Emily O'Connor was due to fly from Birmingham to Tenerife when she was humiliated by staff who forced her to cover up
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AIRPORT outfits have never been more important – or divisive.
They told the shaken trainee accountant, from Solihull, she fell foul of the airline’s “appropriate clothing” policy.
Both bralet-shaped tops and underwear are widely available on the high street – so we’ve set up a little quiz for you . . .
We wanted to see if you know your lingerie from your leisurewear, so Cigdem Tanrioglu kitted out a model in six stunning tops – some of which are designed to be seen only by you and your loved-up ones, others that are meant to be acceptable outdoors . . . or maybe even on a plane. (Answers below)
By Gabriele Dirvanauskas, Sun Fashion Editor
"ALL I can think is the Thomas Cook flight attendants collectively had brain freeze.
I can’t believe that as many as four members of staff rounded on this poor young woman and told her to cover up.
Don’t they know their bralets from their blouses?
The triangle shaped designs are a huge trend for spring/summer, with the high street taking inspiration from the underwear style, which describes a soft cup bra that is unwired and without padding.
The tops are designed to wear out and about – with less sheer detailing, and with more coverage than the versions you’d find in your undie drawer.
Emily managed to get through security, passport control AND the check-in desk before being confronted by these jobsworths.
It sounded like a hugely intimidating situation for anyone to be in – especially experiencing the pressure of the whole plane being told that you’re the reason they haven’t left the ground yet.
As she rightly said, there was a man wearing a vest and shorts in the same cabin, vests being the ultimate fashion faux pas.
But did he get told to cover up? Of course not, even though he probably should have . . . it’s never a good look.
She wasn’t exactly in a bikini or a revealing, lacy design. Her top, from Zara’s summer outerwear section, reached her midriff, plus she was wearing it with TROUSERS.
I’ve certainly seen more offensive outfits on a flight.
Hen and stag parties get away with wearing all sorts of costumes, blokes saunter on in sunburn and minuscule shorts – so why on earth was she singled out for wearing a crop top?
Another passenger reportedly even hurled abuse at her, but staff did nothing to intervene.
By reacting in this way, staff drew more attention to her outfit than other passengers would have ever given her in the first place, and the company was quite right to issue an apology.
It would, of course, be different if she had waltzed on in a bikini, or even a T-shirt with an offensive slogan or image – which I agree would be inappropriate.
I’m tired of hearing about women being told what they can and can’t wear, let alone being almost bullied off a flight which they’d paid for.
And if I had abs like Emily, I wouldn’t be seen in anything but a bralet – so more power to her."
Answers:
