The aviation industry is a world apart when it comes to dress codes. While one company demands even underwear from stewardesses, another trades high heels and tight suits for sneakers and sweaters. Fortunately, cabin crew nowadays have rights, and an employer cannot simply demand anything. It was different in the past, and companies took full advantage of it. In this article, I’ll tell you about the bizarre dress code the first stewardesses had to deal with.
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The bizarre dress code of the first stewardesses
Although the first automated aircraft took off in 1903, it took almost thirty years before stewardesses existed. It was Ellen Church who in 1930 became the world’s first stewardess. She did this on a flight from San Francisco to Chicago for Boeing Air Transport, which later became United Airlines.
Photo of Ellen Church in 1930
In the early years of stewardess work, there were strict rules regarding weight and height. At the American airline Pan Am, the ladies were not allowed to weigh more than 52 kilos. They also could not be taller than 1.52 meters. The first cabins were so narrow that a larger build simply wasn’t practical.
Stewardesses and age limit
At Belgian airline Sabena, founded in 1923, appearance wasn’t a major concern in the early days. During those first years, the company didn’t impose any requirements on stewardesses. But as Sabena grew, it placed increasing pressure on how the women looked. Initially, stewardesses could stand 1.55 meters tall, but the minimum height later increased to 1.62 meters.
Commissioners boarded flights to inspect the women. In 1954, four directors and a chief stewardess made the stewardesses turn around and watched how elegantly they removed their scarf and coat. These five individuals decided whether the women still looked good enough. If a stewardess gained more weight than allowed, doctors prescribed pills during medical checkups to keep it under control. These pills later turned out to be amphetamines, also known as speed.
Photo of Sebena stewardess in 1950
In 1956, the airline also decided to add an age limit. From that moment on, stewardesses were dismissed on their fortieth birthday. The company only wanted young women on board.
So, as bizarre as the rules may be nowadays, they used to be even more extreme.
Greetings,
Aileen
Last update: 09/09/2025