To honour and embody these 90 years, Air France is unveiling a collection of five iconic dresses inspired by its strengths: aircraft and technology, fashion and uniforms, fine dining and tableware, design and architecture, and the iconic posters promoting its vast network of destinations. Designed by Xavier Ronze, head of costume design at the Paris Opera Ballet, the collection represents a visual journey through realms in which Air France has always offered the best of every era and demonstrated its ability to stay ahead of the times.
To unveil this unique collection of dresses, Air France has naturally chosen Galeries Lafayette – the go-to destination for fashion-lovers worldwide. From September 28th to October 10th, 2023, the airline will take over the 12 display windows of Galeries Lafayette’s Paris Haussmann store. To showcase the past while looking to the future, the anniversary dresses will be presented alongside a variety of pieces from Air France’s heritage and current-day collections – in a tribute to 90 years of iconic planes, designer uniforms and constant attentiveness to every aspect of passenger comfort, from in-flight dining to interior cabin design. In a bold and innovative move, Air France is showcasing its timeless elegance in the heart of Paris, in a way that’s freely and easily accessible to French and international visitors.
The airline’s anniversary celebrations will continue inside the store, with a range of accessories specially created or reissued for the occasion. With something for every budget, the selection includes models of Air France planes, both past and present, as well as a collection of “90th anniversary” pouches, postcards, notebooks and luggage tags. The airline has also reissued its vintage travel bag and heritage posters, and partnered with brands like Vanessa Bruno, Delsey, Bernardaud, Brun de Vian-Tiran and Le Parapluie de Cherbourg to continue supporting and promoting French quality and expertise. And for the first time ever, it’s offering visitors the opportunity to buy pieces of the original tableware collection signed by artist Jean Picart Le Doux, which was used in business and first-class cabins from 1966 to the early 2000s. All proceeds from the sale of this iconic dinner service will go to the Air France Foundation, which has been helping children around the world for over 30 years.
Throughout its celebratory stopover at the Paris Haussmann store, Air France is inviting visitors to attend special 90th anniversary fashion shows, organised in partnership with Galeries Lafayette. Models will parade through a dedicated space in the store, wearing uniforms designed for pilots, cabin crew and airport staff, showcasing the story and style(s) of Air France’s corporate apparel throughout the ages. A unique and immersive experience, the parades will notably feature Air France’s very first barman outfits, as well as ensembles styled by some of the world’s greatest designers, including Christian Dior, Cristóbal Balenciaga and Christian Lacroix.
Galeries Lafayette Dome
Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann
40 boulevard Haussmann
75009 Paris
Ground floor
About Galeries Lafayette
Galeries Lafayette is France’s leading department store brand. It has dominated the fashion and retail event stage for the past 120 years. Home to fashion & accessories, beauty, lifestyle, and factory outlet departments, as well as a food hall and dining spaces, Galeries Lafayette has a network of 61 stores in France and worldwide – including its flagship store on Boulevard Haussmann in Paris – and its e-commerce site, galerieslafayette.com.
About Air France
Spread across three main activities – passenger transport, cargo and engineering & maintenance – Air France’s 38,000 employees provide award-winning service to customers across a vast international network. With the latest generation of aircraft, comfortable cabins, exceptional lounges, refined cuisine, and the team’s attention to detail, Air France offers passengers the best of French elegance and savoir-faire. Air France is fully committed to reducing its carbon footprint. By modernizing its fleet, increasing sustainable aviation fuel integration, and leveraging eco-piloting practices, the company aims to cut CO₂ emissions by 30% per passenger-kilometer by 2030, compared to 2019. In 2004, Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines formed the Air France-KLM Group, which also includes Transavia. The Group’s frequent flyer program, Flying Blue, has more than 20 million members. In 2022, 83 million passengers chose the Group’s airlines for their travel needs to more than 300 destinations and 120 countries.
