This autumn, Aerospace Bristol, the museum renowned for housing the last Concorde to fly, is turning its attention to fashion with a new temporary exhibition.
The Fashion of Flight will run from 17 October to 17 November and showcases a variety of British Airways cabin crew and flight crew uniforms, from 1940s to modern-day designs. Among the highlights will be some of the most outlandish pieces in history, including the BOAC paper dress designed for flights to the Caribbean and the entirely tartan uniform once used by Caledonian Airways.
The exhibition will explore the evolution of airline uniforms, emphasising their impact on both fashion and aviation. From the innovative paper dress to contemporary designs, the collection reveals how these uniforms reflect significant changes in history, culture and style.
Amy Seadon, Head of Collections, Learning & Interpretation at Aerospace Bristol, said, “Airline cabin crew have long been associated with first-class service and meticulously coiffured appearances. This exhibition highlights the shifts in societal norms through the decades and illustrates the transition from high fashion to practical functionality in cabin crew uniforms.
“We are incredibly grateful to British Airways for their support and look forward to welcoming everyone to experience the exhibition as part of a day out at Aerospace Bristol.”
Daphne Oldfield, a retired BOAC cabin crew member and Aerospace Bristol volunteer, recalls, “I remember my first uniform was a mini, just above the knee in raspberry pink with a zip up the front, with a little sassy belt at the back that looked like a hairdressers’ overall.
“Just before that we had paper dresses for the Caribbean, which you cut to your preferred length. You can imagine some girls wanted it up high and got told off. Guys in the aisle would be trying to light your dress with a lighter. Those dresses didn’t last long.”
Uniforms going on display alongside the last Concorde ever to fly include:
- The British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) 1950s designs by Maurice Helman.
- The BOAC Cheongsam from 1955.
- The British European Airways (BEA) 1960 uniform by Sylvia Ayton.
- The BOAC Paper Dress from 1967.
- The BEA 1967 uniform by royal dressmaker Sir Hardy Amies.
- The Imperial Airways Captains’ uniform from 1920, alongside the British Airways Captains’ uniform from 2024.
The Fashion of Flight will be open from 17 October to 17 November and is included with admission to Aerospace Bristol.
For more information, visit aerospacebristol.org/fashion-of-flight.