In the 50 years since Star Trekfirst aired on ?? ??? ??NBC, there have only been five captains. But they have worn a dizzying array of uniforms, each, in their own way, hearkening back to the original swashbuckler-esque suits we first saw on September 8, 1968.
Actor, author and raconteur William Shatner, who played James T. Kirk for a quarter of a century, may have worn the most electric variety -- though, based on our research, it's Patrick Stewart who probably wore the widest array of styles as Captain Jean Luc Picard on Star Trek: The Next Generationfrom 1987 to 1994 (the original series only ran three years) and in a series of movies up until 2002.
Star Trekcaptain fashion is a product of its time. The mod looks of the late 1960s clearly influenced the original series fashion, just as 1980s new wave style and shoulder pads showed up in the captain's wear of The Next Generation.
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Since today is the official 50-year anniversary of the premier episode (but not the first pilot ... look it up), we thought we'd take a look back at some of the best, most interesting, iconic and wacky captain's uniforms. And, yes, we included the animated series.
The Original Series (1966-1969)
William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk. Credit: CBS /Getty Images The Animated Series (1973–1974)
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable The Motion Picture (1979)
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable The Wrath of Khan (1982)
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable The Search for Spock (1984)
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable The Voyage Home (1986)
William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk. Credit: ullstein bild/ Getty Images The Next Generation (1987–1994)
Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Credit: CBS/Getty Images The Final Frontier (1989)
William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk. Credit: ullstein bild/Getty Images The Undiscovered Country (1991)
William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk. Credit: Sygma/ Getty Images Deep Space Nine (1993–1999)
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable Generations (1994)
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable Voyager (1995–2001)
Kate Mulgrew as Captain Kathryn Janeway. Credit: CBS/Getty Images First Contact (1996)
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable Insurrection (1998)
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable Enterprise (2001–2005)
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable Nemesis (2002)
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable Star Trek (2009)
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable Into Darkness (2013)
Chris Pine as Captain James T. Kirk. Credit: CBS/ Getty Images Beyond (2016)
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable