Skip to content

Top Navigation

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Trip Inspiration
  • Plan Your Trip
  • World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises
  • Travel Tips
  • News
  • Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Travel + Leisure

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Explore

    Explore

    • World's Best

      World's Best

      The greatest islands, cities, hotels, cruise lines, airports, and more — as voted by you. Read More Next
    • The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2021

      The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2021

      Whether you're traveling solo or planning a family vacation, here are the 50 best places to visit in 2021. Read More Next
    • Let's Go Together Podcast

      Let's Go Together Podcast

      Start listening to T+L's brand new podcast, Let's Go Together! Hosted by Kellee Edwards. Read More Next
  • Trip Inspiration

    Trip Inspiration

    • Trip Ideas
    • Weekend Getaways
    • Spring Travel
    • Summer Travel
    • Fall Travel
    • Winter Travel
    • Solo Travel
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Luxury Travel
    • Beach Vacations
    • Adventure Travel
    • Road Trips
    • Family Travel
    • National Parks
    • Holiday Travel
    • Travel Photography
    • Photo of the Day
    • Culture and Design
  • Plan Your Trip

    Plan Your Trip

    Norwegian Cruise Line Will Require Vaccinations for All Passengers and Crew

    Norwegian Cruise Line Will Require Vaccinations for All Passengers and Crew

    Norwegian Cruise Line hopes to resume sailing out of the U.S. on or around July 4.
    • Travel Deals
    • Attractions
    • BookTandL.com
    • Amusement Parks
    • Festivals and Events
    • Bus and Trains
    • Flight Deals
    • Budget Travel
    • Hotels and Resorts
    • Disney Vacations
    • Airlines and Airports
    • Ground Transportation
    • Travel Guides
  • World's Best

    World's Best

    • Top Hotels
    • Top Cities
    • Top Islands
    • Domestic Airlines
    • International Airlines
    • Tours
    • Safaris
    • See All World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises

    Cruises

    • Find A Cruise
    • Caribbean Cruises
    • River Cruises
    • European Cruises
    • All-Inclusive Cruises
    • Family Cruises
    • Alaskan Cruises
    • Disney Cruises
    • See All Cruise Vacations
  • Travel Tips

    Travel Tips

    • Travel Trends
    • Packing Tips
    • Points + Miles
    • Budgeting + Currency
    • Customs + Immigration
    • Responsible Travel
    • Travel Etiquette
    • Travel Warnings
    • Weather
    • Mobile Apps
    • See All Travel Tips
  • News

    News

    • Wellness
    • Celebrity Travel
    • Animals
    • Jobs
    • Offbeat
    • See All News
  • Food + Drink

    Food + Drink

    • Restaurants
    • Wine
    • Beer
    • Cocktails + Spirits
    • Bars + Clubs
    • Celebrity Chefs
    • Cooking + Entertaining
    • Food Fairs + Festivals
    • World's Best Restaurants
    • See All Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories

    Travel Accessories

    • Travel Bags
    • Shoes
    • Travel Tech
    • Shopping
    • Style
    • Gift Guides
    • See All Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Style
  3. Fashion
  4. From Pillbox Hats to Go-Go Boots: Flight Attendant Style Through the Years

From Pillbox Hats to Go-Go Boots: Flight Attendant Style Through the Years

By Katie Fish
February 17, 2016
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin
Credit: Getty Images
Never has there been a more anxiety-ridden topic than "What can I wear on a trans-Atlantic flight that won't make me 100 percent uncomfortable?" While we as passengers have a bit of leeway when it comes to middle seat-approved outfits, there exists one group of people that have to endure the exact same outfit trip after trip. The coveted flight attendant uniform has been a topic of conversation since the 1940's when in-flight service began to rise in order to accommodate the growing number of passengers that new planes were able to hold.but just as fashions change throughout our daily lives, so did the style of stewardess uniforms. From the structured military style dress suits of yesteryear to the more casual—and boxier—outfits of the 90s and beyond. It's safe to say cabin couture has come a long way. More recently, female crewmembers aboard British Airways flights won the option to wear pants after a two-year battle on the topic. For a number of other airlines, brand uniforms stretch much further than clothing—Singapore Air flight attendants are only given five approved hairstyles, one of which is a bun that must be between 6.5 and 7 centimeters wide. Other airlines look to well known designers to take their in-air fashion to the next level. Last year, Delta brought on designer Zac Posen—who is widely known for his red carpet dresses—to create a look for both flight attendants and customer service employees.Flight attendant uniforms are all a part of the flying experience—a familiar face on hand to help with your every whim and request (and you're especially lucky if you find yourself in the hands of one of the world's best airlines for customer service). Click on to view how airline hostess style has evolved and become the ideal blend of fashion and function.Flight attendant uniforms are all a part of the flying experience—a familiar face on hand to help with your every whim and request (and you're especially lucky if you find yourself in the hands of one of the world's best airlines for customer service). Click on to view how airline hostess style has evolved and become the ideal blend of fashion and function.
Start Slideshow

1 of 8

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

1940s

Flight Attendant Style Through the Years: 1940s
Credit: Getty Images

In the 1940s, flight attendant outfits were quite uniformed—every woman wore skirts that hit just below the knee along with matching hats and shoes.

1 of 8

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 8

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

1950s

Flight Attendant Style Through the Years: 1950s
Credit: Getty Images

The post-war uniform was still very much military inspired, with form fitting blazers, button up shirts, and even ties—as seen on these two BOAC flight attendants.

2 of 8

3 of 8

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

1960s

Flight Attendant Style Through the Years: 1960s
Credit: Getty Images

Hemlines shortened significantly in the 1960s along with the rise of the go-go boot and bold belt to accentuate a smaller waist, which translated into these Southwest Airlines stewardess uniforms.

3 of 8

Advertisement

4 of 8

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

1970s

Flight Attendant Style Through the Years: 1970s
Credit: Getty Images

By the 1970s, fashion designers were the go-to for creating fun and innovative attire for the world’s leading flight attendants. Pictured are a group of well-dressed Court Line Aviation stewardesses in their new uniforms designed by Mary Quant, who heavily influenced the mod movement in the decade prior.

4 of 8

5 of 8

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

1980s

Flight Attendant Style Through the Years: 1980s
Credit: Getty Images

With the 1980s came the need for more accessible and comfortable clothing options. The vest became a popular choice for in-air service uniform, thanks to its versatility and style.

5 of 8

6 of 8

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

1990s

Flight Attendant Style Through the Years: 1990s
Credit: Getty Images

Uniforms became looser and less form-fitting in the 1990s, making the outfits less restricting and easier to manage (not to mention more breathable for long haul flights).

6 of 8

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 8

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

2000s

Flight Attendant Style Through the Years: 2000s
Credit: Getty Images

Goodbye vests, hello blazers! In the 2000s the flight attendant uniform took on a more masculine look, but kept things interesting with subtle details such as cuff stripes and collar intrigue.

7 of 8

8 of 8

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Today

Flight Attendant Style Through the Years: Today
Credit: Getty Images

Today, flight attendant uniforms are brought back to the styles of the past. Airlines favor a mix of vintage-inspired attire such as silk neck scarves and pillbox hats that were popular in the '60s.

8 of 8

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Katie Fish

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 8 1940s
2 of 8 1950s
3 of 8 1960s
4 of 8 1970s
5 of 8 1980s
6 of 8 1990s
7 of 8 2000s
8 of 8 Today

Share options

Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message
Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
  • Sitemap
  • Travel Guide Sitemap

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletters
Other Travel + Leisure Sites
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
Meredith Travel + Leisure is part of the Travel + Leisure Group. Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. Travel + Leisure is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation Travel + Leisure Group All Rights Reserved, registered in the United States and other countries. Travel + Leisure may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.travelandleisure.com

View image

From Pillbox Hats to Go-Go Boots: Flight Attendant Style Through the Years
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.