Stewardess Uniform Collection

July 24, 2011 4:51 PM

In the seven years since its last^* appearance in the blue, Cliff Muskiet's Stewardess Uniform Collection has grown to more than 1,000 different uniforms from more than 400 different airlines.

Strangely missing: the saris of Air India

posted by Trurl (25 comments total)

Remember what it was like before Southwest Airlines?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:56 PM on July 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

Or... Cebu Pacific Airlines?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:59 PM on July 24, 2011

"Fly Maggie. Fly National."
posted by Trurl at 5:01 PM on July 24, 2011

This is very tacky.
posted by Foci for Analysis at 5:03 PM on July 24, 2011

The development of the Iranian uniform is so sad that even the mannequin looks devastated.
posted by Foci for Analysis at 5:10 PM on July 24, 2011 [5 favorites]

I appreciate how he uses the same mannequin for every photo. It abstracts the designs from the "person" wearing them.
posted by SPrintF at 5:15 PM on July 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

Also: a shout out to the sexy sci-fi stews of 2001: A Space Odyssey and The Fifth Element.
posted by Trurl at 5:19 PM on July 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

I am horrified that the poor women of Tyrolean Airways had to wear ersatz-lederhosen.
posted by GenjiandProust at 5:19 PM on July 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

There was/is a Hooters Air????
posted by Windigo at 5:20 PM on July 24, 2011

let's try that again....
posted by Windigo at 5:21 PM on July 24, 2011

Seriously? That was the Hooters Air uniform? I think my ugly old polyester navy blue United uniform was sexier than that.
posted by Jess the Mess at 5:25 PM on July 24, 2011

That was the Hooters Air uniform?

---

The carrier was marketed towards golfers in an effort to bring casual and tournament players to Myrtle Beach's 100+ championship golf courses. Two "Hooters Girls," dressed in their restaurant uniforms, were on each flight assisting the (traditionally attired) in-flight crews with hospitality duties.
posted by Trurl at 5:26 PM on July 24, 2011

Jess the Mess: "Seriously? That was the Hooters Air uniform? I think my ugly old polyester navy blue United uniform was sexier than that."

I'm a little surprised too, unless they were having Wet Stewardess-Uniform Contests?
posted by Riki tiki at 5:50 PM on July 24, 2011

What's weird is how the current uniform gets inscribed in your memory. That 1986-1998 American Airlines uniform should be burned into my brain, but only the current one looks right.
posted by hoyland at 5:56 PM on July 24, 2011

A while ago, I bought a uniform from Karat Air at a yard sale for $25. I had it altered so I could wear it as a regular suit. Sadly, this guy doesn't seem to own it.
posted by pxe2000 at 5:56 PM on July 24, 2011

I remember once my dad took us on our family vacation via a Braniff International flight, because the stewardesses changed their outfit once during the flight. I was disappointed, they only changed half their outfit, like changing their skirt to pants.
posted by charlie don't surf at 6:02 PM on July 24, 2011

Hey, terrific! Somebody put all of Boeing Boeing on YouTube.
posted by Trurl at 6:11 PM on July 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

The Pakistan International actually looks like it would be the most comfortable on a long flight. (And it's pretty!)
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 6:26 PM on July 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

This guy looks like such a pleasure to have on a flight--cheerful, helpful, enthusiastic. I can only hope that on his days off, he takes a break and has his mannequin serve him drinks. Preferably in the Tyrolean Airways lederhosen.
posted by corey flood at 6:51 PM on July 24, 2011 [2 favorites]

So, there is a whole series of female airline cabin workers who have all come to in a hotel room near the airport, only remembering this smiling gentleman who bought them a drink the night before, and they've all awakened in their underwear with their uniform pressed and folded next to them with a small thank you note and some polaroids of a dressed-up mannequin.
posted by hippybear at 7:17 PM on July 24, 2011 [18 favorites]

Eastern airlines dressed exactly the same as my mom through their era.
posted by bendybendy at 8:12 PM on July 24, 2011

Strange, no Porter Airlines?

Also, I found this cool link (a discussion board thread with a bunch of pictures, many are vintage).
posted by Vindaloo at 5:46 AM on July 25, 2011

I love the copyright notice, particularly the part about how no part of this website may be photocopied.
posted by juiceCake at 6:48 AM on July 25, 2011

These are fascinating and provide quite a mirror of changing tastes and fashions. Fascinating and yet unsurprising which airlines' stews have sported truly chic gear.

This is a most interesting collection and post, Trurl.
posted by kinnakeet at 8:29 AM on July 25, 2011

Those Braniff stews must have cried when 1977 rolled around.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 3:43 PM on July 25, 2011