United We Stand: Female Flight Attendant Uniforms of United Airlines

Boeing Air Transport (United Air Lines) stewardess uniform with cape (reproduction) 1930–1932
Designer: Steve Stimpson
wool, synthetic fabric
SFO Museum
Uniform: Gift of United Airlines Historical Foundation
Insignia: Courtesy of United Airlines Archives
2012.100.001, .002, .003, .004, .005
L2013.0601.001, .002, .003, .004, .005, L2013.0602.001

As the first uniform created for an airline stewardess, the ensemble followed a classic suit style with a double-breasted jacket and a pleated calf length straight skirt in wool. The color was chosen to coordinate with the green and gray highlights of the Boeing Model 80A aircraft livery. A beret or “shower cap” tam was worn with a matching collared cape to complete the outfit.

United Air Lines stewardess uniform 1933–1936
Uniform by Ralph Helperin Tailors
wool, linen, synthetic fabric
Hat by Saks Fifth Avenue
SFO Museum
Uniform: Gift of United Airlines Historical Foundation
Hat, blouse, insignia: Gift of the Fregulia Family
2012.100.006, .009, 2007.105.004, .006, 2011.194.00
L2013.0601.011, .012, L2013.0601.008, .010, .102

A modification to the uniform followed the use of the familiar “Boeing Green” color scheme but with the introduction of a single-breasted jacket worn over a linen blouse in vivid yellow with a dark green ribbon string bow tie. A sailor-style or garrison hat with a grosgrain ribbon band was worn, and the skirt length remained unchanged.

United Air Lines stewardess summer uniform 1939–1940
Designer: Zay Smith
Hat by Frank Olive
silk, wool
SFO Museum
Gift of United Airlines Historical Foundation
Insignia: Gift of Patricia A. Shea Dulik
2012.100.010, .011ab, .012, 2001.042.009
L2013.0601.013, .014ab, .015, .103

This summer seasonal uniform featured a short-sleeve dress in white silk crepe. The dress has a point collar, breast pockets, a gored over-the-knee skirt, and it was belted with a blue zipper opening at the front. With the collarless jacket in “Mainliner Blue,” the distinguished ensemble fit the era of United’s new Douglas DC-3 service.

United Air Lines stewardess winter uniform 1939–1941
Uniform by Smith-Gray Tailors
Hat by De Jean
wool, synthetic fabric, satin
SFO Museum
Gift of United Airlines Historical Foundation
Hat: Gift of Patricia A. Shea Dulik
Insignia: Gift of Edith Lauterbach
2012.100.015, .016, 2001.042.008, 2006.028.132, 134
L2013.0601.019, .020, .071, .105, .106

Changes to the jacket set this uniform apart from its predeccesor. Created in a light-weight worsted wool, the jacket was a simplified and sleeker design that eliminated the lapels and the flap at the slanted besom pockets. The jacket has princess seam styling and a faux breast pocket. Its spare elegance shows a successful approach to doing more with less as was learned during wartime shortages.

United Air Lines stewardess uniform 1951–1956
Uniform by Delta Uniforms
Hat by Mae Hanauer
wool, synthetic fabric
SFO Museum
Gift of United Airlines Historical Foundation
Insignia: Gift of Georgia Panter Nielsen
2012.100.024, .025, .057ab, 2006.017.007, .006
L2013.0601.027, .028, .076, .109, .110

This long, fitted jacket and skirt in “Skipper Blue” was a variation on the style of the previous uniform. The fabric-covered buttons were retained, but the style of the front side pockets was altered and a flap was added for mounting the jacket wing insignia. With this uniform came the introduction of a new style of hat. Made in a top stitched fabric of matching blue, this flat cap, or “sugar scoop” hat, became a popular millinery design.

United Air Lines stewardess uniform 1959–1963
Designer: Raymond Loewy
Uniform by Delta Uniforms
Hat by Mae Hanauer
wool, synthetic fabric
SFO Museum
Gift of United Airlines Historical Foundation
Jacket insignia: Courtesy of United Airlines Archives
Hat insignia: Gift of Georgia Panter Nielsen
2012.100.031, .032, .058, 2006.017.050
L2013.0601.032, .033, .034, .035, .112, L2013.0602.005

Raymond Loewy’s first uniform was followed by a softer color design that he created to coordinate with the interior design of the new jet airliner cabins. It was made in a worsted-wool, pink-beige fabric, which was called “Peige.” The fitted jacket reintroduced the lapel in the shape of a shawl collar and added vertical side pockets.

United Air Lines stewardess summer uniform 1965–1968
Designer: William Travilla
Hat by Mae Hanauer
Dacron, wool, plastic
SFO Museum
Gift of United Airlines Historical Foundation
Insignia: Gift of Edith Lauterbach
2012.100.040, .041, .042, .059ab, 2006.028.136, .187
L2013.0601.040, .041, .042, .043, .114, .117

California designer William Travilla created a new seasonal ensemble for United in a color named “Blue Frost.” It became known as the cheerleader uniform because of its flared skirt. The jacket has three-quarter length sleeves with dropped cuffs in white that were detachable for cleaning. The short sleeve blouse has a banded waist and an ascot drape with two holes for the insignia pin.

United Air Lines stewardess uniform 1968–1970
Designer: Jean Louis
Uniform by Fashionaire, a Division of Hart, Schaffner & Marx
Hat by Mae Hanauer
wool, vinyl
SFO Museum
Gift of United Airlines Historical Foundation
Hat insignia: Gift of Georgia Panter Nielsen
2012.100.051, .054, .029, 2006.017.044
L2013.0601.072, .073, .116, .115

Jean Louis of Hollywood came to United with a vision to clothe United’s 4,500 female cabin crewmembers in the latest ‘60s fashions. His simple and elegant A-line skimmer dress of double-knit wool came in four combinations of the colors named “Hawaiian Sunset,” “Maliblue,” and “Miami Sands.” The kepi-style cap in either white vinyl or the Hawaiian Sunset color fabric completed this popular uniform.

United Airlines flight attendant uniform 1973–1976
Designer: Jean Louis
Uniform by Fashionaire, a Division of Hart, Schaffner & Marx
wool, synthetic fabric
SFO Museum
Gift of United Airlines Historical Foundation
Insignia: Gift of Georgia Panter Nielsen
2012.100.071, .072, .081, 2006.017.020
L2013.0601.050, .051, .052

While flight attendants could now dress differently in the spirit of “do your own thing,” their outfits remained unified by easily identifiable colors and patterns. The distinctive green of this outfit is complemented by the navy, red, and green polka dots of the long-sleeve body shirt worn underneath.

United Airlines flight attendant uniform 1970–1973
Designer: Jean Louis
Uniform by Dalton
wool, synthetic fabric, silk
SFO Museum
Gift of United Airlines Historical Foundation
Insignia: Gift of Georgia Panter Nielsen
2012.100.060, .066, .062, .068, .256, 2006.012.009
L2013.0601.046, .047, .048, .049, .118, .122

United Airlines flight attendant uniform 1973–1976
Designer: Jean Louis
Uniform by Fashionaire, a Division of Hart, Schaffner & Marx
wool, synthetic fabric
SFO Museum
Gift of United Airlines Historical Foundation
2012.100.077, .083, .087, .114
L2013.0601.057, .058, .060, .119

United Airlines flight attendant uniform 1973–1976
Designer: Jean Louis
Uniform by Fashionaire, a Division of Hart, Schaffner & Marx
wool, synthetic fabric
SFO Museum
Gift of United Airlines Historical Foundation
2012.100.082, .076, .073, .139
L2013.0601.053, .056, .075, .121

United We Stand

International Terminal