Air New Zealand Air Points - Air NZ new uniforms link

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=182&objectid=10350539

When I first saw the uniforms being modelled on the clip on during the One News headlines I thought they were bloody ugly.

When I saw them again during the actual story, I thought not only were they ugly, dull and uninspiring, they were immensely impractical and to be summed up in one word: crap.

The colour is dreadfully bland, there are far too many variations (and I hope to God that none of the inflight crew are actually thinking of wearing that ridiculous concotion of spiralling scarves). Some of the drape of the female's uniforms are all right, but the problem is that the stuffy colour just detracts away from it altogether. The men look all right, but I suppose it is pretty hard to screw up a jacket and pants.

Even if you're Zambesi, who I think have managed to screw this job up beyond completely.

:td:

I just saw this - http://stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3445841a10,00.html

All that went through my mind is, "You have to be kidding me".

I like the old uniform.

I'm in the AKL Koru Pub at the minute & they actually look ok to me on the big advert that's in here.

Dunno about that hat, though :p Getting hats right seems to be an issue for the various designers. Bowler, anyone?

I'll reserve my decision 'til I see them in (on?) the flesh....

justakiwi

Dunno about that hat, though :p
justakiwi

Thunderbirds are go!

Hi from a crews perspective i have to say my first impression was oh no and its the thunderbirds reborn .. But from looking at different pictures i have to say i do like the uniform now..But i have to say i think the hat is not flash probably needs to be a bit shorter to look great ..as for the colour it is a bit on the pale side but what i am glad is its not a very dark colour ie black navy or dark green .. We will stand out in airports and i think it will actually work ... Its practicle esp lack of tie option for men ..

I quite like aspects of it, including the retro look and the pale colours - they look a bit 1930s Aeroflot or Lufthansa. I can just imagine them all marching out across the tarmac to a shiny silver DC-3 or Comet (OK not the '30s) or something similar...

That huge drapey scarf thingy is awful, but apart from that the other aspects look like they just might work. I'll reserve judgement until I see them in the flesh - how soon will we be seeing them on board?

At least they are a change from the old ones, which were really looking pretty frump-o-rama these days, especially that awful patterned fabric that the women's dresses were made of.

reserve judgement until I see them in the flesh - how soon will we be seeing them on board?At least they are a change from the old ones, which were really looking pretty frump-o-rama these days, especially that awful patterned fabric that the women's dresses were made of.

March is the launch date appraretly. Yes I have to agree on the current uniform and those awful patterned fabric dresses - major frump stuff. Did you ever see those 'ah la Warehouse' raincoats the female FAs wore - yuk!

I think its growing on me also - nice, bright n'breezy and pretty different to the competition. Of course, my taste-o-meter is clearly skewy given that I was very upset when the hats disappeared from the uniform two years or so back. Plus I secretly like the Qantas uniform - what a _special_ treat to get a sneak peek of sweaty beefy-qantas-boy underarm when they have on those too-short short-sleeve shirts pushing the trolley down the aisle.

Will the fashion police give me a medal for my taste?

Perhaps there will also be a new serving apron? Or do we think that is a little below Zambesi? As cool as "Sydney 2000" must have been those aprons need replacing. Why not go for something like "Te Awamutu 1978" or "tvnz telethon 1982"?

I read somewhere that they are bringing in new aprons (teal or dark green I think) or it could be my overactive imagination making stuff up.

I'd quite like to see the new nametags. The ones they have now are a bit too shiny and bold for my taste.

I like the current name tags - easy to read even when eyes a bit blurry.

Just to inform all of you -
The hat is back: A teal military style with badge for cabin crew.
Women wear pants: Female cabin crew now get the choice of pants or skirt.
Dress-down everyday: Ties are optional for male cabin crew.
Styled for comfort: Modern natural fibres, like New Zealand merino. No tight waistbands, nothing that tucks in for women.
High-ho silver: Pilots sport silver braiding to mirror the silver fern on headgear.
Colour code: General staff and cabin crew wear schist-coloured jackets and pants, management stride out in slate. Pale teal and greenstone aprons for women's wear.
Magnetic name tags won't damage fabrics and will carry flags to show the languages crew speak.

I was hoping Air NZ would work with another NZ born artist/designer on the new uniforms -- I'm sure Reg Mombassa could have worked up something more interesting, distinctive and "fresh", (to say the least :-)

IMHO, his designs were the highlight of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Closing Ceremony.