So I tend to dress what I think is nicely, like all Armani button downs, latest styles, pinstripe pants and Kenneth Cole Reaction square-toed shoes and like a nice belt and everything and sometimes a little watch from Nordstrom and a diamond stud or something. But when I get ready for work, it's legitimately depressing to like put on that same black polo, my crappier pants and the most horrible shoes because you can't wear anything nice especially to a Friday night closing shift because everything'll get dirty and I just feel like I need a SHOWER after every shift. Lately, I've been thinking between the MANDATORY *green apron*, *oversized baseball hat*, crap getting all over us and incessant demands to do low work like cleaning drains, mats, etc. Starbucks has literally developed an environment where not only do I significantly have to dress down for work, it's about *making us feel inferior* about ourselves so we're more complacent. If we were allowed to dress in a suit or something and just look PRESENTABLE instead of thrown together with all this crazy oversized stuff, I'd honestly feel a lot better about going to work. When you go to a bar, they get to look nice! Why can't I in the morning.
I know I'm probably more suited for an office job or something like that, but I've just had this since high school and now that college is halfway over, it's hard to find something else, but it's just SO infuriating as I'm about to head off to close knowing that I'm going to have to significantly dress down from what I wear outside work to be made to feel like crap. It's like almost got me tearing up inside.
Anyone else run into this? Doesn't it make you feel awful to have your dignity kind of stripped away - ESPECIALLY with those freaking baseball hats?
Feeling awful at work! (Re: Dress Code)
(30 posts) (26 voices)-
Posted 10 months ago #
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hahaha i COMPLETELY agree with you on this! I am one who also enjoys dressing nice on the regular. Im not really into brand names but I do enjoy fashion and putting together cute outfits and what not. I am a steve madden girl though i will admit to that haha. Anyway yeah i basically wear yoga pants to work...i mean its not like they notice I'm short enough to where it doesn't really stand out. But yeah I hate going to work looking like crap. Theres no way to wear my hair since we wear a stupid hat and if i put on make up ill just sweat or it will smear. Im meant to work at nordstroms or somewhere i can dress up ahaha.
but i when i do go out of my way to look all cute i def get extra tips!
Posted 10 months ago # -
I just dislike the fact that we're not allowed to have visible tattoos/gauges. For myself and one of my coworkers, we dress a bit more alternatively, and it's kind of discriminatory to be told that we have to take out piercings/cover them, cover tattoos, etc, when other people can wear big gaudy jewelry and get away with it. In this day and age, it's hardly out of place to have tattoos and piercings. It doesn't interfere with me doing my job.
Posted 10 months ago # -
I make it a point to always try to get away with keeping my shirt untucked. It's the little acts of rebellion...
Posted 10 months ago # -
Meh, I've worked many a foodservice and retail job, Starbuck's uniform is actually one of the better I've dealt with. At a hotel I worked at I had to wear an oversized polo that practically went to my knees, they were company provided and they wouldn't let me buy my own but promised me they were going to order some smaller sizes. Never happened. Talk about feeling like a slob. I also did a breif stint in housekeeping there. Ugly-@ss green smock top and khakis with white tennis shoes. I hated it. So, a black button down with decent khakis and black shoes that all actually fit with a green apron for the kind of work I'm doing? I'm fine with that. If you wanna dress fancy, get a desk job somewhere or something.
Posted 10 months ago # -
I hate the Starbucks "uniform" too - I find the whole khakis and polo shirt thing uncomfortable and restrictive. Maybe it's because I'm taller than average and have a hell of a time finding khakis and dress pants that aren't too short, but the whole thing is just annoying. I never feel good about myself wearing that crap - it would be so much nicer if we had the option to wear jeans ("appropriate" jeans even - no super low here's my buttcrack-rise, no rips) and a plain black/white T-shirt. I'd feel much more like myself in that.
Posted 10 months ago # -
It's one of the better uniforms I've had to wear. However, I will forever complain about the fact that I have to wear so many layers to cover my tattoos. My tattoos don't effect my work ethic
Posted 10 months ago # -
I hate what I have to wear, but AT LEAST I can pick it out myself. Also, in Canada the dress code is a little more forgiving. Button down collared shirts are acceptable, so I usually opt for those. Also, NO HATS!
Posted 10 months ago # -
*echoes the tattoo complaints*
Hey -- at least we don't have to wear name tags!
Posted 10 months ago # -
I've worked in places with worse dress codes... the company provided polo shirts, dear god. They are always unisex, and "small" is like a women's XL on me. But somehow always too short. I wear a women's XXS or 00 most of the time. Fortunately at Starbucks I can buy my own polos, but it's still difficult to find clothing like this in my size... since I'm also tall. :/ And the shoes... ugh. Non-slip work shoes. It seems like the are all designed for wide, manly feet, so they never fit right and also look ridiculous.
My favorite job, which I was laid off from unfortunately... I had to dress kinda in business casual, though not too office-like. I just had to dress nicely is what they said basically. I ended up spending most of my paycheck on clothes... but it was good. I always looked nice... customers treated me with respect, and like an equal... despite that they were all filthy rich. I get the feeling though that most would have been terrible to the employees at the Starbucks next door.
Posted 10 months ago # -
Maybe it's just my district but we're allowed to wear collared dress shirts and slacks. This includes turtle necks and button downs. I've been at my store for two years and not once have I worn a shi.tty polo.
I'm with Smallsizeb on the make-up and hair though. It would be so nice not to have to look like a prepubescent boy when interacting with people all day.Posted 10 months ago # -
@eco & Sizeb I wear beauty rush sparkle eyeliner from Victoria's Secret and that stuff stays on like a tattoo for me through 8 hour shifts. When I waited tables before the bux, I also used the beauty rush eyeshadow but I don't bother with it now that I'm pretty much working for hourly. It's like $6-$8 per product & they sell it online if you can't find it in a store. :)
Posted 10 months ago # -
I hate the tattoo part of the dress code too. I have a small tattoo on my wrist (and 4 others, but the one on my wrist is the only one not covered by khakis and a polo) and I don't really see the issue with it at all, nor do I think customers are disturbed by it... my manager's first solution to it was, "put bandages over it" and I'm like, well don't you think that then it will look like I slit my wrists and customers WILL be disturbed?? so I just wear the bottom part of a black glove that I cut off because I couldn't find plain black wristbands anywhere. but really... whoever said that tattoos are commonplace nowadays, I totally agree, and I guess the only thing I can think of for Bux wanting us to have them covered is that yes, mine is a "nice" tattoo, not inappropriate in any way, but if it weren't policy to have them covered then it would be up to SMs as far is if someone's tattoo were offensive or not and it could create problems if that employee did not think their tattoo were offensive... I don't know.
Posted 10 months ago # -
I try to stick to khakis and buttondowns, but all of my clothes disintegrate so quickly that they just look and I feel like complete **** in my uniform. Also the tattoos and piercings thing, which is being cracked down on bigtime 'round these parts as is the usual whenever summer winds down and we begin to prepare for holiday horror. It's gotten to a point to where it's like a huge treat when I have a day off and I can wear just a t-shirt and jeans because I spend so much time in tattered uniform.
So yeah, while better than some places I've worked, it's still .. kind of gnarly. I sometimes actually forget what dressing as a civilian feels like.
Posted 10 months ago # -
Oh, I have to wear a nametag, and a hairnet, and a hat. I feel so much like a frumpy old lunch lady, that I don't even try to look decent anymore. What's the point?
Posted 10 months ago # -
Overall I don't mind. All black, all day. I wear super comfy stretchy pants, no one tucks in shirts at my store, and a simple black polo that's a bit form fitting reminds customers I'm a woman (read: big bewbs). I echo the tat thing. Tired of long sleeves. I went on amazon and bought a product called Tat Jacket. Love it. I have tats on my forearms and legs so meh. Considering the extremely liberal area I work in, it's silly to need to cover my tattoes.
Posted 10 months ago # -
The biggest problem I have with the dress code is piercings and hair color. Before Starbucks, I would dye my hair every color of the rainbow, and now I have to keep the small part I keep colored secured under my hat or I could get in some serious trouble (I'm a shift)
And I can't get the piercings I want, and had to take out the extra piercings in my ears. My personal rebellion is that I keep my ears stretched and they can't make me take them out because their the only jewelry I wear anymore.
Posted 10 months ago # -
I was one of the best dressed at my store everyday. I didn't care enough to iron my shirts but I wore a button down and dress pants with shiny work shoes. I spent the money for looking presentable at Starbucks, that's all.
Posted 10 months ago # -
I invested in Blacktrack by MAC so I could goth up my eyes. I once wore it through an eight hour shift, and then later three hours of exercising and my cat eye makeup was still there. I love that stuff.
I'm typically a pretty "alternative" dresser so the dress code really gets me down sometimes. My work shoes are combat boots, which help. I also only wear collared dress shirts because short sleeves make me look like a linebacker. I would like to get a black collared 3/4 sleeve jumpsuit to wear and see if anyone says anything about it.
Edit: like if this had sleeves: 3.bp.blogspot.com/_eK8k4SxSj_E/TE1tjfluwII/AAAAAAAAAjU/1f2So0hJ3cY/s1600/sexy-black-jumpsuits.jpg
Posted 10 months ago # -
I know a couple of guys who wore khaki man-skirts to work....nobody ever said it violated the dress code...there is still room for individuality! ;)
Posted 10 months ago # -
That is the most disturbing mental image IloveSBUX. Okay that's enough IHateStarbucks for today.
Posted 10 months ago # -
I would pay very good money to see a guy in a man skirt!
Posted 10 months ago # -
To the OP: For the most part, we seem to share the same dress style outside of work. I've got a pair of flat khaki shorts and two pair of khaki cargo shorts that I wear specifically for work only (due to several cycles in the washing machine for stains, etc) which I match with the black Barista Polo (https://www.starbuckscoffeegear.com/p-411-barista-polo-men.aspx) and the Easy Care Twill Button Up (https://www.starbuckscoffeegear.com/p-298-shirt-easy-care-twill.aspx) My shirt generally is only moderately tucked in, in the front, as it's already form fitting. I personally like the Barista Polo. They're comfortable, form fitting, and IMO look nice. Our SM recently bought these for the entire store, as a "thanks" during barista appreciation week.
Posted 10 months ago # -
I actually like hats so I don't have a problem with that part of the dress code. I lost all my polos so I get to wear my v neck shirts/white button down shirts. I get away with a lot..I am a little jealous of @smallsizeb for being able to dress in yoga pants though!!
Posted 10 months ago # -
I get all my clothes off the clearance rack because there is guarantee that spills, stains and bleach will happen.
I do not have multiple piercings or tattoos. But I do not see a problem with any of it unless you have a freakin huge ring through your nose. However, in this day and age it is not looked at as a rebellion. So I think SBUX needs to look at that it is common now.
on a side note: I do not get the attraction with ear plugs. To me its gross and when your **** is 60, 70, 80 whatever...the lobes are going to sag down past your shoulders. YUCK!
Posted 10 months ago # -
SBUX Coffee Gear is too expensive for me!!!
Posted 10 months ago # -
I wear polos that are too short and pants that are too low. I don't wear abercrombie or hollister anymore since my age/style grew out of it but I have khakis from those places that I use for work and holy moly do they sit low. Where can I get a decent pair of pants that is a modern style or slim fit that sits on my real waist?
I like to dress up for work when I am a mid day or pre close because I don't do much dirty work (As opposed to opening or closing) but I'm poor!
Posted 10 months ago # -
@thegreenlobster The GoodWill stores around here are my lifeline, especially when we have "wear THIS color!" promotions. I usually get my button downs for about $3 and I bought two good pairs of black dickies that can make it through anything. I'm not going to spend a ton of money on clothes for work, but I like to look presentable. Haven't worn a polo or khakis yet... straight black from top to bottom. Got a pair of black skate shoes from GoodWill for $6 and they hold up pretty nicely.
Posted 10 months ago # -
i love pretty clothes, and though our dresscode isn't the worst i can't say i feel very sharply dressed in the green apron. i'm just thankful that i can still do my makeup and hair and get dolled up THAT way.
what makes me sad though is that, since i work do much i barely have time to wear my pretty clothes!Posted 10 months ago # -
Working here has warped my mental state. I felt so spiffy when I got a buncha new Old Navy polos and a visor (skrew those baseball hats).
Posted 10 months ago #
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