Ultra Swank - Retro Adventures

The Uniforms of Braniff Airlines – Designed by legendary Emilio Pucci

Written by Guest Writer • May 24th, 2010
The Uniforms of Braniff Airlines – Designed by legendary Emilio Pucci

Remember when flying was fun? Living in the post-September 11th world not everyone does. Security measures have changed the way we fly. With tedious carry-on and travel restrictions as well as economic hardship, airlines have cut travel benefits like in-flight meals and free baggage check-in.

But at the height of the aviation world, flying was a special occasion that called for you to dress to impress. Full meals were served with real silverware in coach and the flight attendants were expected to fulfill certain physical (read: beauty) requirements.

If you worked with Braniff airlines as a flight attendant, you would be wearing uniforms designed by Emilio Pucci. The Italian designer, known for his colorful prints, made everything from convertible dresses to bubble-like helmets to protect flight attendant’s impeccable hairdos from rain on the tarmac. The airline’s tagline was “The End of the Plain Plane” and that philosophy trickled down from it’s engineering right to the crew. Braniff Airlines featured bright yellow airplanes and commercials with plenty of star power. Even artist Andy Warhol promoted the hip airline company that was all about taking air travel to the next level.

With flight attendant uniforms, the Pucci designs not only focused on fashion but efficiency. In the accompanying popular YouTube clip, a Braniff flight attendant performs a playful “strip tease” to show how the uniforms change to accommodate day and night flights. In the second video you’ll be seeing a great montage of the Pucci-designed Braniff Airlines uniforms. They might make you re-think flying in sweats and flip flops.

Written by: Lourdes Gutierrez

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