Some events are life-changing. Our journey last year to Creation’s STLV: Trek To Vegas 2024 is one of them. I hadn’t been to a Star Trek convention in years. The last one I attended was back in 2000 in Pasadena, CA where I snuck in through the vendor’s entrance two days in a row. Yeah, I’ve done some bad things. My strategy was inspired by TOS to infiltrate and blend in. Don’t worry – we paid for our entry last year and recently.
Among many things, I was struck by all the cosplayers. Tori and I shared an elevator with someone in Montgomery Scott’s film series uniform; the black vest without the maroon jacket. In that quiet moment, I wished I were also in costume. I saw outfits from every era of ST. I always wanted to put together a decent Monster Maroon duty uniform, but I knew it would be an undertaking. I bought a full-size insignia pin in the vendor hall, thinking that it would be the first step towards sporting those uniforms from STII and onward. However, as inspiration began to take hold in my imagination, I ended up choosing something else.
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock is an underrated film. I’ve always connected with Admiral Kirk’s actions in that story; the sacrifices, the heroism, his loyalty to Spock – the stakes were never higher. In the ultimate act of defiance, he famously steals the Enterprise, but on that day, Kirk wasn’t wearing his Starfleet-issued uniform. He, along with other members of the crew, wore their futuristic threads. Who can forget Sulu’s jacket? We won’t discuss Chekov’s pink pilgrim outfit. Leading this pack of rogue officers was Kirk in his casual attire. A friend of mine and I used to joke about Kirk’s brown Shaft jacket. Juvenile jokes aside, I fancied the look.
Fortunately, Chekov gets a new wardrobe during the last half of the film. The crew retained their off-duty styles in the following installment, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Uhura and Scotty being the exceptions, in their uniforms. This is the ST I was raised on, so the sequences of Kirk and crew walking the streets of 1986 San Francisco were imprinted onto my fond memories of those features. Their fashion, especially Kirk’s, must have had an impact on me.
Our clothing has a lot to say about us, even for those who don’t identify as being concerned with what they wear. Even a minimal effort into one’s appearance has something to say. Band t-shirts are a dead giveaway. Designer brands may exude one’s desire to appear put together or perhaps higher on the economic totem pole. Shoes can say a lot about a person. If one is concerned with mostly comfort, then perhaps they tend to be practical, while another person willing to sacrifice comfort for style may prioritize making a distinct impression in certain circles. These are usually decisions we make on a more subconscious level.
Cosplay, as it is known, is an art form. It’s all in the name of fun and should never be taken too seriously. However, I feel the character(s) we choose to recreate can express something about ourselves. I’ve always felt that I never quite fit in. As cliché as that sentiment sounds, it’s the truth. I’ve always been interested in coloring outside of the lines. The Admiral Kirk I explained earlier in STIII & IV is an embodiment of some of those qualities that I personally gravitate toward – It’s the conviction he possesses while gambling his career, for the sake of friendship. He suffers greatly along the way, his son David killed by the Klingons and watching his beloved Enterprise disintegrate in a ball of fire over the skies of Genesis. On a side note, Shatner masterfully portrayed an older Kirk facing his own mid-age crisis. I am now 48, so I’m not too far off.
In a way, the Cosplay chooses you. All one has to do is open the door and begin the work. In my case, Kirk Casual appeals to me in aspirational ways that I unabashedly explain. That isn’t always the case, as there are many reasons for our choices. Sometimes, you just want a good challenge or perhaps get a few laughs for exhibiting something on the ironic or humorous side. I haven’t seen too many attempts at what I chose, so that was also an idea that attracted me. My goal was to closely recreate the look, given limited resources. Some stuff would have to be fabricated. I’d scour the Internet trying to secure all the pieces to make this come to life. I’d be making a small investment into a umm…strange new world.
*Let’s begin with the order in which I acquired each piece and what was involved in every step:
The Boots: After STLV in early August of 2024, I originally intended to go for the Monster Maroon uniform. I already purchased the insignia, so I moved on to footwear. I spent time researching the type of boots worn in those films (STII-VI) and discovered that Florsheims were used by the cast. I found an image of Shatner and Koenig’s boots and searched for a match. Fortunately, it wasn’t very hard to find on eBay.
Florsheim has been around for a long time. These are the kind of boots say, Elvis Presley would have worn during his 1969 Comeback Special. They’re very stylish and classy. It’s the heel that I had to get used to. My ambitions for the Monster Maroon waned, but I realized that the Florsheims could double for Kirk Casual. I watched and froze some footage from STIII (in particular) when Kirk kicks Kruge off the cliff – Great shot of footwear there, haha.
The Jacket, Top, & Pants: Fortunately, most of this outfit is available from a Chinese Cosplay vendor that I suspect is involved in Drop Shipping. This outfit, along with many others, can be found from multiple sellers that use the same stock image(s). Who knows where they get their inventory from? The issue was that I wasn’t certain of the quality, as I definitely wouldn’t order a Monster Maroon from any of those sellers. The other issue was that the colors were off. Despite the product photos online, the jacket and pants were too red, and the shirt was white, not light pink. The reality is, this was (at best) a decent working template that I could modify and improve.
The best piece from this is actually the top. I was amazed at the quality, design, and how it clasps just like it should. It folds and buttons in a similar way to Han Solo’s shirt from The Empire Strikes Back & Return of the Jedi. The sleeves are plain and lack certain details, such as how they blouse out and are supposed to be pointed at the ends. Nevertheless, this was the closest I was going to get without having one sewn from scratch, a skill I unfortunately do not possess….Yet. Believe me, I have dabbled in stranger stuff. Also, the belt was useless, passable for maybe a child’s costume.
First and foremost, in order to achieve the desired colors, I took a crash course in dying polyester, which is difficult due to its synthetic nature. I risked ruining the entire outfit, but I wasn’t willing to accept wearing a Santa Suit. To dye synthetics, it requires your clothing or garments being boiled in water with a specific dye. I ran several tests on scraps of bright red and white polyester that were purchased from Joanne Fabrics (R.I.P.). Dying the shirt was easier because it was white, but it was much more involved with the red. I studied color wheels and charts for achieving the best results. Since the material was bright red, I added blue and green dyes.
The pants were fine, but I had to devise a way to have them properly balloon where they meet the top of the boots. The original seemed to have an elastic band on the end of the pants, much like a pair of sweat pants. Rather than simply tucking them into the boots, I purchased hair bands from a beauty store and would place them near the bottom, concealed inside the boots. This produced a convincing effect without paying for serious custom alterations.
Before throwing the outfit into a huge tamale pot (that I had to also purchase), I removed all the plastic buttons to avoid the possibility of them melting. They would later be added back on when I went to a tailor. The pants were too long and wide. For a few days after this step, I thought I had possibly ruined everything. All three articles of the costume were severely wrinkled due to the extreme conditions of the dying process. I spent a couple of days steaming and ironing. Luckily, the outfit was on the mend, as I made significant progress. A dry cleaner addressed the remaining areas of concern. That was a huge relief.
The Coat i.e. “Shaft” Jacket: The brown coat with that amazing shawl / collar seen in STIII was going to be one of the hardest parts. There is a quick, but expensive route that I entertained until the no return policy scared me away. Excellent Leather Shop (ELS) offers a replica between $430-$480. At least the shipping is free. I searched eBay, Etsy, vintage shops, and Facebook Marketplace for months in hopes of stumbling upon something in the ballpark.
I found something on eBay with a shawl collar and close to the proper wine-red / brown that seemed to meet my standards. It was a woman’s jacket, but that was nothing new to me. Thanks to my frame, I’ve slipped into women’s sizes before. It comes from spending years in the Goth scene. I was initially pleased with the jacket, but an adjustment had to be made on the sleeves. I took it to a dry cleaner’s just down the street from me. Sadly, despite their claims, the jacket shrank while it was dry cleaned. In hindsight, it was a terrible idea to agree to the additional service when all I needed was a simple hem. The jacket was used at $64.15 (total), so it wasn’t the greatest expense, but the mishap set me back. That’s the last time I went there.
Finally, I found something else months later that was acceptable for $63.49, so again, nothing too harsh on the wallet. The vertical lines and length were good, my only reservations being that the collar was not a shawl and there was a lapel, which comes with most leather jackets. That said, the overall cut was nice on the eyes. It’s a vintage Montgomery Ward jacket that seemed to be better made than the previous one that was ruined. Actually, it’s a really nice jacket! Haha. It even came with a removable inner fleece liner, just in case I attend a convention in Alaska.
The Belt: This was where I put my craftsman skills to the test. I searched the internet again for something passable. The buckle on Kirk’s belt reminds me of something between a clamshell and rays of light. It’s a gorgeous design, but nothing online or even hitting the vintage / antique stores really did it for me. As luck would have it, I found a 3D print file for sale on Etsy for $5. I downloaded the file and sourced it out to a local shop. Cokreeate in Alhambra, CA, gave me an extra one at no additional cost. The resin fabrication was impressive. All I had to do was spray paint them.
I didn’t find a black kidney-shaped leather belt that met my needs. I looked for a scrap leather wholesale company and zeroed in on one in Downtown Los Angeles, near an underpass for Interstate 10. It’s a war zone down there, but the shop had plenty of scrap for purchase. I took home the smallest portion they could sell, which could make three belts and several bondage bracelets, if you’re into that. I used an exacto knife and cut away. This took me two attempts to get the size just right above the waist. I would later notice that the original piece seems to be sewn onto the back of the blazer, which would explain why the belt and buckle do not sag in the movies. I’m currently trying to figure out a method to secure the belt onto the blazer, while still having the belt removable whenever the blazer needs washing. I finished the edges of the belt with a light burnish using a small lighter. By the way, I gave up smoking years ago.
The trick was to figure out a way to secure the printed buckle onto the belt and have it clasp. After a few fittings and tests, I used 3M double-sided tape behind the base of the buckle, and a black Sharpie marker for blending the edges. I thought of a couple of different methods for a decent way to make the buckle functional, as the 3D design did not incorporate a prong to fit through any notches on the leather. I ended up using two tiny vintage car pins and securing them with Gorilla Glue. The front of the pins were glued, while the backside with the fastener would serve as the prongs puncturing the leather. It was crude, but not visible from the front.
Props: I purchased two props relevant to the costume, a Kilngon communicator and a STIII phaser. The communicator was another 3D product I found on eBay that required assembly and paint. Actually, I enjoyed this very much as I used to work on plastic scale models as a child and teenager. I can’t tell you how many Enterprises and other ships ended up broken as the years went by. Concerning the communicator, I took some minimal creative liberties, as I’ve seen a few versions online. One of the things about this prop that I love is the rugged used nature if you’re going for screen accuracy.
The phaser ended up being a bit of a problem, but I was determined to see it through. I found one already assembled and painted on eBay, but it broke somewhere in transit. Fortunately, I was able to repair it and get a full refund. (Yay! Free phaser!) This involved more than a simple bond of two broken parts. Some touch up paint and black tape joined in the effort to smooth things over and make any evidence of damage disappear. While repairing it, I studied how the design is a beautiful piece with hints of art deco detail, easily my favorite phaser from the entire franchise. It has come to my attention how art deco crept into certain aspects of STIII, subtle yet I feel there’s a good argument that it informed the aesthetic to a degree. Even the top of Kirk’s outfit and the buckle could be evidence of that. This could very well be another blog post of its own, but I digress.
*******
With everything complete, I was ready for my trial run, where the rubber hit the road. I debuted the costume at Universal Studios’ Fan Fest Nights last May. There was something about wearing these clothes that transformed the way I walked and felt. I noticed as Tori and I breezed down City Walk on our way to enter the park, my stride was lifted, my arms took broader swings, as if the admiral himself had partially possessed me. I’m sure some fans have taken note of Shatner’s arms when he walks. The temperature that afternoon had me take off the leather jacket and drape it over my left arm, miraculously, like Kirk walking into the transporter room with Uhura waiting……..O.K., I know how this all sounds. Just go with it.
The experience of the event itself is another story, but overall we enjoyed it. We made the curious decision to board the Jurassic Park ride, where we got wet. Insert making a splash joke. Heh, we ventured on and throughout the night, I received a couple of compliments on the jacket in particular. One guy totally got what I was going for, which was reassuring. After a few hours, the Florsheims were killing me. Also, the blazer had a tendency to fold where it was buttoned in an awkward manner, probably from the belt buckle pushing up on it. The good news was that the pins on the back of the buckle held the entire time, which was my main concern. Despite my feet hurting and the minor issue with the blazer, I considered my first night out a success.
With STLV a few months away, I took a break from my efforts while thinking about solutions to remedy the areas of concern. I believe I may have thought about them in a half-asleep state before waking up a few mornings. I suppose that was my brain analyzing and running background programs while I concentrated on other things. We had tickets for two days of the convention, so it dawned on me that in order not to offend, it would be wise to have a second shirt. Handwashing my outfit in the sink at the Rio at the end of the night didn’t sound alluring, so a change of clothes was in order.
I contacted the seller of the outfit and asked if they would be willing to sell me just the shirt. The price wasn’t much of a savings, so I splurged on a complete second set. This would give me another opportunity to dye, as I felt the first attempt wasn’t dark enough. After receiving the second set, I went to work with the tamale pot and was more satisfied with the results. I took everything back to the tailor, had them reattach all the plastic buttons, add an extra one to the new blazer to address the previous folding issue, and had the pants hemmed slightly differently. In addition, I had them add a thicker black ribbon around the blazer’s sleeves because the original braids were too narrow. I also added insoles to the Florsheims. The short of it is, I learned from my first attempt.
One of the features of my outfit of choice is that there are three potential modes of wearing it. First, there’s the full version with the leather jacket i.e., the STIII look. Ditch the Shaft shell, and it instantly becomes the outfit from STIV. Without the jacket, blazer, and belt, it’s the Genesis fight scene if you also add a little bit of fake blood, which I had a lot of fun with. Some of the looks I got with the blood were amusing at STLV. I wonder what Terry Farrell thought. At any rate, given these options, each day of an event can represent a different sequence, film, and look. Variety is nice to have at your disposal.
It was a new experience this year being immersed in these events with many other cosplayers, all on their own individual journey. It’s made me appreciate what goes into it. I was encouraged by some of the recognition and kind words from others at STLV. In a way, I’m not so surprised that I’ve fallen into a category of attendees who prioritize their appearance at fan events. I’ve always put some thought into my appearance, ever since early adolescence when I was bit by the punk rock / new wave / goth bug thing. I recall an early quote by Madonna (yes, a pop artist), “I dress how I feel”. That stuck with me. Cosplay has the reverse effect, where the clothes can dictate your demeanor, the role you assume for a day. I plan to one day roam the streets of San Francisco in Kirk Casual with the Yellowjackets playing in the background.
For the convention, I took the look another step further with makeup. I always noticed that they boosted the eyeshadow for Bill in STIV, reminiscent of TOS, but a different shade. All actors wear makeup for practical purposes like stage performers, rather than for making a statement. I’ve been wearing makeup since I was fifteen, ya’ know, the whole goth / punk thing, so cosplay gave me another excuse. I applied some eyeshadow, mascara, eyeliner, light touches on the brows, blush, and concealer. The goal wasn’t to have it hit anyone over the head with it and appear like a doll, as it was intended to have a more understated impact. Perhaps I miss being in plays.
I gave a little thought about what I could do with my hair, but that’s an area I’ll have to perfect for another time. My hair has a natural tendency to curl after a day of not shampooing, so I was hoping to use that to my advantage. I got a haircut for both Universal and STLV, but I think my hair cooperated more the first time. I could make the plunge for a black curly wig and go for the 80’s T.J. Hooker look, but I’m too vain for that. Only Bill himself could pull that off.
The weekend in Vegas was another opportunity to see how the outfit behaved. It’s like a car going into production and being put through its paces in order to search for weaknesses and what needs improvement. The belt sagged below my stomach, which isn’t where it should be based on the films. It is supposed to comfortably rest a little higher. Even after some adjustment, it’s still an issue. I could gain a few more pounds and have a bloated belly do the work, but as you can imagine, that’s not an option for me. A possible remedy is to have the back and or sides of the belt somehow stick to the blazer, thus the belt would theoretically be hiked up all around and worn correctly. Like I said earlier, I believe the original was stitched onto the blazer.
Although insoles provided some much needed comfort, my right big toe took a beating in the boots. I suspect the thickness of one of the insoles narrowed the gap at the tip of one of the shoes, where the top of my toe rubbed against the boot. I know, that sounds gnarly, but I’m trying to relay an in-depth and honest experience. The Florsheims don’t feel tight, but the heels may be a contributing factor. I may cut out a small portion of the insole to provide more room for my toe, or (worst case scenario), I’ll acquire another pair of Florsheims half a size up.
I may at some point order the ELS Kirk jacket just because it gets the collar and everything else right. However, if I don’t, I may attempt to dye the Montgomery Ward jacket a shade darker. I’ve also been tempted to get the sleeves on the shirt right, going for the future renaissance look. Perhaps the belt buckle needs a darker respary. Aiming for authenticity is the goal, but I realize it’s nearly impossible to fully duplicate a Hollywood prop. It’s a work in progress, and with Halloween just a couple of months away, I’ll be back at it again, trying to perfect what I started about a year ago – hence, the journey.
I’ve enjoyed not only wearing the outfit, but also the challenge. It has required some thinking on my part, unlocking parts of my cognition that perhaps were underutilized. I feel we succeed in certain things when we’re obsessed with a vision. Cosplay is a labor of love. It demands your time and requires imagination. Even though the look of the costume is laid out for you, it’s following a blueprint, but without explicit instructions. That’s where the ingenuity kicks in, filling in the gaps. Even after the outfit has been worn in public, there’s usually room for improvement. Until the next outing, I’ll be toiling away and most likely be considering other characters for the future. I get the feeling, however, that Kirk Casual will be with me for a long time.
…And the adventure continues.
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