Whitney Dail spends most of her time daydreaming about space, especially anything sixties Space Age. She rides her bike almost every day, loves researching and staying informed about current issues in contemporary art, enjoys watching road-cycling races (grand tours), and has a vast knowledge of British subcultures. Whitney is currently seeking her masters in Arts Administration at SCAD.
Flight attendant attire has varied over the years from prim and proper to all-out sexy to subtly sophisticated.
Flight attendants are the most important point of contact between an airline and its passengers. As the “face” of an airline, their appearance and behavior during flights have a strong influence over guest satisfaction and, consequently, loyalty.
It should come as no surprise then that a great deal of thought has been given to flight attendant attire over the decades. The most recent move in the world of airborne fashion was made by United Airlines when they announced in November that they had hired world-famous designer, Cynthia Rowley, to create stylish new uniforms for all employees (look for them in 2011).
This move is a world-away from the first “stewardess” uniforms of the 1920s, which, as you’ll see, were more functional than fashionable. Here, we examine the evolution of sky-borne style from stodgy to sexy to sophisticated and look at the historical context in which each uniform was designed. Although both men and women both play a major role in airline stewardship, this gallery focuses primarily on the outfits worn by women as these are the uniforms that have changed the most drastically over time.
It looks like it’s floating, but in fact this aircraft engine, which weighs five tonnes, is hanging from the ceiling. We saw it this year when we were scouting the Rolls Royce factory in Derby, a city that has long been a centre for manufacture and transport. In recent years, Derby has also become one of the main centres for Bosnian refugees. We wanted to animate their oral history using imagery that related to modes of displacement: planes, trains and transportation.
This is a photo that my dad shared with me from his archives. He took this from the cockpit of his A7. He took an Olympus camera with him on regular basis. You can see VFA-22 Fighting Red Cocks emblem on the tail for his squadron.
If you’re feeling bold, try a jumpsuit. Apparently, 2009 is the year of the jumpsuit. Not that you should always listen to what fashion magazines tell you, but I highly support this “comeback.” When you think of the word jumpsuit you probably think of the 70s and Elvis or Freddie Mercury. More than a one-piece, they are tailored and they definitely make a statement. Plus, you can accessorize them (i.e. necklaces, scarves, utility belts, NASA mission patches). Take a look at Spring 2009 and the different styles from designers like BCBG Max Azria (my favorites), Alexander McQueen, Derek Lam, Emilio Pucci and even Chanel. The Phoenix Art Museum just had an exhibition, One for All, All for One: The Jumpsuit, where they displayed 90 years of the jumpsuit from function to
fashion. Call it a trend, but I spend a good part of my afternoons daydreaming about jumpsuits. You should too. If you don’t think you can pull it off, StyleList says otherwise:
Body Types
Petite: You don’t want a jumpsuit that swallows you whole. Instead, opt for one of the more tailored looks like those shown at BCBG Max Azria. You could even go totally crazy in a tight McQueen-esque unitard that screams Studio 54.
Pear: Marc Jacobs showed some incredibly fun jumpsuits that are perfect for pears. The more fitted top half shows off your slim middle while the fuller, harem-style bottom camouflages hips. Or try one of the more sultry, one shouldered versions that Derek Lam showed to pull the eye to your top half.
Top heavy: Stay away from jumpsuits with incredibly low V-necks and opt for ones that have a fitted shell instead. You’ll also want to veer away from belts and stick with sophisticated silhouettes in sleek colors like gunmetal or black. Check out some of the looks at Lacoste and Tibi for inspiration.
Boyish: Your slim figure could use a womanly curve or two so all of the belted-at-the-waist options, like BCBG and DVF, are just for you. Showcase your killer bod with a deep v-neck too or add some oomph up top with a ruffled version like Lanvin’s.
Tall: For tall ladies, we like the floaty, wide-legged jumpsuits like those at Donna Karan and Jasmine di Milo. Most other body types would swim in these, but not you! Shorts jumpsuits will also let your long legs shine.
Speaking of airplanes and such, my mother worked at the Naval Air Rework Facility in Jacksonville, FL way back when. Being the only female in the engineering department, she was featured in the base newspaper and my dad sent me photos from the article.
In her own words, “Graphic design degree opened the door and I had a knack for the engineering stuff… Occasionally did other projects like value engineering studies in facility. I was responsible for sustaining engineering design, sometimes on the A-7 (which dad flew) and an occasional other aircraft, but mostly on the RA-5C. Meant no more than working with project engineer to design ‘fixes’ to aircraft that would keep them flying as they aged and needed more inspections and adaptations. I was about 26 or 27 in pic and supposedly documenting something in the cockpit of an A-7… My former life when I had a brain; pay was better than in art; hours better; discrimination really, really bad to subtley bad depending on situation. But great experience.” (Better viewed large.)
P.S. I’m turning 28 this year and I only dream of this kind of experience on my resume.
While researching scarves and ways to wear them Amelia Earhart came to mind—even though she’s not wearing one in this photo. Take a look at these lovely images.
