Air New Zealand Dissed for 'Drag Queen' Uniforms
by Erin Donnelly (Subscribe to Erin Donnelly's posts), Posted Jan 12th 2010 at 1:25PM
The new and very "Austin Powers" flight attendant uniform
Air New Zealand's proposed new staff uniforms -- designed by Trelise Cooper -- have got Kiwis reaching for their barf bags, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
Why? Because the vibrant pink and black Lilly Pulitzer-esque uniforms -- set to debut in 2011 -- reportedly made "flight attendants look like drag queens," according to one disgruntled employee.
(Seriously? We are so booking a flight to Wellington next year.)
Cooper's designs, which were chosen over the works of 25 other designers, are said to be inspired by New Zealand themes, according to the paper.
"We have also been working closely with Trelise to ensure the uniform color palette works in harmony with our soon-to-be-unveiled new aircraft interiors," airline spokesman Ed Sims said of the "contemporary" uniforms.
The airline has also reportedly claimed that the uniforms were designed for a "variety of body shapes and work requirements," the angry flight attendant has claimed that the busy pattern is unflattering for large body types, and that the pink hue would show food and drink stains.
"I haven't worn that color since I was five," she complained to the source.
"I know airlines find differentiation very important today, but I've some doubts on whether pink conveys any national values," seconded Lucire magazine publisher Jack Yan.
Ah well -- every party has a pooper!
The new male cabin crew uniforms -- which include a jaunty scarf -- have been deemed "dapper," while female ground staff will wear a fairly tame black trouser suit, the paper reports.
This isn't the first time Air New Zealand has been criticized for its uniforms. The current uniform was reportedly dissed as having a "Thunderbirds" style when it launched in 2005.
Surely there's a "Flight of the Conchords" song in all this?
Meanwhile, check out Christian Lacroix's uniforms for a French railway.
Tags: air new zealand, dresses, Flight attendant Uniforms, flight attendants, jack yan, trelise cooper, uniforms
Kathleen 1-12-2010 @ 3:40PM
Now we know what happened to Grandma's slipcovers. Hideous.
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GIGI243 1-19-2010 @ 3:55PM
TOTALLY!!!!
Boycott the hallucinogenic thing! GROSS...
Toojack 1-12-2010 @ 4:09PM
Save the pink for Barbie this uniform is hideous. It certainly brings back the GAY in flight attendents
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lilly 1-12-2010 @ 4:34PM
I disagree with the 'one disgruntled employee' who made the drag queen comment. Might not be to everyone's taste but it sure stands out, and isn't recognition what it's all about.
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shardinah 1-12-2010 @ 4:55PM
Trelise Cooper designs lovely feminine clothes but flight attendants' uniforms should look classy and be practical--these are neither
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Anne Wentzel 1-12-2010 @ 10:37PM
The uniforms are absolutely hideous. Uncomplementary to a female figure.
They should be smart, classy, sassy and easy to wear and to flatter a girl's form, not trashy and totally distasteful. The poor girls. Trelise makes clothes for much more mature people. Come on get with a much younger style, and don't punish the air girls. They do a great job and are there to help promote the airline and not to be rediculed.
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Jade Doel 1-13-2010 @ 8:36AM
I just wanted to express my disagreement to the many negative opinions towards Trelise Coopers design proposed for the Air New Zealand female cabin crew.
After seeing the uniform for the first time on the cover of The Dominion Post, I instantly became a fan of the design. To be honest, the colour caught my eye but it was the koru pattern, the cut of the fabric, and the structure of the form and silhouette which held my attention.
the sound of conservative out-lashes towards the design are a little irritating and are actually quite small minded, "I haven't worn that colour since I was six", "I've some doubts on whether pink conveys any national values".
The uniforms are fashion items, Cooper is a fashion designer, people who expect fashion to be literal translations of an inspiration shouldn't have opinions on fashion.
Firstly fashion is an art, and art is about interpretation, expression, and transformation, and I can't help but see exactly that in Coopers work.
My interpretation of the design is that New Zealand is unique, we are a nation at the forefront of fashion, we don't follow trends we create them. We think outside the box, we're fun and lively, we're innovative, we are diverse and are more than our national colours (Black, Blue, Green, Teal, Grey...and such).
It's disappointing to see so many pessimistic reactions and yet we haven't seen them worn in their environment, on board and off board a flight. So I think we are a little too hasty to be judging.
I can completely see why Cooper would want to revolutionize and revitalize Air New Zealand's drab, mundane and predictable uniforms and breath new life in to the crew. I don't believe they were designed with intent to make them "standout" or recognizable, it's more about projecting personality, character and pride.
The uniform is progressive and provocative, ingredients that make great modern design and sadly, as is the case here, often is seen as ostentatious.
JADE.
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Sekinu2 1-19-2010 @ 11:18AM
Wow your really out of touch with the real world lol..This falls into the same thing as runway shows. designers who have no concept of everyday life make million dolar designs no one would ever actually wear or would want to its art like you said and art is in the eye of the beholder but in the real world which you are obviously not familar with these are wrong in so many ways. The design is a poor choice for a public setting as the loudness of the pink and the black can cause a eplileptic seizure or eye strain. The look and cut are horrible for such a gambet of workers size and needs. The restriction of movement is just plain unsafe and the look well its just horrible and if they have a union i would assume this could be easily stopped. If this matches the new airline cabins I hope to never fly on that airline. The outfits need to be more earthy to hide messes, they need to fit all figures, they need to be functional, and they need to be easily moved in for emergencies which this pink mess is none of the above.I would think who ever oked this should be loosing thier job quit soon
Bleu 1-19-2010 @ 6:45AM
The author's comment, despite that it is a quote, about the proposed uniforms looking like "drag queen" attire is rather insulting. The majority of those individuals who refer to themselves as drag queens employ considerable effort when dressing up. To equate their fashion sense to that of these uniforms is politcally incorrect.
Also important is the fact that the uniform is sexist. A male flight attendant would not be required to wear this garment and therefore, a female flight attendant should not be expected to wear it.
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alison 1-19-2010 @ 8:26AM
As a member of the drag queen community, I am offended!
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Harry 1-19-2010 @ 8:51AM
That has to be the worst uniform I've ever seen. It's ugly if it were not a uniform. I doubt if a drag queen would even wear that.
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Carol Dye 1-19-2010 @ 8:50AM
They are pretty ugly. Plus, for people who suffer with migraines these things will probably cause a few. They should be wearing something khaki, such as knee length shorts with a white tee shirt and 3/4 sleeve safari style jacket. Printed scarf along with brown socks and hiking style boots. Fabric should be a stretch twill to allow for ease of movement. The scarf should have a kiwi bird pattern. Wish I could design them.
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PenguinASM 1-19-2010 @ 9:10AM
OMG! That has got to be the UGLIEST thing I have ever laid eyes on. I would be angry, too, if my boss told me I had to wear that hideous creation. In fact, I think I would resign.
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Clemdane 1-19-2010 @ 9:25AM
Absolutely heinous. I don't want to fly on a plane where attendants are dressed that way.
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Shirley 1-19-2010 @ 10:25AM
You cannot be serious about not flying on a plane because of a uniform. Doesn't sound mature to me.
Dave 1-19-2010 @ 10:02AM
HEY!! Who stole my grandma's living room drapes??
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mo 1-19-2010 @ 11:17AM
they are as ugly as sin. the colors are aweful.if you get motion sickness while flying looking at these outfits are not going to help.i feel bad for the crews that have to wear this stuff
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cberwind 1-19-2010 @ 11:57AM
Do not insult Drag Queens. This is simply bad taste. Frankly, a drag queen would not even consider wearing upholstery fabric.
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suealiaim 1-19-2010 @ 12:07PM
obviously the commenter has never seen a drag queen - personally i like pattern, but i can see it being too much for uniforms...
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Lj 1-19-2010 @ 2:12PM
I think all this negativity is coming from friends of the person quoted in the article! They need to grow up and be happy to have jobs at this time, appreciate that the new uniform was done by a designer and move on.
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