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The Best Flight Attendant Uniforms In American History

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By Racked Staff
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Image via <a href="http://www.papermag.com/2013/06/fab_flight_attendants.php">PaperMag.com</a>.
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There was once a time when American flight attendants had uniforms designed by Pierre Balmain, Halston and Emilio Pucci, as well as other notable names. In the past, the stewardess was a model of sorts—each woman had to measure a certain height and weight proportion (a 5'4" woman couldn't weigh more than 125 pounds in order to apply for a stewardess position with American Airlines), and was required to be single and reasonably attractive, as determined by each airline. Teeth had to be white and even, without any visible defects, and hands had to be well-groomed with no signs of nail-biting, according to National Airlines. A woman applying for Delta had to send in two pictures with her application form, one close-up of her face and one full-body shot, to help with the decision process.

While none of those practices would fly now (sorry, couldn't resist it), the uniforms themselves were, for the most part, indicative of the current fashions that were sweeping the nation. From spectator shoes to go-go boots and wool capes to hot pants, the history of American flight attendant uniforms functioned as a microcosm of the history of American fashion on a whole. After the jump, check out the greatest uniform moments from seven of America's most recognizable airlines.—Erika Graham

  • Ellen Church, sporting the very first flight attendant uniform. Photo via UAHF.org.
  • 10 years later, the cape disappeared. Photo via UAHF.org.
  • 60s mod done right. Photo via UAHF.org.
  • And then came the 70s. Photo via UAHF.org.
  • A luxury flight called for even more plaid in the 70s. Photo via UAHF.org.
  • An advertisement featuring 80s era flight attendant uniforms. Photo via UAHF.org.


1. United Airlines

Ellen Church, the first flight attendant in history, created the position after convincing United Airlines (previously named Boeing Air Transport) of the need for female "caregivers" aboard commercial flights. United's first rendition of the flight attendant uniform included a wool cape over a skirt suit and an inflight nurses' cap to be worn in the hopes that the attendants would project an air of professionalism and a soothing sense of 'this turbulence is totally normal.'

Hollywood-based designer Jean Louis was awarded a record-setting uniform contract from United in order to create the iconic mod dresses that characterized the look of the stewardess in the '60s. He designed the next three wardrobe updates as well, seeing the women through a seamless transition from minidresses to plaid printed everything.


2. Delta Airlines

Delta's first flight attendant uniform was a light-colored skirt suit complete with low-heeled brown and cream spectator shoes. In the Jet Age's heyday, Delta stewardesses were decked out in pastels, paisleys and "huntsmen" caps that left ample room for their beehives. Soon after that, another wardrobe update in the '70s stood out as the first time that the uniform did not include a hat. Unfortunately, 1983–2001 marked the longest time in Delta's history that attendants went without a wardrobe update, for reasons still unclear to everyone.


3. American Airlines

American Airlines didn't update their stewardess uniform quite as often, which made the "American Beauty" uniform of the '60s that much more of a jaw-dropper. However, the red, white and blue belted mini dresses were quickly shifted out in favor of an early '70s look, which included a pant option for the first time. After that, it kind of went downhill—until now. Earlier this year, American Airlines announced that the design duo KAUFMANFRANCO would be designing a new uniform to debut next year. Here's to hoping.


4. Braniff International

Braniff was only in operation for a little over 50 years, but it definitely went out with a bang as far as stewardess uniforms are concerned. In the '60s, Braniff effectively burst the uniform mold by bringing on Emilio Pucci to design a new interpretation of the decade's fashion. Neon colors and patterns abounded, but all of that was secondary to the "space bubble" helmet that topped off the look, designed to keep each woman's hair from coming undone on the tarmac. The look inspired its own ad campaign, called the "Air Strip," which featured a model attempting to sexily remove her space bubble helmet.


5. Trans World Airlines

Founded by Howard Hughes, Trans World Airlines ran successfully for almost a century before merging with American Airlines. TWA was the first airline to collaborate with a fashion designer on its uniforms (in the '60s, of course). Pierre Balmain designed the new look, characterized by the pill box hat and white or black gloves.

  • Southwest's first stewardess uniform, introduced in 1971. Photo via TLC.
  • Southwest's winter version of the hot pants uniform. Photo via TLC.
  • Stewardesses graduating from Southwest's training program in 1977. Photo via TLC.
  • The hot pants were replaced by real pants in the 80s. Photo via TLC.
  • The nautical uniform theme of the 90s. Yikes. Photo via TLC.


6. Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines wasn't established until the early '70s, which may have put it behind its competition in terms of name recognition, but it found no problem in gaining attention through its flight attendant uniforms. The very first issued uniform consisted of laced up go-go boots and hot pants in Southwest's signature orange hue. In the winter, equally head-turning striped pants replaced the shorts, and later in the decade they classed it up a little by adding blazers and switching out the white go-go boots for leather pairs. However, from the '80s onward, it appeared as though they banned anything that could possibly be misinterpreted as sexual.


7. National Airlines

National Airlines also tried to capitalize on selling sex at the height of the Jet Age, although they went defunct soon after so there's that. The early nurse-like uniforms gave way to flared skirts and form fitting dresses, as well as a (synthetic) tiger skin uniform. One of their advertisements in the early '70s featured a portrait of a flight attendant with "I'm Cheryl. Fly me." written above her face in a gigantic type face.

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