Starfleet uniform (mid 23rd century-2265)
From Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference.
The Starfleet uniforms worn in the mid 23rd century prior to 2265 shared similarities with later designs. The main difference of this era was a different set of rank stripes and division colors. (TOS: "The Cage")
This uniform lasted from prior to 2254 (TOS: "The Cage"), to provisionally at least 2268. (TOS: "The Trouble with Tribbles") It was used by the crews of the USS Enterprise (TOS: "The Cage", "Where No Man Has Gone Before"), the Antares (TOS: "Charlie X"), and Deep Space K-7. (TOS: "The Trouble with Tribbles") Beginning in 2265, the uniform began to be replaced by a new design. (TOS: "Friday's Child")
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[edit] Duty uniform
The duty uniform worn consisted of black trousers and a division color top, following the below color code. The previous Earth Starfleet style of wearing a patch based on assignment continued, but the patch was moved to the chest. Rank was displayed by sleeve stripes. (TOS: "The Cage")
[edit] Female variant
Women's uniform style had a larger open collar. They also wore black trousers similar to the male uniform. (TOS: "The Cage")
[edit] Seam variant
A variant worn by certain personnel included a closing seam radiating from the side of the neck. (TOS: "Where No Man Has Gone Before")
- According to The Making of Star Trek, a zipper was added to make it easier to get actor Leonard Nimoy out of his uniform shirt with his Vulcan makeup still on.
[edit] Dress jacket
There was a dress jacket, edged with gold trim, with matching epaulets. This was most likely a matching shade to the division color, in this case although it looks brown over gold, they were both actually green. Since no other dress uniforms from this period were ever seen it is impossible to know for sure. (TOS: "The Cage")
- See the dress uniform article for more information.
[edit] Other Uniforms and Accessories
[edit] Excursion Jacket
An excursion jacket, in gray, was also part of this issue. (TOS: "The Cage")
[edit] Work Jumpsuit
Work coveralls, with assignment patch embroidered on the breast, were issued in all division related colors. Instead of the brighter colors of the duty uniform, they were in muted colors of olive (Command), khaki (Operations) and blue-gray (Sciences). (TOS: "The Cage")
[edit] Hat
The uniform could be worn with a uniform hat. (TOS: "The Cage")
[edit] Wraparound
This was worn by officers in more informal settings. In 2266, Charles Evans wore this wraparound after his time with the crew of the Antares. (TOS: "Charlie X")
- This was a preliminary version of the captain's wraparound that Kirk later wore in the Original Series. It was one of many "old" Starfleet uniforms Charlie wore in that episode and is presumably from this era as well.
[edit] Cadet Jumpsuit
In the mid-23rd century, a Starfleet cadet wore a version of the standard duty uniform, with a tunic top made out of a reflective gray material tunic top, a V-shaped black collar, and black trousers. A Starfleet assignment patch insignia, a ten pointed star, was worn on the left breast. (TOS: "Shore Leave")
[edit] Department color codes
 Command division (2254) |  Operations division (2266) |  Sciences division (2265) | Cadet (2252) |
- The original command "greenish-gold" uniforms appeared much greener off camera, away from the stage lights. Also, some have described the "khaki-beige" operations uniforms as "gold", leading to confusion over the fact they they were two distinct colors.
- Some have theorized that security was represented by blue from 2254 to 2266, based on the fact that it was worn by a couple individuals assumed to be fulfilling a security role in those years. No definitive design intention has ever been determined, however, security was not even mentioned as a service department until after these uniforms were out of use. Theoretically, this would have made blue more of a supplemental division during that time, not directly related to any activities pertaining to the command or operation of the ship, but rather: protection, health and study.
[edit] Examples of rank insignia
 Chief petty officer (2250s) |  Commissioned officer (Ensign - Captain) (2250s-2260s) |  Captain (2260s) |
- This chart represents the rank insignia seen on screen throughout these uniforms' appearances, although the possibility that ranks existing in other Starfleet systems that weren't seen here could exist, and have insignia we haven't seen. No admiral rank, enlisted crewman rank, nor petty officer rank were seen.
[edit] Epaulet
In 2254, Dress uniforms of high-ranking Starfleet personnel contained a certain epaulet, likely indicative of rank. (TOS: "The Cage")
- It is unknown if this indicates admiralty, but the officer in question was wearing one stripe.
[edit] Background
The Starfleet uniforms worn during Star Trek: The Original Series were designed by William Ware Theiss.
While this uniform was in use only for the first two Star Trek episodes, it would be seen again on the Antares crew in "Charlie X" and again in the Deep Space Station K-7 bar scene of "The Trouble with Tribbles". The captain's uniform hat was never worn, but was seen in Pike's quarters. It was originally created as Robert April's officer cap mentioned in an earlier version of the script of "The Cage."
| Starfleet uniform styles | |
|---|---|
| By era: | Starfleet uniform (22nd century) • Starfleet uniform (mid 23rd century-2265) • Starfleet uniform (2265-2270s) • Starfleet uniform (early 2270s) • Starfleet uniform (late 2270s-2350s) • Starfleet uniform (2350s-2360s) • Starfleet uniform (2366-2370s) • Starfleet uniform (2373) • Starfleet uniform (29th century) |
| By type: | Starfleet dress uniform • Alternate reality Starfleet uniform • Terran Empire uniform • Fictional Starfleet uniform |
| Related topics: | MACO uniform • Starfleet ranks • Starfleet decorations • Starfleet insignia |
