The Costumer

With the new Star Trek movie coming out, it’s time to polish the brass on your communicator badges and rank pips. Don’t forget to polish your boots, too. Remember to calibrate your tricorder and check your phaser stun settings…

What’s that? You don’t have Star Trek costume accessories?! Time to get them.

Every amateur and professional costumer understands that accessories can be key components to costumes. They’re important to Star Trek costumes in particular, because even non-Trek fans recognize a communicator badge or a phaser. Really–don’t dress up as Spock without the ears–that’s just sloppy.

Here are some tips to accessorize properly:

• Get the appropriate accessories for your uniform and era. Don’t mix a Star Trek: The Next Generation communicator badge with a Star Trek: Enterprise uniform. You can consult the Star Trek Encyclopedia and the Star Trek Technical Manuals to determine whether the accessory you are hoping to purchase is the proper type. Phasers.net can also help with this, having categorized phasers by series and type. Phasers.net even offers pictures to show you which character used which weapon (who doesn’t love Picard with a Type II?)
• Look polished. My fiance was in the United States Marine Corps, and he’s showing me how to polish my boots and brass (check your materials before you polish–don’t use something abrasive on the wrong metal). Starfleet officers know how to do this, too–don’t show up with any dull comm badges or fingerprints on rank pips–that’s just bad form for an officer of any type. It’s easy to learn from the online how-tos, but it is more accurate (and kind of official feeling) to learn from an actual member of an actual military force. Remember, looking polished also applies to other aspects of appearance, including neatness and cleanliness of hair and nails.
• Understand how to wear the accessories. Not sure exactly where to pin that Next Gen comm badge? The best way to learn is to emulate a character on the show. Give yourself enough time to browse through a few episodes to pick up on these details. This is particularly important for non-human species. Off the top of your head, do you know which way Worf’s sash runs? On which ear does Ro Laren wear her Bajoran earring? How many ridges can Bajorans have in their noses? These are things you should know before portraying a member of a non-human race.
• Portraying a specific character. If you’re dressing as a specific character, his or her mannerisms are practically accessories also. Have you ever noticed the way Commander Riker tilts his head? I’m sure you’ve heard the way Captain Kirk speaks in a somewhat jilted manner when portrayed by William Shatner. If you are playing a Vulcan such as Tuvok under normal circumstances, you should practice how to refrain from displaying emotion. Does the character you’re portraying carry around objects that could help to distinguish him or her from others? Commander Riker might appear in a relaxed mood if he’s carrying around a trombone, for instance. Lastly, if you can’t do a phenomenal job or don’t resemble anyone too strongly, there’s nothing wrong with being an original character or yourself in uniform.
• Be as comfortable as you can. Klingon prosthetics and makeup look awesome, but do you really want to sit through an entire convention or movie premiere like that? What if it’s hot? Will the makeup droop? Costumes can be too warm, also. Keep your comfort in mind when selecting a uniform and its accessories. I once had a badly-made Bajoran-style earring, and the ear cuff caused an allergic reaction–definitely not comfortable. Had it been part of a Bajoran costume, I would have been seriously embarrassed, because the costume would not have been complete without it.
• Always do a full test run. That aforementioned Klingon sash or even the strap of your Star Trek messenger bag might be too short, large, or just plain uncomfortable. Do a test run far enough in advance to allow for repairs, adjustments, or even re-orders.

Recommended Gear:

• Before you do anything, read the Convention Fans Starfleet uniform costuming guide. The author describes appropriate uniform selections for both beginners and novices, and adds some uncommon information about making your own uniform.
• The Original Series phaser from ZeroToys (pictured).
• Intergalactic Trading Company. They come highly recommended from Kelly at Convention Fans, and their prices seem more than reasonable when compared to other sites.
• Entertainment Earth offers a real prop replica of the Star Trek Mark IX Science Tricorder (pictured). It costs almost$400.00. Don’t worry. They have a less expensive model for around $40.00, too (coming April of 2009, in time for the movie).
• Method of communication. In The Original Series, this resembled a flip phone. Now you can get one for less than $25.00.

Lastly, remember that like any costuming group or fandom, there will always be some Star Trek fans that pick on you regardless of how awesome your costume accessories happen to be. In reality, it’s totally acceptable to wear just a tee shirt (I happen to adore my Imzadi tee) or carry a phaser to a movie opening, but wearing the full gear is just usually a lot more fun! This movie is about the crew from The Original Series, but most Star Trek fans love and accept other fans of all types, so it doesn’t matter which era Starfleet officer you happen to prefer to dress as.

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