[h=1]The height of fashion: From 1930s glamour to knee-high boots in the swinging 60s, stunning video showcases 100 years of flight attendant uniforms[/h]
- A century of cabin fashion is revealed with a fascinating new video showcasing uniform styles of each decade
- Journey from 1930s' elegance through the hip outfits of the 1960s to the designer looks of today
- The styles of cabin crew provide a visual insight to traveller trends and aspirations of each era
When flying was just the preserve of the super wealthy in the 1930s, flight attendants wore pale midi-length skirt suits with their hair tasselled into finger wave hairstyles. The elegance of their attire reflected the aspirations of the jet-set rather than the economic depression unfolding on the ground.
By the 1940s, the video by Conde Nast Traveler shows, a more formal and confident uniform emerged with air stewards sporting glamorous red lipstick and pin curls, often seen on Hollywood stars of the silver screen. The golden age of aviation began in the 1950s with the blue uniform and cap of glamorous Pan Am attendants becoming an iconic look.
As commercial flying became more affordable and mainstream, airlines relaxed their uniforms to embrace the bold colours, fun make up and sense of freedom that embodied the swinging 1960s. Cabin crew sported knee high boots, mini dresses and cape jackets to look as trendy as their passengers.
By the 1970s, A-line skirts, patterned shirts, waistcoats and feathered haircuts were all the rage, giving way to ruffles and shoulder padded jackets in the 1980s. Oversized suit jackets, sober colours and polished make up defined the 1990s, when the first batch of low-cost airlines emerged.
Female flight attendants switched to dresses and cravats in the 2000s. Nowadays, as new hubs and airlines have launched, fashion designers ensure that cabin crew uniforms look as vibrant and innovative as each brand.
