Ardian From Netherlands, joined Oct 2000, 416 posts, RR: 0 Posted (1 month 2 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 8102 times:
KLM finally presented its new uniform for all the female employees. The new uniforms are designed by Mart Visser. Here is the press release
Quote: KLM presents new women's uniform designed by Mart Visser
Amstelveen – 2009-01-10
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines today presented its new women’s uniform at a fashion show held at Schiphol. From April 2010, more than 11,000 cabin and ground crew members – and KLM and KLM Cityhopper’s female pilots – will begin wearing the uniforms created by Dutch fashion designer Mart Visser.
While the new uniform will retain the KLM blue colour that has characterised it since 1971, it does boast a completely different design. “By investing in a new uniform we are demonstrating, especially now in these times of financial crisis, that we have confidence in the future and the KLM brand,” said KLM President & CEO Peter Hartman. “Mart Visser sees company clothing as a statement to the outside world. His philosophy ties in nicely with KLM’s wishes. It’s fantastic to see how much pride the ladies exude dressed in the new uniform.”
A great deal of prior research went into identifying user wishes and requirements.
For example, the uniform must be comfortable yet sustainable, suitable for use in different seasons, and in keeping with KLM’s image. Mart Visser set off at the start of his creative process armed with such information. Mart Visser: “Regarding my creations, I always say: ‘back to a new tradition.’ In addition to aspects like comfort and functionality, I’ve added my signature as a designer to other good traditions such as the KLM blue: a feminine form with an open, fresh and powerful look and feel. This generates feelings of pride and pleasure, impacting KLM’s passengers favourably too.”
In recent months, one hundred KLM employees tested the creations in practice. The trial provided a wealth of information, on which basis several aspects of the uniform have been improved. The new uniform will be visible on the ground and in the air from April 2010. The current women’s uniform was presented in 1990. Mart Visser’s design marks KLM’s 10th women’s uniform since the first outfit was introduced in 1935. The men’s uniform was revamped in 2000 by fashion icon Oger.
AznMadSci From United States, joined Dec 2007, 2025 posts, RR: 2 Reply 1, posted (1 month 2 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 8006 times:
I had always liked their current uniform and thought they didn't need a change, maybe a different scarf here and there! But will say that dress is not flattering at all and what's with the long-sleeved white shirt underneath it?
The journey of life is not based on the accomplishments, but the experience.
Pqdtw From Netherlands, joined Aug 2008, 34 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (1 month 2 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 7994 times:
I was going to post it yesterday, but the article was only in Dutch, so I decided to wait. Glad you went ahead and posted it.
It looks OK, except, what is that HIDEOUS get-up with the white-sleeved blouse under that dress?
Yuck!
Interesting that the females will finally have a pants option. Up until now, the only females who could wear pants in the Nina Ricci uniform were the ones who worked in the travel clinic.
FWAERJ From United States, joined Jun 2006, 799 posts, RR: 1 Reply 3, posted (1 month 2 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 7940 times:
Will AF get a new uniform, too?
As much as I like the current design, their current supplier (Christian Lacroix) is hanging on a thread (pun intended) right now and may not even survive!
MaverickM11 From United States, joined Apr 2000, 11910 posts, RR: 51 Reply 5, posted (1 month 2 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 7878 times:
Quoting AznMadSci (Reply 1): I had always liked their current uniform and thought they didn't need a change, maybe a different scarf here and there! But will say that dress is not flattering at all and what's with the long-sleeved white shirt underneath it?
Ardian From Netherlands, joined Oct 2000, 416 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (1 month 2 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 7816 times:
I think I'll have to agree with AznMadSci: they really didn't need a change (but I guess this new uniform will be a nice motivation boost!). There isn't anything wrong with the current uniform, infact, I prefer it over this new one. The current uniform displays much more authority and 'no-nonsense'.
AIR MALTA From Malta, joined Sep 2001, 1591 posts, RR: 2 Reply 11, posted (1 month 2 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 7696 times:
The new uniform does not look good at all... I have to say that AF and KL have the worst female uniforms around. What's that AF blue t-shirt with clouds???
(Has anyone seen the flyniki uniforms? they are great)
Next flights : VIE-CDG-GIG-CDG-VIE (AF), VIE-BRU-VIE (OS)
I cross KLM crews almost every day and although I am sure there will be small differences to the old one, I would never have known there was a new uniform, if it wasn't for this topic!
Waste of money really, as KLM is in urgent need of something stylish!
AIR MALTA From Malta, joined Sep 2001, 1591 posts, RR: 2 Reply 19, posted (1 month 2 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 6998 times:
Quoting Slz396 (Reply 18): Indeed, the only ones topping KLM are Austrian Airlines!
Austrian Airlines is just great! I like those red uniforms...
Quoting Slz396 (Reply 18): I know it's hard to come up with something stylish yet eyecatching, but if LH, SN or IB can do it, surely others must be able to do so too?
There is nothing special about LH, SN or IB... AZ looks nice. BA as well...
Next flights : VIE-CDG-GIG-CDG-VIE (AF), VIE-BRU-VIE (OS)
Avek00 From United States, joined Oct 2004, 3253 posts, RR: 22 Reply 20, posted (1 month 2 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 6856 times:
What's with European legacy carriers having hideous uniforms? I mean, in this instance, KLM could have quite frankly "borrowed" the uniforms of Delta and just changed the color from red to blue -- would look much sharper, and in line with the coordinated branding of the carriers. Oh wel...
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Flyboy_se From Qatar, joined Feb 2000, 638 posts, RR: 5 Reply 23, posted (1 month 2 weeks 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 6767 times:
I actually like it.Its not that big change from the current one.The dress with the white sleeves under just looks weird.Looks more like a cleaning lady then a F/A. Maybe if the removed the white sleeves, it would be a nice summer dress.
Also the female flight deck uniform is just strange.All flight deck should have the standard hats.
GlobeTrekker From Netherlands, joined Dec 2003, 834 posts, RR: 21 Reply 24, posted (1 month 2 weeks 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 6691 times:
Quoting Detroiter (Reply 17): i dont know, for me i did not see any differences between the old uniform and the new one. (beside the pants option though)
The old uniform also has an pants option. But it wasn't available to everyone. I really don't know what the reasoning is for that. When I worked at KLM in AUA the Service Agents wore pants if the elected to. Also saw staff from KLM Health Services and KLM Cityhopper wear pants.
Speaking of KLC... what will be the distiguishing mark between KLM mainline and KLM Cityhopper's uniform? The scarf?
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OA412 From United States, joined Dec 2000, 2119 posts, RR: 8 Reply 25, posted (1 month 2 weeks 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 6633 times:
Quoting Avek00 (Reply 20): What's with European legacy carriers having hideous uniforms?
I would hardly call the uniforms at LH, BA, or AF hideous. Besides some of our domestic legacies don't exactly have the most stylish uniforms *cough* AA *cough*.
UnitedFA07 From United States, joined Apr 2009, 62 posts, RR: 0 Reply 26, posted (1 month 2 weeks 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 6582 times:
Yes the white sleeved dress is kinda out of place doesn't make sense for a FA. Looks more like a mechanic in a dress. lol Anywho I'm sure when the ladies choose the ones they like, in the words of Tim Gunn, they'll "make it work"! The ones with the taste and talent to do so that is! On the other side I've always liked the pin stripe of BAs.
TN486 From Australia, joined Jul 2008, 365 posts, RR: 1 Reply 28, posted (1 month 2 weeks 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 6422 times:
I shant tell you what my dutch born wife thinks of those uniforms (my wife left holland at the age of 4). my view (for what its worth) is the airline really needs to rethink this "new uniform". Very unflattering. However, I have not seen the uniform up front (in reality) so they may be better than what they look like in photos. One can only hope.
remember the t shirt "I own an airline"on the front - "qantas" on the back
Kosmonaute From United States, joined Sep 2003, 86 posts, RR: 2 Reply 30, posted (1 month 2 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 5886 times:
Quoting FWAERJ (Reply 3): As much as I like the current design, their current supplier (Christian Lacroix) is hanging on a thread (pun intended) right now and may not even survive!
Lacroix only designed them. I'm pretty sure they're not produced in the ateliers that make his P-A-P collections, but probably outsourced to a factory somewhere such as Poland or Romania.
Smi0006 From Australia, joined Jan 2008, 671 posts, RR: 0 Reply 31, posted (1 month 2 weeks 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 5763 times:
Yeah I don't think it's all that bad (but then I do wear the worst uniform in the industry so may bias my judgment). Not sure about the dress though.
Look its a uniform that conveys the brand well, is it particularly stylish? No, does it have a decent signature piece? No. But it's not particularly hideous.Not sure how the pants will look on everyone, but hey looks good on that girl and perhaps the rest can show some discretion and wear the skirt!
The parts of the AF uniform are awesome others not so, this is perhaps more balanced with it all looking just okay.
The female pilot looks great though I think. I must confess though one strong point for this uniform, odly enough is how 'uniform' it is! Nothing worse that having a scarf or something that everyone wears differently.
All in all in my opinion a big improvement! shame the ladies don't have a hat though
TKfan From Turkey, joined Oct 2007, 578 posts, RR: 0 Reply 32, posted (1 month 2 weeks 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 3953 times:
I think its gone from bad to worse, they could have saved the money...
Last year I flew TXL-MRS, on four legs I found the F/A very lovely, courteous and professional but it hurts my eyes to see those lovely people wearing jute-like uniforms (except one arrogant guy for which i wished it was made of jute )
Airbuster From Netherlands, joined Mar 2007, 265 posts, RR: 0 Reply 33, posted (1 month 2 weeks 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 3397 times:
Guys, i've seen them walking around the crew center a lot lately, and they look good actually, not at all old-fashioned. The photographs posted here are not that good, you don't really get to have a good look at the female F/A uniforms, except the one with pants which, in my opinion, is not well represented on the pic.
My girlfriend is an FA with KLM and the old one looks really good on her, but so does the new one, it took me a while getting used to the new one because i basically grew up with the old uni...
As for the female pilots, this new one is waaaaaaaaay better, much more female like, and the hat is very nice, the girls like em, they even helped design it.
overall, it aint so bad, and remember it takes a while to get used to change after a small 20 years...this one is fresh, stylish and workable.
FWAERJ From United States, joined Jun 2006, 799 posts, RR: 1 Reply 34, posted (1 month 2 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 3197 times:
Quoting Kosmonaute (Reply 30):
Lacroix only designed them. I'm pretty sure they're not produced in the ateliers that make his P-A-P collections, but probably outsourced to a factory somewhere such as Poland or Romania.
Much like how Walt Disney Imagineering and later Cintas made uniforms for NW, even though Thierry Mugler designed them... I get the picture.
747classic From Netherlands, joined Aug 2009, 223 posts, RR: 1 Reply 36, posted (1 month 2 weeks 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 2561 times:
The timing of the introduction of the new uniform IMO is totally wrong.
With the current uniform was nothing wrong.
Probably several (very expensive ) working groups have produced numerous proposals for a new uniform.
When the economic downturn started, it would have been wise to put the program "on ice" .
The invested money could then be used for other critical issues, caused by the current economic crises.
AznMadSci From United States, joined Dec 2007, 2025 posts, RR: 2 Reply 37, posted (1 month 2 weeks 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 2455 times:
Quoting Airbuster (Reply 33): My girlfriend is an FA with KLM and the old one looks really good on her, but so does the new one, it took me a while getting used to the new one because i basically grew up with the old uni...
While I have no qualms of the new jacket nor the pantsuit, how does you girlfriend look in that dress with the long-sleeved white shirt? Is that long-sleeved shirt required? If they added at least a belt or something, that dress would at least be rather figure-flattering than just a sad light blue sack.
The journey of life is not based on the accomplishments, but the experience.
Mir From United States, joined Jan 2004, 13060 posts, RR: 65 Reply 38, posted (1 month 2 weeks 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 2443 times:
Quoting MD11Engineer (Reply 15): What do you think about the silly little hat for the female pilot?
As I was scrolling though the photos, I didn't realize she was a pilot. Only after you mentioned it did I go back and notice the stripes on the sleeves. 'Nuff said.
I believe the dress you're referring to is the one that is supposed to be for pregnant FA's and ground agents. That's why it looks like a sack....
Just the pants, and 2 dress types are for "normal" use, i agree that that sack looks terrible, i wouldn't really want to see her in that except if she were pregnant of course
1stfl94 From United Kingdom, joined May 2006, 831 posts, RR: 1 Reply 41, posted (1 month 2 weeks 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 2066 times:
I actually quite like the trouser suit, it looks quite sharp in the first picture. I really hope that dress is only for pregnant staff as its hardly flattering (then again it does look than the pinafore dress BA gave to pregnant staff).
I'm just glad they've changed, to be honest, the old uniform was designed back in 1990 and looked dated by 1992!
76er From Netherlands, joined Mar 2007, 171 posts, RR: 2 Reply 44, posted (1 month 2 weeks 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 1790 times:
About the "Sack",
Yesterday we asked the girl in the picture where this thing came from all of a sudden. My girlfriend also is a KL F/A and had not seen this one when going for her uniform-fitting session last month.
It appears The Sack is a surprise from the designer (Mart Visser) and can be ordered separately, but it will cost the F/A 40 euro's.
Looking at the response so far, I don't believe too many of them will be ordered...
Apart from that, the new uniform looks better than the old one, it just takes some getting used to. The pics don't do it justice. Lets hope KLM puts out a maximum pant size though, looking at the avarage dutch female's butt...
PRAirbus From Puerto Rico, joined Apr 2005, 738 posts, RR: 2 Reply 45, posted (1 month 2 weeks 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 1719 times:
Looks somewhat "dated", nothing to write home about. KLM and the designer should have been more creative...I think they were too conservative on their approach. Not much of a change; and the white sleeves, weird! I think the "white sleeves" uniform is a variation of the serving garment and the sleeves protect the elbows when handling hot food in the galley ovens...otherwise, the sleeves look hideous.
Slz396 From Belgium, joined Oct 2001, 2455 posts, RR: 20 Reply 46, posted (1 month 2 weeks 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 1703 times:
Quoting AIR MALTA (Reply 19): There is nothing special about LH, SN or IB... AZ looks nice.
So you love the uniforms of OS, KL and AZ?
Fine for me if that what you think, but keep in mind that uniforms which show the company colours in a billboard style are NOT considered stylish, but CHEEP...
At least LH, SN or IB manage to make their cabin crew look like distinguished ladies, not corporate teletubbies like the 3 other airlines: entirely red (OS), blue (KL) or green (AZ) is just tasteless really and it hurts the eyes after a long haul flight...
CrimsonNL From Netherlands, joined Dec 2007, 613 posts, RR: 10 Reply 47, posted (1 month 2 weeks 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 1652 times:
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I dislike the female pilot uniform! That hat looks terrible and so does the jacket! I'm not especially font of the FA's new uniforms too, I gotta say I like the current ones much better.
Smi0006 From Australia, joined Jan 2008, 671 posts, RR: 0 Reply 49, posted (1 month 2 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 1556 times:
Quoting AznMadSci (Reply 37): Is that long-sleeved shirt required? If they added at least a belt or something, that dress would at least be rather figure-flattering than just a sad light blue sack.
Indeed a belt would add more deffinition and give the look a bit more style and flair...
Quoting Slz396 (Reply 46): At least LH, SN or IB manage to make their cabin crew look like distinguished ladies, not corporate teletubbies like the 3 other airlines: entirely red (OS), blue (KL) or green (AZ) is just tasteless really and it hurts the eyes after a long haul flight...
Ahhh too true, the SN and IB uniforms look great so modern and chic very stylish and very european, hard to beat Euro style like that. The older KL and AZ ones look like something from the 90s whilst the OS one looks like something from the 80....blah
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lol Anywho I'm sure when the ladies choose the ones they like, in the words of Tim Gunn, they'll "make it work"! The ones with the taste and talent to do so that is! On the other side I've always liked the pin stripe of BAs. 
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