Flight Attendant Uniforms Through the Years
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Do You Recognize These Looks?
A century of flying in high style.
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1934
One of the earliest stewardesses on a European flight appeared on this airliner. The Swissair flight attendant uniforms featured traditional silhouettes in plain colors, often with added accents like hats and panty hose.
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1935
The American Airlines uniform was subdued and traditional in the 30s with thick, military-style fabric and conservative silhouettes.
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1940s
These thick cinched-waist dresses were a popular 40s silhouette, often paired with the traditional hat.
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1940
Delta introduced in-flight refreshments and snacks in 1940, serving in uniforms that still favored the early nurse-inspired looks.
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1941
An airline stewardess with a Pennsylvania Central aircraft glows in a classic white uniform with matching hat, showing the slow abandon of the dull colors common in the uniforms of the 1930s.
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Late 1940s
Spectator pumps and light uniforms were the go-to for American Airlines stewardesses in the late 40s.
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1950s
Classic suits with exaggerated collars were seen in every color among the airlines during this decade. Curled bobs and red lips were also the signature stewardess style.
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1950
Early uniform styles like this ultra-traditional one were common of many airliners. The style was heavily influenced by miltary and nurse uniforms at the time.
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1958
A trio of Scandinavian flight attendants shows the sleek, tea-length sets that were popular in the 50s, while hats and white gloves were still worn by most stewardesses.
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1960s
Delta flight attendants wore pillbox hats with skirt suits and white gloves during flights throughout much of the 60s.
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1965
Known endearingly as 'space age' uniforms, exotic smocks with space helmets and boots were unveiled by Braniff International Airlines for its stewardesses in the mid-1960s.
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Mid 1960s
A United Airlines flight attendant in a mod 60s style (complete in a bright red hue and with an oversized hat)—making it definitely one of the bolder uniforms used by the airline during the decade.
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1966
Designed by couturier Pierre Balmain, the new Trans World Airlines uniforms in the mid-60s were simple, crisp, and French-inspired.
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1967
A trio of American Airlines stewardesses posed on an airport tarmac in the new tri-colored uniforms that caught the public's eye with a wide-reaching national campaign.
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1968
Southwest Airlines flight attendants in Texas wore the array of feminine silhouettes favored during the turn-of-decade, with popular styles beginning to incorporate Go-go boots and belted mini skirts.
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1969
American Airlines introduced new cold-weather uniforms, including a plaid fall-winter ensemble that sported a fur hat.
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1969
The mod style with white gloves, clear visors, and high bouffants was a popular statement for the decade. These National Airlines flight attendants were aboard a hijacked plane to Cuba in the 60s.
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1970s
Air Canada went with a red, white, and blue scheme, but made a statement with a variety of uniform options. A collection of distinct uniforms have become the norm for most airlines today.
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1970
Delta flight attendants in the brightly hued 1969-1970 summer uniforms that were popular in the turn-of-decade.
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1970
American Airlines attendants wore a cozy plaid and fur winter ensemble with rubber boots in the late 60s-early 70s.
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1971
Southwest Airlines debuted bright uniforms with tall white Go-go boots for their stewardesses at the beginning of the 70s.
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1974
Southwest Airlines embraced the flamboyant 1970s color and silhouettes with its striped pant ensembles that were a major hit with domestic flyers.
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1977
British Airways embraced a more elegant 70s style for their uniforms with trench coats, pinstripes, and classic pumps.
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1986
After a bright 1970s, Qantas returned to a more classic color palette with these loose-fitting looks with pops of its signature red.
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1987
Air France flight attendants went pastel in the late 80s with a summer uniform dress by Louis Féraud complete with shoulder pads.
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1990
Delta flight attendants rocked thick navy suits adorned with large bows and ties, ringing in the 90s in true 80s style.
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1997
Finland Air revisited conservative suits with only small touches of color, such as the silk scarves.
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2005
Christian Lacroix revived Air France's signature look with all-new couture cabin crew uniforms in the early 2000s.
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2013
Inspired by the Qantas logo, designer Martin Grant created a fresh and contemporary range of uniforms that features the Qantas' red, ruby red and fuchsia palette.
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2014
Delta (in navy) and Virgin Atlantic (in red) flight attendants walking in representation of their domestic flight partnership—each new collection was designed with style and functionality in mind.
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2016
Two American Airlines flight attendants model the modern, sleek uniform that allows for individualization with collars and scarves.
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2017
Designer Zac Posen was the force behind Delta's new high style, high function uniforms that incorporate rich purples, bright reds, and the classic navy.