Starfleet uniform

Starfleet uniforms in 2371

A provisional officer's uniform alongside a standard duty uniform

For the mirror universe counterpart, please see Starfleet uniform (mirror).

For the alternate reality counterpart, please see Starfleet uniform (alternate reality).

"I've always known the risks that come with a Starfleet uniform. If I'm to die in one, I'd like my death to count for something."

– Tasha Yar, 2366 ("Yesterday's Enterprise")

Starfleet uniforms were uniforms worn by individuals serving in the Federation Starfleet, originally a United Earth organization. These uniforms facilitated the wearers' needs as both scientists and researchers, as well as Starfleet's military role. The uniform and combadge used by Starfleet personnel may vary by the ship, the officer's rank or department, or the facility they were stationed on; these were often retained even when visiting other Federation locations. (TNG: "The Child "; LD: "We'll Always Have Tom Paris", "Kayshon, His Eyes Open"; DIS: "Saints of Imperfection")

Casual duty attire also allowed for considerable variation of uniform aboard a Starfleet vessel, though it was ultimately up to the captain's discretion. Wearers were expected to abide by the Starfleet dress code, though special exceptions were sometimes made for certain aspects of an individual's cultural heritage, such as Worf's Klingon baldric, Nog's Ferengi headdress, and Ro Laren's, Kira Nerys', and Shaxs' Bajoran earrings. (VOY: "Learning Curve", et al.) According to Elim Garak, "I think Starfleet should allow their officers more latitude in accessorizing their uniforms. You'd be surprised what a nice scarf can do." (DS9: "Broken Link")

On two occasions the term "Federation uniform" was used to describe Starfleet uniforms.

In 2369, the Bajoran civilian, Mullibok, who was being evicted from his home, asked Commander Benjamin Sisko how many Federation uniforms he planned on sending down to have him removed. (DS9: "Progress")

In 2371, Chakotay referred to his as a Federation uniform as he explained to Kar how it was like the Jal name that the Kazon earned. Chakotay told him that his uniform was earned through "years of study", and "learning about science and ships and navigation," adding too, that he was further taught to be "[..] prepared us to defend ourselves in battle. They prepared us very well. And we had to pass many difficult tests before we were given the right to wear the uniform." (VOY: "Initiations")

Divisions

Starfleet uniforms were generally broken down by color among the three divisions, and occasionally by department, while displaying rank insignia conspicuously. While the colors varied over time, uniforms were designed for comfort even in the most extreme environments. (DS9: "Trials and Tribble-ations", "Let He Who Is Without Sin...")

Command

The command division was the head of Starfleet, with most of the ranking officers in Starfleet Command wearing these colors. Generally, this division was responsible for the administration of starships, starbases, and space stations.

Starfleet uniform command division colors:
2140s-Early 2160s	Mid 2160s	2230s	Late 2230s-2250s
Command	Command	Command	Command	Command
2250s-Early 2270s		Mid 2270s	Late 2270s-2350s	2350s-2370s
Command	Command	Command	Command	Command
			Helm
	Command dress	Helm and Navigation	Navigation
Late 2360s-Early 2370s	2370s	Early 2380s	Mid 2380s	2390s
Command	Command	Command	Command	Command

Operations

The operations division was the backbone of Starfleet, encompassing the engineering, security, and support departments. This division was responsible for technological innovation and for maintaining and defending the Federation.

Starfleet uniform operations division colors:
2140s-Early 2160s	Mid 2160s	2230s	Late 2230s-2250s
Operations	Operations	Operations	Operations	Operations
2250s-Early 2270s		Mid 2270s	Late 2270s-2350s	2350s-2370s
Operations	Operations	Engineering and Maintenance	Engineering	Operations
			Comms
		Comms	Security
Security
		Security and Services	Services
			Federation forces
Late 2360s-Early 2370s	2370s	Early 2380s	Mid 2380s	2390s
Operations	Operations	Operations	Operations	Operations

Sciences

The sciences division was the heart of Starfleet, composed of the exploratory, medical, and mental health departments.

Starfleet uniform sciences division colors:
2140s-Early 2160s	Mid 2160s			2230s		Late 2230s-2250s
Sciences	Sciences			Sciences		Sciences			Sciences
				Medical		Medical
2250s-Early 2270s		Mid 2270s			Late 2270s-2350s			2350s-2370s
Sciences		Sciences R&D and Technical			Sciences R&D and Technical			Sciences
		Medical			Medical
Late 2360s-Early 2370s	2370s			Early 2380s		Mid 2380s			2390s
Sciences	Sciences			Sciences		Sciences			Sciences

Uniform styles

Unknown eras

These Starfleet uniforms were introduced between the 24th and 31st centuries.

Type #1

A female junior officer in a uniform from an unknown era

This uniform was worn by one of Tal's hosts. (DIS: "Forget Me Not")

Type #2

A holographic representation of a female lieutenant

This uniform was worn by officers in an unknown era. (DIS: "Su'Kal")

Type #3

Holographic representations of officers in uniforms from an unknown era

This uniform was worn by the delegation welcoming the Kelpien and Ba'ul Alliance into the Federation. (DIS: "Su'Kal")

In the 23rd century, similar uniforms had been in use as cadet outfits. (DIS: "Through the Valley of Shadows")

Uniform variations

Troi in her casual attire

Some officers wore alternate uniforms. Deanna Troi often wore casual clothing while on duty, and T'Pol retained her original Vulcan uniform with a few concessions to her Starfleet rank and ship assignment. Other officers, such as Worf, Montgomery Scott, and Ro Laren, were allowed to wear accessories relating to their culture with their uniforms, but this was at the discretion of the captain. Uniforms were also altered to accommodate non-humanoid officers, such as the three-armed, three-legged uniform of the Edosian Arex. (ENT: "Borderland"; TAS: "Mudd's Passion"; Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan; TNG: "Ensign Ro")

Uniforms were also adapted to environmental or atmospheric conditions. When exploring the planet Tyree, Benjamin Sisko and colleagues wore long, flowing gown uniforms to deal with the sand. They featured a colored stripe to represent departments. (DS9: "Shadows and Symbols")

Dress uniforms

Worf wearing his dress uniform with a Klingon ceremonial sash

Dress uniforms were a variant of the standard Starfleet uniforms worn for special occasions, such as weddings, courts martial, funerals, and the greeting of ambassadorial delegations and heads of state. (TOS: "Court Martial", "Journey to Babel"; TNG: "Lonely Among Us", "Manhunt", "Data's Day"; DS9: "Move Along Home", "Rules of Engagement"; VOY: "Course: Oblivion", "One Small Step", "Ashes to Ashes"; Star Trek: Insurrection)

A pair of dress uniform boots worn by Patrick Stewart was sold off on the It's A Wrap! sale and auction on eBay. The pair shows that the legs were completely covered and the boots were kept on by a harness. [1]

Appendices

References

Dress uniform references:

• TOS:
  • "Court Martial"
  • "The Menagerie, Part I"
  • "The Menagerie, Part II"
  • "Space Seed"
  • "The Changeling"
  • "Journey to Babel"
  • "Is There in Truth No Beauty?"
  • "The Savage Curtain"
• TAS: "The Counter-Clock Incident"
• TNG:
  • "Lonely Among Us"
  • "Hide and Q"
  • "Coming of Age"
  • "Manhunt"
  • "Sarek"
  • "Data's Day"
  • "Qpid"
  • "Cost of Living"
  • "The Perfect Mate"
  • "Chain of Command, Part I"
  • "Liaisons"
  • "Sub Rosa"
• DS9:
  • "Move Along Home"
  • "The Adversary"
  • "Rejoined"
  • "Crossfire"
  • "Rules of Engagement"
  • "You Are Cordially Invited"
  • "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges"
• VOY:
  • "Before and After"
  • "Course: Oblivion"
  • "Someone to Watch Over Me"
  • "Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy"
  • "One Small Step"
  • "Ashes to Ashes"
• Films:
  • Star Trek: Insurrection
  • Star Trek Nemesis
  • Star Trek
  • Star Trek Into Darkness
• PIC: "Remembrance"
• LD:
  • "Envoys"
  • "An Embarrassment Of Dooplers"

Background information

Patrick Stewart's character of Jean-Luc Picard has appeared in more styles of Starfleet uniform than any other character on screen without story contrivances (like time travel, holodecks, or alternate timelines) being involved.

Jean-Luc Picard TOS film era uniform TNG era uniforms DS9/VOY era uniform TNG film era uniform 2380s PIC era uniform

William T. Riker TNG era uniforms DS9/VOY era uniform TNG film era uniform 2390s PIC era uniform ENT era uniform (in a holodeck simulation)

Julian Bashir & Jadzia Dax TNG era uniform DS9/VOY era uniform TNG film era uniform TOS era uniform (while time traveling) TNG/DS9/VOY era "future" uniform (in an alternate timeline)

For most of Star Trek's history, Starfleet uniforms have had at least three division colors. Some characters have worn different division colors in different episodes. Leslie, Jae, Tom Paris, Harry Kim, and Sylvia Tilly have each been shown wearing three colors at different points (including, for Paris and Kim, alternate timelines and holodeck scenarios); however, the first character to wear all three division colors in one episode was Ensign Sam Rutherford, who wore operations gold, command red, and medical blue in LD: "Envoys".

Design

The Starfleet uniforms worn during Star Trek: The Original Series were designed by William Ware Theiss, who returned to design the Star Trek: The Next Generation uniforms (which were further adapted into future versions on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, and the TNG-era films by Robert Blackman). Robert Fletcher designed the uniforms seen throughout the original series movies, with later new designs provided by Nilo Rodis.

Robert Blackman also designed uniforms worn on Star Trek: Enterprise, a design representing a precursor to those seen in TOS. The uniforms seen in Star Trek: Discovery were designed by Gersha Phillips. The uniforms in Star Trek: Picard were designed by Christine Clark.

Michael Kaplan designed the uniforms seen in Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness, and Sanja Hays designed the uniforms for Star Trek Beyond.

As shown in the It's A Wrap! sale and auction, a number of Starfleet uniforms have had padding to increase muscular appearance. Such cases include two costumes for Tom Paris, one racquetball costume for Julian Bashir, and a Deep Space Nine costume for Worf, to create a more Klingon appearance. According to Wil Wheaton, all the main cast members wore muscle padding during the first two seasons of The Next Generation, mainly because of the tight-fitting nature of the spandex uniforms used in these two seasons. [2]

Several prototype uniform undershirts to those seen in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan on were sold off on the It's A Wrap! sale and auction on eBay. [3]

Ambiguous uniform

Female on the Elysian Council

A Human female seen as a member of the Elysian Council in "The Time Trap" wore a uniform of ambiguous origin. It was described in the Star Trek Concordance as "a white suit with blue collar and an insignia on the left breast," and was suggested to "possibly [be] an early Star Fleet [sic] uniform". While it is known that the Bonaventure, and possibly other Earth/Federation ships, were lost in the years prior to 2269, it is unclear if this is indeed a Starfleet uniform, and, if so, from which era it originated.

External links

• Starfleet uniform at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• 22nd & 23rd century Starfleet uniforms at Ex Astris Scientia
• 24th century Starfleet uniforms at Ex Astris Scientia
• Starfleet uniforms at Spike's Star Trek Page
• Interview with William Ware Theiss at Phaser Resource^(X)