A History of Flight Attendants and Airline Formal Fashions

Flight attendants have been an integral part of commercial flight since the first airlines were founded. Initially, they were called couriers, and this job was typically only given to men. Couriers were often the sons of the businessmen who financed the commercial airlines. This was a steady career up until the stock market crash of 1929, when this was one of the first positions to be cut; couriers’ responsibilities then fell to the copilot. However, this change was fairly short-lived, as these jobs were restored in the 1930s. Now, the couriers would be called stewards, but over the course of this decade, more women would be hired for these positions, leading it to become a female-dominated role. Stewardesses were often also registered nurses, meaning that they could tend to ill passengers as well as serve refreshments and tend to other passenger needs. When World War II began, nurses were needed for military duty, so this was no longer an expected role for stewardesses.

As the career changed, so did the attire worn by stewardesses. Their uniforms were originally designed to be more formal and militaristic in style before becoming more sexualized and then shifting back toward a more professional look. In time, the job title would change, too, to the genderless term “flight attendant.” Modern flight attendants are expected to be trained in flight safety and security and be able to help conduct safety checks before takeoff, help passengers find their seats, instruct passengers on how to use emergency equipment, and assist passengers in emergency situations. Their primary focus is passenger safety: Serving drinks and bringing pillows are secondary tasks.

Flight Attendant Requirements

Today, being a flight attendant is a great career path anybody can follow, as long as they meet the basic requirements:

• You must be legally able to work, and you must pass a criminal background check in every country you’ve lived in.
• Applicants must pass an aviation medical exam.
• You must be able to provide employment and educational references.
• Applicants must have good swimming skills.
• Flight attendants must be at least 5 feet 3 inches tall.
• Depending on the airline you apply with, you must be at least 18 or 20 years old.
• You must be fluent in English and the native language of the city you apply in.
• You should live within 90 minutes of your chosen home city.
• You cannot have visible tattoos or piercings.

The Early Years: 1930s, ’40s, and ’50s

When commercial flight was new, airlines hired cabin crew to safeguard the passengers. Their dress code required clothes that would allow them to complete these tasks without compromising safety. The outfits were sturdy and designed with a military-style flair in order to exude professionalism and a sense of duty to make the passengers feel more comfortable.

During the 1930s this professional dress code included large caps that covered the ears, skirts that fell below the knees, and capes. However, the capes were quickly discovered to be impractical, and the standard uniform underwent a change after the 1930s. Instead of going with formal outfits that were inspired by the military, airlines instead chose to model the cabin crew’s attire after the clothing of wealthy customers on board in order to create an atmosphere that was more respectable. This dress code still included hats, but, now flight attendants also wore tailored blazers, pencil skirts, and shoes with a bit of a heel.

• Flight Attendant Fashion
• Fashion in Flight: A History of Airline Uniform Design
• Flight Attendant Uniforms Through the Years

Refining Uniforms for a Sexualized Strategy

At the tail end of the 1950s and into the 1960s, airlines adopted a new, sexualized strategy for their cabin crews. Applicant requirements changed to focus on hiring only unmarried women who fit specific height and weight criteria in order to appeal to male clientele. The flight attendants would usually be found wearing hot pants, knee-high boots, cinched belts, and bright colors, with the goal of accentuating the women’s figures.

• PSA Stewardesses
• The Groovy Age of Flight: A Look at Stewardesses of the 1960s and ’70s
• The Evolution of Flight Attendant Style, From Formal to Flirty

The Development of the Modern Uniform

The sexualization of flight attendants largely died out after the 1960s in favor of looks that are more professional and similar to what you see flight attendants wearing today. The modern uniform is a callback to the initial flight attendant design, but with a twist. These outfits were designed with business in mind, so small heels were still common, but hot pants were replaced with knee-length skirts and less restrictive clothes.

Today, each airline has their own spin on how they prefer their cabin crew to look while they work, but most airlines want their staff to wear blazers over short-sleeved shirts and either trousers or skirts. Some airlines are even less restrictive, especially if it’s one that’s related to a particular culture.

• Sky-High Style: How Flight Attendant Uniforms Are Evolving
• What Modern Flight Attendant Uniforms Look Like Around the World
• What Do Staff at Airports Wear? A Guide to Uniforms at the Airport

Further Reading on the History of Aviation

• History of Aviation
• History of Flight: Breakthroughs, Disasters, and More
• History of Aviation: First Flights
• The Dream of Flight
• A Brief History of the FAA
• The History of Flight
• The Idea of Flight
• The History of Airplanes and Flight
• Aviation in Miami: The First Historic Flights
• The Birthplaces of Aviation
• Aviation and its History
• Aviation
• Women Involved in Aviation
• Why Knowing Aviation History Is Important for Pilots