• Intelligencer
  • The Cut
  • Vulture
  • The Strategist
  • Curbed
  • Grub Street
  • Subscribe to the Magazine Give a Gift Subscription Buy Back Issues Current Issue Contents
    Subscribe to New York Magazine
  • Subscribe
  • Profile
    Sign Out
The Cut
  • Style
  • Self
  • Culture
  • Power
Style
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Shopping
  • Parties & Red Carpet
  • Fashion Shows
  • Cathy Horyn
Self
  • Health & Wellness
  • The State of the Uterus
  • Parenting
  • Advice
  • Sex & Relationships
  • Horoscopes
Culture
  • Books
  • Television
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Celebrity
Power
  • Politics
  • Work
  • Money
  • Rebecca Traister
More
  • Latest Stories
  • Video
  • About Us
  • The Cut Shop
  • nymag.com
  • New York Magazine
  • Intelligencer
  • Vulture
  • The Cut
  • The Strategist
  • Grub Street
  • Curbed
first looks
August 21, 2013

First Look: The Stylish, Retro Uniforms of Flight Attendants

By Julie Ma

Share

  • Share
  • Tweet
Photo: From the book AIRLINE: STYLE AT 30,000 FEET by Keith Lovegrove. Courtesy of Laurence King Publishing.

In recent months, redesigning airline uniforms appears to have become the next frontier for highbrow designers looking to creatively spice up their workloads (and paychecks). While Prabal Gurung snazzes up All Nippon Airways’s crew outfits, Dame Vivienne Westwood will be crafting uniforms for Virgin Atlantic that promise to be ecofriendly and “futuristic.”

For those impatient to lock eyes on the new uniforms — or just rabid fans of anything remotely related to chic air travel — a new book by author Keith Lovegrove, Airline: Style at 30,000 Feet, will satisfy those desires. Set to be released on September 10, the book documents the changes in fashion, dining, design, and identity of international airlines since the twenties. The book is stuffed with 250 illustrations, which include a range of uniforms worn by flight attendants and snapshots of first-class passengers dressed up in furs and enjoying “cocktail hour” in the fifties. The first-ever uniform for female flight attendants? According to Lovegrove, it consisted of ” just-below-the-knee A-line skirts, double-breasted jackets, soft cloth hats, and very sensible shoes.” It’s unfortunate that perky cloth hats have managed to slip away from modern airline uniforms — perhaps Westwood or Gurung will bring them back. In the meantime, click through to enjoy high-fashion flying from decades past.

Related

First Look: See Pretty Watercolors of Literature’s Finest Women
View
1 / 13 Photos
"American Airlines stewardesses face the press in the mid-1970s." Photo: From the book AIRLINE: STYLE AT 30 000 FEET by Keith Lovegrove/Cou... "American Airlines stewardesses face the press in the mid-1970s." Photo: From the book AIRLINE: STYLE AT 30 000 FEET by Keith Lovegrove/Courtesy of Laurence King Publishing
"A United Airlines stewardess chats to a passenger in a simulated cabin of a Douglas DC-10, 1968." Photo: From the book AIRLINE: STYLE AT 3... "A United Airlines stewardess chats to a passenger in a simulated cabin of a Douglas DC-10, 1968." Photo: From the book AIRLINE: STYLE AT 30 000 FEET by Keith Lovegrove/Courtesy of Laurence King Publishing
"The airline industry's first stewardesses ready for inspection for Boeing Air Transport, 1930." Photo: From the book AIRLINE: STYLE AT 30 ... "The airline industry's first stewardesses ready for inspection for Boeing Air Transport, 1930." Photo: From the book AIRLINE: STYLE AT 30 000 FEET by Keith Lovegrove/Courtesy of Laurence King Publishing
"In 1956, five sets of stewardess twins make good publicity material for TWA. They are, front row from left to right, Jean and June Manby, Marily... "In 1956, five sets of stewardess twins make good publicity material for TWA. They are, front row from left to right, Jean and June Manby, Marilyn and Marlene Nagel, Phyllis and Mary Lous Jibbes and back row, Ruth and Pat Zimmerman and Rose and Victoria Lewis." Photo: From the book AIRLINE: STYLE AT 30 000 FEET by Keith Lovegrove/Courtesy of Laurence King Publishing
"Japan Airlines stewardesses dressed in navy suits, c. 1958, designed by Mohei Ito. In 1960, Ito shortened the skirts to just above the knee and ... "Japan Airlines stewardesses dressed in navy suits, c. 1958, designed by Mohei Ito. In 1960, Ito shortened the skirts to just above the knee and added gold buttons." Photo: From the book AIRLINE: STYLE AT 30 000 FEET by Keith Lovegrove/Courtesy of Laurence King Publishing
"Japan Airlines' retro lineup, designed by, from right to left: 1951-54 Minoru Kadota; 1954-60 and 1960-67 Mohei Ito; 1967-70, 1970-77and 1977-87... "Japan Airlines' retro lineup, designed by, from right to left: 1951-54 Minoru Kadota; 1954-60 and 1960-67 Mohei Ito; 1967-70, 1970-77and 1977-87 Hanae Mori; and 1988-96 Shigenobu Motoi." Photo: From the book AIRLINE: STYLE AT 30 000 FEET by Keith Lovegrove/Courtesy of Laurence King Publishing
"The first UK-based non-white stewardesses to be employed by an independent airline received their 'wings' at the London offices of British Midla... "The first UK-based non-white stewardesses to be employed by an independent airline received their 'wings' at the London offices of British Midland Airways in 1970. From left: Innez Matthews, Irma Reid and Cindy Medford." Photo: From the book AIRLINE: STYLE AT 30 000 FEET by Keith Lovegrove/Courtesy of Laurence King Publishing
"In stark contrast to the propriety (often to the point of prudishness) shown by most airlines to that date, in 1973 Southwest Airlines threw cau... "In stark contrast to the propriety (often to the point of prudishness) shown by most airlines to that date, in 1973 Southwest Airlines threw caution to the winds with its stewardess uniform. 'The girls must be able to wear kinky leather boots and hot pants or they don't get the job,' said the airline's male bosses." Photo: From the book AIRLINE: STYLE AT 30 000 FEET by Keith Lovegrove/Courtesy of Laurence King Publishing
"BEA's popular uniforms, designed by Sir Hardy Amies, 1972." Photo: From the book AIRLINE: STYLE AT 30 000 FEET by Keith Lovegrove/Courtesy... "BEA's popular uniforms, designed by Sir Hardy Amies, 1972." Photo: From the book AIRLINE: STYLE AT 30 000 FEET by Keith Lovegrove/Courtesy of Laurence King Publishing
"Icelandic Air stewardesses pose with a model Douglas DC-8, 1960s." Photo: From the book AIRLINE: STYLE AT 30 000 FEET by Keith Lovegrove/C... "Icelandic Air stewardesses pose with a model Douglas DC-8, 1960s." Photo: From the book AIRLINE: STYLE AT 30 000 FEET by Keith Lovegrove/Courtesy of Laurence King Publishing
"Middle East meets West in the 1970s with Gulf Air's adaptation of the Muslim headdress; legs are covered by smart trousers. The uniform was orig... "Middle East meets West in the 1970s with Gulf Air's adaptation of the Muslim headdress; legs are covered by smart trousers. The uniform was originally designed by Joy Stokes." Photo: From the book AIRLINE: STYLE AT 30 000 FEET by Keith Lovegrove/Courtesy of Laurence King Publishing
"Stewardess Aban Mistry models the Air-India uniform next to the Taj Mahalian decor of an Air-India 'Jumbo Jet', 1971. The short salwar kameez wa... "Stewardess Aban Mistry models the Air-India uniform next to the Taj Mahalian decor of an Air-India 'Jumbo Jet', 1971. The short salwar kameez was both culturally appropriate and practical for serving in the cabin. The elegant dupatta scarf added an extra flourish." Photo: From the book AIRLINE: STYLE AT 30 000 FEET by Keith Lovegrove/Courtesy of Laurence King Publishing
"BOAC breakfast crockery, including egg cup, 1940s." Photo: From the book AIRLINE: STYLE AT 30 000 FEET by Keith Lovegrove/Courtesy of Laur... "BOAC breakfast crockery, including egg cup, 1940s." Photo: From the book AIRLINE: STYLE AT 30 000 FEET by Keith Lovegrove/Courtesy of Laurence King Publishing
1 / 13

Tags:

  • first look
  • first looks
  • book previews
  • airline
  • uniforms
  • flight attendants
  • More

More Galleries

red carpet June 5, 2022
All the Best Looks at the 2022 MTV Movie and TV Awards  Sydney Sweeney, Vanessa Hudgens, Jay Ellis, and more! 
parties! May 20, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  Harry Styles > everyone! 
parties! May 13, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  Bury me in Dove Cameron’s Saint Sintra skirt. 
parties! May 6, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  Cue the Met Gala after-party FOMO. 
met gala 2022 May 2, 2022
Met Gala 2022: All the Looks [Photos]  Billie Eilish, Kim Kardashian, Michelle Yeoh, Hailey Bieber, Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, Blake Lively, and more. 
parties! Apr. 29, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  This one goes to Olivia Rodrigo and her sweater vest. 
parties! Apr. 22, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  “Fuck those Zoom tops.” 
celebrity style Apr. 18, 2022
The Best Looks From Coachella 2022  From Harry Styles’s sparkling Gucci set to Megan Thee Stallion’s metallic bodysuit. 
style Apr. 13, 2022
A Look Inside the New Museum’s Spring Gala  Featuring all the best looks. 
grammys 2022 Apr. 3, 2022
Grammy Awards 2022 Red Carpet: All the Looks  Lady Gaga, Olivia Rodrigo, Lenny Kravitz, Lil Nas X, Billie Eilish, and more. 
oscars 2022 Mar. 28, 2022
How Were The Oscars After Party Looks Better Than The Actual Award Looks?  Finally, some fun. 
oscars 2022 Mar. 27, 2022
All the Looks From the 2022 Oscars Red Carpet  Zendaya, Regina Hall, Timothée Chalamet, Andrew Garfield, Kristen Stewart, Ariana DeBose, and more. 
style Mar. 22, 2022
Bridgerton Season 2 Premiere: All the Red-Carpet Looks 
style Mar. 13, 2022
BAFTAs 2022: All the Red-Carpet Looks  Florence Pugh, Daniel Kaluuya, Emma Watson, and more! 
celebrity fashion Mar. 6, 2022
Spirit Awards 2022: All the Red-Carpet Looks  Julia Fox, Andrew Garfield, Kristen Stewart, and more! 
Mar. 1, 2022
All of Rihanna’s Maternity Looks  From belly-baring looks to sexy leather dresses. 
Feb. 27, 2022
SAG Awards 2022: All the Red-Carpet Looks  Selena Gomez, Ariana Debose, Daveed Diggs, and more! 
paris couture week 2022 Jan. 27, 2022
Glenn Martens Wows As Guest Couturier for Gaultier Haute Couture It is a sight to behold.
By Vivian Chuang
Dec. 9, 2021
All the Looks From the And Just Like That … Red Carpet  Sarah Jessica Parker, Billy Eichner, Sara Ramirez, and more. 
style Nov. 29, 2021
Gotham Awards 2021: All the Red-Carpet Looks  Tessa Thompson! Kristen Stewart! And more. 
  • Style
  • Self
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Help
  • We’re Hiring
  • Press
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Ad Choices
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Accessibility
The Cut is a Vox Media Network. © 2022 Vox Media, LLC. All rights reserved.