Following up on the travel theme of my last post, and just for a bit of fun...
Air hostesses. What I also want to know is why they don't make them like this as standard anymore?
All images are from The Retroscape website. If you don't subscribe to it, you really, really should. It is full of amazing images like this, from all different eras.
And thinking of sassy ladies and planes brought my mind to James Bond and Pussy Galore's Flying Circus girls. Which is also relevant as The Cat and I are finally going off to see the Designing 007 exhibition at the Barbican tomorrow. We have pre-ordered our tickets, and our martinis. Very excited!
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| Pussy Galore and her Flying Circus girls (Image source) |
Yup, the only air hostess rule that seems to have carried over is that you must be pretty and skinny - I'd rather have interesting looking with 50s hair and cute uniforms!
ReplyDeleteI must say, I was gutted when Pan AM was cancelled - I absolutely loved the clothes, on duty and off! x
I never got around to watching Pan AM unfortunately - would have loved to have seen it. I'm sure I could still look it up, I guess...
DeleteBut I know that weight discrimination for air hostesses does actually have a legitimate reason, they also have to be a particular height - enough to reach the overhead lockers but not to bang their heads! And they can't be too rotund because they have to comfortably squeeze around the tight airplane spaces. I know because I had a brief fantasy of being an air hostess so looked up the recruitment requirements. When I was about 23 years old, mind you, it wasn't some childhood dream! It was the travel, more than anything else! But I quickly got over the idea.
Because of anti-discrimination laws and anti-sexual-harassment lawsuits XD
ReplyDeleteThey still do in Asia (lots of blog posts online about how a lot of the cheap, new airlines there are fairly off-putting with their sexist and discriminatory hiring policies) and yea, it does result in a fleet of cute, chic, clones with interchangeable parts XD
And yea, Retronaut is pretty fun. I like their Science/ industry focused things quite a bit.
Anti-sexual-harrassment laws ruin all our fun. Okay, I suppose it is good for some things... And fortunately it hasn't completely killed workplace flirtation.
DeleteOh dear, Kate O! Interesting you make that comment about "hostess rule" - because I noticed just this weekend on an interstate flight in Australia with Virgin, that even the skinny rule doesn't a,pear to apply any more. I'd thought part of that was actually the practicality of moving down the aisle. Yep, great pics Miss Marie!
ReplyDeleteI'm curious to know what you mean by the skinny rule not applying anymore... Like you said, I'm sure there's rules in terms of being able to fit down aisles. I suppose if they're not wider than the trolley, it's okay! (I'm such a sexist male sometimes, talking about air hostesses is this objectifying way!)
DeleteLooove these pictures! 1960's air hostesses are the best. One of my favourite ( non vintage, but doing vintage) air hostess is Zoey Deschanel in Almost famous.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your virtual hugs, they were very much appreciated and i'm sending you some back. <3 xx
Oh my goodness, it IS Zoey Deschanel, isn't it?? I LOVE Almost Famous but haven't seen it for ages, and clearly not since I became aware of her. I love her character... "This song explains why I'm leaving home to become an air hostess." Cue Simon and Garfunkle's America, cue me falling in love with that song. Isn't it just beautiful and heart-rending? Thanks for reminding me of that wonderful movie. Perhaps it's time for a re-watching?
DeleteVirtual hugs were the least I could do! They felt somewhat insubstantial and pathetic but I was stumped for words xxx
love your blog!I'm a new follower =)
ReplyDeleteThank you! Glad to have you here!
DeleteWhat a thoroughly fun post! I cannot help but imagine how much the male passengers must have enjoyed these stylish, swinging miniskirt uniforms! ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for your comment on yesterday's post. I'm very sorry to hear that the heat takes a toil on you, too, dear gal, and wonder how many others like us are effected negatively by the scorching summer temps? Fingers crossed that a lovely, sunny (but not overly toasty) autumn graces both of our corners of the world this year.
♥ Jessica