Travilla 1967 - Frontier & National Airlines

Frontier Airlines

In 1967, Travilla created a complete ensemble for the Rocky Mountains Denver, Colorado-based Frontier Airlines. A definite departure from just two years earlier, Travilla decided to go with heavier fabrics that better suited the colder climate and more experimentation with the beret style hat, featuring several different toppers.

The final designs were:

1) A white rolled-collar blouse of Dacron whipped cream material with three-quarter length sleeves under A-line jumper pants. Loosely fitted jacket with military-type standup collar fits under blouse collar giving a hint of astronaut influence. 2) Turquoise jacket accented with gold. Accessories include gold patent boots, a gold purse, and a vivid gold, lavender, turquoise, and green printed silk scarf. Topped with a little boy-type billed hat of turquoise. 3) For inclement weather, a turquoise double-breasted topcoat with gold lapels and tie belt. 4) For in-flight service, gold flats with an A-line striped smock of blues, gold, and greens.

National Airlines

With both Southern California and Southern Florida sharing the same weather, beaches and palm trees, it only made sense that Miami-based National Airlines chose Travilla to help them update their image to go along with the growing trend of young travelers to the Sunshine State. For the 1968 travel season, gone were the old red and blue colors and logo of their parents’ generation, replaced by the bright tropical colors of orange, yellow and lime - both in the decor of the plane and the stewardesses’ uniforms. Travilla submitted several variations from shifts to culottes with a variety of blouses and necklines, however, the final decision was not his, and their choice was reminiscent of his earlier United uniforms with the cheerleader style skirt, but in a dress style. L.B. Maytag, president of the airline told reporters “A new stewardess costume has been designed to eliminate the uniform concept. Our girls will look like girls. The accent is definitely on femininity.”

When it debuted in front of over 250 guests and press as the finale of a fashion show featuring every style of National uniforms since 1937, the airline so eloquently described it as: "A basic short-sleeved skimmer made from Dacron and wool, topped with a stand-up collar and double pleated skirt falling just above the knee. Accented with a silk chiffon scarf for either wind protection or neckwear. An oversized visor with a sweeping, amber-tinted curved lens helped with sun exposure. A matching outercoat was bone colored worsted wool. Double-breasted with a bib yoke and large brass buttons. Gentle A-shape, flaring at the hem. Accessories include bone-colored travel tote and pumps." Ticket agents would wear either orange or lemon dresses with male agents donning fine black checked jacket in orange, lemon or lime.

Some attendants didn't mind the outfits and their colors, some felt that they looked like tropical fruits as they wandered the streets of London after National inaugurated service in 1970. But of all the airlines, Ohio Arts choose National and his designs appeared on their lunchboxes. Partially because of the retro-futuristic feel of Travilla's uniforms, one in mint condition can be worth upwards of $400, more if the visor is included.

He also designed a robe for stewardesses to hand out to travelers who forgot a covering for their sunny vacation. The “happy coat” style doubled as a robe or poolside sun jacket. Featherlight, colorful and made of “Kyron-paper.”

In 1972, National went with Yves St. Laurent's designs and most of the stewardesses strongly disliked the non-Floridian chocolate brown coat with black tiger stripes with matching hat, often referring to it as their "hooker coat."