It's 2025—So Why Can't Female Pilots Find a Uniform That Works?
Today, I’m taking a bit of a different direction with this blog… I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!
When people see me in uniform, they often notice the wings, the stripes, or the polished shoes. What they don't notice is how hard it can be to find a uniform shirt that actually fits. While aviation has become more inclusive, the standard pilot shirt has barely evolved to accommodate women. Here are the top five reasons why finding the right fit is still such a struggle:
1. Uniforms Are Still Designed with Men in Mind
The traditional pilot shirt was originally cut for a male body—broad shoulders, straight torso, minimal curves. Women's bodies have different proportions, but most suppliers still just "size down" men's patterns. That means even the smallest size can gape at the chest, pull across the hips, or hang like a box.
2. Limited Size Ranges and Cuts
Even companies that offer "women's pilot shirts" often only provide one cut. Women's bodies are not one-shape-fits-all. Some of us are tall, some petite; some have narrow shoulders with fuller hips, while others are more straight-lined. Without options like petite, tall, or curvy fits, we're forced to compromise with shirts that never feel quite right.
3. Button Placement and Gaping Issues
One of the biggest frustrations is button placement. Standard shirts rarely account for bust shaping, so they pull open at the chest, leaving an unprofessional gap. Safety pins and undershirts shouldn't be part of a uniform solution, but for many of us, they are.
4. Function vs. Fit
A pilot's shirt isn't just a shirt—it's a tool. It needs to fit under epaulets, stay tucked in during long flights, and allow freedom of movement when reaching overhead or adjusting controls. Too often, shirts that are marketed to women sacrifice practicality for "style," adding darts or tailoring that looks sharp but restricts movement in the cockpit.
5. Vendor Lock-In and Clothing Allowances
Even when a company offers a clothing allowance, many airlines restrict pilots to a single contracted vendor. These allowances are often "use it or lose it," meaning if that vendor's shirts don't fit, you're stuck. You can't use the stipend to purchase better-fitting options elsewhere, and tailoring comes out of pocket. Male pilots rarely run into the same issue, since the standard fit already matches their frame. For women, it means spending extra time and money just to look as professional as our colleagues.
Some Closing Thoughts
Being a professional pilot means projecting competence and confidence, and a proper uniform is part of that. When my shirt fits well, I can focus on the job—not on tugging at fabric or worrying about gaps. Progress is happening, but until the industry fully recognizes that women are here to stay in the cockpit, we'll keep facing these unnecessary uniform struggles.
Ok… So, Let's Talk
I know I'm not the only one who's wrestled with this. So, I'm curious:
If you're a female pilot, what's been your biggest challenge with finding a shirt that actually fits?
Guys—have you ever noticed your female colleagues dealing with uniform frustrations that you've never had to think about?
Do you think airlines should let us use our clothing allowance with any vendor, instead of being locked into just one?
And if you've found a shirt that actually works—please share!
I'd love to hear your stories, hacks, or even just your rants. Maybe if enough of us speak up, we can push for changes that make uniforms work for all pilots.
<3 always,
Linsay