Step back to the 1960s in New York’s retro TWA Lounge

By Francesca Street, CNN
Updated 8:57 PM EDT, Mon October 30, 2017
<strong>Retro return</strong>: Aviation fans have been eagerly awaiting the opening of the TWA Hotel at New York's JFK International Airport. The luxurious new hotel will restore the landmark Eero Saarinen terminal back to its vintage glory.
Retro return: Aviation fans have been eagerly awaiting the opening of the TWA Hotel at New York's JFK International Airport. The luxurious new hotel will restore the landmark Eero Saarinen terminal back to its vintage glory.
Courtesy Emily Gilbert
<strong>Golden age of flying:</strong> In the meantime, TWA is offering a sneak preview of what to expect from the hotel at the new TWA lounge on the 86th floor of One World Trade Center. It's a stunning, red-hued dream space -- a fantastic flashback to the golden age of flying.
Golden age of flying: In the meantime, TWA is offering a sneak preview of what to expect from the hotel at the new TWA lounge on the 86th floor of One World Trade Center. It's a stunning, red-hued dream space -- a fantastic flashback to the golden age of flying.
Courtesy Emily Gilbert
<strong>Faded glamor</strong>: TWA was a high-profile airline once owned by famous aviator Howard Hughes. TWA was synonymous with glamor -- before it lost its glow later in the twentieth century and closed in 2001.
Faded glamor: TWA was a high-profile airline once owned by famous aviator Howard Hughes. TWA was synonymous with glamor -- before it lost its glow later in the twentieth century and closed in 2001.
Courtesy Emily Gilbert
<strong>Reinventing the past</strong>: TWA's illustrious headquarters was the TWA flight center -- the iconic terminal at JFK. The streamlined building is now being reimagined as a luxurious retro hotel.
Reinventing the past: TWA's illustrious headquarters was the TWA flight center -- the iconic terminal at JFK. The streamlined building is now being reimagined as a luxurious retro hotel.
Courtesy Jesse David Harris
<strong>Fantastic views</strong>: The airy One World Trade Center space offers views across Manhattan to JFK Airport -- and its stylized interior was designed by Lubrano Ciavarra Architects.
Fantastic views: The airy One World Trade Center space offers views across Manhattan to JFK Airport -- and its stylized interior was designed by Lubrano Ciavarra Architects.
Courtesy Emily Gilbert
<strong>Back to the future:</strong> "We've brought the glamor of the Jet Age to the 86th floor of the World Trade Center," Tyler Morse, CEO and Managing Partner of MCR and Morse Development tells CNN Travel in a statement. "It's a glimpse of what to expect when the TWA Hotel opens."
Back to the future: "We've brought the glamor of the Jet Age to the 86th floor of the World Trade Center," Tyler Morse, CEO and Managing Partner of MCR and Morse Development tells CNN Travel in a statement. "It's a glimpse of what to expect when the TWA Hotel opens."
Courtesy Emily Gilbert
<strong>Red hot:</strong> The striking carpets and sofas are outfitted in Saarinen's signature Chili Pepper Red color, capturing the spirit of the original terminal.
Red hot: The striking carpets and sofas are outfitted in Saarinen's signature Chili Pepper Red color, capturing the spirit of the original terminal.
Courtesy Emily Gilbert
<strong>Striking signatures</strong>: The space also evokes the spirit of aviation with its custom-made Solari split-flap analog display.
Striking signatures: The space also evokes the spirit of aviation with its custom-made Solari split-flap analog display.
Courtesy Emily Gilbert
<strong>Classic costumes</strong>: The Lounge also showcases classic, mid-century TWA air steward uniforms. This 1944 outfit, designed by Howard Greer, was nicknamed "The Cutout" -- thanks to the jacket flaps that could be unbuttoned to hide the TWA letters when a steward was smoking off-duty.
Classic costumes: The Lounge also showcases classic, mid-century TWA air steward uniforms. This 1944 outfit, designed by Howard Greer, was nicknamed "The Cutout" -- thanks to the jacket flaps that could be unbuttoned to hide the TWA letters when a steward was smoking off-duty.
Courtesy Emily Gilbert
<strong>High fashion</strong>: This Pierre Balmain 1965 uniform is also on display in the New York lounge. This khaki ensemble is notable for being the first collaboration between an American airline and a celebrated fashion designer.
High fashion: This Pierre Balmain 1965 uniform is also on display in the New York lounge. This khaki ensemble is notable for being the first collaboration between an American airline and a celebrated fashion designer.
Courtesy Emily Gilbert
<strong>Former staff:</strong> Morse says that some of the memorabilia has been donated by former TWA flight attendants and staff: "They are passionate about TWA and have donated memorabilia from their collections," he says. "From Valentino-designed TWA uniforms to first-class china dinner service!"
Former staff: Morse says that some of the memorabilia has been donated by former TWA flight attendants and staff: "They are passionate about TWA and have donated memorabilia from their collections," he says. "From Valentino-designed TWA uniforms to first-class china dinner service!"
Courtesy Emily Gilbert
<strong>Living museum:</strong> The lounge is kitted out with remarkable vintage touches -- including this vintage rotary phone, martini glass and ashtray.
Living museum: The lounge is kitted out with remarkable vintage touches -- including this vintage rotary phone, martini glass and ashtray.
Courtesy Emily Gilbert
<strong>Great designs</strong>: The stylish new space is a sneak peek at what to expect when the TWA Hotel open its doors -- MCR Development says there are plans to include a museum illustrating how New York became the birthplace of the Jet Age and the Mid-Century Modern design movement.
Great designs: The stylish new space is a sneak peek at what to expect when the TWA Hotel open its doors -- MCR Development says there are plans to include a museum illustrating how New York became the birthplace of the Jet Age and the Mid-Century Modern design movement.
Courtesy Emily Gilbert
<strong>Old meets new</strong>: The TWA lounge in New York includes some original pieces from the old terminal -- including vintage Saarinen Tulip Chairs with original 1962 Knoll fabric seats and Saarinen Executive Side Chairs.
Old meets new: The TWA lounge in New York includes some original pieces from the old terminal -- including vintage Saarinen Tulip Chairs with original 1962 Knoll fabric seats and Saarinen Executive Side Chairs.
Courtesy Emily Gilbert
<strong>Seminal collection</strong>: The lounge also hosts a TWA collection featuring design and branding literature, vintage fight objects, the recognizable uniforms and a scaled model of the original TWA flight center.
Seminal collection: The lounge also hosts a TWA collection featuring design and branding literature, vintage fight objects, the recognizable uniforms and a scaled model of the original TWA flight center.
Courtesy Emily Gilbert
<strong>Illustrious art</strong>: The lounge is also home to a rotating collection of original David Klein Jet Age prints, commissioned by Hughes. They hang on the curved walls, designed to replicate the contoured exterior of the TWA center.
Illustrious art: The lounge is also home to a rotating collection of original David Klein Jet Age prints, commissioned by Hughes. They hang on the curved walls, designed to replicate the contoured exterior of the TWA center.
Courtesy Jesse David Harris
<strong>Future delights</strong>: The TWA Hotel won't open its doors until 2019, but there's plenty to look forward to when it does: "The new hotel connected to the historic Flight Center will feature 505 guest rooms, 50,000 square feet of event space, a rooftop pool and observation deck, and a museum devoted to the 1960s," says Morse.
Future delights: The TWA Hotel won't open its doors until 2019, but there's plenty to look forward to when it does: "The new hotel connected to the historic Flight Center will feature 505 guest rooms, 50,000 square feet of event space, a rooftop pool and observation deck, and a museum devoted to the 1960s," says Morse.
Courtesy MCR Development
<strong>Appointment only: </strong>While we wait for the re-designed flight center to open its doors, the TWA Lounge -- which will primarily function as a sales center -- will be open to the public by appointment only.
Appointment only: While we wait for the re-designed flight center to open its doors, the TWA Lounge -- which will primarily function as a sales center -- will be open to the public by appointment only.
Courtesy Jesse David Harris
Step back to the 1960s in the retro TWA Lounge
CNN  — 

The 1960s were the height of aviation’s Jet Age – a glamorous era characterized by faster travel, stylish uniforms, streamlined design and cocktails aplenty.

In these days of crammed airports and economy seats, it’s fun to daydream about aviation’s former life. But that daydream could soon become a reality once more.

New York’s JFK International Airport is restoring its celebrated TWA center – developer MCR is transforming the famous building into a cool retro hotel.

This newly designed hotel won’t open its doors until 2019 – but in the meantime, the TWA Lounge, on the 86th floor of One World Trade Center, offers a sneak preview of what’s to come.

“We’ve brought the glamor of the Jet Age to the 86th floor of the World Trade Center,” Tyler Morse, CEO and Managing Partner of MCR and Morse Development tells CNN Travel in a statement. “It’s a glimpse of what to expect when the TWA Hotel opens.”

The Lounge is a stunning, red-hued dream space – a fantastic flashback to the 1960s world of aviation.

Retro return

The TWA Lounge evokes the glamor of the 1960s.
The TWA Lounge evokes the glamor of the 1960s.
Courtesy Emily Gilbert

TWA operated from 1930 to 2001 and was once owned by aviation tycoon Howard Hughes (played by Leonardo DiCaprio in the 2004 movie “The Aviator”).

The airline was the epitome of mid-century elegance – thanks to its signature color Chili Pepper Red and elegant air steward uniforms.

Its headquarters were no less alluring – the TWA flight center was the brainchild of neo-futurist designer Eero Saarinen and opened to acclaim in 1962.