2254 / [THE CAGE] ERA : Page 1

Screenshots are from [The Cage] (the first pilot for [TOS]) and [TOS: The Menagerie].
Scans and screenshots by Janet.  Text - adapted from section sources. Optimum page viewing.

 

STANDARD UNIFORMS

officers in the conference room, USS Enterprise NCC-1701, discussing the abducted Captain Pike SHOW BACKGROUND NOTE

By 2254, when Captain Christopher Pike and the Enterprise crew first visit the planet Talos IV, Starfleet uniforms have evolved from the one-piece overall-style of a century before as worn by the crew of the Enterprise NX-01 and seen in the series [Enterprise]. (In fact, because in Star Trek chronology the series [Enterprise] succeeded [Voyager], the evolution of Starfleet uniforms is not as depicted on tv, although plausible backward-conformity is evident in the [Enterprise] uniforms e.g. consistency as regards colour-coding to denote department function.) Now the standard Starfleet uniform comprises a coloured tunic (colour-coded to indicate department) with embroidered rank stripes for officers, a pair of unisex black trousers, and black boots. The principle of colour-coding departments has been retained from the 2151 style of uniform. The use of (black) boots is also the same. However, officer ranks, instead of being denoted as pips worn near the right shoulder as in 2151, are denoted as particular rank stripes on both the shirt cuffs.

The ship's insignia is embroidered on the left breast of the shirt. The insignia depicts a free-form arrowhead pointing symbolically to the heavens, representing humanity's trek to the stars. Within the arrowhead is a different symbol depending on the department: command and operations, or sciences and medicine (see insignia shown below), or engineering and ship's services - compare the symbols as seen in the screenshot shown left and that of Navigator Joseé Tyler shown right. (The insignia was worn for both the two pilot episodes for [TOS], namely [The Cage] and [The Menagerie], and was slightly smaller than the later versions.) Variations of the arrowhead become perpetuated in Starfleet because, in 2270, to honour the role of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701 in space exploration, all of Starfleet adopts the insignia, with a slight adaption, and variations are introduced at intervals thereafter. For more information, beam to Insignia.

COMMAND/OPERATIONS UNIFORM The gold-coloured (called mustard-yellow by ST:M) duty shirts are worn by male crew from the command and operations departments. The shirt has a ribbed neck of the same colour as the shirt (the neck colour will change to black by 2266). It has a plain back, as seen in these two screenshots. The shirt is worn with black trousers and boots. The captain's rig has no distinguishing features from the other male command suits.

note the grey vest under the shirt

Spock's version of the shirt had snaps on his collar to make it easier for the actor, Leonard Nimoy, to change the shirt without damaging his make-up, in particular the Vulcan ears.

Spock says in [TOS: The Menagerie] that he worked with Captain Pike for 11 years, 4 months, which suggests he was young enough when he first came aboard the Enterprise that he was probably still attending Starfleet Academy. Because of this, Encyclopaedia speculates that Spock's first year on the Enterprise was as a cadet and, if true, for that time he would probably have worn a different uniform or at least some indication of his cadet status. It is not unusual for a cadet to serve a period on board a starship; it is seen/mentioned in [TNG], and Cadet Nog does so for a time in [DS9].

FEMALE UNIFORM As with the male personnel, female crewmembers wear yellow tunics if they are from the command or operation departments, or blue if they are from the medical or science divisions. Female tops have baggy collars and are fitted at the hips. The back of the shirt also has a V-notch in the material to assist the fit.

The screenshots are of Number One (left) and Yeoman J.M. Colt (right) of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701 under the command of Captain Christopher Pike.