The Flight Attendant's Shoe

Stiletto heels, miniskirts, bobbed wigs, shiny new technology, and exotic locations were all part of the cosmopolitan life style of flight hostesses captured in this story of Australia's Qantas airline uniforms as well as those of other airlines. Exploring the Australian fashion industry and the range of designs created by the likes of Emilio Pucci and Yves Saint Laurent for flight crews--from khaki military style to the Indigenous boomerang print--this book is as much about the etiquette and protocol as it is about the fashion. Stitching together social and industrial history, this is a celebration of an era when flying was truly glamorous.

Prudence Black is an honorary associate professor in gender and cultural studies at the University of Sydney. She is a former curator and researcher for exhibitions about fashion, design, and Indigenous culture at the Powerhouse Museum and the Australian Museum. She has also broadcast on local ABC and national radio about fashion and contemporary design.