Making the aisle a catwalk! British Airways reminisces on 80 years of air hostess uniforms in new exhibition The 'Fashion of Flight' exhibition documents the evolution of airline uniforms READ MORE: A taste of yesteryear travel: Pilot's fascinating book charts a century of BA meals, from mutton soup in the 1940s to caviar on Concorde (and it includes recipes for recreating them) By Maanya Sachdeva Published: 11:42, 17 October 2024 | Updated: 11:52, 17 October 2024 e-mail View comments Some of the most classic British Airways uniforms have gone on display – including full tartan, paper dresses and a raspberry mini. The iconic outfits span eight decades featuring the carrier's most 'outlandish' creations and show the evolution of airline uniforms. They include a floral paper dress - which the original 'air stewardess' would cut themselves and wear with a flower in their hair.
Those were phased out after some passengers in aisle seats tried to set them on fire with lighters, a retired BOAC stewardess said. The 'Fashion of Flight' exhibition at the Aerospace Bristol museum showcases a variety of British Airways cabin crew and flight crew uniform, from 1940s to modern-day designs. Launched in 1946, the first BOAC female uniforms were designed by the UK designer Maurice Helman, who combined a practical design with a silhouette that was also ‘modern, streamlined and typified a spirit of a new machine age’ It includes a BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corporation) paper dress de.