AILEEN’S UNIFORM ATLAS
The Pulse is pleased to present Aileen’s Uniform Atlas, a recurring feature written by Aileen Out.
Out is the owner of Prettybusiness, a news blog in the Netherlands that focuses exclusively on work clothing.
Ten years ago, female flight attendants still had to wear high heels, but in 2024 that will be a thing of the past. In recent years, comfort has become increasingly important. More and more airlines are also recognizing that walking in heels is unhealthy. This also applies to Emirates, which has significantly expanded its shoe range. While flight attendants could previously choose between a medium heel and a high heel, there are now fifteen different models available. But this trend is not only beneficial for the feet of the cabin crew. There are many more benefits to it.
Sneakers becoming the norm
In 2021, SkyUp was one of the first airlines to replace high, black pumps with comfortable sneakers. Ukrainian flight attendants have since been wearing white Nike Air Max shoes. Australian colleague Bonza and the Icelandic PLAY Airlines soon did the same. All personnel wear white sneakers. Recently, Dutch airline KLM also adopted this trend. Female flight attendants can now pair their cobalt blue uniforms with dark blue sneakers, while pilots have a black variant available.
For Emirates, sneakers are clearly a step too far. The company places great importance on the appearance of their iconic, sand-colored uniforms and wishes to maintain this. By offering fifteen different pump models, the organization seems to have chosen a middle ground. The attendants may not have the comfort of sneakers, but they can select pumps that best fit their feet. They can choose from different heel heights, and the shoes come in various width sizes. Additionally, they receive a handbag in the same red color as their shoes.
Comfort as good PR
Beyond benefiting the staff, the choice for comfortable shoes is also good PR for airlines. It shows that the company values the health of its employees. This not only positively impacts public opinion but also makes the company an attractive employer for those in the aviation industry.
Virgin Atlantic has experienced similar benefits. Although their staff does not wear sneakers, the British company has relaxed its dress code significantly in recent years. Since 2019, all cabin crew members are allowed to wear flat shoes, and makeup is no longer mandatory. In 2022, Virgin Atlantic announced that men could wear female uniforms and vice versa.
A glamorous video was released featuring well-known British men and LGBTQ+ activists parading in high heels and skirts. However, it was not mentioned that this uniform freedom applied only to two flights. To ensure staff safety, the company cannot allow this freedom in certain countries due to cultural reasons.
Nevertheless, this did not matter much to Virgin Atlantic. Shortly after the video, they announced that they had seen a doubling in the number of job applications. And that is understandable. Freedom of choice in a strictly regulated industry is like a bonus at the end of the year: it may not be the decisive factor for choosing to work somewhere, but it certainly makes life a bit easier.
