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Braniff Flight Attendant Uniforms Early 70s
Designed by Emilio Pucci. Flight attendants were called "stewardesses" then...
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- uberflieger
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RE: Braniff Flight Attendant Uniforms Early 70s
Fabulous, you had to be there! 
RE: Braniff Flight Attendant Uniforms Early 70s
Yes. Their crew was as loud inside as the liveries were loud outside. Flying an all Orange 747SP was an odd feeling. I was waiting on Disney to squeeze us and put us in plastic oranges.
RE: Braniff Flight Attendant Uniforms Early 70s
The "End of the Plain Plane" Campaign by Braniff. Mary Wells a famous advertising exec came up with the idea of the flashy clothing. A lot of those girls still have their old uniforms. I don't think the uniforms pictured here were ever used on the 727's, but most likely on the 747 and 707/DC8's.
Even though Braniff has been gone for a long, long time they still do have an active former flight attendant group.
Even though Braniff has been gone for a long, long time they still do have an active former flight attendant group.
RE: Braniff Flight Attendant Uniforms Early 70s
There are great websites around with loads of Braniff history.
Interesting to note that the Pucci uniforms lasted from the 1960s until 1977 when American fashion designer Halston created the new look. Sort of a dramatic change from the wild and funky Pucci designs to a more tailored and late 70s look, although Halston was one of the most popular and sought after designers of this time. This was the height of the disco era and Studio 54 (you had to be there for you young ones).
Interesting to note that the Pucci uniforms lasted from the 1960s until 1977 when American fashion designer Halston created the new look. Sort of a dramatic change from the wild and funky Pucci designs to a more tailored and late 70s look, although Halston was one of the most popular and sought after designers of this time. This was the height of the disco era and Studio 54 (you had to be there for you young ones).
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- Viscount724
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RE: Braniff Flight Attendant Uniforms Early 70s
| Quoting rugger (Reply 3): The "End of the Plain Plane" Campaign by Braniff. Mary Wells a famous advertising exec came up with the idea of the flashy clothing. |
She also married Braniff's CEO at the time, Harding Lawrence.
She's still alive at age 88.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Wells_Lawrence
He died in 2001 at age 81.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harding_Lawrence
RE: Braniff Flight Attendant Uniforms Early 70s
A college professor who has since become a good professional friend ... his mother was a Braniff flight attendant for years. He has all her old uniforms on mannequins in full display.
It's stunning.
It's stunning.
if assumptions could fly, airliners.net would be the world's busiest airport
RE: Braniff Flight Attendant Uniforms Early 70s
| Quoting Aeri28 (Reply 4): |
I was a Studio 54 kid back in the day. I feel very fortunate to have been there in its heyday. A small dance floor in First Class of a 747 with a DJ would have been amazing. In fact the Studio 54 logo would have made for an awesome livery!
To Most the Sky is The Limit, For me, the Sky is Home.
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- Motorhussy
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RE: Braniff Flight Attendant Uniforms Early 70s
| Quoting VC10er (Reply 8): I was a Studio 54 kid back in the day. |
Me too but after its heyday. I grew up in NYC in the 80's and used to frequent 'Studio' in my late teens. Never flew BI though which is a disappointment.
come visit the south pacific
RE: Braniff Flight Attendant Uniforms Early 70s
=2] I don't think the uniforms pictured here were ever used on the 727's, but most likely on the 747 and 707/DC8's. [/quote]
they were. Braniff's flight attendants wore the same uniforms on the entire fleet, from the Lockheed Electras and the BAC-111's through the 727's, 707's, 720's, DC8's, and, of course, The "Great Pumpkin".
they were. Braniff's flight attendants wore the same uniforms on the entire fleet, from the Lockheed Electras and the BAC-111's through the 727's, 707's, 720's, DC8's, and, of course, The "Great Pumpkin".
RE: Braniff Flight Attendant Uniforms Early 70s
If you got it, flaunt it!
RE: Braniff Flight Attendant Uniforms Early 70s
| Quoting stlgph (Reply 6): A college professor who has since become a good professional friend ... his mother was a Braniff flight attendant for years. He has all her old uniforms on mannequins in full display. |
Sounds like a display that belongs in a nice desert home in Palm Springs. Sometimes I think Americans have quit trying to make nice things. Uniforms now seem grotesque compared to what flight attendants used to wear. Why?
RE: Braniff Flight Attendant Uniforms Early 70s
For some reason, as a kid, the original "End Of The Plain Plane" liveries were the coolest thing in the world, with that distinctive black radome , then extending the black over the cockpit windows. Not sure what it was, part of it was the distinctive BI on the tail and the font chosen for the name on the side of the fuselage, but I thought it was awesome. Guess that's why I have about 30 of them in my 1/200 diecast collection! I never flew on them until they were the two tone and the uniforms were the silky turquoise/aqua/blue . Then I really thought the Halstons were classy. And the F/C food was incredible.
RE: Braniff Flight Attendant Uniforms Early 70s
| Quoting usdcaguy (Reply 12): Sounds like a display that belongs in a nice desert home in Palm Springs. Sometimes I think Americans have quit trying to make nice things. Uniforms now seem grotesque compared to what flight attendants used to wear. Why? |
Well for starters, styles and fads change. While they are interesting, I, for example, think the uniforms pictured are far more "grotesque" than anything any FA, on any airline, wears today.
Uniforms also have to look good on a wide range of body sizes nowadays too (to put it diplomatically), US airlines cannot be as discriminatory towards a FA's image as they use to be able to.
RE: Braniff Flight Attendant Uniforms Early 70s
It was a sign of the times. Even as late as 1986 AA still had "weigh ins" for their F/A's. If you gained too much weight you'd be off duty until you reduced back to your flying weight. All that "mod" styled stuff was in at the time. Even though I flew BN quite a bit, I only saw the BN red A line dresses with the "space helmet" which was taken when entering the a/c.
RE: Braniff Flight Attendant Uniforms Early 70s
Some airlines, I think Southwest for example in the 1970's, had some very tight or skimpy outfits, that, well... made female F/A look like high end prostitutes. After a while, I suspect the female f/a's got tired of the sexual harassment by male passengers, the lack of professional appearance of such outfits, or even being unsafe in case of an emergency (fire, slide escape) that led to their demise.
RE: Braniff Flight Attendant Uniforms Early 70s
| Quoting stlgph (Reply 6): his mother was a Braniff flight attendant for years. He has all her old uniforms on mannequins in full display. |
Here's a site that has several Braniff (and other airline's) uniforms.
http://www.uniformfreak.com/1braniff.html
Dave
Can I have a mojito on this flight?
RE: Braniff Flight Attendant Uniforms Early 70s
Different period and different values in the country at that time, so something to bear in mind. Outstanding marketing, however. It doesn't seem like the women who were FA's at the time in their comments in that article are all that upset about it, it's what was done at the time.
Pucci's 'space helmets' were ingenious, though; zipped up to cover the perfectly coiffed hair in case it rained on the tarmac. Easily unzipped for a stylish collar. Loved seeing the BN 727's land in DTW in the early 1970s. Always a treat to see the two-tone blue scheme, in particular.
Did the FA uniforms and all the 'fabulousness' carry over to all flights (say to OMA, DSM, and ICT?)
One other question, slightly off topic but about BN; any thoughts that they were a pioneer with the hub-and-spoke system (at DFW) and hourly shuttle-type flights from DFW-SAN/IAH? Maybe some historians on here can provide some perspective?
Thanks! Great thread so far.
Pucci's 'space helmets' were ingenious, though; zipped up to cover the perfectly coiffed hair in case it rained on the tarmac. Easily unzipped for a stylish collar. Loved seeing the BN 727's land in DTW in the early 1970s. Always a treat to see the two-tone blue scheme, in particular.
Did the FA uniforms and all the 'fabulousness' carry over to all flights (say to OMA, DSM, and ICT?)
One other question, slightly off topic but about BN; any thoughts that they were a pioneer with the hub-and-spoke system (at DFW) and hourly shuttle-type flights from DFW-SAN/IAH? Maybe some historians on here can provide some perspective?
Thanks! Great thread so far.
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- Motorhussy
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RE: Braniff Flight Attendant Uniforms Early 70s
| Quoting motorhussy (Reply 9): Never flew BI though which is a disappointment. |
BN rather.
come visit the south pacific
RE: Braniff Flight Attendant Uniforms Early 70s
The Braniff two color livery was known as the "Flying Colors" livery.
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- ThirtyEcho
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RE: Braniff Flight Attendant Uniforms Early 70s
My last flight on Braniff was toward the end of the line for them. It was a 727 flight at 8000 feet because the pressurization system was inop.
RE: Braniff Flight Attendant Uniforms Early 70s
I was lucky enough to have enjoyed the original Braniff quite a bit and yes the 'fabulousness' could be found throughout the system. I especially remember the Halston uniforms and wide-body look interiors aboard '727 Braniff Plance' on numerous flights from Denver to DFW as well as to Acapulco and JFK. My all- time favorite flights were r/t DFW-LGW aboard the Great Pumpkin only a few days after the London service began. The cockpit and cabin crew all had freshly issued Halston outfits and everyone looked particularly smart.
There was something unique everywhere Braniff touched down. Even at a tiny station like Albany, NY (open for less than a year) you could experience 'Braniff Style.'
There was something unique everywhere Braniff touched down. Even at a tiny station like Albany, NY (open for less than a year) you could experience 'Braniff Style.'
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- citationjet
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RE: Braniff Flight Attendant Uniforms Early 70s
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