Do you remember the wonderful dresses of stewardesses back in the day? I mean the 50s, 60s or 70s. Colourful dresses for the ladies on board. Every airline had a unique uniform women had to wear (also like today – and the men too). But did you know most of the dresses were designed by famous designers?

The exhibition “Fashion In Flight: A History of Airline Uniform Design” presents eventy female airline uniform ensembles and additional accessories that date from 1930 to the present. “The styles and trends include nurse-inspired attire”, I never thought about it, but it’s true. Also it is influenced by a military look. Indeed there is more than the monochrome and plain full look. My favourite dresses are the retro looks. The hostess uniform of Braniff Internatioal Airways was designed by Emilio Pucci (1966). Absolutely amazing!

Masterminded by advertising executive Mary Wells Lawrence and unveiled in 1965, Braniff’s revolutionary new identity shocked the airline industry. For “The End of the Plain Plane” campaign, designer Alexander Girard (1907–1993) introduced a vivid color pallet, while Italian-born fashion impresario Emilio Pucci (1914–1992) re-conceptualized the airline uniform. Pucci’s 1965 Gemini IV Collection was multi-layered for inflight quick-change combinations of suits, tunics, and culottes. Pucci then introduced this 1966 Supersonic Derby outfit. The harlequin-print nylon jersey, tights, and bowler hat have Central American instruments and pre-Columbian art motifs. Footwear designer Beth Levine (1914–2006) created the striped calfskin boots.

You’ll find over thirty designers in the exhibition – Christian Dior, Christian Lacroix, Ralph Lauren, Yves Saint Laurent, Vivienne Westwood, Valentino, Pierre Cardin (he makes really comfortable shoes for stewardess, I had such stewardess-shoes, too. Feels like you are walking on clouds!)

This exhibition sounds very interesting and you can see it at the SFO Museum (San Francisco International Airport, International Terminal, Departures – Level 3 – Pre-Security).

Qantas Airways female flight attendant uniform by Yves Saint Laurent 1986 Collection of SFO Museum Gift of Suzanne de Monchaux Photo credit: SFO Museum

Aeroméxico female flight attendant uniform by Macario Jiménez 2008 D’nieto Collection of SFO Museum Anonymous gift Jacket insignia: Courtesy of Aeroméxico Scarf: Courtesy of Veronica Dawson Photo credit: SFO Museum

United Airlines female flight attendant uniform by Stan Herman 1976 Collection of SFO Museum Gift of Diane Willems Vaughan/United Airlines Historical Foundation Photo credit: SFO Museum

Japan Air Lines stewardess uniform by Hanae Mori 1970 Collection of SFO Museum Gift of Thomas G. Dragges

Trans World Airlines female flight attendant uniform by Valentino 1971 Collection of SFO Museum Gift of TWA Clipped Wings International, Inc. Photo credit: SFO Museum

Pan American World Airways stewardess uniform by Frank Smith for Evan-Picone 1971 Collection of SFO Museum Gift of Thomas G. Dragges/Teresa Damgaard/Hildur Kirchdoerfer Photo credit: SFO Museum

Air France stewardess uniform by Cristóbal Balenciaga 1969 Courtesy of Air France Photo credit: SFO Museum

United Air Lines stewardess uniform by Jean Louis 1968 Fashionaire, a Division of Hart, Schaffner & Marx Hat by Mae Hanauer Collection of SFO Museum Gift of United Airlines Historical Foundation Hat insignia: Gift of Georgia Panter Nielsen Photo credit: SFO Museum

#museum | SFO Museum (San Francisco International Airport)

#exhibition | Fashion in Flight

#until | January 08, 2017

#opening | from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm