First Look: The Stylish, Retro Uniforms of Flight Attendants
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.
"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
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