By Jessica Reaves
Since the first stewardess took to the sky in 1930, flight attendants have held a special place in the American imagination. Recently, budget cuts and safety concerns have made their jobs less than glamorous, but once upon a time, flight attendants occupied an exalted spot in society. That glamour, of course, didn't come without its price.

In 1953, airline recruiting rules included strict height and weight guidelines for stewardesses (or "hostesses," as they were sometimes referred to): The ideal candidate was between 5-foot-2 and 5-foot-7 and weighed between 100 and 120 pounds, "corresponding to her height." Looking back at the high (and low) points of airline fashion, it's no wonder stewardesses had to fit model-like proportions: airplane aisles were the catwalks of the age.

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