Cabin crew uniforms have come a long way since the early days of flying – when looking the part was almost as important as serving the passengers.Today’s crews favour sleek, practical designs, but over the decades they’ve donned everything from military-style suits and pillbox hats to mini skirts, go-go boots and eye-catching shoulder pads.Some of the world’s biggest designers have even had a hand in what cabin crew wear, transforming uniforms into colourful, instantly recognisable symbols of their airlines.From the 1910s to today, here’s how cabin crew style has changed decade by decade… ‹ Slide me › Uniforms have changed drastically over the last 100 years Time for takeoffHeinrich Kubis, who worked on a German Zeppelin, was widely documented as the first flight attendant, having started working on aircraft in 1912. Heinrich Kubis was a German flight attendant known for service on early commercial airshipsA professional waiter, he was recruited to work on flights alongside other men, who were the only stewards allowed at the time. They were dubbed ‘cabin boys’.Dressed in formal attire, his garments were indicative of airline travel at the time.After all, it was reserved only for the upper echelons of society, so it is only natural he would be dressed to impress in a suit.Early Thirties Ellen Church of United Airlines became the world’s first stewardess in the 1930s – and truly kickstarted cabin crew design.During this decade, hats were all the rage, in keeping with the luxurious expectations on board. Ellen Church was a pioneering American flight attendant and registered nurse, becoming the first flight attendant on a commercial airline in 1930As for uniforms, they were highly functional and conservative – think structured jackets and skirts, hats and gloves, simple colours.At this time, the role of cabin crew was to clean the cabin, adjust the clocks, carry buckets of fuel to the plane, ensure passengers did not throw things out of the window and even help push the plane into the hangar before going home.As such, it’s understandable why uniforms had to be comfortable and practical, for instance using thick military-style fabrics and shoes designed for durability.Military Forties Conservative skirt suits were the main uniform back in the 1940sThe military style from the previous decade continued into the 1940s, with skirt suits the most common sight.Join the discussionWhich is your favourite decade for cabin crew uniform?What’s your view?White gloves and hats were also typical, adding to the formal image projected. According to Southern Living: ‘The first in-flight hostesses in the 1930s and 1940s wore military-inspired skirt suits in bland hues, white gloves, and matching hats.’Formal FiftiesBy the 1950s, airline travel was becoming more commonplace – and with that came an update to uniforms. Cinched waists, knee-length pencil skirts, white gloves and pillbox hats were the order of the day, with an emphasis on femininity and glamour. By the end of the decade, there was a notable shift, shedding the conservative nurse-like uniforms to favour upgraded style. During the 1950s, change was underway – uniforms still featured hats and skirt suits, but waistlines were cinched and a sense of style addedAirlines such as Pan Am and Air France jumped on board (literally), incorporating more colour as well as a sense of airline branding.Indeed, many even considered air hostesses ‘the Supermodels of that era’, given the upmarket edge handed to uniforms. High-fashion labels began to contribute more widely to airline uniform design during this era, too. In 1959, for instance, Don Loper’s Pan Am blue dress was designed, and in 1951, Air France chose French fashion house Georgette de Trèze to modernise and feminise the stewardesses’ look, reflecting the spirit of the 1950s.Swinging SixtiesWith hemlines rising, colours emerging and fashion weaving its way into the fabric of flight attendant uniforms, the 1960s were a decade marked by change – not just in history. The Air France uniform designed by Marc Bohan at Dior evoked refined haute coutureFun was injected into clothing – you could spot go-go boots, belted mini skirts, bright colours and an air of the Swinging Sixties on board.That’s not the only major change, either.The influence of high fashion began to make a real mark on aviation during this decade.In March 1962, Air France launched a new model designed by Marc Bohan at Dior, a truly haute couture collection. Braniff International Airways flight attendants in Emilio Pucci-designed uniforms in 1965 – including the ‘Puccino’, a sort of apronThe overall colour of the uniform lightened, and the navy-blue tambourine hat with the Air France crest replaced the beret. Similarly, in 1965, Italian fashion designer Emilio Pucci was hired by US carrier Braniff International Airways to revamp its uniforms.He released the ‘AirStrip’ uniform, also called the ‘Gemini IV’, with layered, interchangeable pieces, allowing for the uniform to be adapted depending on the working conditions and weather. A sort of apron, the ‘Puccino’, was also created as a futuristic yet practical garment for staff to wear on board. Stand-out Seventies Colours, as well as patterns, became a core part of air hostess uniforms during the 1970sBy the 1970s, it was totally expected for uniforms to be bright, bold and colourful – in line with the fashion of the day.An overseas flight could see crew wearing bright patterns, trousers on some occasions and a more relaxed fit. Branding, which began in the 1960s, became key in this era, with different airlines seeking to distinguish themselves with core colours and styles. During this groovy decade, experimentation was rife – Emilio Pucci, for instance, designed a colourful jumpsuit for Braniff in 1971, while in 1973 Pierre Balmain created a design for Cathay Airlines featuring a red suit, a printed shirt and bowler hat.Extravagant EightiesA typical uniform in the 1980s incorporated structured blazers, shoulder pads, silk scarves, low heels or court shoes and white blouses, often featuring scarf-style collars.During this time, many airlines solidified their recognisable branding. Air hostesses from Aer Lingus wore uniforms featuring scarves, patterns and shoulder pads Singapore Airlines’ batik sarong kebaya uniform is part of its core brandingBritish Airways, for instance, introduced its dark blue suit. Meanwhile, Singapore Airlines introduced the batik sarong kebaya.Designed by Balmain, this is central to the airline’s branding, part of its signature – and distinctive – uniform.Nineties Glamour The 1990s saw uniforms encompassing the fashion of the day – pictured is Nina Ricci’s Air Inter uniforms for the decadeIn terms of fashion, the 1990s was the decade marked by minimalist style – a direct contrast from the previous years’ huge shoulders, dramatic outfits and colourful looks.And airline uniforms were no exception. Sleeker tailoring was to be expected, as well as strong colouring in line with an airline’s brand.One airline that demonstrates the style of the day is Air Inter (before being absorbed into Air France) which, during the 1990s, featured sleek uniforms designed by Nina Ricci. Blue and red colours, sharp tailoring and stylish flair were on the cards, but with a consideration for comfort, too. Into the 21st century During the 2000s, the uniforms shifted towards a more corporate feelIf you’ve watched any romcoms from the early 2000s involving an overseas flight, you’ll know what to expect from flight attendants: distinct, recognisable uniforms, sharp suits, and a corporate feel.Impractical accessories became a thing of the past, while the focus was on branding and comfort. Jermyn Street Design, which creates uniforms for brands such as Jet2, says: ‘Style, functionality and brand identity are the cornerstones of a 21st century uniform. ‘In the modern day, many airlines are collaborating directly with a range of designers to create bespoke uniforms which reflect all three of these elements.’Trousers became an option for more airlines, too. Age of comfort British Airways staff in 2010 – dressed in a distinctly professional mannerThe same applies to the 2010s, with a business-style look applied to uniforms. Nonetheless, an emphasis on style remained, and high-profile designers created uniforms for airlines.Dame Vivienne Westwood’s iconic Virgin Atlantic red uniform is perhaps the most recognisable, as it’s still in use today.Inclusivity in the 2020s In recent times, the focus has shifted massively, to allow greater inclusivity for staff on board.Last year, AirAsia announced an update to its policy, which permits female crew members to wear the hijab while on duty if they wish to do so. The airline’s cabin crew had already worn the hijab on select routes, such as Jeddah in Saudi Arabia The update extended this flexibility to all female cabin crew members who choose to wear it.Variation and choice have become characteristic of modern airline uniforms in other realms, too.In 2023, for instance, Emirates began to offer female cabin crew a range of 15 shoe styles to personally choose from, catering to individual comfort and taste. Virgin Atlantic recently announced an update to its policy, removing the requirement for staff to wear gendered uniform optionsThe expansive range of Spanish-manufactured, 100 per cent leather shoes offers a variety of heights, widths, shapes and styles.Significantly, Virgin Atlantic has also updated its policy to allow staff to choose whichever uniform they want to wear, regardless of gender.Back in 2022, the carrier updated its uniform policy to remove gendered clothing requirements.Staff including plane crew and pilots can choose which uniform they wear: the company’s ‘red’ option, previously most commonly worn by female flight attendants, or the ‘burgundy’ option, previously worn by male flight attendants.This includes allowing men to wear skirts and women to wear trousers, as well as increasing the uniform options available to non-binary staff members.Weight requirements have shifted, too – while many airlines are supposedly inclusive, Air India has this year introduced a new health and compliance policy for flight attendants that are deemed underweight, overweight or obese. Under new guidelines, cabin crew must maintain a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 to meet the ‘desired range’ standard.A BMI reading of less than 18 will be considered as ‘underweight’, though candidates may still be cleared if they pass a medical evaluation and functional assessment.Cabin crew with a BMI reading in the range of 25-29.9 will be classed as ‘overweight’ – considered ‘acceptable’ only if the candidate successfully passes the functional assessment.A BMI of 30 or above will not be accepted by the airline…. and what about the future?There’s no way to know for sure how airline uniforms will look going forward – but it’s likely individuality and comfort will feature. Jermyn Street Design says: ‘As we move forward, we anticipate that airline uniform design will continue to be driven by consumer preferences, similar to the eco-friendly changes we are already witnessing. ‘As technological innovations advance, so will uniforms. ‘As the needs of passengers and crew evolve, airlines will most likely integrate more advanced materials and ergonomic designs to enhance comfort and provide the functionality that this job role will require.’