Braniff Airways hostess class of 1939 in front of the new twenty-one passenger Douglas DC-3. The uniform was a variation of the earlier 1937 bolero-style suit. The turban headdress was replaced with a jaunty blue pill box hat.
A54.112
Gift of Pat Zahrt

Red wool crepe cummerbund and turban.
M87.38.49 a, b
Gift of the Clipped B's

Ivory silk crepe blouse with cowled neck.
M87.38.10 c
Gift of the Clipped B's

Heather gray worsted wool two-piece uniform.
M87.38.10 a, b
(Reproduction.) Gift of the Clipped B's

When the passenger capacity of its airplanes became too large to be comfortably attended by the co-pilot, Braniff Airways hired its first class of flight attendants. At a time when career opportunities for women were few at best, 800 applicants sought the ten available positions. Applicants were required to be single and petite, have at least two years of college, and possess a speaking knowledge of Spanish.

The young women were called hostess rather than stewardess. It was felt this sounded more gracious and hospitable. Throughout the company's years of operation the term hostess remained in use.

Dallas' legendary Neiman-Marcus store designed the prototype uniform. The modified bolero silhouette with red cummerbund and turban paid tribute to the company's southernmost terminus at Brownsville, Texas, on the United States and Mexico border.