Misc. Observations and Errors, part 9

As mentioned previously in the main body of our analysis, the right chest pocket zipper was ideally horizontal and flush with the top edge of the pocket. 

However, many of the ENT jumpsuits had right chest pocket zippers which were curiously slanted downward away from center. 

By far the most notable example of this oddity was Archer's ENT jumpsuit(s) from seasons two and three.

ENT, 2x9 "Singularity"

ENT, 2x14 "Stigma"

ENT, 2x16 "Future Tense"

ENT, 2x18 "The Crossing"

ENT, 2x24 "First Flight"

ENT, 3x3 "Extinction"

ENT, 3x12 "Chosen Realm"

ENT, 3x13 "Proving Ground"

Although he got at least one new ENT jumpsuit for the show's fourth season, the one(s) with the slanted zipper was still in rotation during the fourth season.

ENT, 4x5 "Cold Station 12"

ENT, 4x5 "Cold Station 12"

Although Archer's slanted chest pocket zipper was mostly seen during seasons two and three, at least one of his ENT jumpsuits in the first season had a slanted zipper as well.

ENT, 1x15 "Sleeping Dogs"

ENT, 1x20 "Oasis"

The slanted right chest pocket zippers were by no means confined to Archer's ENT jumpsuits. 

Hoshi's, for instance, were often slanted, too.

ENT, 2x10 "Vanishing Point"

ENT, 2x16 "Future Tense"

ENT, 4x9 "Kir-Shara"

Crewman Cutler's right chest pocket zipper was slightly slanted right from her introduction early in the show's first season.

ENT, 1x4 "Strange New World"

Alternate Future Captain T'Pol's was slanted, as well.

ENT, 3x8 "Twilight"

Captain Hernandez's zipper was slightly slanted, too.

ENT, 4x15 "Affliction"

So was the zipper on Mirror T'Pol's jacket:

ENT, 4x18 "In a Mirror, Darkly (part 1)"

We also saw at least one slanted chest zipper while researching auction photos:

ENT jumpsuit (female) auction photo

We have a theory that the slanted zippers weren't slanted at all, but they only looked slanted, subjectively. 

Remember that the division stripes curved upward some toward the shoulder/sleeve side seam but appeared to be horizontal?

Well, depending on the necessary curvature of the division stripes (which would, in turn, probably depend on the wearer's physique), the outermost upper edge of the chest pockets may have needed to curve with the stripe, too. 

In other words, if the wearer's shoulders necessitated the division stripe curve a lot for it to appear horizontal in a resting position, the stripe's upward curve might actually begin at the outermost 1-3" of the chest pocket. This would mean that the upper pocket edge would need to be adjusted as well rather than just being a straight, horizontal edge.

For instance, one might begin with a rectangular pocket that has a straight, horizontal upper edge.

However, if the division stripe requires a greater curvature, it may begin to separate from the initial shape and placement of the pocket as they move away from center.

Not adjusting for this is probably why Travis' chest pocket and division stripe weren't flush during the first season.

ENT, 1x21 "Detained"

Adjusting the top edge of the pocket to follow the contour of the division stripe would obviously keep the two flush.

When the jumpsuit was actually being worn, though, the rectangular(ish) pocket would hug the body's curves, and the zipper might subjectively appear to be slanted downward slightly!

Here's a close-up photo of one of Archer's ENT jumpsuits that had a "slanted" zipper, on which you can observe (our interpretation) of this effect:

Archer ENT jumpsuit auction photo

To compensate, one would have to also alter the trajectory of the zipper to remain parallel to the new upper edge of the pocket, and this seems to have been done on all the ENT jumpsuits that hat "horizontal" zippers. 

All that said, it is only a theory ... 

We have no evidence, only a theory which happens to fit the facts. 

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