have forced the crew to change how they cleaned up.

But I always assumed the reason why Voyager's crew didn't switch was "really" out-of-universe: the showrunners wanted each show to have a unique look.

But they were wearing the DSN style uniform, don't you mean the First Contact uniform?

 

[at Quark's]

Honestly the entire crew should have ditched the uniforms after the second season and just worn civilian clothes. But Janeway had to keep yammering on about being a "Starfleet crew."

Self-interest perhaps. It's the surest way she has to remain the Boss !

 

[STEPhon IT]

So to my point: Would you have liked it if VOY to use the TNG-style uniforms?

The DS9 uniforms were the next phase for Star Fleet uniforms and since it was a spin off of TNG and DS9 I thought the uniforms were appropriate for Star Trek: Voyager. I thought it would have been fun if the crew of Voyager in later seasons designed a uniform in their own image and experiences they've been through in the Delta Quadrant. Creating their own sub-culture could have been fun and taking chances.

 

[Orphalesion]

I thought it would have been fun if the crew of Voyager in later seasons designed a uniform in their own image and experiences they've been through in the Delta Quadrant. Creating their own sub-culture could have been fun and taking chances.

Everybody dresses like Neelix!

No but I agree in the way that the uniform code should have grown more relaxed over the seasons. Just like it was stupid for Voyager to remain in pristine condition for 7 years. it was stupid for the crew to remain looking prim and proper for that long.

 

[STEPhon IT]

That's not what I meant. I mean they would still have a uniform code but I thought Janeway would allow a designer on the ship be allowed to update their uniforms. Maybe even alter the command, science, and engineering color scheme to the classic trek color scheme of green, blue, and red - green becoming the command color again.

Or maybe the crew discovered a material which was better than what they had. Technology which could enhance the phaser etc.

Seven of Nine's outfits was more in line to what I'm taking about for the crew's own sub-culture.