Why do folks dislike the Skant?

[C.E. Evans]

Miniskirted duty uniforms for female starship personnel, however, were just impractical and silly. (And I'm saying this as a leg man!)

I completely agree with the impracticality of it. Not that we ever saw a sufficiently practical uniform except for ENT, but to me, it looks badly suited to shipboard life.

The simple unisex pants-and-velour-shirt uniforms in the two TOS pilots, "The Cage" and "Where No Man Has Gone Before," looked comfortable and practical -- except that some of those shirts were so baggy, they could have posed a risk of getting fabric caught in moving machinery!

To me, it seems that those tunics in the pilots were anything but baggy. Gary Lockwood's was so snug, he looked like he could hardly breathe in his.

As far as the ENT uniforms, while people have been saying how practical they are because they have several small pockets, they're otherwise pretty tight-fitting (designed more to look good on camera than to be some real everyday wear item, IMO). They might start to be a real pain to wear after only a few hours.

 

[UnknownSample]

I like the attempt to throw something (skant on men) in that was going to be jarring to most viewers. That's what SF should do-- provoke, disorient, challenge, get you to look at things from other points of view. No one would do that now. Now, everything's geared toward making the viewer comfortable and less challenged, for maximum popularity. We even have shows where aliens and humans who have had no contact with Earth (BSG, new Dr Who), some in the far future, dress like present-day humans, suits and ties, etc....

Unfortunately, the skant is deadly dull, and makes men look like little boys in shorts.

 

[T'Girl]

Miniskirted duty uniforms for female starship personnel, however, were just impractical and silly. (And I'm saying this as a leg man!)

I completely agree with the impracticality of it. Not that we ever saw a sufficiently practical uniform except for ENT, but to me, it looks badly suited to shipboard life.

In terms of freedom of movement, the mini would offer the most of all the various uniform designs. Making the mini the best choice for hand to hand combat. If you're going to be kicking someone in the teeth, the TNG through ENT jumpsuits are probably your worst pick.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

As far as the ENT uniforms, while people have been saying how practical they are because they have several small pockets, they're otherwise pretty tight-fitting (designed more to look good on camera than to be some real everyday wear item, IMO). They might start to be a real pain to wear after only a few hours.

While they had to have been made a certain way to be on camera, to me it looked like they were basically intended to be a combination of the NASA and Air Force flight suits, just updated a bit for the 22nd century.

NASA: http://jakespilotshop.com/images/D/adultnasaflightsuit.jpg

Air Force: http://www.stripes.com/news/air-force-tests-out-new-flight-suits-undershirts-1.50950

As you can see, in the case of the latter especially, there's a reason that wouldn't look good on camera. But I assume, personally, that the ENT uniform is intended to be for all intents and purposes the same thing.

And to the poster who said the miniskirt would be the most practical--honestly, I'd have to say the risk of an explosion aboard the ship is far more everyday than having to go into hand-to-hand combat. As you can see from the article with the Air Force example, fuller skin coverage means more coverage with flame-retardant material, and I would think that would be the overriding consideration given that's the more likely scenario. (Of course, we saw it all on the show--but from a practical standpoint, I think this rationale holds.)

 

[C.E. Evans]

As far as the ENT uniforms, while people have been saying how practical they are because they have several small pockets, they're otherwise pretty tight-fitting (designed more to look good on camera than to be some real everyday wear item, IMO). They might start to be a real pain to wear after only a few hours.

While they had to have been made a certain way to be on camera, to me it looked like they were basically intended to be a combination of the NASA and Air Force flight suits, just updated a bit for the 22nd century.

NASA: http://jakespilotshop.com/images/D/adultnasaflightsuit.jpg

Air Force: http://www.stripes.com/news/air-force-tests-out-new-flight-suits-undershirts-1.50950

As you can see, in the case of the latter especially, there's a reason that wouldn't look good on camera. But I assume, personally, that the ENT uniform is intended to be for all intents and purposes the same thing.

It's fairly well documented that Bob Blackman's inspiration behind the ENT uniforms was largely from NASA flight suits, but they're first and foremost television series costumes so they were designed with more of a sense of style over function.

Costume designer Bob Blackman:
"They’re as uncomfortable as any of the other uniforms I have ever done. But because they can’t be loose and sloppy, they have to be close to the body. But it’s just how it is. It’s all about image, it’s not about, necessarily, the reality of the picture."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/st/interviews/blackman/page9.shtml

 

[T'Girl]

And to the poster who said the miniskirt would be the most practical--honestly, I'd have to say the risk of an explosion aboard the ship is far more everyday than having to go into hand-to-hand combat.

Christine Chapel stood unaffected in subzero degree temperatures, her legs encased only in "stockings." I would submit that the the stocking worn with the mini offer the same level of protection as the trousers, in terms of thermal effects and penetration by flying shrapnel.

23rd century material science.

 

[scotpens]

The simple unisex pants-and-velour-shirt uniforms in the two TOS pilots, "The Cage" and "Where No Man Has Gone Before," looked comfortable and practical -- except that some of those shirts were so baggy, they could have posed a risk of getting fabric caught in moving machinery!

To me, it seems that those tunics in the pilots were anything but baggy. Gary Lockwood's was so snug, he looked like he could hardly breathe in his.

Well, Sally Kellerman's shirt had plenty of breathing room.

On her, I would have liked to see a tight-fitting uniform, dammit.

 

[C.E. Evans]

The simple unisex pants-and-velour-shirt uniforms in the two TOS pilots, "The Cage" and "Where No Man Has Gone Before," looked comfortable and practical -- except that some of those shirts were so baggy, they could have posed a risk of getting fabric caught in moving machinery!

To me, it seems that those tunics in the pilots were anything but baggy. Gary Lockwood's was so snug, he looked like he could hardly breathe in his.

Well, Sally Kellerman's shirt had plenty of breathing room.

On her, I would have liked to see a tight-fitting uniform, dammit.

Hers doesn't seem as fitted as the other women's tunic.
http://www.startrek.com/legacy_media/images/200508/tos-001-colt-number-one/320x240.jpg
Never noticed that before.

 

[T'Girl]

Well, Sally Kellerman's shirt had plenty of breathing room.

But still left you breathless.