In 2373, the standard Starfleet uniform was again modified, maintaining the same basic shape and division colors, but reversing the colors on the shoulders and turtleneck. The blue-grey shoulder area was now quilted with vertical stitches. The division colors were also displayed on each wrist as a colored hoop.
A succession of other Starfleet uniforms based upon this modification were also phased into service during this time.
As Data's uniform was not liquified when he ruptured the coolant tank on the USS Enterprise-E, it appears these uniforms were created with non-organic fibers. (Star Trek: First Contact)
Standard duty uniform
While the standard, two-tone duty uniform introduced in the late 2360s remained in service (at least) until 2373, it was phased out of regular use aboard Starfleet vessels and space stations beginning in 2373.
Although the new duty uniform retained the same basic structure and style of the last standard duty uniform, the yoke/shoulder area usually displaying division colors was given a standard, blue-gray color and quilted. Cuffs were also added to the uniform, bearing a stripe of corresponding division color.
The uniform shirt and undershirt were also modified. (Star Trek: First Contact; DS9: "Rapture"; VOY: "Message in a Bottle")
Captain's variants
With this new wave of duty uniforms, so too came minor variants available to commanding officers. Similar to the so-called "Captain's jacket" variant worn in the 2360s, a new vest or waistcoat was introduced aboard starships and space stations. Bearing the same gray, quilted yoke as the duty uniform (extended lower, below the combadge), this sleeveless, low-necked vest allowed the wearer a more casual appearance. (Star Trek: First Contact; DS9: "Rapture")
While Picard seemed to switch between the standard duty jacket and the vest, Sisko was seen wearing it beneath his uniform, sometimes causing his uniform to seem quite bulky. Minor differences in the construction of the uniform notwithstanding (Picard's featured round openings for the arms, while Sisko's were squared off), the vests appear identical.
In addition to the vest, a more formal uniform was also available to commanding officers. Featuring only minor differences from the standard duty uniform, a variant uniform without cuffs and bearing a more formal collar was also in use as early as 2373. (DS9: "Rapture", "The Darkness and the Light")
Uniform undershirt
When compared to the previous design, the mock turtleneck shirt worn beneath the jumpsuit uniform was made of a heavier material, now displaying one of three division colors and opening in the front from a prominent closure. Beneath this, a blue-gray tee, or sleeveless tee, was worn, similar in style to the undershirt of the previous design. (Star Trek: First Contact; DS9: "You Are Cordially Invited", "Take Me Out to the Holosuite", "Strange Bedfellows", "The Dogs of War")
Flag officer uniform
First appearing in 2374, Starfleet issued a uniform for flag officers such as admirals reflecting the new duty uniform.
Again retaining the same basic form as the previous style, the next generation of flag officer service uniform incorporated the adjusted color scheme and quilted yoke. The cuffs were wider than present on the standard uniform, displaying admiral's rank insignia. A belt was also introduced to the uniform, with either a plain gold rectangular buckle or an oval buckle displaying the Starfleet Command logo. (DS9: "Behind the Lines", "Favor the Bold"; Star Trek: Insurrection)
Dress uniform
Again coinciding with the alterations made to the duty uniform, two distinct variations on the Starfleet dress uniform were introduced.
Type A
The first, used around 2374, closely resembled the preceding style of dress uniform, a standard two-tone long jacket and black trousers. New to this version, which retained the previous coloration of black with one of the three division colors, was the quilted yoke, cuffs with a gold band, and a black belt displaying the seal of the United Federation of Planets. The gold trim along the collar was widened to three parallel gold bands, with the middle band retaining the broken style of the few previous dress uniform styles, while the outer bands were solid. (DS9: "You Are Cordially Invited")
Type B
In 2375, the second dress uniform variant was introduced, this time a stark departure from previous styles. Throwing out the old color scheme and long jacket, the new style favored a white, short jacket with gold trim and a quilted gray center section, worn over black trousers which were also trimmed in gold.
Division colors were less prominent than in the preceding style, appearing as piping around the collar and wide bands on the cuffs and side seams of the trousers.
While this uniform was standard to all duty officers, captains and flag officers wore white in place of blue-gray in the center section. Flag officers had a wider cuff braid with a solid white line running through it upon which rank insignia was affixed.
Members of the Starfleet band at the Riker-Troi wedding worn a solid gray uniform, which featured a longer, looser jacket than the standard uniform. The gold and division color trim on the standard jacket was replaced with white, and the collar, now distinguished by white trim where it meet the shoulders, sported a thick band of white running the center of it where rank was displayed. The division color strip on the pants was also white. (Star Trek: Insurrection; DS9: "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges"; Star Trek Nemesis)
Desert robes
For harsh or desert conditions, specialized robes were worn to protect against sunlight and provide comfort in hot and humid conditions.
Consisting of off-white-colored robes and hoods, pants and short-sleeve shirts, trimmed with division colors, this particular uniform served when the standard duty uniform may have proved uncomfortable or inappropriate for some environments.
Specialized boots were also part of the desert uniform, also off-white, with treads better suited to mountainous or more rugged terrain. (DS9: "Shadows and Symbols")
Combat uniform
Retaining the same general appearance as its predecessor, the uniform used by Starfleet personnel in combat situations was a black tunic with a division color stripe running across the chest.
The division color mock turtleneck was worn beneath the rubber-like body armor. (DS9: "The Siege of AR-558")
Utility uniform
As with the previous generations of Starfleet uniforms, a plain, operations mustard-colored jumpsuit used by technicians and utility workers was available as late as 2379. (Star Trek Nemesis)
Cadet uniform
Some time around 2372, a corresponding alteration was made to the uniform worn at Starfleet Academy and by Starfleet cadets serving aboard starships.
While essentially the same design as the preceding style – gray jumpsuit with division colored shoulders – quilting was again added to the yoke as were cuffs bearing division colors. Instead of being a one-piece uniform, however, it was split, now sporting a gray mock turtleneck beneath.
As with the earlier style, the uniform was gray (rather than black worn by officers) and featured pockets running down the trousers. (DS9: "Valiant", "Field of Fire")
Section 31 uniform
In use since the mid-22nd century, the distinct, black uniforms worn by operatives involved with Starfleet's secret organization Section 31 remained basically unchanged in the 2370s. Made from a black, leather-like material, the Section 31 uniform consisted of a long, black coat worn over a black mock turtleneck tunic and black trousers. (DS9: "Inquisition")
Other uniform features
Depending on their various circumstances and traditions, some Starfleet officers were allowed to augment their uniforms with the addition of cultural items.
Klingon Starfleet officer Worf wore a baldric displaying various family emblems throughout his tenure in Starfleet. (Star Trek: First Contact)
Bajoran Colonel Kira Nerys was allowed to retain her culture's traditional earring when given a field commission of commander. (DS9: "Tacking Into the Wind")
Ferengi cadet, and later officer, Nog wore a headdress traditional among his people. The headdress matched the color and texture of the shoulder material on his uniform. (DS9: "Homefront", "Favor the Bold")
Medical doctors and other scientists also adorned their Starfleet uniforms differently than other officers, wearing lab coats over their standard uniforms. (DS9: "Doctor Bashir, I Presume")
Rank insignia
Starfleet uniform styles | |
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By era: | 2140s-Early 2160s • Mid 2160s • 2230s • Late 2230s-2250s • 2250s-Early 2270s • Mid 2270s • Late 2270s-2350s • 2350s-2370s • Late 2360s-Early 2370s • 2370s-Early 2380s • Early 2380s • Mid 2380s • Late 2390s • Early 2400s • 29th century • 32nd century |
By type: | Casual duty attire • Alternate & parallel uniforms • Alternate reality uniforms • Fictional uniforms • Terran Empire uniforms |
Related topics: | Assignment patch • MACO uniform and equipment • Starfleet decorations • Starfleet insignia • Starfleet ranks • Terran Empire ranks • Uniform |
Appendices
Appearances
- DS9:
- "Rapture"
- "The Darkness and the Light"
- "The Begotten"
- "For the Uniform"
- "In Purgatory's Shadow"
- "By Inferno's Light"
- "Doctor Bashir, I Presume"
- "A Simple Investigation"
- "Business as Usual"
- "Ties of Blood and Water"
- "Ferengi Love Songs"
- "Soldiers of the Empire"
- "Children of Time"
- "Blaze of Glory"
- "Empok Nor"
- "In the Cards"
- "Call to Arms"
- Season 6 (all episodes)
- Season 7 (all episodes)
- VOY:
- "Message in a Bottle"
- "Timeless"
- "Pathfinder"
- "Life Line"
- "Inside Man"
- "Author, Author"
- "Friendship One"
- "Endgame"
- Films
Background information
The Starfleet uniforms introduced in the 2370s were designed by TNG, DS9 and VOY veteran costume designer Robert Blackman, based upon William Ware Theiss's designs from The Original Series.
In an audio commentary for Star Trek: Insurrection, Jonathan Frakes revealed that he hated wearing this style of Starfleet uniform for the TNG Star Trek films.
Apocrypha
Though these uniforms were not seen in canon until 2373, the final issue of the IDW Comics miniseries Star Trek: Spock: Reflections shows Picard wearing this uniform in 2372, after Spock has taken Kirk's body from Veridian III and re-interred it at the Kirk family farm in Iowa.
External links
- Template:NCwiki
- Starfleet uniforms 2373- at Spike's Star Trek Page
- 24th century Starfleet uniforms at Ex Astris Scientia