Flight suit
c.1939
Rayon
Museum purchase
Object numberP94.9.1
Women found unprecedented opportunities in aviation during the late 1920s and 1930s. According to aviation historian Joseph Corn, many female fliers preferred fashionable clothing to flight suits. Others, such as Amelia Earhart, “designed female sports and flying clothes, costumes which blurred the distinction between ground and sky and rendered the latter more accessible psychologically.” The removable hood on this enables the wearer to transition from plane to country club, while vertical darts around the waist create a slightly fitted silhouette.
DescriptionWomen's flight suit in ivory rayon shantung, with NIRVANA embroidered in gold and brown on LF asymmetrical patch pockets; shirt collar; long sleeves with snapped cuff; CF concealed zipper; wide straight legs; detachable, zippered, flight hood with padded ear covers, buckled chin strapCollections
Exhibitions