This past Summer, we filmed this new Season 18 of "Project Runway" which is airing now on Bravo TV. We filmed the announcement of the first challenge at the iconic TWA Flight Center/JFK Terminal 5, which is now the super fab TWA Hotel. As a Consulting Producer for the show, I got great access to the location and naturally, as an avid fan of anything involving airlines and airplanes, I was like a kid in a candy store!


I was EXTRA happy to see a very special Exhibition at the TWA Hotel showing all the different TWA Flight Attendant Couture through the years...or as they titled it "TWA Hostess Uniforms". Check out all the chic and oh-so-fabulous TWA uniforms designed from the likes of Don Loper, Oleg Cassini, Pierre Balmain, and Valentino. And while you look at these, just think back to those days when flight attendants actually looked quite chic.

Two things have recently caused a big "stir" on the web in regards to "Flight Attendant Couture". One had to do with the new uniforms for Turkish Airlines and the other, the ones for United Airlines. Both were not so good. So naturally, since I LOVE ME some Flight Attendants (especially those 70's/80's fierce ones!), I had to discuss.


First off: last month, a big Twitter and Web hub-a-loo occurred when photos of the supposed new designs for Turkish Airlines uniforms were "released" and well, most people were not very amused. Turkey’s proposed new and more modest dress code for its flight attendants has been criticized by the country’s seculars with some Twitter users deriding the new suggested uniforms as reminiscent of the costumes worn in the Ottoman Empire.


Critics likened the suggested uniforms to those worn in the “Magnificent Century,” a popular Turkish soap opera about the decadent reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th century. Many found these new "uniforms" to be too conservative: “Even my students with head scarves find these ridiculous,” said Ayse Saktanber, a sociologist at the Middle East Technical University in Ankara.

  
Traveling In Style...Sometimes...


As you know, I travel A LOT.  I joke to my family and friends that sometimes I feel like my other job is a Flight Attendant--which is fine by me, because I LOVE me some Flight Attendants--especially those old school FABULOUSLY dressed ones form "back in the day". I actually love to travel. My dad was a diplomat and I grew up traveling--I was only 2 months old when I first got on an airplane in fact...Nowadays 99.9% of my travels are business--for my design business, or for filming and appearances. Sometimes, a client might be "extra nice" and book me on a "Premium Cabin" (Love that!) or I get lucky and receive an upgrade (Love that, Part 2!) This post here on my lovely ol' blog is one of those stylish occurrences on a recent 4+ hour East Coast-West Coast flight on one of my favorite airlines, Virgin America.


Virgin America is probably one of the most "stylish" US-based airlines; they're semi-new, they're flight attendants are younger and dressed a little more "hip" with their fitted white cotton shirts with adjustable sleeves, band collars. For bottoms, they wear either a slim pencil skirt with invisible zippers at the side seams and center back (to create a slit opening if wanted). Even the pilots are "business casual" in their black dress shirt (no tie), black pants look (no cap, no jacket).

Last month, Virgin America even had a fashion show on a flight from NYC-LA, care of "Banana Republic" (photos above). Now, getting back to my "stylish" flight: I was booked on Main Cabin Select (Premium Economy) but somehow by the Airline Gods, I got a chance to upgrade to First for a (surprisingly) minimal charge. Done and Done, as they say!

Welcome Aboard Drink: after taking my seat (see photo at top of post) and getting myself acquainted with the rather FAB white leather Recaro reclining seats (Can you say "Massage Function"!!), I was offered a "Welcome Aboard" drink...a Bloody Mary please.




Soon after the plane reached cruising altitude, the first "Appetizer" course appeared: Beet Raviloi with fennel, pistachio, and goat cheese nougatine (what in God's name is a nougatine??). It was yummy!

Dinner: Cuban Beef Chimichurri--described in the menu as "grilled beef filet topped with chimichurri and served on a ropa vieja of spicy chorizo sausage, tomatoes, onions, garlic, pigeon peas (say WHAT???) and rice". I ate it ALL (I was HUUUNGRY and happy to just be in First Class...so leave me alone!!). Dessert was a Chocolate Mint Pave'. I took one spoonful and decided that was all my body could take!

I reclined my body on that aforementioned seat, watched a movie, dozed off and before I knew it, we were landing in LA. Next time I am munching on them pretzels back in Economy Class (wait, what pretzels??), I will pretend, I am having a Beet Ravioli starter and a Cuban Steak Chimichurri dinner...For sure!

Airport Fashion Show Welcome Aboard: Korean Air Divas, in the exact uniforms I witnessed at Sea-Tac Airport As some of you know, one of the first things that inspired my early love of fashion and fashion design, strangely enough, were 1970's flight attendants from airlines like Pan Am and TWA while flying with my family. With that being said...I just returned from Seattle where I shot four segments for Special K and MSN The Victory Project. While standing at a LONG and painstaking security line at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport/Sea-Tac--one of the worst in the nation--a breath of fresh air glided through and I almost heard angels sing: Approximately 20 absolutely doll-like flight attendants, all decked in the most perfectly pressed baby-blue and ivory uniforms, matching chignons with... An accompanying looped ribbon hair "accessory" walked by us through the "special security line". I literally dropped my carry-on and PUSHED David, my traveling partner a la Elaine from Jerry Seinfeld. They were all flight attendants from Korean Air getting ready for a Seoul-bound flight.Then before I could even mutter "You Go Girl!", another group of 20 flight attendants sashayed by. This time in very retro-looking chocolate brown uniforms featuring second-skin fitted jackets, knee-length 4" heels and (wait for it!) pill box hats! They looked like Pan Am flight attendants from 1972!!! This second group of flight attendant DIVAS were from Asiana Airlines, another South Korea-based carrier. The Asiana flight attendants then proceeded with almost military-like precision and ease, to take off their shoes, scarves, hats and fitted jackets, revealing...A diagonal striped mock-turtleneck 3/4 sleeved top with a back invisible zipper and gold buckle closure. Yes, I was watching them like a fashion-hawk; I didn't miss a thing!Funny enough, the current Asiana Airlines Flight Attendant uniform looks very much like... This uniform from Delta Airlines circa 1958! Retro indeed. It was all too much Flight Attendant Eye Candy for one fashion designer to take! Under other circumstances, in my Zara trench coat, Marc Jocobs tie, dress shirt and Hounds-tooth pants, I would be "well-dressed" for US airport standards--but darling, I felt cheap and inadequate standing next to these flawlessly dressed creatures! Also, if I was a US-based Airline flight attendant within a ten foot radius of these ladies, I would have run and hid my elastic-waist pleated polyester trousers in the bathroom until the airport fashion show was over. Here are some more Asian-based Flight Attendant Uniform "Honorable Mentions" which I did not see (but can't wait to catch a glimpse of) while at Sea-Tac Airport: The iconic "Singapore Girl" from Singapore Airlines and their printed ankle-length skirts and scooped-neck tunics. And, how about... The Thai Airways flight attendants and their silk shantung floor-length violet "gowns" with matching fitted jacket and gold sash. What happens in an emergency landing (God forbid) when you are wearing these gowns and dresses? Is there Velcro on the skirt and stretch hot pants underneath? Finally, I love...The China Southern Airlines Flight Attendant Uniform of red and white suits and the accompanying mini-pill box hat and silk printed scarf I have never flown any of these airlines but trust me, the day I do, you might have to physically restrain me from the uncontrollable emotion I will shower them and their uniforms. What makes these Asian Airline Carriers want their flight attendants to look so chic and "retro" as opposed to their American counterparts? I'm sure there are many reasons, but, I for one would love to see all the US carrier flight attendants look like this! It might make flying just a little bit nicer. Until next time: Safe flying kiddies and I'll be on the look-out for some more fabulous international flight attendant uniforms!