What Do Starfleet Uniform Colors Mean?

#startrek #starfleet #lore

The Starfleet uniform has changed dramatically throughout the course of the Star Trek franchise. But what do the different colors mean in each era, and which color would you wear if you worked on a starship?

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Written & filmed by OrangeRiver
Assistant script editor: @PhobiaSoft
Edited by @TimMeierOK & OrangeRiver

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- CHAPTERS -
00:00 Intro
01:05 Rank, Insignia, and Divisions
06:24 Pre-TOS Uniforms
11:19 TOS Era Uniforms
15:28 TNG Era Uniforms
18:07 Far Future Uniforms
18:54 Final Thoughts & Outro

[thomasalvarez]

Definitely security, could see myself in Worf’s position. Offering an opinion on how to proceed, being ignored by the commander, shaking my head. Only later for commander to do that same thing an hour later. Shaking my head even further.

[PongoXBongo]

My favorite uniforms are probably those from the Enterprise era. They're actually _uniform, _ as in the same, with subtle touches of color for divisional differences. The whole starship-as-submarine vibe of that series was great.

[aaron]

I wish TOS has kept the jackets used on Talos 4 in the first pilot episode.

[SymbioteMullet]

I like the theory that the uniforms change so much so that time travellers from future eras can roughly identify when they are based on what starfleet officers are wearing.

[feartheamish]

DS9 late season actually feel more real. Like someone said "well if we just do the shirts with the different color. It would take less replicator usage due to less material for shirts". Basically feels and looks like something a real military would implement when logistics are involved.

[BlueJayWaters]

I was in the Navy, so my uniform pick is what I genuinely believe we will eventually evolve to, based on what's been used for centuries and even currently on ships. I believe the TNG movies/Late DS9 era" gray's and divisons" (divs for short) uniform is what we will end up wearing. Here's my rationale for any interested.

Enterprise did a fine job taking the standard Navy ship uniform, Coverall's, and applying it to NASA's base uniform, with multiple pockets and subtle division color references and patches. However, as we become more spacefaring, the need to carry so much equipment will be unnecessary as ships will be relatively small and most times tools are left only in designated work areas. The gray's and divs are basically what the Navy currently wears (watch how this ages like milk, seeing as how Star Trek based it's uniform changes directly on how frequently the Navy does lol), albeit with a subtle twist. By having the division color as an undershirt color, you keep the overall pride and lineage of divisions while maintaining a professional appearance that doesn't distract from immediate rank recognition. Which is a serious problem on early uniforms. On top of that, a unified comm badge is exactly what current branches have on their uniforms, for the Navy, the ACE (Anchor, Constitution-the ship, and Eagle).

Now another thing though which does happen in uncommon practice, is alternative dress. Think Kirks green wrap or Picard's Captains Jacket. I would not be surprised if a lenient captain allotted themselves some more obvious way to stand out on ship, as submariners tend to do variations of this. I also firmly believe the TOS movie era uniforms, I dub the Command Dress, should absolutely be the dress uniform for both enlisted and officers, for all formal functions. It looks astounding and our own Space Force has taken direct inspiration from that uniform for their own. That uniform and that one alone should keep "naval heritage" of piping, sleeve rank, and rank insignia.

[golden]

I like how Beckett Mariner goes around with her sleeves rolled up...maybe that makes her slightly unique. I like skirt variants worn by females. Always liked those different colors of blue, red, & yellow as well regardless of design.

[technologic]

What I liked most about Enterprise's uniforms was how they weren't far off from the crew attire onboard today's ISS. They're functional, with zippered pockets, velcro attachment points, so that if the NX01 lost containment or gravity the crew could still perform duties in zero-G. My favorite uniforms are from 2379, with the blue-gray shoulders with the division colors on the undershirt and wrist loops.

[armyBoi]

As a chemist in my day job. I would be a lower decker working in some forgotten chem lab in the lower bowels of the ship. In a previous role I was the Senior Chemist and in charge of my lab, so I imagined myself as the commander of my department.

[Aragorn]

I prefer the First Contact/late DS9 Uniform TBH ❤

[joonmermaid]

The loss of assignment patches was a huge one.

[JonBerry]

SNW has the best looking uniforms, but ENT has the best usable uniform. ENT feels practical and realistic. If I had may way, ENT would be the work/field uniforms and SNW would be the service/office uniform. With TOS Dress Uniforms as the Dress Uniforms.

[jacke]

The TOS movie era uniform will always be my favourite. That red jacket just works for me, like a sci fi age of sail!

[mauricerose]

Ketchup, Mustard, Buleberry, Broccoli.

[ramonaflowers]

Thanks for the video. I think my favorite uniforms are the Deep Space 9 versions, and the Wrath of Khan version. One really fun thing about Star Trek Online is being able to customize your own uniform.

[Numba]

I enjoyed your dedication to the incoming transmission bit lol. Thank you for another interesting episode. I enjoy listening to these on my drive home from work.
God be with you out there, everybody. ✝️ :)

[BlackHoleForge]

I'm having a stressful friday, this is the unexpected distraction that I needed. Thanks.

[mast]

Just got back from the Smithsonian Air and Space museum, l where I got to see the original enterprise, only to have this waiting for me! Good day :)

[saiqasan]

I'd guess I would be Blue, since nobody else on the ship is gonna tell the Captain that the place he is beaming down to might have some instability due to pariglacial activity.

[indefatigable]

The motion picture uniforms look like something a 1970s cult would wear in Oregon