Flight Attendant Fashion Atraves de Los Años
By: Cindy Medina
I have childhood memories of going to LAX to pick-up family members coming from El Salvador. In the early 90s, most travelers arriving to Los Angeles from Central America traveled via TACA Airlines. International arrivals had a long ramp travelers had to exit through. The ramp was so long, it reminded me of a fashion runway! This is where I would admire the TACA flight attendants dressed in bright red outfits as they walked up this long ramp, looking polished and so put together.
Through the years, we have seen fashion trends come and go, where airlines also have to adapt to the times and introduce new designs for uniforms. Originally, flight attendant uniforms were inspired by nursing outfits meant to be practical and comfortable. At the height of WWII, they were inspired by the Navy and other military uniforms. By the 1960s, airlines focused on portraying glamor and elegance, with designers such as Christian Dior and Coco Chanel designing their outfits. The 1990s brought elements of professionalism and safety but still with a touch of couture. The 2000s brought upon modernity; one airline in particular even dropped gender uniform options!
Let’s take a stroll through time and see the evolution of flight attendant outfits throughout the world!
Pan American World Airways flight attendants in uniforms designed by Don Loper, 1959.
(Image Courtesy by SFO Museum)
Braniff International Airways flight attendants in uniforms designed by Emilio Pucci, 1965.
Emilio Pucci’s designs for Braniff International Airways were considered revolutionary and caused a big stir in the airline industry.
(Image Courtesy of SFO Museum)
Singapore Airline flight attendants in uniforms designed by Pierre Balmain, 1968.
The Kebaya uniform was first worn by Singapore Airlines flight attendants in 1968. A Kebaya is an upper garment traditionally worn by women in Southeast Asia, notably in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Southern Thailand. This is the longest unchanged flight attendant uniform in the airline industry.
(Image Courtesy of Singapore Airlines)
Air France flight attendant in uniform designed by Christian Dior, 1963.
Air France is known to have elegant uniforms with designers such as Christian Dior, Cristobal Balenciaga, and Christian Lacroix as prominent designers through out the years.
(Image Courtesy of Air France)
United Airlines flight attendant in uniform designed by Jean Louis, 1968.
(Image Courtesy of SFO Museum)
Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants in uniform designed by Richard Tam, 1971.
Very telling of 1970s iconic fashion!
(Image Courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines)
China Southern Airlines flight attendants in uniform, 1990.
Designer is unknown.
(Image Courtesy of China Southern Airlines)
Avianca Airlines flight attendant in uniform designed by Colombian fashion designer Alonso Uribe, 2010.
Uribe was inspired by Latin-American fashion wear which includes capes known as “ruanas” in Colombia, and fedora-styled hats.
(Image courtesy of Avianca)
Aeroméxico flight attendants in uniform designed by Mexican fashion designer Alejandra Quesada, 2011.
(Image Courtesy of Aeroméxico)
Emirates flight attendants in uniform designed by Simon Jersey, 2014.
Emirates is perhaps the most recognizable flight attendant
uniform due to its classic red head scarf hat.
(Image Courtesy of Emirates)
Virgin Atlantic flight attendants in uniform designed by British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, 2022.
In 2022 the airline company announced that it was dropping rules that required its employees to wear “gendered uniform options.”
(Image Courtesy of Virgin Atlantic)