France’s national railway operator SNCF has withdrawn a controversial dress code guide for employees working on high-speed TGV trains following strong criticism from trade unions.

The dispute erupted after staff received an internal document titled “Elegance Guide for TGV,” which provided advice on clothing choices, styling and makeup for employees who do not wear standard uniforms on board the trains.

According to unions, the guide included detailed suggestions linking clothing choices to different body shapes. For example, women described as having a triangular body shape were advised to avoid tight skirts or bulky pockets around the hips and instead choose brighter tops, structured jackets, shoulder pads or wide collars to balance their silhouette.

For male employees with rounder body types, the guide recommended darker tops and jackets that extend over the hips, suggesting these choices would create a more elongated and slimmer appearance.

The recommendations sparked immediate criticism from labour organisations, including Sud-Rail, which condemned the document in a message posted on the social platform X, calling the guidance “a disgrace.”

Union representatives argued that while employment contracts specify that some railway staff must wear uniforms, they do not require workers to adapt their body shape or appearance to aesthetic expectations set by management.

The controversy marks the second public relations challenge this year for SNCF. Earlier in 2026, the company faced criticism over the introduction of “adults-only” carriages on some services.

Following the backlash, Alain Krakovitch, director of long-distance passenger services at SNCF, confirmed that the guide had been immediately withdrawn.