"Place your seat backs forward, your trays in their upright position … and keep your hands off my tail."

　　Standard flight attendant patter? Not yet, but it could be next year, at least over the Atlantic, as British Airways flight staff get fitted for new uniforms from a glamorous young designer better known for dressing starlets in skimpy, sparkly couture.

　　Designer Julien MacDonald, recently tapped as artistic director for the French fashion house of Givenchy, has been commissioned by the national carrier to revamp its staff uniforms. The several hundred-thousand dollar deal will put his uniforms on some 32,000 airline representatives by 2002.

　　Although MacDonald has not yet gone public with his planned design, he says he has a 21st Century concept in mind. The uniforms will have "the MacDonald stamp; a tight waist and sharp silhouette. The main color will be navy and I‘ll be using lots of stretch material, which helps define the body."

　　Macdonald explained his approach: "I want to bring glamour back to travel. That‘s what it‘s all about. The girls will look sexy and the men will look like strong heroes. They‘ll be the envy of other airlines."