Braniff: The Opposite of Stripped-down Style

Note: Originally published at the 2Modern Design Talk blog.

My post last week on Dallas-based Braniff International Airways only made me eager to write about their infamous airline hostess uniforms. I mean you have to make note of a uniform advertising campaign that is built around the burlesque art of strip tease and markets posters such as this Air Strip ad seen here.



The uniforms (see below) were designed as many separate components of a complete wardrobe consisting of a reversible coat worn over a pink wool suit on top of a silk turtle-neck tunic and culottes. Throughout the flight, the hostesses would "strip" off their ensemble until they reached the silk pieces. Using women as eye-candy. Wow, what a novel idea. Not. However, there was in fact a very novel idea in play as these uniforms were innovative and most definitely eye-catching. Designed by Italian fashion designer Emilio Pucci, how could they not be?


1965 Air Strip


1966 Pucci II

As part of a company-wide rebranding effort, Pucci was brought in around the same time as Alexander Girard was hired for graphic design, and the "End of the Plain Plane" campaign. The bright colors used statically on the plane exteriors would now also be seen moving inside the plane cabin.


1971 Pucci VI

Sites where you can see more of these colorful uniforms:

• Fabulous uniform collection donated by the Clipped B's, a service organization of former BI hostesses.
• A former Braniff air hostess and her recollection of her uniforms.
• Hostess uniforms from 335 international airlines and here is Braniff from the mid 60s to late 80s.
• Check this site's photos for more of the Braniff uniforms in action.

Images: Braniff Pages, the Dallas Historical Society, and Uniformfreak

Traditional Techniques Make Modern Magic

Note: This was originally published on the 2Modern Design Talk blog.



The Vlisco company in the Netherlands creates West and Central African fabric designs. They specialize in traditional wax prints on 100% cotton that is used to create modern clothing and accessories. The wonderful thing about this fabric is that it is wax printed and dyed on both sides of the cloth; therefore, the designs are rich, textural, and full of body.



Also their incredibly lovely advertising images makes the fabric instantly covetable.




Even the simplest dress design would be amazing in these fabrics. Purchase of the fabric is available here in increments of six yards each for only 45 to 60 Euros or $65 or $8 US. That price is extremely reasonable!

Place the Cydwoq On Your Feet

Note: Originally published at the 2Modern Design Talk blog.



Old-World Craftsmanship for Modern Feet is their motto. Cydwoq is the company name and it is pronounced "sidewalk." Designed by Rafi Balouzian and crafted by hand from quality leathers. The artist, not surprisingly, originally trained as an architect. That particular talent in spatial relationships, the ability to take flat shapes of cut leather, wrapping and interlocking them to become fully formed shoes is evident in his creations.



The shoes are artisan crafted from some extremely imaginative designs; therefore, it is only right that the price reflects all of that. These shoes range from $239 to $400 for boots. For some, these would be a great indulgence, an investment, or a personal award worthy of saving and sacrifice.



The men’s shoes are quite tempting; even though they are modern they would look incredible combined with a narrow three-button suit jacket and flat front trousers that break amid the top of each shoe. The women’s oxfords share design sensibilities with these designs and I can only imagine that they would inspire a strong, determined, and confident walk when worn.



If you cannot get yourself to their namesake Burbank, CA store, many retailers around the country carry their designs. This is a bonus, because a style may be on sale at one site because of a lack of interest (!?!) while still available at full price elsewhere.

Go on...treat yourself!

Fashion from the Past, to the Future, and to the Past again

Note: This was originally published on the 2Modern Design Talk blog.

I was asked what I would like to write about, what kind of things interest me. The first thing that jumped to mind was Ridley Scott’s 1982 movie, Blade Runner. It is a perfect image of the mixture of future and past design, described sometimes as a retrofitted future. Its dark vision of the future year 2019, expertly stays linked to the past.

From the poetic first-person narration, the moral ambivalent hero, to the femme fatale, it has all the earmarks of a classic Film Noir. But those elements also brilliantly shared the screen with life-like human replicants, sky-driven cars, and the threat of acid rain.

From the 1940s look of Sean Young’s Rachael, to Harrison Ford’s mood and speaking manner as Deckard, to the J. F. Sebastian toys, that strangely evoked toys that were already collectibles by the time of the movie’s production.

Last month, Japanese fashion designer Junko Shimada presented her fall/winter 2008/2009 collection, which was greatly influenced by the movie. While thoroughly modern in gold and silver fabrics, it still evoked 1950’s fashions with the ratted bouffant hair, the strong shoulders, and peplum jackets. It also seems that designers Christian Lacroix, Yves Saint Laurent, Monique Lhuillier, and Balenciaga were influenced by the retro-Sci fi blend of Blade Runner for their fall ready-to-wear collections.

I still have not seen the 25th Anniversary Director’s Cut; therefore, to me this movie is perfect as it is. I think this movie is a great example for the future of design. Truly great design does not go out of style. It just needs to be seen in a new light and appreciated anew.