Instead of requiring sterile, and basically sexist, outfits on their flight attendants, SkyUp Airlines is going with something completely different.
The Ukranian airline’s new female flight attendant uniforms ditch the high heels making them comfortable, yet stylish, and still professional-looking.
“Times have changed, women have changed, so in contrast to the conservative classics, heels, red lipstick and a bun, a new, more modern and comfortable image of a ‘champion’ has appeared,” said Marianna Grigorash, Head of SkyUp Airlines Marketing Department, in a July news release.
Female flight attendants were previously forced to wear high heels which could be very painful and uncomfortable resulting in swollen legs and feet after working a long shift without sitting down.
Senior SkyUp flight attendant Alexandrina Denysenko said that she would suffer through a shift in her heels.
“God forbid, but if a crew has to do a landing in water and an evacuation, heels can damage the ladder and it won’t be very comfortable to swim in a skirt,” she told Reuters.
The new uniforms are pretty funky. Instead of skirt suits, flight attendants wear bright orange relaxed trouser suits with a white t-shirt instead of a button-up as of the fall of 2021.
An old Facebook post from 2019, however, shows flight attendants wearing pants and a fitted suit top along with dress shoes with a practical heel and scarves around their neck.
The new uniform has attendants wearing their signature scarves on their shoulders through a loop in the jacket. Instead of high heels, they’ll wear white Nike Air Max 720 which offer extra cushioned comfort.
They also get to don Italian eco-leather trench coats made by GUDU and bright orange suitcases by Have a Rest.
The airline will relax the classic high bun hairstyle with braids and changed the required makeup look.
Forcing employees into the sameness of identical hairstyles and makeup seems overly restricting for modern times. Uniforms are understandable but some individuality should be exercised as to maintain one’s humanity. And many airlines have long ended the practice of requiring their female flight attendants to wear a skirt and heels.
If SkyUp was truly interested in properly representing today’s modern women, maybe they’d have some older women in the advertisements instead of only young picture-perfect models, which only further perpetuates the stereotype that flight attendants are to be pretty and objectified rather than focused on passengers’ comfort and safety.
While the old uniforms opted for feminine sex appeal, the new uniforms completely cover the wearer up.
The airline claims it gives a “new image” of “a modern girl with an active life position — a champion who works for team result and shows respect for herself and her health.”
Sounds like the same old type of female repression and forcing women (not girls!) into a controlled role, except with “new” PR twist. SkyUp’s press release indicates that a sexier identity of red lipstick and high heels is indicative of a lack of self-respect.
The company’s press release says the opting of sneakers shows a commitment to health.
Not sure how that one works outs or why one’s personal health choices are the business of an employer that isn’t a health care company. Let these women pass out their peanuts in peace! Apparently, the male flight attendants are also getting a new look. They are ditching their vests and dress shoes for black Nikes, a light suit, and a t-shirt, according to USA Today.
The press release didn’t mention anything about the “new image” planned for the male employees.
Anyhoo, it’s nice to see employers creating more humane and comfortable accommodations for their employees.
Hopefully, these employees will be a lot happier this way! People on Diply’s Facebook page had some interesting things to say.
“I’ve seen uniforms change a lot over the years. And flight attendants wearing pants is nothing new. There are much more professional looking and practical low heeled shoes than white Nikes. I would prefer black Clarks. I’ve never seen a male flight attendant wear white sneakers,” wrote one individual.
“The ladies looked so much more comfortable on my last flight 10 days ago on a Flybe aircraft. Much more practical in event of an emergency,” one commenter wrote.
Some weren’t thrilled with the color, likening the orange to jail jumpsuits. Others found it to be practical.
“I should imagine that these are way more practical to wear.And speaking as someone who likes to enjoy their flights its nice that they make clear who to ask about the arrival of the drinks trolley,” said another.
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