Ferengi headwear, Rom and Nog especially.

I would like to know about why some of the actors playing Ferengis wore that piece of cloth on the back of their heads. Was there a makeup reason to do this?




The red headress behind Rom's head.

Was there a practical reason the makeup department did this? Why didn't Armin Shimmerman's Quark wear one also (or Brunt, or Moogie?) Is there a name for this head dress?

 

First, that's a future Nog from The Visitor.

 

Maybe it was just like a hat and no special function.

I have my own question too How did they attach those head pieces to their heads? In-universe, I mean.

 

Second, the headwear is just one of those unexplained alien fashion things.

 

Since basically the only Ferengi actor who ever got the tedious hours needed for applying a proper neck makeup was Shimerman as Quark, and since basically every other Ferengi we saw was a pirate or military/mercenary sailor type of some sort, we could come up with a theory that Ferengi civilians don't wear that type of headgear, but the military types do.

Rom might be a military wannabe. I mean, if he were a human character, I could so see him wearing a Navy baseball cap with his dirty coveralls...

Timo Saloniemi

 

Moogie wouldn't wear one because she's female and wearing clothes is illegal...or it was...

 

I'd say they're simply a working class fashion. That's why well-dressed Ferengi like Quark, Brunt, Gaila and the Nagus don't wear them.

 

I'm reading "Vectors" now and they call it there "head skirt".

 

Wow, that's probably worse than "Vulcan neck pinch" or "Future Guy."

Like you, I did always wonder how they put it on. Spirit gum, I guess, like a domino mask.

 

Probably the equivilent of overalls with in their society, maybe.

 

Nog has several customised ones, too. When they switch to the padded-grey-shoulders FC uniforms in season 5, Nog gets a headdress thingy to match!

 

It could be religious, like the Bajoran earring. Or just a fashion.

 

Those always reminded me of the ancient Egyptian headdress.

 

The functionality of the neck piece should be obvious once one has seen Ferenginar. Remember the constant rain? The big bald head would offer some natural protection, but water getting inside your clothing by dribbling down the neck must be an annoyance.

Perhaps these rain covers are considered "lower class" because an upperclass Ferengi business tycoon would have alternate means of avoiding getting wet?

Timo Saloniemi

 

^ The Ferengi seem aspirational - so it almost might make it declarative to wear something that shows your working-class status like "I'm working class and I'm just fine with that - we keep the planet running - you're welcome."

Of course it could be mandated to show rank - or lack thereof . . .