Starfleet uniform (mid 2270s)

In the mid 2270s, a new Starfleet uniform design was introduced over the previous design, with many different variations. Most were gray, white, brown or beige, and came either in a one-piece jumpsuit or with matching trousers and tops.

These uniforms bore rank insignia on the sleeve or on shoulder tabs. The arrowhead emblem was adopted as Starfleet's overall insignia and was worn on the chest by shipboard personnel and flag officers. Base personnel, like those on Epsilon IX, continued to wear duty badges unique to their assigned base.

Distinctive features of this period included a life support monitor belt buckle (non-canonically named the perscan device) and shoes attached to the trousers. This style of uniform was phased out by 2278. 

Department color code
These uniforms indicated department by a colored circle behind the assignment patch, according to this code:


 * White – Command division
 * Orange – Sciences division, scientific research and technical branches
 * Green – Sciences division, medical branch
 * Red – Operations division, engineering and maintenance branches
 * Gold – Operations division (communications branch); Command division (helm and navigation branches)
 * Grey – Operations division, security and services branches

Tunic
The standard Starfleet uniform was a two-piece tunic that came in a blue-grey, beige, brown, or white color; including any combination of. The tunic was worn untucked, and had a life support monitor belt buckle. Rank insignia was worn as sleeve stripes, and an assignment patch showing a division color was attached to the tunic chest.

This tunic came with three variations of collars. The standard was a low flat collar, but there was also a v-necked flared collar version. The standard version could also be worn with a higher, more formal collar.

Short sleeved tunic
A short sleeved version of the standard tunic was also available. This tunic featured either a low V-neck collar, or flared V-neck. Rank was shown by division color epaulets, and a division color assignment patch was attached to the tunic chest. The V-neck tunics were available in same colors as the standard uniform.

Jumpsuit
The duty jumpsuit was a one-piece uniform with integrated footwear, all one color. Rank was shown on the division color epaulets, and a division color assignment patch was attached to the chest. Some of these jumpsuits had large pockets located on the thigh.

Wraparound tunic
Crewmembers performing maintenance operations had the option of wearing a wraparound tunic. Its function is similar to the duty jumpsuits of the previous uniform style, and like those jumpsuits, it is worn with a black undershirt.

Flag officer uniform
The flag officer uniform was a two-piece tunic with dark gray pants and a white and dark gray flared shirt, with a high collar. Rank was shown by both epaulets and sleeve stripes, and a gold Starfleet Command pin was worn on the chest.

Rear Admiral James T. Kirk wore this type of uniform in his assignment at Starfleet Headquarters on Earth, when he was Chief of Starfleet Operations.

Body armor
Starship and base security personnel wore body armor complete with helmets.

Medical tunic
For use in the medical department, a white tunic with a flared collar was used, with a medical green caduceus in place of the assignment patch.

Patient attire
Patients in Starfleet sickbays wore a loose fitting white tunic with a hood like flared collar, the interior of which was orange. This was worn with white pants with prominent closers running all the way down to the ankle.

Thruster suit
A thruster suit was an environmental suit with the addition of a thruster pack attached to the back.

Civilian tunic
This uniform was worn by civilians during the refit of the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) while it was in drydock. They were available in the same colors as the standard Starfleet uniforms.

Background information
Overall, these uniforms were only used in, though parts of them were recycled into the lab coats of the Regula personnel in and the red jacket uniforms seen in the next six films and episodes of TNG.

Robert Fletcher designed the uniforms and insignia seen throughout the movies. The Enterprise insignia and rank system were originally designed by William Ware Theiss.

George Takei stated that this version of the uniform was not comfortable, and that because of the way it was designed it required assistance to be removed – even for minor things such as using the restroom. He stated that the redesigned uniform featured in the rest of the films with the original series cast was brought about because of the cast's reluctance to film any further films with this version of the uniform.