Star Trekhas changed a lot since the days ofThe Original Series,adapting to the ever-changing audiences and unavoidably modernizing as the years go on. While many might say that the new iterations into the franchise haveswerved away from what Gene Roddenberry, the franchise creator, initially wanted, it was unavoidable to keep the show alive.
While topics and themes have changed, so to have the overall look of things, fromthe seemingly ever-changing Klingon appearances, to the Starfleet uniforms themselves. Here are what is considered to be the very best that Federation fashion has to offer, ranked from worst to best.
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TNGSeason 1 - 2
While they may have been the start of a classic redesign for the Starfleet uniforms, these are by far the worst, not only visually but for the actors themselves. They were reportedly so tight they were seriously uncomfortable to wear, especially for long shoots, and would ride up to places they really should not be going constantly. Actors were forced to constantly adjust them, even during takes.
The uniforms were made from Spandex, a fabric Gene Roddenberry was very keen on as he thought of it as the fabric of the future. He also purposefully made them too small, trying to get rid of any creases and imperfections in the uniform, believing his utopian future would not only haveevolved past the vice of currency, but creases too. As a result the first two seasons of the show had the actors not only looking uncomfortable, but also weirdly sexualized in their skin-tight spandex suits.
Deep Space 9 / Voyager
Moving away from the negativity of the last, the uniform from bothDS9and themixed reviewedVoyagerlooked much better, and were used not only to show the passage of time from the Picard era, but also as a subtle, yet wonderful, form of storytelling. The uniforms were the same for both: a largely black jumpsuit with the shoulders in theofficers' role color, and a gray undershirt. Still, they were used to represent different aspects of the shows narrative.
ForDS9,they were a bit more dark and utilitarian than their predecessors, replacing much of the color with black. They were practical and felt far more like a worker’s uniform. That’s whatDS9was all about,showing the dark and grittier side of the previously saintly Federation. It was commonplace to see crew members with their sleeves rolled up and covered in muck — again, representative of how these were made to be for those not afraid to get their hands dirty.
Voyager’s uniforms showed how the crew had been cut off from Starfleet and their home. Their uniforms stayed the same throughout their entire 7-year run, despite showing the uniforms of those in the alpha quadrant changing and updating over time. The world back home moved on, whereas the crew of the USS Voyager could not.
The Wrath of Khan
These uniforms, often referred to as the “Magnificent Maroons” were some of the biggest and wildest differences to the uniform over the years (with the potential exception of theDiscoveryoutfits) but there are far more interesting. This film took them in a very different direction, making them far more reminiscent of navy uniforms or general seafaring attire. They were futuristic yet practical, historical yet modern, uniforms that look good even today.
These uniforms were practical too. The main officers got flashier uniforms, smarter and more dignified; meanwhile, cadets and engineers, the ones who needed to get their hands dirty, were in jumpsuit variants. While they are some of the best designed uniforms in the franchise, they rank lower due to the controversy they caused with fans over male and female variants. Tight-fitting leather vests and short skirts for the women leave some fans thinking of them as somewhat misogynistic.
Lower Decks
This is a potentially problematic one to put on the list, as manyStar Trekfansdo not consider this animated series to be true canon. A lot of this controversy is surrounding their uniform, which does not quite fit in with the timeline continuity. Despite this however, the uniforms created for the show are some of the best. Fans not only like the return to the more colorful and vibrant days of earlyTrek,but also appreciate that these uniforms make a much clearer distinction between military and exploration vessels
The main cast, on a scientific exploration vessel, are donned in the vibrant colors and friendly-looking uniforms. Meanwhile, when the show cuts to more military focused ships and crew, they are wearing the darker, grittier uniforms ofFirst Contact. They also threw in a great wildcard with the boots, choosing to have some officers in complexly white ones, something that looks great but probably only works in this animated form.
First Contact
Speaking ofStar Trek: First Contact,these uniforms are considered to be the best ones from the entire franchise, showing the crew of the Enterprise in a light they have not been shown properly before. This is the uniform of a crew that means business and is not to be messed with.
These uniforms were made and used in a time during and after the Dominion war, where the Federation’s priorities had changed from harnessing exploration to simply surviving in a time of war. It beckoned in the darker, grittier, more realistic era ofStar Trek,something the series arguably needed at the time. It was also great forthe character of Diana Troi,who had been stuck in a tight outfit from the entirety of theTNGseries, to don her proper uniform. The actress stated that it made her feel smart and powerful — something these uniforms ooze. They look not only formal and smart, but comfortable too, the padded gray shoulders in conjunction with the color coordinating undershirts.
While these are just a few of the uniforms found with the ever expanding franchise, these represent the widest range from worst to best. There are many others, as well as a lot more slight variations on their uniform which look fantastic too. An honorable mention goes tothe Kelvin timelineuniforms, which, although many dislike simple because they dislike the films, are great modern day variations that keep some of the same Starfleet themes, but take it in a new direction. Either way, with the new addition ofStrange New Worldstaking the uniform back to the vibrant days ofThe Original Series,it’s exciting to see where Paramount will take audiences next.
