Do You Think The New British Airways Female Cabin Crew Uniform Is Disappointing?

[BringBackJulienMacDonaldUniform]

What do you all think of the new British Airways female cabin crew uniform? I think it is awful, too drab, and nowhere near as nice and smart as the Julien MacDonald uniform (hence my Username!)! I especially hate the jumpsuit and red slash on the skirt front.

I created a poll on LinkedIn, and the result echoes what I have just said: the Julien MacDonald uniform should be brought back.

I agree it’s a bit drab & a jumpsuit is definitely not practical in a plane toilet. I think the uniform is something that Virgin Atlantic have got absolutely right - the women’s suit has the option of a skirt or trousers, but they also have the option to wear the men’s suit if they prefer it. I was chatting to a lovely member of the cabin crew last year & she said she loves it as she doesn’t like the women’s outfit & the men’s cut suit fits her so much better & the darker colour looks better on her.

I can't help thinking it would have been far better if Stella McCarthy had designed it. She has a good understanding of tailoring and a lot of experience in sportswear and that should be a great combination for making a uniform that needs to be smart and practical. And she understands how women go to the loo.....

Or a man having a poo

Well said! Sadly, though, I have come across one or two people on here who seem to think that glamour is a dirty word. I don't know why. I mean, who wants a scruffy, drab stewardess? I cannot understand these people who shout you down just because you like well-dressed, well-groomed cabin crew. Can you?

I have quite a long torso so a jumpsuit would be really uncomfortable.
Plus it looks as though it would shoot up in flames if there wax a hint of a spark near it.
I agree with OP, if I’m flying I want to feel that the company is professional, so it gives me faith that the staff training will also be professional and I have more confidence in the whole journey.

I went into an RBS the other day and the staff were wearing branded hoodies which turned me off in a similar way.

I feel like I'm shouting into the void here but BAs new uniform is mix and match too :)

Ah that’s good that they all have a choice! But still think Virgin’s uniforms are much nicer colours!

But if it IS mix and match, how come the female crew who hate the red arrow on the front of the skirt can't change it to a skirt that matches the suit?

What on EARTH do you mean, "strangely obsessed"? I am NOT strangely obsessed at all. I simply have a strong interest in aviation - I love movies, books, documentaries on flying - so it naturally follows that whenever anything controversial springs up in aviation, and I want to add my own voice to the subject, that is what I do. And as I have always loved the Julien MacDonald uniform, and as I was so disappointed when I heard it was scrapped for a much inferior design, well, I felt I just HAD to add my own voice to the matter. Hey, look, I am certainly not the ONLY one, you know, who has strong feelings about this matter. Have you not seen all the arguments raging all over the internet and in the newspapers about this awful new uniform? Most people just do not LIKE it. Fact.

So, NO, for your information, I am NOT "strangely obsessed" with ANYTHING. So please don't start spouting such groundless accusations before you know the true facts.

Now that I have straightened that little misunderstanding out, I am not saying any more on the matter. Everybody to their own opinion.

They should have protested against it.

@BringBackJulienMacDonaldUniform

Can't quite work out by the flow of posts who you mean by "they", but if you mean the employees should have protested about the uniform, well, good luck with that...

Hate to break it to you but it's day to day stuff like rosters, T&Cs, and a whole host of other issues usually hidden from the public eye are probably of much much more concern to the average employee at BA than Julien MacDonald vs. Boateng...

It's a case of rocking up to work in the issued uniform, try and comply with uniform standards, though there may well be the odd grump behind the scenes, certainly in the early days...

By "they", I meant the cabin crew themselves. Yes, I take your point about the doubt surrounding any protest against this horrid new uniform actually succeeding.

We'll just see how it pans out. You never know - they might even tweak the uniform to make it., erm - well - a bit more appealing. A good place to start would be to get rid of that dirty big red arrow on the front of the skirt suit. It looks terrible, as a lot of the female crew, I believe, also believe.

To those in the minority who have had a RIDICULOUS pop at me for going on about how much I hate the new British Airways uniform, I would suggest you look at this. It shows, clearly, that I am not the only one who does not like this change of uniform!

Yes I much prefer the old uniform. It was very classy!
And what is that red insert at the front of the skirt/dresses, on the new uniform, all about!?
Its a tacky design

Hi Happyhunny. Glad you agree with me about the new BA uniform. Yeah, they definitely should switch back to the former uniform. And yes, that red insert looks dreadful.

BA did recently admit - thank God! - that the new Boateng uniform is "not hitting the mark", and that they are going to make "changes". Well, up to now, those changes have not transpired. However, they did say that it could take time to update certain items, so let us just hope the changes are worth the wait!

Tbh honest, though, I would much prefer it if they scrapped this uniform altogether and restored the Julien Mac - or at least designed a uniform that wa similar to that uniform. We live in hope.

I agree completely.
The old BA uniform was way superior to any other other airlines.
It had class.

@Happyhunny
Why have you bumped an old thread about airline crew uniforms?
Was the other (frankly weird, sexist, and verging on Herberting) one enough?

Is it one of your things? Talking about women's work clothing?

Why should it be any skin off YOUR nose??

Do you have to wear it?

If not I am at a loss as to why you care unless you feel it is dangerous/unsafe, prevents the wearer from carrying out their job, or offensive (has a swastika on it or something.)

I repeat: have you said this to all the many hundreds of other people who, even though they don't wear the uniform, are perfectly entitled to voice their opinions on how the cabin crew look??? Who the hell wants to board a plane and be served by crew who are dressed in a drab, too casual, highly unprofessional uniform? Not many, I can tell you.

Also, I happen to have a keen interest in all things aviation industry, and that includes expressing my opinion on staff behaviour, dress etc. So there: THAT is why I have commented.

Anyway, at the end of the day, I don't owe anybody an explanation, not least your good self.

You don't have to be an actor to comment on the film industry. You don't have to be a singer to comment on the state of the music industry. You don't have to be a doctor or nurse to air your views on the health service. And it is the same thing with the airline industry - you don't have to be a cabin crew member to comment on a poor uniform.

Do you understand now??

Bloody hell! Even a man can't go to the loo in that. Who's rubbish idea was that?

So shocked at so many people saying the dislike the jump suit, I think it looks great! Saw a lady in it on a flight a couple of months ago and she looked amazing in it. I actually complemented her.

I do agree it isn’t so practical though!

Is it not an all in one jumpsuit type outfit? If so, I don't know any men who wear them tbh.

Mechanics