Bumpy ride for release of cabin crew uniforms

Overall palette for the female uniforms is black with pink, green and sky blue highlights. Photo / Supplied

Air New Zealand is hitting critical turbulence over its new cabin crew uniforms - with one flight attendant equating it to the look of a drag queen.

The airline revealed photographs of three of the Trelise Cooper designs on Friday night, with a caveat stating that they were "concept only" and "colours are not accurate representation".

More designs were revealed on a fashion website, Isaaclikes.com, yesterday.

"I feel for Trelise Cooper. Redesigning the Air New Zealand uniforms was always going to be a dog of a job," said Isaac Hindin-Miller.

"At first glance, I disliked what she'd designed. But the more I look at it, the more it's growing on me ... I'm not desperately unhappy with what Trelise Cooper designed, but it perhaps lacks the sophistication and professionalism that the [current] Zambesi uniforms exuded."

Trade Me posts called the uniform "trampy", "frumpy" and "frigging hideous".

One leading fashion designer labelled the new uniform, which will be introduced in 2011 and worn by more than 5000 staff, "a disaster".

"What Air New Zealand are failing to understand," said the designer, "is that the majority of their ground and air crew are not size 10 and a patterned dress in pink will just accentuate all the bad points a person is wishing to disguise."

Miss Crabb designer Kristine Crabb thought the designs had too much "fashion" influence and not enough cohesion.

A flight attendant told The Dominion Post that the pink ensemble resembled the look sported on the airline's annual themed flight to Sydney's Mardi Gras.

"The flight attendants look like drag queens off the Air New Zealand 'pink' flight."

Another flight attendant said it was nice to have some colour and variety of uniform for all shapes and sizes."

Cooper was selected to design the new uniforms after Air New Zealand called for submissions from local designers. Around 25 put forward their ideas and five were shortlisted - Cooper, Kate Sylvester, World, Taylor Boutique and Alexandra Owen.

Two finalists spoken to by the Herald on Sunday said they had been asked to sign confidentiality agreements.

The current Air New Zealand uniform was designed by Zambesi and launched in 2005.

Trelise Cooper didn't return the Herald on Sunday's calls but in an Air New Zealand press release she said it had been "extremely gratifying to create a collection that can suit a variety of body shapes and work requirements".

Air New Zealand said the final design would be completed over the coming months after further staff feedback and wearer trials.

Air New Zealand's international airline group general manager Ed Sims said most of the feedback he had received had been positive, with many people noting the "femininity and originality" of the designs.

He acknowledged the boldness of the pink printed dress may not suit everyone, which is why staff would be able to "mix and match" from up to 60 garment options.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY