High Style - uniforms

Newspaper article in 1936: Flying hostesses
- what a romance and adventure that name suggests....she is on the plane to make passengers happy, comfortable and satisfied. While on duty, service is her aim and object. She has been trained to this discipline, pleasing and efficient as a hospital nurse, for every hostess must be a graduate nurse. In addition, she must have intelligence, tact and charm.


Winter - 1936			Uniforms TWA’s attractive hostess first uniform consisting of a grey flannel suit featuring a long fitted jacket and a long sleeved red silk blouse, with the skirt reaching eleven to twelve inches below the knee. An overseas-style hat, with stitched on wings incorporating the company logo, was worn at all times while the jacket was required only for the enplaning of passengers. There was also a gray topcoat with red lining for use on the ground in cold weather. The first hostesses also wore grey suede oxford shoes and carried a black leather bag.		Summer - 1936
In 1936, a new summer suit was selected by Jack Frye. A variation of the grey flannel, this new suit was single-breasted with white pearl buttons. The fabric was white zero cloth. The jacket with action back patch pockets had epaulets banded in red on the shoulders and a stitched-on red logo over the breast pocket and on the hat. The skirt had a kick pleat in the front and was worn with a long-sleeved red silk blouse. The overseas-style hat was of the same fabric and had an embroidered red logo on it as well. White laced oxfords with brown heels and brown silk stockings were worn. The second winter uniform was designed by Kansas City tailor Stan Herman. A charcoal gray wool sharkskin uniform had epaulets bonded in red on the shoulders. Hostesses also wore a white parachute silk scarf, long sleeved red silk blouse, and an overseas-style hat. The winter coat was of the same fabric with a bright red wool lining. Wings were worn on the hat and breast pocket.


Summer uniform 1938	In 1938, the second summer uniform was introduced. It was hand tailored of white wool Bedford cord and basically the same style as the previous uniforms. The gold and red metal wings were worn on the hat. First worn with a burgundy sweater and blouse which faded badly on the white wool, the uniform changed to a white silk blouse with a small burgundy bow tie. The shoes were plain white oxfords with natural stacked heels. The shoes were given to the hostesses by the Brown Shoe Company of St. Louis.
A new winter uniform appeared in the fall of 1938. Designed by Gladys Entrekin, it was later sketched by famed artist George Petty and was known as the Petty girl uniform. The Petty girl uniform was of medium blue, charmeen gabardine. The jacket was double breasted with brass buttons which featured the TWA logo. The skirt was slightly flared. The hat was a new style, high sided with a quilted crown and featured a cockade of red, green, and navy ribbon on the side. The blouse, pleated in the front and buttoned in the back, was of white silk and long sleeved with a bishop neckline. Navy shoes complemented the uniform. The medium blue, double breasted overcoat was in a camel hair type fabric. The summer version appeared a few months later and was identical except for the color - white with a pale blue, short sleeved blouse. Shoes were white with navy platform and trim. The red and gold wings were worn on both the hat and jacket. By 1941, new uniforms were needed. It was found the cleaning bills for the white uniforms were costing TWA a small fortune.
Fitstst S First Spring/Summer training uniform 1940 While in training, TWA provided all aspiring hostesses with training uniforms. It was a simple way to acquaint the trainees with the importance of uniforms and standardization of regulation attire.

		1942 new uniforms. A new powder blue flanned uniform was introduced. The TWA logo was embossed on the brass buttons. The new uniform featured a hip-length, single breasted jacket with three pocket tabs. The blouse was short-sleeved white cotton with a tailored collar and lapels worn out over the suit jacket. Navy blue leather gloves with TWA on then in red, a navy handbag and luggage were also part of the ensemble. Tan spectator oxfords were worn. George Petty, famous for his WWII artistic calendars depicting sexy American women in scant attire, created "Pretty Betty". A TWA hostess in the stylish new 1942's look. "The Petty Girl had an engaging, mischievous smile and a special twinkle in her eyes. Long-limbed and well endowed, she was a slick, supple, and alluring creature. Like many pin-up artists, Petty created these ideal American girls by combining the best features of several models. He further improved on nature by making their heads smaller and their legs and torsos longer Whatever his secret Petty certainly had the magic touch."

1944 The Constellation and the "Cutout" uniform With the giant Constellation came a new uniform designed by Howard Greer and influenced in its design by the French fashion expert Christian Dior. The entire ensemble wa affectinately nicknamed the "cutout" because of the red cut-out TWA logo on the right shoulder. This uniform was worn longer than any uniform before or since, from 1944-55. Throughout the unifor's tenure, the skirt's hemline rode up and down with the changing fashions. The ensemble was tailored of iight blue gabardine. the fitted, single-breasted jacket utilized covered buttons. cuffs on the jacket were a feature of the early version. An innovative design feature was the triangular flap which could be unbuttoned to cover the TWA logo allowing the hostess to smoke when off duty. the outfit included a "blouslip" with a round neck. A matching blue hat with a red and blue cockade, on with new silver wings were pinned. The winter coat was a deep red, known as TWA red. Navy blue pumps with a matching handbag was carried. 1952 TWA had a lighter weight summer uniform design. Hostesses flying International, particularly to Cairo were excused from having to wear the mandatory girdle, stockings or hat in the desert heat.