Virgin Blue Uniforms Give Flight Attendants ‘Painful Rashes’

by Julia Rubin | 10:25 am, March 14th, 2011

As much as we love the freedom of sartorial choice, sometimes we think wearing a uniform to work would make our lives easier. Think about all the extra time we would have in the morning! And all the money we would save on ugly work clothes! (Kidding, we don’t have to wear ugly work clothes — we get to wear whatever we want! Tutus! Harem pants! Converse!) But still, uniforms have an appeal…that is, unless they give you “painful rashes.”

The Daily Telegraph reports the Virgin Blue flight attendant uniforms — designed by Project Runway alum Juli Grbac and endorsed by Elle Macpherson — aren’t quite living up to the promise of “style, sophistication and old-world glamour.” Not only do attendants find the uniforms ill-fitting, many are not pleased with the polyester lining (the source of the aforementioned painful rash).

One attendant put it bluntly: “In an emergency, these garments will be a hindrance, as the arms cannot be lifted above shoulder height due to the ill-fitting design. And in the event of a fire, being 100 percent polyester, it would be like having plastic melted onto the skin.” At least four male and female flight attendants have filed complaints with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority in the three weeks since the uniforms made their debut.

Virgin says they are reviewing the complaints, and that “you are never going to get it 100 percent right [the] first time.” One of the rash-afflicted attendants felt a little differently: “This company is all about the look. They say safety first, and there is nothing safe or healthy about these uniforms. The uniforms suffocate you.”