Female flight attendants will no longer have to wear high heels and male crew can wear makeup after an airline updated its rules

• Qantas Airways updated its uniform policy allowing female staff to abandon high heels.
• The new rules allows anyone to wear makeup, but tattoos still need to be concealed.

Another airline has given its presentation rules a makeover, letting female flight attendants abandon high heels and allowing anyone to wear makeup.

Australia's Qantas announced the changes Friday in an update that provides more clarity on other issues related to employees' appearances.

The airline said flat shoes can now be worn with all uniforms, as can diamond earrings. Anyone can wear makeup if they choose to, and have hair in a ponytail or bun.

Qantas told Insider: "Fashions change, and so have our style guidelines over the years.

"We're proud of our diversity and as well as bringing our guidelines up to date, these changes will make wearing our uniform more comfortable and practical for all of our people, including those with a wide range of body types and those from diverse cultural backgrounds."

Tattoos will still need to be concealed, and the Qantas uniform isn't being changed.

It's the latest evolution of Qantas' style guide to reflect changing attitudes.

In the 1980s, sideburns had to stop mid-ear and hair couldn't be styled in "gelled spikes," per information provided by the airline. In the previous decade, skirts had to stop above the knee.

But in February last year, the Australian Services Union, a trade union, wrote to Qantas CEO Alan Joyce urging him to bring the uniform policy "into the 21st century." Recommendations included allowing anyone to decide whether to use makeup and approving low-heel shoes.

Imogen Sturni from the union told BBC News the changes were a "big win for workers" as "some of the dress code requirements were bordering on ridiculous."

The rules will also apply to Jetstar, the budget airline also owned by Qantas.

In March, Spanish airline Vueling was reportedly fined 30,000 euros (about $32,000) for enforcing a strict high heel and makeup policy in its female cabin crew.

Now, a mini-revolution is developing among airlines in relation to staff uniform. Compared to some other airlines, Qantas' updated guidance is still relatively modest.

In May last year, Virgin Atlantic said it was updating its rules to allow cabin crew to show tattoos as part of a wider recruitment drive. In September, the airline said employees could wear any uniform items regardless of gender.