A Serious Case of Cabin Fever ~ Trend de la Creme - Trends in fashion, style, beauty, design, and popular culture.

Most of you are probably not be old enough to remember, but there was actually a time when flight attendants were known for their stylish aesthetic and impeccable customer service. This, my friends, was the era of the "stewardess" or "air hostess," two names that were canned by the modern feminist movement about the same time I was crawling in diapers. (Now, before you go Ruth Ginsburg on my ass, the original feminists were called the "Suffragettes," a name they gave themselves to impart collective feminine power.) So, where was I? Ah yes, the stewardess.

Elle (Italy), September 2009

In my opinion, there is one group to thank for the demise of the stewardess: over zealous (and uber-horny) male advertising executives. In the 1960's, cheeky ads began cropping up with hidden sexual innuendos. For example, National Airlines began a "Fly Me" campaign using attractive stewardesses with taglines such as "I'm Lorraine. Fly me to Orlando." Braniff International Airways ran a campaign known as the "Air Strip" with similarly attractive young stewardesses changing uniforms mid-flight. Great for business men trying to rack up their frequent flyer miles, but not for the stewardesses themselves (who hadn't been informed that alleviating a 'stiffy' was part of the job description.)

Eley Kishimoto, Fall 2009

The fallout of these ads turned this once highly sought after career into one of the most frustrating jobs in the world. As explained in a 1965 article in the Des Moines Register, "Male passengers expect [the stewardess] to look like a Las Vegas showgirl, and are angry when she doesn’t. Female passengers are angry when she does, and are fond of calling her a ‘flying waitress.’ Bachelors say she’s not as glamorous as she used to be, yet would trade their collection of James Bond paperbacks for a date with her.” So who's really to blame for the bad name? Surely not the girl in the go-go boots.

From "Sky Girls" collection by Tara Tonini

In the 1970's, feminist writer Louise Kapp Howe made it clear to the national media that "stewardesses" had become "flight attendants." So, having finally been clipped of her wings, the stewardess vanished, making way for a new breed of militant flight attendant that (for the most part) lacks an ounce of panache or enthusiasm. This new breed of anti-stewardess took a complete 180, turning into a veritable "hostess with the mostess -- bad attitude." In fact, I'm convinced she'd (and/or he'd) beat you silly with a bag of free peanuts if it wasn't for the sky marshall sitting in Row 5, seat C. But enough flight deck bashing. With my luck, one will recognize me on an airplane and spit in my coffee.

"In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, masks will descend from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull it over your face. If you have a small child traveling with you, secure your mask before assisting with theirs. If you are traveling with more than one small child, pick your favorite."

If you've been itching to re-create the classic stewardess look, you're in luck! In fact, I've compiled the following four looks to get you started on your fashion departure.