In 1930, Boeing Air Transport hired eight nurses to be present on airplanes to add a feeling of safety for concerned fliers. Uniforms were mostly gray and looked like nurses outfits in the early days of flight. In the 1960s and '70s, fashion designers moonlighted as uniform designers, bringing a distinct look to the skies. Fast forward 81 years and so much has changed, though the toned-down look of flight attendant outfits is similar to the earliest days of air travel.