# Starfleet uniforms which series is the best? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 16, 2016, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starfleet-uniforms-which-series-is-the-best/762994 "2016-08-16T15:48:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starfleet-uniforms-which-series-is-the-best/762994/41 "2016-08-17T05:25:34Z")
I was never fond of the DS9/Voyager ones…and I _really_ wasn’t fond of the TNG movie/later DS9 ones. They just made everyone look like undertakers. Rather appropriate, in a way, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starfleet-uniforms-which-series-is-the-best/762994/42 "2016-08-17T05:32:54Z")
_Enterprise_ for me. The others are all far too colourful. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starfleet-uniforms-which-series-is-the-best/762994/43 "2016-08-17T06:36:25Z")
> [@drewder](#): > > [Original Series](http://www.thesnipenews.com/thegutter/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/star-trek-original-cast-i-mudd.jpg) [TNG](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kEYT-WmU0fc/TyYfZKl4fKI/AAAAAAAAHOM/PdRgY7grC8Q/s1600/Star-Trek-The-Next-Generation-star-trek-the-next-generation-9406205-2275-1524.jpg)[DS9/Voyager](http://uploads.neatorama.com/images/posts/931/51/51931/1346717287-0.jpg) [Enterprise](http://www.blankmaninc.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/enterprise-cast.jpg) [New Movie Series](http://www.thescifishow.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/jj-abrams-cast-star-trek-into-darkness-kirk.jpg) > > So I personally prefer the DS9 style uniforms, they seem to be a bit understated and look more like work uniforms, for that reason I also like the Enterprise Uniforms as they look like they might actually have pockets. The first time Jonathan Frakes visited the set of _Enterprise_ he commented on how much more practical their jumpsuits were. He exclaimed, _“Pockets! My god we would have killed for pockets!!”_ TNG TV series actually had **two** main uniform designs. The picture you’re linking TNG to were the original uniforms, and they were an actual one-piece, futuristic ‘jumpsuit’. However the cast hated them, and they didn’t fit well (don’t even get me started on Roddenberry’s unisex ‘skirt’ uniforms in the pilot). So by season 3 or 4 they redesigned them as a two-piece pants & shirt with collars, and removed the pinstripe along the shoulders. These are the ones that both _DS9_ and \*Voyager \*started with. You’d still sometimes see extras wearing the older, collar-less style in the background of TNG. Even with the new, better design, if you watch Patrick Stewart in TNG every single time he stands up he pulls his shirt down. Again, Frakes said they called that, _“…the Picard maneuver!”_ And the uniforms in the picture you linked DS9 to were actually introduced for TNG film _First Contact_. Then it was adopted by _DS9_ which was still running on TV. _Voyager_ was too, but being in the Delta quadrant they didn’t get the memo so they kept the same uniforms thru the whole series. BTW, I’ve read that the reason they introduced that new ‘purple tunic’ uniform with the colored shirt underneath in _First Contact_ was because, ahh, by that time the TNG cast was getting a little paunchy and those uniforms covered more skin and the mostly black color hid their ‘love handles’ better. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starfleet-uniforms-which-series-is-the-best/762994/44 "2016-08-17T14:15:04Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > …don’t even get me started on Roddenberry’s unisex ‘skirt’ uniforms in the pilot… Ah, yes - the Starfleet “skant.” I wasn’t crazy about 'em, either: [![](http://www.treknews.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/star-trek-skant.jpg) ](http://www.treknews.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/star-trek-skant.jpg) [![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ze44afnjYp8/UDi3VKWKxHI/AAAAAAAALps/Iq1mC6WAn-A/s1600/Enterprise-D_lieutenant_in_skant.jpg) ](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ze44afnjYp8/UDi3VKWKxHI/AAAAAAAALps/Iq1mC6WAn-A/s1600/Enterprise-D_lieutenant_in_skant.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starfleet-uniforms-which-series-is-the-best/762994/45 "2016-08-17T14:19:56Z")
The slant doesn’t look the best but I think it makes an important point about the culture of the setting. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starfleet-uniforms-which-series-is-the-best/762994/46 "2016-08-17T14:25:40Z")
> [@drewder](#): > > Makes you wonder, if the sonic showers clean without water then could you just wear your clothes in it and never have to change. Wouldn’t particles of dead skin etc be trapped between skin and fabric? But then again, this show was intended for Prime Time. They Absolutely all showered with their clothes on. Every day. And that Earl Grey was served with Milk. “Hey…David Milch…! We were thinking or expanding the franchise into an ‘After-10’ show. What would you think about coming on board with us? Working Title: ‘Federation Blue’…” ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starfleet-uniforms-which-series-is-the-best/762994/47 "2016-08-17T15:47:15Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > Wouldn’t particles of dead skin etc be trapped between skin and fabric? > > But then again, this show was intended for Prime Time. They Absolutely all showered with their clothes on. Every day. And that Earl Grey was served with Milk. > > “Hey…David Milch…! We were thinking or expanding the franchise into an ‘After-10’ show. What would you think about coming on board with us? Working Title: ‘Federation Blue’…” I have a vague memory of a character being pleased by the idea of bathing with actual water. So maybe they don’t much like the sonic shower. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starfleet-uniforms-which-series-is-the-best/762994/48 "2016-08-18T03:58:20Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > The slant doesn’t look the best but I think it makes an important point about the culture of the setting. Well, it was _an attempt_ at that, but like I said those uniforms were dropped almost immediately, they looked so ridiculous. Personally I think it was just Roddenberry trying to make amends for the miniskirt uniforms and pretty much [all the female wardrobe from TOS…](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLmcBRHYF-w) ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starfleet-uniforms-which-series-is-the-best/762994/49 "2016-08-18T04:53:32Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > They Absolutely all showered with their clothes on. Every day. > > “Hey…David Milch…! We were thinking or expanding the franchise into an ‘After-10’ show. What would you think about coming on board with us? Working Title: ‘Federation Blue’…” Do you not remember the gel rubbing ‘decontamination’ scene from Enterprise? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starfleet-uniforms-which-series-is-the-best/762994/50 "2016-08-18T07:07:28Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > The slant doesn’t look the best but I think it makes an important point about the culture of the setting. It was set in 4000 AD?!? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starfleet-uniforms-which-series-is-the-best/762994/51 "2016-08-18T07:08:51Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > I think it was just Roddenberry trying to make amends for the miniskirt uniforms and pretty much [all the female wardrobe from TOS…](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLmcBRHYF-w) Care to guess which century I’d rather live in? :o ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starfleet-uniforms-which-series-is-the-best/762994/52 "2016-08-18T09:17:18Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I have a vague memory of a character being pleased by the idea of bathing with actual water. So maybe they don’t much like the sonic shower. That was Neelix. Let us never mention him again. Also he preferred it to the sand baths that were apparently common in the area he was in which didn’t have much water. ---
**Author:** ![JcWoman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jcwoman/32/2889_2.png) [@JcWoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JcWoman)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starfleet-uniforms-which-series-is-the-best/762994/53 "2016-08-18T15:59:07Z")
My only strong opinion about any of the Star Trek uniforms is that I HATE the assymetrical necklines of some of the women’s uniforms. They always make me think that someone tripped and fell against the actress and tried to catch himself by grabbing her clothing, and then the costume people never set her right before they filmed the next shot. Examples: [https://www.google.com/search?q=star+trek+female+uniform&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi4-\_WZqsvOAhWEdx4KHXvOD20Q\_AUICCgB&biw=1056&bih=835#imgrc=TkjK\_cBPH7ZaTM%3A](https://www.google.com/search?q=star+trek+female+uniform&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi4-_WZqsvOAhWEdx4KHXvOD20Q_AUICCgB&biw=1056&bih=835#imgrc=TkjK_cBPH7ZaTM%3A) [https://www.google.com/search?q=star+trek+female+uniform&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi4-\_WZqsvOAhWEdx4KHXvOD20Q\_AUICCgB&biw=1056&bih=835#imgrc=GyGttCmIkxgNBM%3A](https://www.google.com/search?q=star+trek+female+uniform&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi4-_WZqsvOAhWEdx4KHXvOD20Q_AUICCgB&biw=1056&bih=835#imgrc=GyGttCmIkxgNBM%3A) [https://www.google.com/search?q=star+trek+female+uniform&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi4-\_WZqsvOAhWEdx4KHXvOD20Q\_AUICCgB&biw=1056&bih=835#tbm=isch&q=nurse+chapel&imgrc=SEMAdPgoaMLZ3M%3A](https://www.google.com/search?q=star+trek+female+uniform&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi4-_WZqsvOAhWEdx4KHXvOD20Q_AUICCgB&biw=1056&bih=835#tbm=isch&q=nurse+chapel&imgrc=SEMAdPgoaMLZ3M%3A) ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starfleet-uniforms-which-series-is-the-best/762994/54 "2016-08-18T16:01:27Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > I liked Wrath of Khan, Search for Spock era uniforms. They looked more classically naval, with a fold-over ‘lapel’ on the chest that exposed a white patch of fabric that you could dramatically smear blood on. I probably would have voted ST:WOK ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starfleet-uniforms-which-series-is-the-best/762994/55 "2016-08-18T16:23:46Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Do you not remember the gel rubbing ‘decontamination’ scene from Enterprise? Missed it. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starfleet-uniforms-which-series-is-the-best/762994/56 "2016-08-18T17:43:47Z")
I’d prefer the Enterprise ones if they had better color variation. Same with the TOS movie ones, except I’d consider them more dress uniforms. So I’m basically stuck with either Voyager/early DS9 and 3+ season TNG. I think I’ll go with the former. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starfleet-uniforms-which-series-is-the-best/762994/57 "2016-08-18T18:09:22Z")
It’s already been mentioned but TNG gets bonus points for the Captain’s awesome smoking kaclet. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starfleet-uniforms-which-series-is-the-best/762994/58 "2016-08-18T18:18:08Z")
The Wrath of Khan era uniforms are my least favorite for the very reason that they look most like straight-up military uniforms. That’s not the proper Star Trek ethos to me. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starfleet-uniforms-which-series-is-the-best/762994/59 "2016-08-18T19:46:18Z")
Definitely the Khan onward TOS movie uniforms. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2016, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starfleet-uniforms-which-series-is-the-best/762994/60 "2016-08-19T01:22:11Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > The Wrath of Khan era uniforms are my least favorite for the very reason that they look most like straight-up military uniforms. That’s not the proper Star Trek ethos to me. Roddenberry disliked them for the same reason. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starfleet-uniforms-which-series-is-the-best/762994.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starfleet-uniforms-which-series-is-the-best/762994.md?page=4)