CHRISTIAN LACROIX DESIGNS FOR AIR FRANCE AND SNCF

Publié le 9 juin 2011 par paris-shanghai-fashion.over-blog.com

Nowadays, as one boards a flight with certain low budget airlines, expectations are not exactly high. As well as over priced snacks, bad smells and a lack of overhead storage, the air hostesses are not much of a treat for the eye. Despite this lack of effort, there was once a time when an air hostess was considered a glamorous figure, and the aisles of a plane, resembled a catwalk.

However, some parts of the world still retain an air of class and elegance with their uniforms. In 2005, Air France showed their new uniforms, which were designed by Christian Lacroix. The collection includes 60 interchangeable pieces of clothing and accessories, 100 per cent wool, all-navy ensemble of long-line jackets, slim pants, a dress clinched at the waist with a red sash and sky-blue organza scarves, finished off with real calfskin shoes. Christian Lacroix, in the tradition of French couturiers, realized that looking smart for long periods, his designs not only focus on fabric, but also on fit. He dispatched a team of 60 tailors to take the measurements of the airline's 31 000 employees. This gives one a glimmer of hope that glamorous flying can still exist.

The SNCF TGV Réseau (TGV-R) trains were built by the company Alstom. After ten years of successful service, the interior of TGV-R sets became outdated and needed a refurbishment. This refurbishment was part of the TGV’s project.

Three possible interiors were presented to the public between 2002 and 2003 in different stations, including MBD Design (designer of the noses of Alstom's Prima locomotives and the TGV Duplex), which teamed up with fashion designer Christian Lacroix, especially for the staffs’ uniform design. His design pursuit traditional train uniform, fitting grey suit garment and fancy hat.

Between 2008 and 2009 the three-voltage sets will also be refurbished in the same design. The refurbished sets can be distinguished from the non-refurbished ones by: the slightly changed livery, the fittings in the coaches, which are in new colors (red for the 2nd class, green for the 1st class and silver for the bar) and the reflecting stripes on the sides of the motorcars.

At the end of the Train Capitale exposition in Paris, MBD Design and Christian Lacroix were announced as the winning design.