Banana Republic to Design Virgin America Uniforms

Fashion-savvy fliers may soon notice that flight attendants on Virgin America planes are sporting ruggedly stylish new uniforms. This is because travel-themed retailer Banana Repiblic has joined the ranks of designers like Emilio Pucci, Halston, Nina Ricci and Dior (all of whom have created outfits for airlines) to design new threads for the crew.

The New York Times is reporting that Virgin America crew members will be wearing new uniforms by Banana Republic next month, including a women’s torso-hugging lambskin leather jacket and a men’s zip-up cardigan with red and black bicep bands.

The uniforms will begin appearing on crew members on August 8 to mark the airline’s fifth anniversary of operation. The new collection includes pieces like silk charmeuse scarves; trench coats with removable linings for various climates (including one in tomato-red); trousers with rubberized grip tape inside the waistband to keep shirts tucked in; a fitted shirtdress; and pilot shirts with an added chest pocket for passports, sunglasses and pens. The accouterments include gold aviator sunglasses, black leather gloves with red stitching, a slim belt that’s reversible and a tote bag that’s T.S.A. “checkpoint-friendly” of course.

Best of all: If Virgin America passengers like what they see on the crew, they will be able to buy some version of it (like the sunglasses, tote, men’s messenger bag and trench coats) through the airline’s in-flight shopping portal (for a limited time) as well as in Banana Republic stores, beginning August 7. Naturally, the retailer is also planning to offer additional items in its stores as part of a travel-inspired fall collection.