Fashion: How to work the air miles

For the average schoolchild, a uniform is not so much a point of sociological interest as a deeply unfashionable hurdle to be overcome each day. But for Bill Dunn, whose new book, Uniforms, chronicles the workwear of everyone from your local butcher to Playboy bunnies, the changing landscape of our dress provides an insight into how we define ourselves.

While the uniform might seem to have fallen from favour, Dunn insists that standardised modes of garb do still exist. The City might no longer be awash with bowler hats, but what is the chinos/polo shirt/loafers combo (as seen in myriad form at investment banks on dress-down Friday) if not a uniform?

And if you thought uniforms could never be stylish... well, Pucci's swirly spin on the Braniff Airlines stewardess outfit and South West Airlines' kinky-boots and hot-pants pairing from the 1960s probably won't change your mind.

But Julien Macdonald is the man behind the current BA look, and some uniforms certainly do retain a certain allure; survey the catwalks and you will see designers constantly return to military references.

And the image of the air hostess, too, remains a source of inspiration – don't be alarmed, but Eley Kishimoto's collection for autumn isn't a million air miles from that Braniff outfit...