Virgin Atlantic Crew Gets A Fashion Makeover

by Reena Ganga on

Virgin Atlantic’s flight attendents and staff are set to step out in snazzy new garb thanks to the help of British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood. The airline known for it’s cheeky attitude and sassy flight crew announced they would be overhauling the uniforms for cabin crew and ground staff across the globe.

The carrier’s president, Richard Branson, said he wanted to give his staff a look that would go against the grain and stick in people’s minds. “Virgin Atlantic has a distinct spirit and from a
design perspective we continually try to challenge the norm and stand out from the crowd,” he said. “Our current uniform has been around for more than 10 years and we have seen other airlines start to copy it.”Westwood said she wanted to make use of traditional tailoring methods but blend those with cutting-edge design to give the uniforms a futuristic look. Of course, at the top of the list was ensuring the uniforms would retain the airline’s trademark glamorous style.

Virgin Atlantic’s female cabin crew will be decked out in a suit in the airline’s iconic red color, while male flight staff will don a a three-piece burgundy suit inspired by Britain’s famous Savile Row tailoring. Fabric for the uniforms is made from a variety of eco-friendly textiles, including a recycled polyster yarn made out of used plastic bottles.

The airline will start phasing in the new-look uniforms from July this year, with a full rollout expected in 2014.

[Photo credit: Virgin Atlantic]

Eurostar Revamps Services In A Bid To Lure Fliers

by Reena Ganga on

Long-distance train travel is making a comeback with Eurostar announcing plans to expand its services. The high-speed train, which primarily serves London, Brussels and Paris, has its sights set on new destinations across the European continent.

Eurostar says its entire system is undergoing an overhaul – from the booking process, to the routes, to the trains themselves. The company’s website has been given a facelift in order to create a more user-friendly booking portal, and brand new uniforms have been designed for the crew. Updated trains are also in the pipeline and are expected to be up and running by 2015.As far as network expansion goes, Eurostar says it has its eye on a number of possible routes including London-Holland and London-Germany. Eurostar’s Chief Executive Nicolas Petrovic says he will be looking closely at routes that currently have a lot of air traffic. He told CNN he hopes travelers will eventually come to think of train travel the same way they think of flying.

Eurostar’s overhaul comes in the wake of stiff competition from German train line Deutsche Bahn, which has said it will offer trips across the Channel Tunnel starting in 2016.

[Photo credit: Flickr user Mike Knell]

5 tips for a budget traveler’s makeover

by Catherine Bodry on

I travel on the cheap, which means that instead of waking up refreshed and well-rested after a night in first class, I often wake up with dried drool on my chin and crazy hair from trying to get comfortable on an all-night bus or hard-seat train ride. Though I’ve certainly spent my fair share of mornings stumbling around a new city without bothering to wipe the drool or put my contact lenses in, lately, as a travel writer, I’ve tried to step things up a bit so that I’m at least marginally presentable. Here are my backpacker secrets to looking (a bit more) rested and not like you spent half the night in a smoky bus with a Chinese soap opera blaring on the TV.

1. Wash your face. I carry baby wipes in my bag, and these do double duty as face wash and hand sanitizer (and they work well as their intended use, toilet paper). It always feels so good to wipe the road grit and cigarette smoke off of my neck and face, and if I do nothing else to make myself feel and look better, this act can be enough. It’s pretty satisfying, though a little frightening, to see the color of the wipe after I’ve run it over my face.

2. Run a comb through it or cover it up. My hair is too short to pull back in a ponytail, and it’s often pretty kinky in the morning. If you have long hair, brush it out and pull it back – the brushing makes a huge difference. If it’s short, brush it out and put a bandanna on. Sometimes I can get away with using the bandanna as a headband, but often I just need to full-on cover my whole head up. If you’ve run out of baby wipes, the bandanna can also be used as a washcloth – wet it with your water bottle and wipe your face down.

3. Rub a little cream on. Eye cream is fantastic: it comes in tiny little bottles that you can stuff in your bag, and the right stuff will instantly brighten your face. This is something I splurge on; it’s not cheap but I find it a useful investment. I’ve tried, and like, Naturopathica’s Vitamin K Brightening Eye Serum, and Prescriptives’ Vibrant C Skin Brightening Eye Cream. Depending on the product I’m using, I’ll dab it on my forehead and cheeks as well.

4. Use gum or a breath mint. You may not have the opportunity to brush your teeth before going to sleep or after waking up, so pop something minty in there before making conversations. It may seem obvious, but I don’t normally chew gum so don’t usually carry it in my bag. Still, I put it on my travel checklist for the occasions when I need to get close to someone.

5. Drink water. You’re likely dehydrated after traveling long distance. I know I often don’t drink water just so I can avoid having to use the bathroom on an all-night ride. But when you’re about to arrive you can drink away. Downing a small bottle of water will not only make your skin look more refreshed, but it will make you feel better, too. I always travel with Emergen-C, which also helps revive me.

Any other tips for looking and feeling refreshed on the road? Share with us in the comments section.

[Photo Credit: Flickr user stevendepolo]