TOS Female Department Uniform Colors

[Nisha Dunsel 0]

So during my latest Trek marathon, I was watching The Original Series and noticed that most all womens department colors did not match their uniforms. Medical was really the only one that matched their department colors of blue. But every female that was a main character in any episode was in red. Sure the we have gold and blue uniform women in the corridors and the rec rooms, but the majority is red. Take for instance Uhura, her first (production) appearance was a Gold uniform "The Corbomite Maneuver" but every episode after that she was in red. Why? Probably because the advent of color tv and wanting to capitalize and equalize the Color palette. Kirk in green or gold, Sulu and Checkov in gold, Bones and Spock in blue and Scott in red, so where did that leave Uhura? Red! But it did not end there, yeomans position that started out gold changed to red. Historian McGivers a political scientist she recieved a red uniform. When Dr Pulaski's doppleganger Diana Muldaur appear as Dr Diana Mulhall, a scientist, she was in a red uniform. When Dax went 105 years into the past she was in a red uniform too. I guess its not equality, but its all about the myth 'that a woman in red'. <_< So this is my introduction rant of "Bringing back the Golden Girls".

Edited April 3, 2010 by Nisha Dunsel

[STSF_Scooter 0]

Well then, Miss Dunsel, you'll find that around here, we use gold. Captain Huff and LCDR Sarvek, both of the Hood (TOS), wear gold command uniforms. As does myself, as XO of the Comanche Creek (New TOS).

[Jorahl 0]

Well, red was for the overall "Operations" departments who are the ones who get things done, if that makes you feel better.

 

I have the feeling though that it stems more from available costumes than anything else. When the first costumes were washed they all shrunk. The guys just had to deal with it. The female ones were probably too tight fitting to start with. I imagine either the red uniforms were the most abundant and therefor the more likely to fit or that a choice was make to spend the least amount of money to fix their costumes and only a few reds were sown up.

[Crash Calestorm 0]

::gives the rock on symbol:: We're all about the gold baby!

 

I'd say that my Captain Calestorm sports the gold command tunic with pride. ::gives thumbs up to Commander Scooter::

 

Jorahl is right: the Red Operations division, which has included yeoman/administrative support, communications, security engineering, historical/political (McGivers), was generally the "go to" division that got things done and had a lot of disciplines and specialties under the umbrella.

 

But, yeah - all the uniforms shrunk during the first season of the Original Series. The guys totally have the tunics coming up past their waistline at some points in the episodes, and guest stars or background "NPC" characters fair even worse because the shirts that weren't totally shrunk out yet were given to the main male cast.

 

The costuming department wisely switched from the velor material to the material used in the second/third seasons. <_<

 

And, on a random side note: I *like* the little red dress Operations/Communications look.

 

The "Red Dress" *is* a classic Trek look, 60's female exploitation mindset aside. But then again, the female exploitation is our opinion in this current year looking back at a 1960's TV series, so our outlooks and views are skewed with the modern times. The pilot ("The Cage") wisely had some of the females on the command staff in trousers and female-ized tunics -- so Gene Roddenberry did try to balance out the then 60's female skirt mindset within the original pilot from a Starfleet standpoint.

 

However - you'll never catch me leading an away team in the New or Classic TOS little dress uniform.

 

From a logical standpoint, there is no way someone would wear a dress like that to an arctic or jungle world. I can see both Original and New Uhuru sporting the tunic dress because they were on bridge duty, but going on an away team with exposed legs fairly screams: YO! BIG BUGS! Check out the legs and come on over and bite me! or something like that.

 

I was happy that the new movie went back to the Classic TOS Original pilot "The Cage" and had some of the background female crew in trousers and tunics.

 

Look on the bright side....TNG's Men in Uniform Dresses in the first season? Will. Never. Happen. Again. Thank God.

[Nisha Dunsel 0]

Well, the shrinkage issue helps ease my mind abit. But still makes me :P .

 

Hope you all had a great First Contact Day. April 5th 2063. 53 years to go. :)

[T'aral 0]

Well, Uhura was in Communications, which is an Engineering function. I mean, you even got to see Uhura down in the circuits re-soldering components! The micro-minidress notwithstanding, Uhura was about the most liberated woman on the ship.

 

I do agree that there should've been more gold for the ladies. Yeoman Rand is a good example: she's part of the Command Administration crew - she should've had a Command uniform.

 

But then again: focusing on the colors detracts from the greater stupidity of TOS uniforms: women in micro-miniskirts. When the show began everybody had these sensible turtleneck sweaters and there was no red at all. Then the colors came in and the uniforms styled up: what they did with the guys was all right, but the girls were banished to miniskirts.

 

It's so sad.

[Jorahl 0]

If you listen to interviews about the costumes, the miniskirts were the sign of a liberated woman at that time. It was "I don't have to cover myself anymore, look what I can get away with wearing" mentality. Practicality and the 60's had little to do with one another.

[T'aral 0]

Curious that 'Liberation' and exhibitionism seemed to have so much in common. Today such outfits are sexist, as they objectify women instead of treating them as professionals.

 

Thank you for the insight - it is quite interesting.

[Kansas 0]

I'll take the 60's female uniform miniskirt over the ultra-70's "Disco Night" Motion Picture male and female uniforms any day.

 

And the 1980's ST: TWOK to ST: TUC burgundy uniforms? They are still the best. All the other uniforms and era's are completely blasted out. MO only.

[TKAR 0]

INTERESTING-you all made good points -i think Nichelle Nichols-looked better in red then her yellow<Command > Color....also there was a problem with the uniforms they did shrink a lot-or maybe they made more red tos uniforms then the rest.Also due to the budget which was almost ZERO-in fact they had to raid the sets from mission impossible sets,trash cans,etc..the only question i have is i can,t remember what insignia uhura wore.....AND I LOVED THE uniforms from the cage,and where no man has gone before <1964,1965> but the big wings at paramount wanted to see the womens legs <1966>mini shirts...they even disliked number one <MAJEL BARRETT/MRS RODDENBERRY> as number one<the test audioance-hated a second command whio was female>

Edited April 27, 2010 by TKAR