Did you know that there was such a great demand from the sex industry in Japan for authentic JAL flight attendant uniforms that the company issued numbered uniforms which had to be returned for destruction at the end of their useful life?

The introduction of quirky snippets of information like this is just one of the many pleasures to be found in this book. Presented with a snappy design and beautiful layout the book includes hundreds of photographs, collections of airline ephemera and advertising examples. In part this is an engaging study of the role of women have played in the expansion of commercial aviation while they endured management regimes that intruded into every aspect of their private and personal life. Discrimination on the basis of height, weight, age and marital status came into play in the early recruitment of flight attendants and their work lives were filled with restrictions on how uniforms should be worn, hair styling and make-up, suitable deportment on the job (and off), and even wearing appropriate corsetry and hosiery. Not to mention their shoes, which they bought themselves. Even in the 70s trainee flight attendants were subject to the “bottom check” – a pat on the bum to ensure that they were wearing a girdle under their uniform.

The book is structured around each of the uniforms adopted by QANTAS from 1948 through to 2003. As well as detailed descriptions of the uniforms the author places the designs in their social, industry and economic contexts analysing the factors that influenced the choice of designer and design in each case. Many interesting issues are canvassed, for example, the use of a new uniform to boost morale and promote acceptance of change; the importance of the manufacturing contract to the fortunes of Australian industry; and, the design consequences of receding discriminatory practices requiring uniforms to be wearable by women and men of a greater range of ages and body shapes.

Prudence Black has created a fascinating and multifaceted design history that informs and entertains - brilliantly.