Flight attendant uniforms haven’t been immune to the breakneck speed of change from era to era. Some changes have been subtle while others have been as blatant as the shift from a male to female majority in the industry. Minute details in the clothing that dominates the skies today come from trends that once transformed flight attendant uniforms of the past.

Change is still coming fast in modern times though. Delta Air Lines’ recent blunder with its sleek, purple disasters that were quickly recalled serves as an example. It's an example that will be covered in this list along with other instances of experimentation that have left their marks on flight attendant fashion.

Before jumping to the end of the long evolution of these uniforms, let’s start at the barely recognizable beginning.

15 Male Flight Attendants Started Things Off In Suits

Heinrich Kubis made history when he climbed aboard a zeppelin in Germany as the first flight attendant, explains Airships. Back in the 1910s, the style for service people was quite somber. Flight attendants stuck to all-black three-piece suits with a high, tight collar. Comfort was no one’s first concern.

14 Youthful Changes And A Teenage Flight Attendant

Our 14-year-old model seen here on the left served clients in a uniform distinguished by its flashy buttons and hat, according to the Los Angeles Times. That opened the door for the introduction of a white coat. With that, the sterile clothing of the 1910s was no more.

13 Women Marched Onto The Scene In Army-Like Fashion

A double-breasted coat made of dark green wool, white gloves, and a beret were worn by the world’s first female flight attendant in the '30s. America by Air states that designers took pilot uniform inspiration from the military, and they seem to have done the same for flight attendants.

12 Business Style Suits Took Over

Buttons migrated to the center of suit jackets as flight attendant uniforms took the first step down the rungs of formality. Low cut coats seen above granted more space for women to differentiate themselves. Ruffled shirts and button-ups with flared collars added a bit more feminine energy.

11 A Range Of Colors Added More Fun

Pale blues and browns gained favor over the initial dark green that the first female flight attendant wore. This is also around the time that pencil skirts hit the market, according to the Maker’s Atelier. Women began to wear uniforms that accentuated their curves without showing too much.

10 The Industry Started To Loosen Up

The military trend disappeared in favor of trendy dresses as the '70s approached. Time shows that Pan Am was one of the few hold outs that kept to tradition. Other airlines didn’t abandon everything though. Skirts grew shorter, but the uniforms were kept classy with gloves and hats.

9 Then Things Got Weird

Some airlines dipped a toe into new patterns and colors; Braniff dove right in. According to Condé Nast Traveler, the airline made a point of standing out from the rest. The flight attendants' bright dresses and hypnotizing leggings didn’t last long. They did, however, leave their mark.

8 Skirts Lost A Few Inches In The 70s

Airlines preferred to hire women as flight attendants for a very obvious reason. It wasn’t until the '70s that they quit the coyness and put their staff on full display. Not all airlines were as brazen about it as Pacific Southwest was, but the uniform shown above has become iconic for the era.

7 Women In Pants Started To Show Up At the Same Time

Oddly enough, while Pacific Southwest was debating how short they could go without scaring away families with children, other airlines were introducing pants. Up until then, women had been limited to skirts and dresses. The change seemed to signal more respect for female flight attendants as working professionals.

6 Repentance For Previous Fashion Sins Came In Pastels

Airlines distanced themselves from the styles of the '70s by tacking on more inches than they’d started out with for good measure. Uniforms became soft and feminine with pale pinks, greens, and yellows. Most remaining hats were vanquished. In this era, designers struck a balance between beauty and practicality.

5 Designs Were Reeled Back In By The Decade's End

Somehow things ended up just about back where they started. The colors were toned down in favor of dark blues and blacks and wild patterns were isolated to ties. Flight attendants could once again be mistaken for business people if it weren’t for their golden-winged brooches.

4 Women Were Given More Wiggle Room

Loose clothing with a hint of androgyny was all the rage in the '90s. Flight attendants were lucky to receive uniforms that reflected that trend. Wide-legged pants, dress shirts without ties, and suits with no vest made it possible to work without the discomfort of past uniforms.

Related: 15 Ways Being A Flight Attendant Has Changed Since The 1990s

3 Delta Brightened The Dull 2000s With A Splash Of Pink

The greatest overall change in this period was the revival of slim-fit pencil skirts. Delta made the boldest independent move of the decade with its introduction of all-pink uniforms. According to the Delta News Hub, they’re worn every October to garner support for the Brest Cancer Research Foundation.

Related: These Are The Airlines With The Happiest Flight Attendants

2 Designers Grew Nostalgic For Past Designs

As stuffy as flight attendant uniforms once were, at least they were charming. Norwegian Air brought some of that style back with plaid coats and black gloves. Other airlines took hints from different eras with accessories like neck scarves in addition to silhouettes reminiscent of the past.

Related: 20 Most Flattering Flight Attendant Uniforms

1 Delta Tried To Be Different And Failed

Delta introduced deep purple dresses in 2018 that were meant to last a decade. That was before flight attendants began to blame the uniforms for blistered skin, migraines, blurred vision and breathing problems, according to CNN. Due to these issues, Delta will be making another switch in 2021.

Next: 15 Little-Known Facts About The Lives Of Flight Attendants