With an art collection of more than 1,000 pieces in exhibitions spanning three airports and the Rental Car Center, art is everywhere at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
Visitors are used to looking in the air and at the ground during their travels, and there’s art over our heads and under our shoes throughout the airport grounds: A SPAD XIII World War I-era biplane hangs over the east lobby in the 44th Street PHX Sky Train® Station, and the floors of each PHX Sky Train® Station feature unique terrazzo installations with inspiration drawn from various Arizona sights and elements.
Now, aviation-themed art is on the runway – but not the runway you think.
Female passenger-service professionals — previously known as stewardesses, hostesses or flight attendants — have worn distinctive uniforms for more than 90 years to reflect their specialized roles. Their attire balanced the glamour of air travel with utility, especially during the “Jet Age,” while also aligning with airline branding and fashion trends of the era. These demands presented apparel designers with remarkable challenges.
Airlines began commissioning notable fashion designers beginning in the mid-1940s to create stylish yet functional uniforms, leading to iconic inflight workwear through the 1970s and beyond. Many of these collections became widely admired, influencing mainstream fashion and earning a place on both the catwalk and the jetway.
This new exhibition in Terminal 4, level 2 in two display cases near center features eight flight attendant uniforms from the Phoenix Airport Museum Aviation History Collection. With designs by renowned fashion houses like Valentino and Ralph Lauren, each unique uniform represents the golden age of air travel, showcasing the elegance of Runway Fashion.
All Phoenix Airport Museum exhibitions and galleries are free. Some are located behind security and are accessible only to members of the public who have airline tickets or are traveling through PHX.
More information on the Phoenix Airport Museum can be found on skyharbor.com/at-the-airport/amenities/airport-museum/