A new exhibit premiering at The Museum of Flight shows that aviation is not just about airport runways, but fashion runways as well. Style in the Aisle is a window into the world of commercial flight attendants—their stories, their roles in aviation and especially: their uniforms. Style in the Aisle draws upon the Museum's extensive collection of airline flight attendant uniforms, airline artifacts, photos and resources donated exclusively for the exhibit.
From the nurse togs of the 1930s to the fab fashions of the 1960s and 1970s, Style in the Aisle is a delightful look at the softer side of commercial air travel.
For over 75 years, flight attendants have worked to make airplane passengers feel safe and comfortable. Sometimes underestimated, often romanticized, and always admired, flight attendants—almost exclusively female in the early days of the profession—have been the public face of air travel. Style in the Aisle uncovers the history of flight attendants in the United States through their fashion, their role in creating new standards for aircraft design and functionality, and their crucial involvement in the development of equitable working conditions for women in the United States.
Kirk Ann Neil, a United Airlines flight attendant from 1966 to 2003 told Museum staff, "You have captured the spirit and changing 'moods' of the profession. Thank you especially for emphasizing the flight attendant role in safety on board."
In 1930, Boeing Air Transport hired eight nurses as "stewardesses" to add a sense of safety to concerned passengers. In the early days, stewardesses wore a nurse-like gray uniform in the cabin and military-style wool suits and caps outdoors. Passengers welcomed the extra service and friendliness of the nurse on board. In the 1940s and 1950s, airline hostesses were expected to be feminine but modest. White gloves, girdles, hats, and spectator shoes gave stewardesses an attractive and professional look. In the 1960s, airlines raced to stay ahead of
the competition by hiring artists and fashion designers to create a distinctive image for their flight attendants. The modest suits of earlier years gave way to colorful outfits with hot pants, mini-skirts, and go-go boots.
Most of the 12 uniforms on display in the exhibit are from the flamboyant 1960s and 1970s. The collection includes creations by Parisian designer Jean Louis, Italian designer Emilio Pucci, and artist/designer Mario Armond Zamparelli. -- www.museumofflight.org
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