Just like Cliff Muskiet, the uniform freak, I have a thing for airline uniforms. I think most flight attendants do. In fact, inside my guestroom closet hangs three different uniform styles from two different airlines. I've saved it all - the pants, the skirts, the dresses, the jackets, the vests, the blouses, the wings, and even the blue tie I snapped around my neck and the epaulets I wore on both shoulders with the pleated Bermuda shorts and high heels at Sun Jet International Airlines. Talk about embarrassing. I still own everything except for the silky red and blue scarf I wore thirteen years ago when I first got hired to fly for the airline I currently work for. Oh how I wish I still had that scarf. I wore it off to the side, tied in a knot around my neck. That simple scarf made the conservative navy blue polyester uniform appear sexy and feminine.

"I loved that navy blue coat dress we wore years ago," said Cady, an ex flight attendant who is also my very best friend.

Personally, I prefer the look of the white starched blouse paired with the navy blue knee length skirt and fitted blazer, even though I always end up wearing the uniform dress. As a commuter, I have to pack what's easy.

Now my all time favorite airline uniform is worn by the flight attendants of Air France. Though they look great, I'm not quite sure how I would actually feel about serving drinks while wearing the big red bow at 35,000 feet. Delta looks fantastic in navy blue with just a hint of red. However the white bell sleeves, while stylish, seem like they could easily get dirty. That could be a problem for me. I'm a bit of a mess when I get stuck working in the galley, and a dirty uniform is an ugly uniform. Emirates' uniform is pretty nice - that is if you look good in Khaki and don't mind wearing a head scarf. The worst airline uniform has to be First Choice Airways. I mean seriously, pink?

As I began writing this post, I wondered what others thought about all the different airline uniforms, so I posed the question, which airlines have the best uniforms, on twitter.com and here's what a few people had to say...

• Flyingphotog: " I think Virgin Atlantic's uniforms are awesome. They'll make you turn your head. Well... at least if you're a guy they will. US Airways f/a uniforms are super-boring.
• Paulrobichaux: "I really like Delta's red-dress uniform. very classy looking."
• HeatherMark: "I love Delta's red wrap dress. The fabric doesn't look breathable, tho. Those Virgin girls always look fabu, too.
• Wkali13: "I'm partial to Delta's uniforms. They always look so professional."
• CBI28: "best uniform: Air France-I love that dress with the red bow. Worst-First Choice in Britain, a.k.a. the pink flamingos"
• Mathew: "Best - Quantas long haul. Worst is Virgin Atlantic & United Airlines
• Brajit: "AAs uniforms are dowdy. Skybus uniforms were AWFUL! "
• AKnickerson: "Worst? Don't know. But best: Korean Air. They are gorgeous! Very chic!"
• Clipperkid747: "I like Lufthansa uniforms. They do look classy.
• Tlonyc: "Got to like the laid back look of Southwest, but not as much as Delta. United and US Airways at the bottom."
• Stgabriel08: "if you are including foreign airlines, thumbs up to Emirates and Thai Air, thumbs down to Singapore Air"
• Tyflyguy: "my vote for worst uniform HAS to be Southwest."
• FlightattdntJen: "oh God!The old Air Canada green ones: HIDEOUS! Affectionately named by passengers as the "vagina dress" Yay for new ones!"

Okay, for the record, I have never heard of the vagina dress, but now I must see it, so I emailed Jen and asked her to send me a photo. She said she would.

So why all this talk about flight attendant uniforms? Because Olympic Airlines' flight attendants and pilots are getting new uniforms and you can help choose the final design. You've got until June 7th to vote, so click here to go to the website and pick your favorite uniform design. A few voters will even be chosen to win airplane tickets to destinations in Greece and abroad! Warning: the website is not in English. But good luck anyway!

For those of you still with me, I hope you enjoy this youtube video featuring airline uniforms of yesterday and today...

Photo courtesy of (two flight attendants) Dmytrok, (flight attendant in red) Sagado Corazon

Filed under: Europe, North America, Emirates, France, Greece, United States, Airlines, Video, Galley Gossip