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Original poster

Donning my hard hat for this one - cabin crew appearance

383 replies

TellerTuesday · 31/05/2024 20:30

I do realise I'm probably going to get flamed for this but has anyone else noticed a real decline in the appearance of cabin crew members?

Just had a flight with Virgin and the female members honestly looked dreadful. Ill fitting uniforms, red trousers stretched over VPL bottoms, tight white gaping shirts, one had a drab cardigan over the top.

I realise it's a sexist notion but when I was younger they always looked so glamorous strutting through the airport in their heeled court shoes (mainly flat now it appears), immaculate hair and make up.

Also thought the same when I last flew with TUI. The male cabin crew always seem to look well turned out.

OP posts:
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ShadesofPoachedSmoke · 01/06/2024 19:50

Cattery · 31/05/2024 23:19

Yep agree. Flight to Barbados from Heathrow in March. One was over made-up, shiny and rude one was the size of a house. Sorry

Nasty.

xxSideshowAuntSallyxx · 01/06/2024 18:14

I travelled Virgin earlier this year and thought how smart they all looked, especially with their red coats and red handbag (all designed by Viviene Westwood).

Working in the industry we do hear about how rubbish the uniforms are though, things shrinking etc.

Whenwillitgetwarm · 01/06/2024 18:09

I imagine the airline buys poor quality uniforms for the staff these days in an effort to save money. A poorly cut polyester job will look shit on all but the most model looking of people.

Original poster
TellerTuesday · 01/06/2024 18:06

Well it just an observation as I flew yesterday @AlwaysGinPlease so it was fresh in my mind. Now you've mentioned it though, the staff in Sainsburys this afternoon looked a lot smarter in comparison.

OP posts:
AlwaysGinPlease · 01/06/2024 17:51

OP is it just cabin crew or also staff of maybe supermarkets whose appearance you are so terribly concerned about?

Getonwitit · 01/06/2024 17:04

I don't think it is just cabin crew, so many go to work these days looking a state. My DH was at a hospital appointment the other the day and his consultant was in trainers that were fit for the bin pre covid and a t shirt that looked as though it had been dragged out the laundry bin. So many people just don't bother to look clean and tidy.

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 01/06/2024 16:43

I'm just a bit baffled that there was ever any need for people doing that job to look any more glamorous than anyone in any other public-facing job. I mean... why?!

Original poster
TellerTuesday · 01/06/2024 16:37

Bekindmyarse · 01/06/2024 07:33

I think they look pretty awesome here. It’s a tough job. I couldn’t be nice to plane loads of people all the livelong day.

Agree those in these photos look great. The ones on my flight yesterday looked nothing like this.

OP posts:
willWillSmithsmith · 01/06/2024 15:46

I do remember the first time I ever flew (way back to around 1977) and I remember feeling really disappointed that the crew didn’t look like models, they just looked ordinary. I was just a teenager though so was still a bit wide eyed about everything and had this image in my head that they’d all be stunning and glamorous.

DazedNotConfused1 · 01/06/2024 15:46

LordSnot · 31/05/2024 20:31

Post a few recent photos of yourself and we'll let you know if you look better or worse than cabin crew we've encountered lately.

👏🏻

bouquetofpheasants · 01/06/2024 15:44

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OneLimeShark · 01/06/2024 14:42

Itsnamechange · 01/06/2024 14:38

Heaven forbid a woman should wear flat shoes and pants that don’t ride up the crack of her arse while being on their feet for hours serving hot drinks in a metal object flying through the air.

@Itsnamechange And isn't it ironic that it's women complaining?

Itsnamechange · 01/06/2024 14:38

Heaven forbid a woman should wear flat shoes and pants that don’t ride up the crack of her arse while being on their feet for hours serving hot drinks in a metal object flying through the air.

OneLimeShark · 01/06/2024 13:59

LordSnot · 31/05/2024 20:31

Post a few recent photos of yourself and we'll let you know if you look better or worse than cabin crew we've encountered lately.

OP isn't at work. Cabin crew are.

brunettemic · 01/06/2024 13:33

Did you suggest they all wear a thong?

Paperthin · 01/06/2024 13:32

I am not bothered about vpl or make up, most do a good job and passenger safety is the most important thing.
Shout out for the Jet2 cabin crew member on my most recent flight to Spain who was rude to the woman next to us who got up for the loo (‘will you just sit down fgs’) sighed a lot and was overheard by my DH saying ‘ I suppose they all want fucking hot drinks now’
She was a delight.

OneBadKitty · 01/06/2024 13:31

Not cabin crew in particular, but lots of people dress horribly these days. There doesn't seem to be much pride in clothes any more. I went to visit a friend last year and she wanted me to go for a walk With her dog round the local area- so round the village, along a footpath etc. and back home. I was wearing jeans, a blouse, trainers and a casual style blazer from Hush. She seemed think it would be inappropriate to go for a walk in a blazer and insisted I borrow one of her hoodies as people might look at me funny Hmm

namemane · 01/06/2024 13:29

I'm not a frequent flier and can't say I've noticed that much.

However I did notice and think how uncomfortable their uniforms and dress/makeup codes often looked.

If they wan't to dress in a more comfortable way then I've no problem with that at all.

I stuck to a dress code as a teacher but still dressed for comfort and an ability to move easily without worrying about splitting my clothes.

Knitgoodwoman · 01/06/2024 13:21

I’d rather cabin crew worse flat shoes and trousers, so in an emergency they’re more able to carry out safety related tasks.
DH flew for virgin and had a Vivienne Westwood suit that looked very smart! So the pilots look smart still.

RobertaFirmino · 01/06/2024 12:58

Did they have clean hands and hair tied back? Were they pleasant and helpful? Surely that's all that really matters?

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe · 01/06/2024 12:49

"OP returns"... that's probably where the 'cringe myself inside out' comes from, it really fits.

Be judgemental if you want to but if you can't keep your nasty thoughts to yourself then expect to be pulled up on it. Your posts are just condemnation of others for the sake of it and you'd like some attention and for posters to agree with you in droves.

Chaoseverywhere · 01/06/2024 12:41

Dennerfold · 31/05/2024 20:45

If their turn out has turned down perhaps it’s an industry choice to reflect the sloppiness of passengers now - who also used to dress up to travel

This is a very good point.

people travel without even a basic wash sometimes. Shorts and dirty clothes etc.

when cabin crew used to dress up it was in an era where people were smarter when travelling.

although some crew still look fantastic. Singapore air for example. Beautiful men and women crew

I don’t think op means to be judgy. I think she’s making an observation on something she has noticed changing

Alwayswonderedwhy · 01/06/2024 12:40

The only thing I've noticed is most of the female staff seem to be wearing uniform that's at least one size too small and looks really uncomfortable and not very practical.

StarlightLady · 01/06/2024 12:35

Generally, and perhaps not surprisingly, the strictest airlines (lipstick shades etc) tend to originate from countries that have the most oppressive regimes when it comes to the rights of women.

Original poster
TellerTuesday · 01/06/2024 12:33

OP returns (jet lag)

As I said in the original post, I did realise there would be some flaming but it's my observation and opinion and I stand by it.

Yes, it's judgey but as a PP said, would be the same feeling if it was someone serving on the check in desk or in the Costa before the flight. I'm sure it doesn't impede their ability to do their job in case of an emergency but was merely an observation that standards have dropped considerably in part probably due to the quality of the uniform.

No issue with VPL per se but if someone is of ample sized bottom, wearing a pair of trousers two sizes too small is never going to be a good look.

OP posts: