Misc. Observations, part 2a

Our only other observation concerning the ENT undershirts is that the "proper, regulation" wearing style appears to have been fully buttoned. 

Right from the pilot and throughout most of the first two seasons, the characters nearly always wore their undershirts fully buttoned.

Occasionally, though, they'd unbutton the top button or two as a kind of "distressed" or "under duress" look. 

ENT, 2x12 "The Catwalk"

This happened occasionally, but not often, throughout the first season.

ENT, 1x3 "Fight or Flight"

ENT, 1x4 "Strange New World"

ENT, 1x6 "Terra Nova"

ENT, 1x12 "Silent Enemy"

ENT, 1x19 "Acquisition"

ENT, 1x21 "Detained"

Not everybody unbuttoned their top button or two at the same time, though.

ENT, 1x6 "Terra Nova"

They started unbuttoning the top of their undershirts a bit more often in the second season, although fully buttoned still appeared to have been the proper standard.

ENT, 2x3 "Minefield"

ENT, 2x3 "Minefield"

ENT, 2x9 "Singularity"

ENT, 2x10 "Vanishing Point"

ENT, 2x11 "Precious Cargo"

ENT, 2x12 "The Catwalk"

ENT, 2x13 "Dawn"

ENT, 2x19 "Judgment"

ENT, 2x25 "Bounty"

ENT, 2x26 "The Expanse"

Toward the end of the second season, it began to also be seen as a somewhat informal, "off-duty" look.

ENT, 2x24 "First Flight"

Up to this point, we've likened that the partially unbuttoned undershirt was analogous to the "open collar" look of the DS9/NEM division shirts.

However, beginning with the third season, the partially unbuttoned ENT undershirt became much more commonplace, as Archer wore his this way nearly the entire season (probably to help visually represent the constant pressure and strain he was under during the Xindi mission).

ENT, 3x1 "The Xindi"

ENT, 3x2 "Anomaly"

ENT, 3x3 "Extinction"

ENT, 3x5 "Impulse"

ENT, 3x6 "Exile"

ENT, 3x8 "Twilight"

ENT, 3x9 "North Star"

ENT, 3x10 "Similitude"

ENT, 3x12 "Chosen Realm"

ENT, 3x13 "Proving Ground"

ENT, 3x14 "Stratagem"

ENT, 3x18 "Azati Prime"

ENT, 3x20 "The Forgotten"

However, that season, Archer did button his undershirt up all the way for Sim's funeral, as well as his meeting with the Xindi council, showing us that he could still clean up nicely when he wanted to.

ENT, 3x10 "Similitude"

ENT, 3x22 "The Council"

At the beginning of the fourth season, Archer continued to wear his ENT undershirt partially unbuttoned like he'd done for most of the previous year.

ENT, 4x1 "Storm Front (part 1)"

ENT, 4x2 "Storm Front (part 2)"

Once they were home safely, though, Archer buttoned up again, probably to look sharp on stage and for his fellow captain/former lady-friend.

ENT, 4x3 "Home"

As soon as he was out of sight of Starfleet (and Captain Hernandez), however, he said "Forget that!" and got comfortable again, perhaps establishing this as a more casual (but still regulation?) wearing style.

ENT, 4x5 "Cold Station 12"

ENT, 4x6 "The Augments"

He buttoned up again to show us he took the investigation into Admiral Forrest's death seriously, as well as welcoming the legendary Emory Erickson to his ship.

ENT, 4x7 "The Forge"

ENT, 4x10 "Daedalus"

As soon as that was over, though, he went back to wearing his undershirt partially unbuttoned.

ENT, 4x12 "Babel One"

ENT, 4x13 "United"

ENT, 4x14 "The Aenar"

ENT, 4x15 "Affliction"

ENT, 4x16 "Divergence"

ENT, 4x21 "Terra Prime"

He did button up toward the end of the season for the pre-Federation convention, though.

(publicity photo)

ENT, 4x22 "These Are the Voyages"

He buttoned up again for the last episode, though - probably getting used to the feeling again for his upcoming speech, as well as the numerous photos probably being taken of him and the ship for historical documentation before it was mothballed.

In case you didn't pick up on it, Archer basically unbuttoned the top of his undershirt as soon as he knew nobody was looking every chance he got, and he only buttoned it up when he felt like he had to. 

His crew's knocked unconscious? He rolls his jumpsuit down and unbuttons his shift. (1x19 "Acquisition") 

He's captured for bounty and out of contact with everybody? Unbutton the undershirt! (2x19 "Judgment")

His ship is sent on a long-term hazardous mission into unexplored space, out of touch with Starfleet? Unbutton the undershirt! (season 3)

He and his crew are stranded in an alternate timeline's past, cut off from their timeline and Starfleet? Unbutton the undershirt! (4x1 and 4x2, "Storm Front," parts 1 and 2)

He's sent on a mission to chase down human augments in a stolen Klingon ship? To track down a chameleon ship attacking various powers? Another mission involving the Klingons? Unbutton the undershirt! (season 4)

On the flip side: Addressing all of Earth? Trying to impress his fellow captain/former lady-friend? Investigating the death of his friend? Welcoming his legendary father-figure to his ship? Pre-Federation meeting? Giving a speech at the founding of the Federation? 

Basically, whenever eyeballs were on him, he buttoned it up "properly!" 

I suppose it's kind of like wearing a tie to a meeting, to church, or to a funeral; many of us men put the thing on at the last possible second and yank it off the moment we get back to the car! 

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