There are more depressing places to be than sitting in United Airlines economy. But not many. On a recent flight from Kennedy to LAX the rows of us in coach, wedged to the back of a mostly business class plane, were told over the P.A. to “Stop ringing the call buttons, because it’s annoying” and to “Speak up, hon, I can’t hear if you want tomato juice or a turkey sandwich. O.K.?” (this directed at the young Australian woman to my left who blushed in shame). 

Perhaps Cynthia Rowley could bring a little decorum to the “friendly” skies. Over the weekend, the airline announced that Rowley would design its uniforms for 2011. It’s doubtful that the ultra-femme flounce of her spring 2010 collection (see right) will translate perfectly at 35,000 feet, but it’ll be an improvement of the 10-shades-of-gray-and-navy that flight attendants are currently given.

Rowley joins a select group of designers tapped to bring a little class back to flying (Christian LaCroix has worked with Air France, Richard Tyler with Delta). Who will be next to improve onboard aesthetics? We have our money on a Michelle Obama-approved American designer (Isabel Toledo comes to mind). — Krista Jennings