UNIFORMS (Photo)

1 oAirline: Style At 30,000 Feet' Highlights Flight Attendant Uniforms Over The Years (PHOTOS)f

'Airline: Style At 30,000 Feet' Highlights Flight Attendant Uniforms Over The Years (PHOTOS)

In his new book, "Airline: Style at 30,000 Feet," Keith Lovegrove takes an in-depth look at the evolution of the world's leading airlines, then and now. Split up into four main sections (fashion, food, interiors and identity), the book examines the changing environment of the airlines and the evolution of the flight attendant, food service and interiors.

We were, of course, most concerned with the flight attendant fashions over the years (as we've examined numerous times in the past). As you can begin to see from the photos below, the flight attendant became increasingly known as the first public face the airline puts forward, and greater attention was paid to their attire and perception as the years wore on.

Herewith, a selection of photos from the book that highlight their garb over the years.

Photos courtesy of Laurence King Publishing.

Mary Quant's 1973 uniforms for Court Line Aviation, as modeled at Luton airport.

The book's cover features a United Airlines stewardess (as they were known at the time) chatting with a passenger in a simulated cabin of a Douglas DC-10 in 1968.

Newly-appointed BEA stewardesses attend Elizabeth Arden's grooming rooms for demonstrations of beauty tips in 1951

Five sets of stewardess twins served as publicity bait for TWA in 1956.

In 1970, the first UK-based, non-white stewardesses to be independently employed by an independent airline got their wings at the London offices of British Midland Airways. From left: Innez Matthews, Irma Reid and Cindy Medford.

One of the many iterations of British Airways's uniforms over the years.

Gulf Air's adaptation of the Muslim headdress for Western clientele. The 1970s outfit was designed by Joy Stokes.

A stewardess models the Air Indian uniform next to the Taj Mahal-styled 'Jumbo Jet' in 1971.

BEA's classic tailing, circa 1960.

Emilio Pucci's 1965 uniforms for Braniff International. The desired message, according to Lovegrove, "sex."

In uniforms originally designed by Pierre Balmain, Singapore Airlines' stewardesses model the colorful sarongs in 1968.

A 'Braniff Babe' models a 1966 Pucci-designed uniform on a full-size model of the Boeing SST.

The Olympic rings were the inspiration (and motif) for Greek designer Yannis Tseklenis' 1971 uniforms for Olympic Airways.

1984-1991: designed by Arabella Pollen

1984-1991: designed by Arabella Pollen

1984-1991: designed by Arabella Pollen1984-1991: designed by Arabella Pollen

1991-1999: designed by Elizabeth Emmanuel

1991-1999: designed by Elizabeth Emmanuel

1999-2005: designed by John Rocha

A HISTORY OF FLIGHT ATTENDANT UNIFORMS

1933-1936

Designed by Fiolel Colangelo, this is the second generation of the early Boeing/United Air Lines uniforms for United Airlines, between 1933-1936. In the years 1935 and 1936, a "United Air Lines" armband was worn by cabin attendants on the left arm to celebrate the birth of United Airlines from the union of four smaller carriers.

Copyright The Museum of Flight Collection

1933-1936

Fiolel Colangelo designed uniforms.

Copyright The Museum of Flight Collection 

1945-7

Two Northwest stewardesses: Mary Finley North and her sister, circa 1945-1947.

Copyright The Museum of Flight Collection 

1940s-1950s

A United Airlines stewardess with food service in the galley in the late 1940s or early 1950s.

Copyright The Museum of Flight Collection 

1966

United Airlines flight attendants in a winter uniform inside a 747 circa 1966.

Copyright The Museum of Flight Collection

1968-1971

Designer Oleg Cassini created these uniforms for Airwest between 1968 through 1971. He created a futuristic look for the flight attendants of Air West during the carrier's brief existence prior to its purchase by Howard Hughes. The basic uniform consisted of a textured polyester dress and a jacket with an unconventional side-buttoning configuration. The pieces came in a selection of bright, solid colors inspired by the natural colors found at Air West's destinations, including fern green, Pacific blue and canyon red.

Copyright Delta Airlines 

1968-71

Oleg Cassini designed these uniforms for Airwest between 1968-1971.

Fashion designer, Oleg Cassini created a futuristic look for the flight attendants of Air West during the carrier's brief existence prior to its purchase by Howard Hughes. The basic uniform consisted of a textured polyester dress and a jacket with an unconventional side-buttoning configuration. The pieces came in a selection of bright, solid colors inspired by the natural colors found at Air West's destinations, including fern green, Pacific blue and canyon red.

Copyright Delta Airlines 

1968-71

Oleg Cassini designed these uniforms for

1970s

A United Airlines publicity shot in the early 1970s.

Copyright The Museum of Flight Collection. 

1970s

An American Airlines 747 lounge in the 1970s.

Copyright Ameican Airlines C.R.Smith Museum 

1971-74

American Airlines, "American Field Flowers Collection by Leonard Fisher" circa 1971-1974

Leonard Fisher sought to invoke a pioneering spirit with his "American Field Flowers Collection" for American Airlines. The uniform consisted of a solid-color dress with either short sleeves or a shoulder-covering yoke across the top. The dress came in a choice of red, white or blue with contrasting colors along the border. A matching jacket could also be worn over the dress. Perhaps the most memorable component of this uniform was a flower-print smock worn over the dress during in-flight meal service. The frilly, white garment was decorated with prints of poppies, cornflowers, daisies and sprigs of wheat. The apron's design evoked the image of resilient frontier women carving a life for themselves in the American West.

Copyright American Airlines C.R.Smith Museum 

1971-4

"American Field Flowers Collection by Leonard Fisher."

Copyright American Airlines C.R.Smith Museum 

1971-4

American Airlines, "American Field Flowers Collection by Leonard Fisher."

Copyright American Airlines C.R.Smith Museum 

1971-4

"American Field Flowers Collection by Leonard Fisher."

Copyright American Airlines C.R.Smith Museum 

1972-77

In the early 1970s, American artist and designer Mario Armond Zamparelli was contracted by Howard Hughes to create a new corporate image, as well as flight attendant uniforms for Hughes' recently acquired airline. The most recognized of Hughes uniforms was the Sundance Yellow princess-line knit dress. A long, narrow sleeved turtleneck jacket with a zipper down the front was worn over the dress. For the outdoors, flight attendants had the choice of wearing a hooded cape or the princess-line coat with a narrow-brimmed hat. The cape and coat were both in Sundance Yellow and banded in Universe Blue. In the cabin, a blue-trimmed orange smock was worn over the dress while attending to passengers. Yellow square-heeled shoes or knee-length boots completed the uniform. Hughes Airwest flight attendants were affectionately referred to as the "Sundance Kids."

Uniform donated by Norman L. Whennett
Bag donated by Northwest Airlines, Inc.


Photo: The Museum of Flight Collection

1972-77

Mario Zamparelli designed these uniforms for Hughes Airwest between 1972-77.


Copyright The Museum of Flight Collection 

1973-6

United Airlines 1973 - 1976 Hawaii Uniform
Tori Richard Ltd.

In 1954, United Airlines steward, Matt Ah Chong, suggested the company could add an island atmosphere to flights between Hawaii and the mainland by dressing its flight attendants in aloha shirts. United President, William Patterson, agreed and the airline began a tradition of dressing cabin crews in Hawaiian prints on flights to and from the mainland. This 1974 United Airlines men's uniform was created by Tori Richard Ltd, which had been creating Hawaiian resort-wear since 1956. The 100% polyester shirt was available in three color combinations - orange, pink and white; blue, green and white; or brown, green and white. White slacks accompanied the shirt and the outfit was often accessorized with kukui nut or puka shell necklaces. Female flight attendants wore muu muu-style dresses in a matching print. United Airlines dressed its Hawaii-bound crews in aloha print clothing for thirty years with specific uniforms rotating about every two years.

Donated by
The Museum of Flight Collection

Photo: United Airlines 

1973

Flight attendants for Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) in 1973.

Copyright US Airways

1973

Flight attendants for Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) in 1973.

Copyright US Airways

1973

Flight attendants for Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) in 1973.

Copyright US Airways

1974-85

In November 1974, Qantas Airways debuted a new flight attendant uniform by Emilio Pucci. The Italian designer had previously created the iconic "Air Strip" uniforms for American air carrier, Braniff. The outfit Pucci created for Qantas featured many of his signature elements -bright colors, bold prints and decorative borders on the outfit's hems. The uniform included a polyester jersey shirt-dress, which incorporated a floral pattern in vivid orange, green and blue meant to evoke the colors of the Australian Outback. A jacket and pleated skirt made from pure Australian wool accompanied the dress along with a polyester/wool overcoat. These items came in orange or green colors. The uniform was designed to provide clothing combinations for the broad range of climates found at Qantas destinations. Pucci even created a special perfume to complete the ensemble.

Donated by Suzanne de Monchaux
The Museum of Flight Collection

Photo: Qantas Airways 

Linda Caldwell, Delta Airlines, 1975

erincatherine:
Linda Caldwell started working for Delta in 1973. She worked her way through law school and graduated in 1978. She has been balancing her law practice and airline career for over thirty years now.

1974-85

Emilio Pucci-designed uniforms for Quantas Airways, 1974-1985.

Copyright Quantas Airways 

Date unknown

A Boeing 377 sleeping berth.

Copyright The Museum of Flight Collection 

ALITALIA'S UNIFORMS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS

Sorelle Fontana, 1950-1960

The Alitalia uniform was designed by Micol and Zoe Fontana, whose interpretation included a long dark skirt that fell well below the knee complete with a blue 3 button jacket. Their style was a representation of women working outside the home after the war.

Delia Biagiotti, 1960-66

Delia Biagotti (Laura Biagotti's mother) designed the updated Alitalia knee length uniform. Her color of choice was pale blue.

Delia Biagiotti, 1960-66

Biagiotti's modernized version included ¾ sleeve blazers, an overall style very representative of the 60s.

Mila Schon, 1969-1972

In 1969, when Alitalia's logo changes from the "Freccia Alata" bow and arrow to the tricolor A on the livery, Mila Schon, designer to Jackie Kennedy's wardrobe reinvents the uniform by shortening the skirts and proposing completely new colors: a bright green and red.

Mila Schon, 1972

In 1969, when Alitalia's logo changes from the "Freccia Alata" bow and arrow to the tricolor A on the livery, Mila Schon, designer to Jackie Kennedy's wardrobe reinvents the uniform by shortening the skirts and proposing completely new colors: a bright green and red.

Alberto Fabiani, 1973-5

Alberto Fabiani introduces an apricot color uniform. This also marks a transition from tailor made to standard sizes. 

Florence Marzotto, 1975-1986

Florence Marzotto designs the Alitalia uniform choosing pomegranate red through the 70s and transitioning to green blazers and sweaters paired with navy skirts in the 80s. She designs the skirt to once again fall below the knee.

Giorgio Armani, 1991

In 1991, Giorgio Armani redesigns the Alitalia uniform giving it a non uniform look choosing autumn colors including Olive green for its blazer over masculine shirt and just above knee length skirt.

Mondrian Gruppo Nadini, 1998-Present

In 1998 after a choosing among 10 designers, Alitalia bestows the privilege of designing the Alitalia uniform to "Gruppo Nadini di Vignola" located near Modena, Italy. The company works under the trademark "Mondrian." Alitalia flight attendants approved the modernized design and colors (green and blue) chosen by Mandria for the new uniforms.

BRITISH AIRWAYS

Imperial Airways pilot uniform, circa 1930's

A precursor to BA, Imperial served British colonies in Africa and the far east.

British Airways uniform, circa 1950s

British European Airways uniform, circa 1960

A student at the Royal College of Art, Sylvia Ayton designed a straight skirt in "Dior" style. A hat was commissioned in a similar material for easy packing.

British European Airways uniform, circa 1967

Designed by Sir Hardy Amies, a dressmaker to the Queen, this uniform's red overcoat matched the red wings of the airlines' newest planes.

BA's "paper" dress uniform, circa 1967

This uniform was worn by BA flight attendants on routes between New York and the Caribbean. The dresses were made of fire-proof paper-like fabric. They were cut to fit the flight attendants, and discarded at the end of each flight.

British European Airways, circa 1972

This uniform, designed by Sir Hardy Amies, was introduced shortly before the airline merged with the British Overseas Airways Corporation. It was the first uniform of the newly formed airline, British Airways, in 1974.

Uniform, circa 1972

British Airways uniform, circa 1977

These uniforms were designed by British fashion house Baccarat Wetherall, who "promised to produce a uniform elegant enough to appear inVogue."

This uniform was the first designed specifically for BA since the airline's merger. The uniform offered the option of pants or a skirt, "to represent forward thinking in fashion."

British Airways uniform, circa 1988

British Airways uniform, circa 1993

BA uniform, circa 1993

British Airways, circa 1993-2003

This uniform was designed by Paul Costello, who is known for his use of ecologically sound fabrics. 

BA's current uniform

First worn in 2003, this uniform was designed by Julien McDonald, who formerly worked for Chanel. The uniform reflects the airline's British heritage, with a mix of wool and pinstripes, and was designed for all employees to wear,

Current cabin crew uniform and Pilot from early 1930's open cockpit

Look, they match the seats! These uniforms from First Choice Airlines were once voted by within the industry as the worst cabin crew uniform ever!

Sichuan Airline Stewardess. 

During Munich Oktoberfest in 2009Lufthansa celebrated by dressing its Munich-based flightcrew in Bavarian traditional costume, the dirndl

Hooters airlines in USA added couple of sexy stewardesses or attendants for additional customer service beside regular. Sexy Air Stewardesses are all hot and dressed up in hot uniforms. The women in the cabin are in orange short-shorts and tight T-shirts on flights. Hooters Air airline operates its main hub in Myrtle Beach, SC. 

In the 70s flight attendants on Southwest look like they're ready for the disco in micro-shorts, low-slung belts, slinky scarves, and go-go boots.

A variety of quirky uniforms, such as these ones, are on show at the Seattle Museum of Flight / Copyright The Museum of Flight Collection

Sources:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/24/flight-attendant-style-uniforms_n_3955018.html?utm_hp_ref=flight-attendants

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/12/vivienne-westwood-virgin-atlantic_n_3581499.html#slide=2685669

http://www.oddee.com/item_97992.aspx