By Hugo Martin / Los Angeles Times

During the holidays, United Airlines gives flight attendants some leeway on accessorizing their uniforms.

But the Chicago-based airline apparently doesn’t want its crews to go overboard with extras that detract from the flight attendants’ professional image. That was the key takeaway from a United Airlines memo circulated last week.

“Accessories must be in good taste,” the memo read. “In the spirit of the holiday, and not detract from your professional image.”

The memo outlines what “adornments” flight attendants are permitted to add to their uniforms, such as a “conservative holiday scarf” and “conservative earrings” for women and “conservative holiday tie” and “one holiday pin” for men.

But the memo also makes clear what is prohibited: “Head adornments (i.e., antlers, Santa hats, halos, etc.; Holiday vests or sweaters; Holiday aprons: Holiday hosiery.”

A United Airlines spokeswoman said the memo is issued every year at this time to remind employees of the carrier’s standards but she said she didn’t know how many years it has been sent out and what prompted the original memo.

— Los Angeles Times