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Galley Gossip: The Bachelor - pilots, fashion & a few pilot fashion tips

by Heather Poole (RSS feed) on Feb 3rd 2010 at 9:30AM

Women love pilots. What's not to like? Even men have a thing for pilots. Think Brad Pitt. He fell in love with one. The word itself conjures up images of Richard Gere (Officer and a Gentleman), Tom Cruise (Top Gun), Leonardo DiCaprio (The Aviator), Andy Garcia (When a Man Loves a Woman), John Travolta (pilots his own 707), and Jake Pavelka.

Jake Pavelka?

Jake Pavelka. Ya know, The Bachelor this season. Rumor has it he's a Captain for ASA.

It's true. I really do watch reality TV. I wish I could tell you the reason for this is because I'm a flight attendant and flight attendants have erratic schedules which makes it nearly impossible to keep up with regular sitcoms, but you'd probably mention something about TiVo and then I'd have to admit I already have it, which pretty much ruins that excuse. The simple fact is I enjoy bad TV. I crave drama, even though I refuse to work the New York – Miami route, and that's why I hope Vienna and Ali continue to stay in the running.

I like Jake. He seems like a nice guy. This is why I'm afraid he may be in over his head. The women have been fawning all over him. I don't blame them. He's a handsome pilot who looks dreamy dressed in a tux! But that tuxedo got me thinking. Would they have given him a second glance if they'd seen him say passing through the lobby of a hotel - not dressed in his uniform, nor in a wardrobe chosen by a professional stylist for a popular television show, but in his (gasp) "layover clothes?" If you're a flight attendant, you know exactly what I'm talking about!

Pilots and fashion. I'm not sure you can even use the two words in the same sentence since they go as well together as orange juice and toothpaste. Ask any flight attendant if they can easily spot a pilot in civilian "layover clothes" and they will emphatically say yes. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I'm just saying...

Luckily not all pilots are created equal. Take for instance Bob, the singing pilot, whom I met in the travel section of Barnes and Nobles. There I stood flipping through a couple of books on Italy, Croatia, and Portugal, trying to figure out where I wanted to go to next, while he scanned the shelf looking for a place to sail his boat. Somehow, I don't know how, we started talking, and soon Bob had me cracking up. He's a funny guy. He's also a very well-dressed guy. So imagine how shocked I was to learn that Bob actually worked for a major US carrier.

"Me, too!" I exclaimed, clutching a copy of Frommer's Italy to my chest. "I'm a flight attendant."

"Pilot," he said matter of fact.

I looked him up and down. I didn't believe him. How could I? He wasn't wearing acid washed jeans or khaki pants paired with a polo shirt, or even worse, a Member's Only jacket. Nor did he wear Top Gun style Raybans with a brown leather bomber jacket. Bob was just a regular Joe who looked pretty darn good in dark fitted jeans.

I had to know, so I asked flat out, "Why are so many pilots such bad dressers?"

The problem, according to Bob, is that pilots spend too much time looking for tools in the Sears catalog and then accidentally stumble into its clothing section. "It's not so much that being a pilot causes one to be fashionably challenged, it's just we tend to be better at things like engineering, checking the car's oil, fixing things around the house, and not asking for driving directions," he explained. "This as opposed to fashion design."

Made sense.

Truth be told, I like a man who can fix things around the house. I would really hate it if I had to fight with my husband, a T-shirt and jeans kind of guy, over hangers. Honestly, I wouldn't joke about something as serious as closet space. That's mine!

As I stood there in the bookstore with Bob, I thought maybe, just maybe, I might be on to something. What pilot wouldn't appreciate a little fashion advice from a fellow pilot. I scribbled my email address on a piece of paper and asked Bob if he'd be willing to share a few tips. Two days later I received an email from him. It was three pages long! Like most pilots, Bob takes his job very seriously.

FASHION TIPS FROM PILOT BOB

DO:

Wear anything black. If they invent a darker color than black wear that.
Dark blue-ish / grey-ish jeans in a boot or regular cut are best. (nothing tapered)
Linen is your friend. It's cool, comfortable, and looks great...even if wrinkled.
Fitted shirts. If you can still pull them off. Otherwise stick to shirts in solid colors or subtle patterns.

DON'T

Brown leather bomber jacket. It screams "look at me, I'm a pilot...on a layover...in a bar...drinking." These are only fashionable in pilot lounges or near military installations
Tank tops. Keep America beautiful
Tube socks. Socks should never go above your ankles. Nor should they be worn with sandals.
Shorts. Especially in Latin countries where it's considered effeminate. If you must, go with cargo or hiking styles
"Douche bag" shirts. Nothing screams midlife crisis, desperate for attention, I have a prescription for Viagra like a bold patterned, colorful dress shirt commonly seen worn at clubs or in Vegas.
Uniform items outside of work or on layovers. No thin belt. No black shoes. No black or blue pants. NO!
Pleats. Unless you have the physique of Lou Costello and it's 1939 just don't.
Khaki. Enough already! And for God's sake, no pleated khaki.
Golf clothes. Not unless you're on a golf course.

Photos courtesy of The Bachelor and Hoodrat

Filed under: Airlines, Galley Gossip

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Chris Feb 3rd 2010 12:08PM

Good advice. But Bob overlooks the benefit of the clothes-tools-Sears connection: you can get mudflaps to match your pants! I'M KIDDING. Great post and really, you went easy on pilots. Don't forget the beat up running shoes or the so-1980s Topsiders, a wispy-weasly mustache and hair parted (if they have any) in the middle.

Everywhereist Feb 3rd 2010 2:07PM

Heck, this would be good advice for any guy (whether he's a pilot, a traveler, or not). Fortunately, my hubby insists on dressing well, even on trips. Usually people will look at me and think (since I'm in sweats and he's in a suit) that I'm his assistant. Oh, well.

And Heather, please inform those of us who don't know: what on earth are "layover" clothes?

citrusfa Feb 3rd 2010 3:15PM

Partial uniform items are only acceptable if, when packing for a two-day reserve duty period, one thinks, "It's only two days; I won't need jeans," and is subsequently gifted with 17 hours in San Juan.

So there I was, in my summer camp t-shirt, navy blue polyester pencil skirt, and purple flip-flops. Whatever, I was in Puerto Rico.

Jennifer Feb 3rd 2010 3:18PM

Is it possible for me to e-mail this to my pilot husband without him knowing I'm the one who sent it? Because I've seen him pack his flight bags and I KNOW he's guilty of a few of those on the 'Don't' list. At home he asks me about his clothes when we're going out or something, but he's on his own when he's on a trip . . . And here's a question: Have you ever seen a pilot on his way to or from work when he's had to stop at a gas station or something where he has to get out of the car? My husband says he and most of his pilot buddies take off their uniform shirt and will pull on whatever's on top in their bag to avoid the looks and stares of the curious. He says the pilots who are into being pilots (these are the ones who mention what they do every 5 seconds or so in a conversation) are the only ones who'll wear their entire uniform in public outside of the airport.

Great post, Heather! And bravo to Bob the singing pilot for attempting to help his comrades out.

Debbie Feb 4th 2010 3:11PM

LMAO!!! Sooooo accurate & hilarious... cuz I just get the affirming nods as I'm reading your article and then laughing at the list of 'don'ts'... That list should be distributed into the next revision to their FOM! Bob is an inspiration!

Keep up the great work, Heather! You never fail to give me a giggle! :)

Ruby Feb 4th 2010 5:46PM

Bob's advice holds for ALL men!

SANflyer Feb 4th 2010 7:01PM

Too funny Heather! The norm for our pilots is a brightly colored polo, 80's style jeans and top-siders with no socks! I can pick them out at the hotel bar 20 ft away! But lets not forget the F/A layover clothes...Juicy-type sweatsuits seem to be the norm these days. But hey, it's comfy right? LOL

DJ Feb 5th 2010 9:05AM

Must be a lot of disgruntled flight attendants out there, considering a pilot went on TV to find a woman when he has access to so many in his job!

Sarah Feb 5th 2010 1:56PM

Ha, this is so true. I'm a relatively new flight attendant (going into my third year!) at a company that didn't hire in 6 years, and there were some bad times and a lot of the FAs still have hurt feelings. As a result, there's a lot of slam-clickers out there, so if I had a great layover, I generally ended up hanging with the pilots. And hey, they usually offered to pick up at least part of my tab b/c they knew how broke I was!

So yes, I've spent a LOT of time around jorts (you know 'em...jean shorts), khakis, polo shirts, logo shirts, flip flops, sandles and black tennis shoes!

The Pilot's Wife Feb 7th 2010 12:08PM

This is great!! And so true!

Traytable Feb 8th 2010 10:09AM

There's an unwritten rule here in Oz... no "wanker bars" in shops, gas stations or pubs. IF a newbie pilot goes into a bar wearing epaulettes, the generally accepted consequence is buying a round for the bar. (They only do it once)

stevie Feb 22nd 2010 9:04AM

Love this and it's so true. a uniformed pilot with hat on in airports is also for the children to see what their future could be for them.

Kris Feb 24th 2010 6:13PM

I think the problem with pilot's and their lay-over clothes is that there is only room in their suitcase for one set of extra clothes, and a pair of running shoes. We do mostly 4 day trips, 20 legs total, and being stylish in your time off is SO not a priority!! I can't tell you how many times I sat in a hotel restaurant or bar with a guy in his white t-shirt! You know, throw off the uniform shirt and "I'll meet you downstairs in 5".
Tired Regional FA who is glad she's not in a fashion competition with the FO!!

Jenna Apr 3rd 2010 12:40PM

I was told by an international 30 year veteran pilot for a major airline that the majority of pilots are very cheap, thus the out of style casual clothes. Plus, the majority are divorced due to life style issues and watching their pennies.

I do have a question for the flight attendants out there, is it common that you associate with pilots when on layovers? Also, is it common that after each leg of a trip that everyone goes to the bar? I can't imagine this is a great family lifestyle for those married. Just my thoughts.

Thanks for the interesting bog and website : ) Keep up the great work!