(Western Airlines flight attendant Lorraine Coccio Ditsworth aboard a flight in her winter uniform)

In Seattle, WA, the Museum of Flight has a new exhibitio on flight attendant fashion titled Runway to Runway.

On view are more than 100 flight attendant uniforms and accessories, such as hat, scarves and handbags, from the museum’s vast collection.

On view through mid-January, 2027, the Runway to Runway exhibit includes everything from classic suits and skirts to capes and go-go boots as well as some modern uniform styles.

Interactives in the exhibit invite visitors to enhance their fashion sense with touchable fabrics and hands-on activities, including the proper way to tie a scarf.

According to the exhibit notes, as flight attendants started to become the face of the airlines, air carriers hired famous fashion designers from New York, Paris, Milan and Hollywood. The assignment: create new styles for the cabin crews to help brand their in-flight service as a unique and desirable experience.

While some of the uniforms were modest, others were mod. Designers such as Jean Louis, Roxane of New York, Mario Armond Zamparelli, Valentino, Emillio Pucci and Edith Head are all represented.

Here are just a few of our faves from the flight attendant fashion exhibit.

This Northwest Airlines summer uniform, below, was worn from 1968 to 1971 and is a known as “The Catepillar.

(Northwest Flight attendants posing in their ‘caterpillar’ uniforms)

The shiny, eye-catching number below is a gold paper minidresss by designer Elisa Daggs. This was introduced in 1968 as part of a Trans World Airlines (TWA) “Foreign Accent” promotion.

In addition to the French gold minidress, the line of paper uniforms includes a Roman-style toga, an Old English tavern-wench dress and a pajamas/hostess dress repreenting the Manhattan Penthouse theme.

Inside the gold minidress is somewhat alarming label. It says; “WARNING: This material is fire-flame resistant, but washing or dry cleaning will make it dangerously flammable.”

Imagine having to perform flight attendant duties in this thing!

And here’s a charming array of some hats and caps that were part of the flight attendant uniform ensembles.

(All images from the Museum of Flight’s Runway to Runway exhibition).

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