Strange New Worlds

One of the cosplays I've done most over the years has been my Star Trek red dress from the original series which ran from 1966-1969. I was never a huge fan of Star Trek growing up but in recent years and especially since its recent revival (and availability on Netflix) I have taken the opportunity to start watching the various series. In fact while the dress is more commonly associated with Lt. Uhura it was seeing Yeoman Rand wearing it that made me think about it as a possible cosplay for an upcoming convention. 

Whoever wore it though, it's now an iconic piece of costume design today and one very closely associated with the past. Despite the introduction of the skant in Star Trek: The Next Generation that even men would be seen walking about it, mainly extras would be seen wearing them and it seems to have been phased out especially when the new breed of Star Trek shows began with Star Trek: Discovery in 2017. In fact amongst the jumpsuits only Lt Nhan seemed to be wearing something like them but that involved a red top and skirt and a skant version of the Discovery jumpsuit. Anyway, this brings me on to the very latest show Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. This prequel takes place before the original series and is set on the Enterprise under the command of Captain Christopher Pike and I was heartened to read that Rebecca Romijn, who plays second in command Lt Commander Una Chin-Riley, fought to wear the mini dress and bring that touch of femininity back to the show. 

The full interview can be read here: https://www.slashfilm.com/850009/rebecca-romijn-insisted-on-wearing-a-starfleet-dress-on-star-trek-strange-new-worlds/

Here is a further look at the fashions of Strange New Worlds: https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/star-trek-strange-new-worlds-costume-designer-interview

Rebecca Romijn as Lt Commander Una Chin-Riley in a
promotional poster for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 

Unisex does seem to be the order of the day with a more masculine look seeming favourable. What's so wrong with looking feminine? It's a lot more fun. Unisex to me always conjures the idea of grey clothes and everyone looking the same. I'm all for breaking down gender boundaries but again it does seem to be skewed towards the masculine like that's all what people are striving for. Is it really that much better or bringing the equality that we need? Skirts for men have been tried over the years and make-up too but it's never really taken off however I think these days more than other men have been making bolder choices with more colourful suits and shirts. 

It was interesting to note how things seem to have come full circle albeit for different reasons. The short dresses of the original series have become much derided over the years and are often held up as an example of the sexism that existed in the series and in particular that of creator Gene Roddenberry. However in the original pilot The Cage they are nowhere to be seen with the uniform consisting of a top and trousers. It was the aforementioned Yeoman Rand herself, actress Grace Lee Whitney who asked the production staff to implement the dresses. In fact dresses like that were everywhere in the late 1960s and were seen as a part of female sexual freedom rather than something enforced. Ironically enough these days it's the fact that they are so short that makes them stand out as a relic of the 1960s. Although I have worn one it wasn't until I watched some of those original episodes that I realised exactly how short they were on the show. Even Nichelle Nichols, Lt Uhura herself, has defended them when asked about what it was like being asked to wear one. 

Nichelle Nicols as Lt Uhura in
Star Trek: The Original Series

There's a nice short piece here about it: https://blog.ha.com/minis-are-maximum-fashion-in-star-trek-the-original-series/

With the classic dresses being derided it's no surprise that they weren't considered for a comeback when the series returned to TV although they did return in the three 'Kelvinverse' films: Star Trek (2009), Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) and Star Trek Beyond (2016) showing that they could be done with a more modern eye. 

Zoe Saldana as Lt Uhura in
Star Trek (2009)

So anyway I'm glad that like Grace Lee Whitney and Nichelle Nichols, Rebecca Romijn has stuck up for a more feminine look on the bridge of the Enterprise and I notice that even her hair and make-up is inspired by the looks of the original series (plus she has some marvellous gold nails). It's been fascinating looking into this and as someone who has an eye towards more feminine clothing I'm surprised that women are still fighting to wear it and to look feminine although I suppose that may be expected on a show dealing with the military and less on the usual type of dramas (certainly to have the wardrobe of a heroine on a DC series would be quite something).

I have thought about doing this cosplay myself and may just do that among with some of the others I have planned although another one from SNW that has caught my eye is the white jumpsuit of Nurse Chapel so who knows.