Before Amelia Earhart became famous for flying, she was all about the needle and thread it seems. What, you didn’t know she was a fashion designer? OK, we weren’t aware either, but you learn something new every day, right? Amelia learned how to sew as a young girl and made her own clothes while working as a social worker, all before she took to the skies. In order to finance her flying expeditions, she launched her first line in 1934, Amelia Earhart Fashions, which sold at Macy’s in New York and Marshall Field’s in Chicago. Amelia was all about creating designs for women which were sensible—separates, comfortable pieces, and machine-washable items—with a bit of whimsy, which included shirt tails and parachute silk raincoats with buttons shaped like propellers. Of course, as a designer, Amelia created her own clothes as well, including a jumpsuit that was designed to be something comfortable to wear in the cockpit. This isn’t the celebrity fashion line of today either: Amelia’s patterns were published and featured in Woman’s Home Companion magazine.

You can find some of her pieces in the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum in Atchison, Missouri, you know, like when you’re in the ‘hood. But you might wanna start thinking about incorporating aviation styles into your wardrobe ASAP. [Huffington Post]

For Hermès’ fall/winter catalog, the high-fashion house has created an Amelia Earhart-themed spread for its Jean Paul Gaultier-designed collection. Inspired by the new movie? Or just coincidence? In any case, the image of Amelia has been brought back—the aviation record breaker, that is, and not our lovely site editor (although she is super stylish, too).

In this series photographed by Peter Lindbergh, “Amelia” is sexier than ever with strong and manly trench coats, fur-collar bomber jackets, and leather driving gloves. The looks are pretty badass, but we’re not so sure we’d accessorize with aviator goggles and a large wrench. Think we’ll be seeing more sexy Amelia Earhart-inspired designs? Check out a few more pics after the jump. [ViewonFashion Magazine]

Amelias are hot s**t right now. There’s me, of course, and then there’s Amelia Earhart, the legendary female aviator who will be immortalized in a movie starring Hilary Swank later this year. Amelia’s style was already super fierce and I love a costume that allows me to buy pieces that I could wear again. Check out how I would rock her high-flying style on the cheap(ish), after the jump, but know you could always spend more on some of these pieces so they last a lifetime.

Part of the reason my parents named me Amelia was in honor of Amelia Earhart, the female aviator. Earhart broke a bunch of aviation records and was the first woman to receive the Distinguished Flying Cross for becoming the first aviatrix to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She was pronounced dead in 1939, a year and a half after her plane vanished on a flight somewhere over the Pacific Ocean. Her body was never found. The first trailer for the biopic “Amelia,” starring Hilary Swank, has been released and it’s got OSCAR written all over it. I have to admit, I’m a little disappointed in the casting. Yes, Swank is a double Oscar winner, but, um, I find her kind of boring. I can’t help but think Amy Adams—who plays Earhart in “Night At The Museum 2”—would have been a fresher choice. But I’ll reserve final judgment until I see the flick, which I think all Amelias should get free tickets to.