Can't bring myself to wear the leather jacket. The elastic on the back is awful. Seems like airlines just keep buying the same stuff for years because everyone is too busy/doesn't care enough to change the uniform (or enforce it)...not that the double breasted trench coat looks any better.

Sorry mom :rolleyes:

Like it or not, looking like **** is a choice. You can play it off as a side effect of being paid poorly, but it's a cop out, plain and simple. Would you go to a nice dinner with your folks/wife/girlfriend looking like that? Then why would you go to work (very much in the public eye) in that condition?

You can get pants dry cleaned once a month for $3.00. You can wash your own shirts (use bleach; very cheap) and iron. If you're feeling daring, buy a $5 can of starch that will last you over a year.

Soak your tie in woolite every 3 months or so and let it air dry. Makes the tie look brand new.

One can also buy a shoe shine kit on Amazon for $15 or a touch up shiner at any men's clothing store for $5.

So for approximately $75 per year, you can look respectable, clean and professional while at work.

You're right, that's too much to ask. Carry on looking homeless.

Yes, judging people on appearance rather than on quality.

The best pilots I know are the slobbiest, and worst are usually the sharpest dressed. I learned a while ago to not care about it and never will.

The fact that anyone would hire a pilot based on appearance rather than on how well they handle the aircraft will disturb you if you're a real pilot.

+10000000000

Apparently, we, as pilots, like to make judgments without having the slightest clue as to why that person may appear that way. Pathetic if you asked me.

do they wear dork bars?

All posts read. I am now stupider. Thank you all.

Some of the sloppiest pilots I've ever seen have been mainline UAL guys in their super faded navy blue pants and many with ear buds and back packs.

Whatever
 

I learned long ago during my company's bankruptcy, that even though the parent company was making millions and all the management team were buying Ferraris and French hookers, while at the same time the company was making US take paycuts AND claiming that our switch from blue to black uniforms was too costly...I realized: if this airline literally says to wear Navy blue overcoat with a black uniform (NUMBER ONE CARDINAL SIN OF DRESSING PROFESSIONALLY) that if they don't give a flying **** as long as they're makin big money, then I won't either....ever since then i started wearing an actual warm jacket to work and on those super cold days, a hoodie underneath to match and I havent been warmer:) If all you care about while paying me crap money for years and years on end is showing up to fly metal and passengers, by GOD im gonna be ****ing warm and comfortable doing it :) :)

Agreed 100%

I also use as an initial indicator of a pilots ability and personality, his watch.

Fancy pilot watch with multiple dials, generally a ****ty pilot and a pain in the ass to work with.

Old plastic lcd cheap watch, no need to worry about his ability, and generally a good guy to work with and hang out with.

It is correct 90% of the time.
That coupled with a pilots appearance and whatever flight school or military lanyard he is wearing I have close to 100% success rate in predicting who I am dealing with on first meeting.

Sure there is the odd exception but they are few and far between.

Personally....... I don't even wear a watch