Up, up, and away!

For this post I was originally planning on talking about how it has been a long time since I have taken a proper vacation--you know, the kind where you actually get on a plane or leave the country or something. Then I thought, "Who wants to hear a whiner?". These vintage travel posters not only had me longing for the days of traveling in real style but also fantasizing about getting out of town...soon. They also had me wondering what happened to the days of the bar on the second floor of the airplane or the second floor for that matter? The roomy sleeping compartments or elegant dining compartments on trains? Or train travel in general? These days the actual act of traveling can be sleepless, hectic and sterile-but there is still something about reaching your destination and entering a new place and an unknown culture that is still totally jet-set, romantic and exciting.

The vintage travel poster does such a great job at grabbing your attention with colorful, bold graphics and snappy slogans while leaving just enough to the imagination to get your juices flowing. I don't think you see that enough in modern advertising. Not to mention these are amazing works of art. They have really inspired me. It is one of my goals this year to get out of town and enjoy a real holiday. Stop. Relax. Recharge. Inspire. Put color on my cheeks. Return a better me. Why not? You know what they say about all work and no play--it's true. And in this year of trying to be optimistic and open minded, I think I could benefit more than ever from stepping back and seeing the world from a new place. I have put it off for too long saying "I can't". A long weekend would suffice. It doesn't need to be a trip around the world. It is so easy to forget that all it takes is a little saving, a bit of planning, some research, booking, bag-packing and...

...up, up, and away!

Come Fly with Me

Braniff International Airways was an American airline that operated from 1928 until 1982. Their planes travelled between the central midwest to South America, Panama, Asia and Europe.

In the mid sixties the airline drastically changed its image on the advice of Harding L. Lawrence. Lawrence became the new President of Braniff International after leaving his position as the Executive Vice President of Continental Airlines. Over the next 15 years, he led the airline into a ground breaking marketing campaign. On a quest to alter the companies public image, Lawrence hired Jack Tinker Associates who in turn assigned advertising executive Mary Wells as account leader. Wells brought on board New Mexico architect Alexander Girard and Italian fashion designer Emilio Pucci. The "End of the Plain Plane" campaign begins.

Girard started with the exterior of the planes. He wanted the planes to be painted nose to tail in vibrant colors like "metallic purple". Braniff's advertising team modified the color to beige, ochre, orange, turquoise, baby blue, yellow and lavender. Lavender was dropped in less than a month as lavender and black are consider bad luck in Mexico. The interiors were outfitted in 57 different varitations of Herman Miller fabrics. The color scheme transcended to the gate lounges, ticket offices and even corporate headquarters.

Pucci used "space age" themes for the stewardess' clothing including clear plastic helmets worn between the terminal and the plane to keep their hair in place. Stewardesses were called "hostesses" and their clothing and accessories were composed of interchangeable parts that could be removed as needed. In 1969 Pucci designed "Pucci IV" for the intro of "747 Braniff Place", the airlines most famous plane. The collection debuted at the Dallas Hilton by Pucci himself in 1970. Even today the vintage Pucci designs for Braniff are deeply desired and extremely valuable.

In 1968 Braniff started an "if you've got it - flaunt it" advertising campaign. The ads featured Andy Warhol, Sonny Listen, Salvador Dali, Whitey Ford and a Playboy Bunny.

In 1977 Pucci was replaced by American fashion designer Halston. His new uniforms and leather airplane seats were dubbed the "ultra look". The simplistic designs were praised by critics and passengers.

In 1982, due to escalating fuel prices, expansions and fierce competition the airline ceased operations.