Delta's Designer Flight Attendant Uniform - Unfit to Fly

Posted Jul 13th 2009 at 6:45PM by Bee-Shyuan Chang (Subscribe to Bee-Shyuan Chang's posts)

Filed under: News

Richard Tyler flanked by the red dresses he designed for Delta Airlines. Photo: Katy Winn, Getty Images.

Delta Airlines may be bigger since their merger with Northwest Airlines, but that doesn't mean it want its flight attendants to follow suit!

Since launching a collaboration with designer Richard Tyler, Delta's red flight attendant uniforms have taken a turn for the sexier, including trendy wrap dresses.

However, Associated Press reports that the dress is only offered up to a size 18. Now, the union that represents former Northwest Airlines flight attendants (who adopted the new uniforms on March 30) are "crying foul" and requesting that the airlines offer the red dress up to a size 28.

Tyler's in-flight fashion vision debuted in 2006, when Delta wanted to add a classy update to the airlines' mostly gray uniforms. At the time, Richard Tyler told AP, "I want them to look sexy and great, but you have to keep that classic look as well."

According to AP, a Delta spokesperson stated that the "red dress currently is only offered to size 18" and that the airline "offers a range of outfits in other colors and styles up to size 28 that flight attendants can wear." (Gee, thanks!)

What do you think? Is it fair that there's a size limitation on the designer uniform or should it be sky's the limit? Leave a comment.

Tags: Delta-Airlines, Fligh-Attendant-uniform, Flight-Attendant, Flight-Attendant-Red-Uniform, Northwest-Airlines, Plus-Size, red-dress, Richard-Tyler, Size-18, Size-28

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Mosie 7-13-2009 @ 7:45PM

I think Delta should be ashamed of themselves. A flight attendant's size has no importance when that flight attendant is using all his or her training skills to get people out of a burning airplane, attend to unexpected health needs, or take great care of a child travelling alone.

And if those dresses aren't sexist, I don't know what is. I flew for United Airlines and always felt proud to wear that uniform.

sara 7-13-2009 @ 8:41PM

As a flight attendant, I personally don't think that a size 28 flight attendant is going to be able to help you out of that burning plane. I have been "pinned" against the galley door enough times by overweight fas sharing a jump seat and I can tell you that not only did I not feel confident in their abilities as a fa but I also did not feel safe being beside them.

Heather 7-14-2009 @ 6:07PM

Did any of you see the 4 eyes that lambasted overweight people by holding up a larger size pant? She was laughing and mocking the size of the pant and larger women. It was "mimi" something or other. She is a disgrace to herself and all women.

rockstar 7-13-2009 @ 9:55PM

Anyone who is a size 28 would have difficulty just getting down and back up the aisle!!!!!!!!

nystew 7-13-2009 @ 11:01PM

quit making excuses for being overweight, size 28 is just a wee tad overweight, maybe time to save the airline some money and stop making them carry the extra heavy lard ass f/a's around.....no wonder where all the passenger food goes to...

Las Vegas SEO 7-14-2009 @ 2:15AM

I ran accross your blog looking for blogs with a different topic but like always sexy women make me look twice. I have ot say I want to go back to the time when women were women and men were men. When you could say fat ass and not be ridiculed. When people weren't so hung up on what was said and more on what was done. I want studardesses to be just that, SEXy! I don't want to see fat studardesses and I don't want to see fag guys trying to be women. I'm glad I'm half way through my life and got to see the world the way it should be. Please women just be women, sexy curvy baby makers. Please.

Jb 7-23-2009 @ 10:03AM

I remember the days when the airlines were allowed to have just proper-weight attendents. Now, with all the BS about equal rights of people who chose to push food down their pie hole ends up costing the airlines extra cash to move all that junk-in-the-trunk around. Can't keep the weight off? Then get a different job. It's not that hard. People say they have a medical problem may be right, but the only way that food gets on the hips is by pushing it through the mouth. There's barely anyone in Ethiopia that is overweight regardless if they have a problem (those that are overweight: rich folk).
Flight attendants have a tough job. No need to make it tougher by carting that extra baggage.

And let it be a lesson to us all: If your butt takes up two seats, buy two seats: You're not entitled to hang that flab over into the space I purchased.

Peanut 7-14-2009 @ 3:55AM

No size 28 person should be a flight attendant. No way. There is no way they can get around fast in an airplane. No way at all. Who cares about whether the dress should be made in RED beyond size 18. I am not sure they should even make any of the dresses beyond size 18 for a flight attendant. Flight attendants should not be BIG. Just not safe.

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doglvr 7-14-2009 @ 11:02AM

Since I am now wearing this new uniform, I can assure you, while size 28 is big, these uniforms run a lot smaller than you imagine. I normally wear a size 4 or 6, and I wear a size 10 in this uniform. This is the ONLY thing in a size 10 I have in my closet.
I agree with some of the others that a F/A who is a size 28 most likely won't be as swift as someone who is a size 6, flight attendants are trainined professionals, who may just suprise you, and someone who is a little larger might some day save your ass during an emergency.

Brenda Stone 7-17-2009 @ 3:44PM

The union will sue for the filight attendant's right to wear a size 28 dress but they won't protect you if the CEO illegally terminates you.
See my true story at:

www.stonevssteenland3.blogspot.com

Karen 7-17-2009 @ 7:04PM

Delta should be ashamed of themselves. To have dresses that are red and certain size only which means flight attendants are to look sexy is such a bad image for an airlines. Flight Attendants do have an image like that no matter how they dress and I can't say where my information comes from. I know there are some good flight attendants but two airlines I know for a fact this sexy image goes much further lets say with pilots. Size should not matter and in fact I would feel much safer if any situation should occur I would rather have a person of larger size than a person in a small size dress save my life. It's not fair to others who wear size 28 to single them out and say we don't have a red dress for you. Thats like saying you don't have the figure it it and its wrong. Any airlines that does this is bad. Just like making a overweight person to pay for a second seat like please that is terrible.

Jan 7-20-2009 @ 7:48PM

I too flew for UAL, through the good old days up to the not so good present, and was also proud to wear the UAL uniform. This red dress is nothing but slick, sexy advertising--just like in the 70's. As for as FAs in a size 28---I'm sorry, but there is reason concern there. Whether it be female or male, no obese person is able to move and carry out duties the way a less over-weight, non-obese person can, in ANY job, nevermind in a small, tight environment! Just working on a daily basis with some of these very overweight men and women was difficult, as they often couldn't keep up with the service and frequently need more than the average breaks--leaving many of us carrying their load at times. I would definitely voice concern with the obese in an inflight emergency and or evacuation, no matter what they were wearing.

johnsole 7-23-2009 @ 12:43PM

ONLY a size 18... You are kidding. If flight attendants' main function is safety, you cannot tell me a size 18 or more person will be physically able provide quick and agile exiting assistance off a crashing/sinking/burning tin can! I don't want that size 18+ arm in my face handing me my diet soda either. Get real. Fat and fit is a myth.

The red dresses are fab.

Maria 7-26-2009 @ 12:50PM

Some people need to take a good look at themselves. I wear that red dress , size 8. It is bright red and stands out and does bring attention to the fitness of your body.We have the same dress in navy blue which is more slimming as dark colors are. If you want to look the best you can, wearing a size 28 RED dress is not the way to go. This is only common sense. The red dress has nothing to do with your ability to work or evacuate an aircraft, but your fitness does. Richard Tyler made the decision not to make that particular dress larger than size 18 and trust me even that size makes you look huge. It makes even the tiniest person look just a bit bigger. Dress to look your best and take pride in that.

thinkfirst 7-28-2009 @ 2:25PM

The red dress is beautiful! Now, why don't firefighters, nurses, EMTs and other first reponders wear red dresses? They're there to "save our asses, not kiss our asses".

Bizebe 8-24-2009 @ 9:02AM

I worked for Delta several years ago, when yearly weigh-ins were a requirement. The weigh-ins definately kept flight attendants-male and female-looking their best. But most importantly, keeping the weight off was safer for everyone on board the plane. Jump seats are small, at best. Try sharing one with a gal with a huge ass! There isn't any room to sit on that tiny seat. It was very dangerous! And besides, who wants to see a size 28 flight attendant dressed in RED walking down the airport concourse. She will look like a giant TOMATO!!