Air travel has come a long way in all aspects; from technology, design to look and feel. If you look at the technology, the initial reciprocating engine has moved to jet engines that are bigger and powerful. The metal sheet body also known as the fuselage, has moved from aluminum to carbon fiber and is still being improvised to make it lighter and stronger. Same goes with the interior, the old galley has changed to a classy interior, giving you the feel of five star hotels. We understand that you started dreaming about your holiday in a business class seat with your special one right beside you, probably holding a glass of Champaign; this is where style comes in!
Besides the interior design, there is something even more interesting, yes, the attendants. Well, it’s true that they are pretty but what makes them attractive is also their attire, which is specially designed taking the brand guidelines into consideration. The airlines make sure their attendants stand out. Some take this very seriously while others may not. Let’s check out some of the air attendants’ uniforms that have made news till date.
Air Canada Rouge
Air Canada Rouge uniforms are undeniably hip and different. Instead of wearing skirts like most flight attendants, the Air Canada Rouge wear grey pants, with comfortable cardigans and sweater-vests that are deep rouge, along with a colorful jewel-hued neck scarf. Men wear ties while woman wear a scarf with it. These unique outfits give them a very trendy feel. It’s no surprise that the shoes are quite catchy also because the uniforms are a result of a design collaboration with Canadian shoe designer, John Fluevog.
Virgin
Virgin American, Atlantic and Australia Banana Republic designed the current Virgin America flight attendants’ uniforms. The outfit features different looks for men and women. The male attendants sport dark pants and button-up dress shirt, while the women wear a classic black skirt and blouse with a colourful, classic neck scarf. Vivienne Westwood designed the sleek and exciting red uniforms sported by cabin crews on Virgin Atlantic, which feature unique “frill” blouses. Virgin Australia also wears bright red uniforms, but with purple accent scarves. Their uniforms were created by a Project Runway Australia winner.
Bangkok Airways
Fashion label Asava created this recognizable outfit, which features bright shades of blue, which are the airline’s corporate colours. It is one of the more colourful airline uniforms. The designer who created the outfits has said that the different shades of blue stripes represent blue waves and the sky. With the different shades of blue, this outfit feels fresh, bright and carefree, evoking a calm feeling when flying.
Emirates
The flight attendant uniforms for Emirates Airlines were designed by high street British fashion house, Simon Jersey. The Emirates uniform is the epitome of the sleek and sophisticated and evokes the traditional style of the region where the airline is based. Men on Emirates wear subtle brown suits with cream-colored shirts and brown ties. The women attendants wear the distinctive polished tan skirt suits and brown and red pinstripes, a cream blouse, and a pop of rich red that flashes from pleats in the skirts. They have cream-colored half veils on the red caps.
Qantas
All black with pops of red and pink hues, makes the uniforms both mysterious and exciting. Designed by Martin Grant, the uniforms for both men and women are exciting and colourful. It actually looks like as if the flight attendants walked right out of a great spy novel. The mostly-black uniforms that are business like seems appropriate for the daily duties of a team of flight attendants.
Porter Airlines
Canadian Airline, Porter takes cue from a more glamorous era of travel with its uniforms that are reminiscent of the Jet Age. Kimberley Newport-Mimran, the designer behind the upscale label Pink Tartan, designed the uniforms. The women’s uniform features a clean silhouette and a traditional style neck scarf. The look is brought together with a very retro pillbox hat. Using only two shades of blue, navy and sky, it gives a very professional feminine look.
Thai Airways
The flight attendant uniforms on Thai Airways blend traditional fashion with professionalism. The uniforms are complete with long skirts, sophisticated jackets, rich fabrics and flowery accents in colourful and bright jewel tones. To see one of these uniforms, however, you must be in the air. Thai Airways has a policy that women are only allowed to wear these uniforms on the plane, making them one of the few airlines with such a policy. Men also have a different jacket to wear in-flight. Cabin crew members with nationalities other than Thai are not allowed to wear the traditional uniforms.
Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines flight attendants famously wear a very glamorous uniform based on the traditional Sarong Kebaya. The uniform, which was originally designed by French designer Pierre Balmain in decadent traditional batik material, has actually been in continuous use since 1972, with only minor changes. It has come to be a major symbol of the airline. The different colours signify the wearer’s status and responsibilities. Cabin attendants wear blue while the chief attendant wears red.
Korean Airlines
Famous Italian designer Gianfranco Ferré designed the Korean Airlines uniform, which is characterized by peaceful and soft, light blue and cream colours. The designer used fabrics that would be particularly comfortable and easy to move in, keeping in mind the flight attendants’ responsibilities during a long flight. The attendants have an option of either wearing light blue or white blazers and blouses, and white skirts and pants to ensure that the attendants look professional and modest, yet memorable. As a bonus, a hair tie secures the ladies’ hair and ties the entire outfit together.
Air France
France is a fashion capital of the world so it would be expected that the flight attendants for Air France will be very stylish. Female flight attendants can opt to serve the cabin in style by wearing a very sophisticated dress with a bright red sash designed by famous French clothier Christian Lacroix. It is a simple and an elegant uniform, and goes without saying that this ladies’ uniform adds a high fashion touch to the cabin of any Air France flight. If in case the flight attendant does not want to sport the chic dress for some reason, Lacroix has designed dozens of interchangeable and chic looks for the men and women to choose from.
Aeroflot
The Russians may not generally be thought of highly in the fashion stakes but the crisp caps and jauntily-angled neck ties of Aeroflot’s stewardesses struck a chord with passengers. The flight attendants have been voted as one of the most stylish flight crews in the world. The uniform is very memorable. The ladies wear scarlet red skirts and a double breasted blazer of the same color with a white blouse under it. The hat and neck scarf are essential pieces to make this head nod to the 60’s flight era complete.
Etihad
Created by Italian Haute Couturier, Ettore Bilotta at his atelier in Milan, the new uniforms worn by the Etihad flight crew exudes a classic elegance seldom seen in the aisles of modern airliners. It cleverly merges dramatic elements of old world couture from 1960’s Paris and Rome, with the more contemporary fashions evident on the runways of London, New York, Milan and Tokyo. The bold and demanding colours; purple and chocolate brown make this uniform one of the most visually appealing ones.
China Eastern Airlines
China Eastern airlines were probably inspired by the French but they sure can pull it off just as gracefully. The flight attendants for China Eastern Airlines wear black dresses with a red belt wrapping around their waste. Often times a black hat is added on, along with a neck scarf that has an elegant print on it. Simple and effective are two words that can describe the China Eastern uniforms.
Adria Airways
Settle into your seat and enjoy the flight as the Adria Airways cabin crew provides top in-flight service in classic style. Inspired by the flight attendants fashion of the 60’s, Adria flight crews wear sky blue blazers and hats, while sporting navy blue dresses underneath. A white scarf with the Adria logo on it completes the uniform. The cabin crew speaks seven different languages and style definitely is a form of communication at this airline.
Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific is considered to be one of the best airlines in Asia, because of its excellent service and numerous accolades. This Hong Kong-based airline has sharp, sexy and smart female flight attendants. Their looks and charm are assisted by their in-flight uniforms. The flight attendants of Cathay Pacific wear an all red skirt and jacket suit with cream lapels. An alternative is the red skirt with a white short-sleeve blouse with the airline’s logo printed all over in red and red lapels.
