Date Published: February 17th, 2026.

One of the most entry level jobs is becoming a barista. This is due to the widespread popularity of cafes and coffee shops throughout the nation, and training is simple enough to do over a few shifts on location. It’s also incredibly flexible for younger demographics. Around 67% of baristas are under the age of 30, and 65% work only part time [1]. Being a barista, much like every other food service job, has its formulated dress code to abide by. 

Being a barista can seem like a simple enough job. All you need to do is make coffee, which many of us already do each morning. However, baristas actually have a lot more responsibilities than many consider. Of course they’ll have to serve drinks and food, and know how to operate the equipment. But they’ll also have to keep maintenance of all the equipment, restock supplies, keep both the customer environment and behind the counter clean and sanitary, as well as basic customer service, such as greeting, taking orders, and building relationships to promote any seasonal products or recommendations [2].

Due to the various responsibilities of a barista, dress codes are often kept simple to be easy to clean. Another element of the dress code is to be cohesive to the customer and keep a certain aesthetic to the environment.

One of the more strict barista dress codes come from Starbucks, the largest coffee chain in America. In their dress code guide for employees, it states [3]:

• The apron must always be worn in full length, never folded, and tied in the back. Nothing worn over it and no modifications are permitted other than what’s specifically been allowed. 

• Name tags must always be visible and legible, in the top left of the apron, no stickers.

• Solid black tops, and black or darkly coloured bottoms, no patterns or prints, raw hem, holes, and no hoodies or jackets.

And many other specific guidelines, even rules concerning tattoos and piercings. Chains, including ones like Starbucks, tend to have stricter uniforms and dress codes. This is usually due to the emphasis on brand image and consistency. In a statement Starbucks made about their new uniforms for employees, they said “We’re evolving our dress code in all stores to focus on simplified color options that allow our iconic green apron to shine and create a sense of familiarity for our customers, no matter which store they visit across North America” [4]. Essentially, the stricter dress code is because they have the brand image and atmosphere to be consistent throughout all their locations, even if it undermines the personalities of their employees.

In more local coffee shops, dress codes are less strict. Although they have its similarities, with appropriate footwear, aprons, and lack of accessories, these are mostly due to being hygienic [5]. Many will still wear more relaxed and monochrome colours, but it’s more open to different colours and styles when working at a local establishment. Some general styles baristas will wear:

• T-shirts, polos, henleys, turtlenecks.

• Jeans, khakis, or skirts with appropriate undergarments.

• Generally anything goes as long as the patterns aren’t too overpowering, and there aren't any holes or anything unhygienic.

• Over a simple outfit, an apron will typically be worn. 

Dress codes will be more detailed in a specific location. Generally, more elevated cafes will have more encouraging dress guidelines, while a casual coffee shop will allow employees more freedom day to day. It’s for a similar reason as why chains have stricter codes, except it’s more so to add emphasis on the atmosphere and experience of the environment for the customer. 

Becoming a barista has a various amount of responsibilities, and one of them is to keep up with the dress guidelines given to you as an employee. Whether you choose to work at a more accessible chain coffee shop or a local cafe, the aesthetics and sanitary guidelines will be similar across the board, and it’s important to keep note of what your company values when you get dressed. The customer experience can be influenced by appearances, even if it’s consistent or the homey feel of personality shining through. 

Image; Barista Uniform Guide.

Sources: [1]. https://oysterlink.com/spotlight/barista-statistics/, [2]. https://www.indeed.com/hire/job-description/barista, [3]. https://careers.starbucks.com/uploads/2025/05/Dress-Code-Guide-US-CO.pdf, [4]. https://nypost.com/2025/04/14/business/starbucks-reveals-stricter-dress-code-for-baristas-heres-the-new-uniform/, [5]. https://stockmfgco.com/blogs/stories/what-do-baristas-wear.

Date Published: February 17th, 2026.

Fast food work is probably the most accessible work one could get, especially while still in school or just starting out working in the real world. Typically, someone working in fast food will take orders and serve food, usually at a quicker pace than the average restaurant, especially with drive-thru [1]. Even if it is a good way for adolescents and students to build experience, it does come with its downsides. Being around greasy food for long shifts at a time can be a little demoralising, constantly smelling like food, getting stains, and even provoking bad skin with clogged pores. There are some ways to combat this however, just adding a little more effort day to day can make your time much more enjoyable, especially if you feel like work is getting in the way of your personal life. 

1. Get a proper skincare routine.

Air quality can greatly affect your skin’s health. Air pollution has been shown to influence acne breakouts, hyperpigmentation, dermatitis, and other various forms of unhealthy skin [2]. 

A fast food environment can definitely be classified as some sort of air pollution, since it tends to be humid, with lots of grease and smoke from cooking. If you’re someone that struggles with keeping healthy skin, working fast food can be detrimental, since it can worsen and provoke already existing struggles. The best way to combat this is simply having a proper skincare routine, day and night. Finding products that are specifically for your skin type and skin issues will greatly improve your skin’s health. If you have sensitive skin that’s easily irritated by the air, try to find sensitive and calming products that don’t continue to irritate your skin.

2. Invest in a spot cleaner. 

As a food service worker, it’s imminent that you will get stains. Keeping your uniform tidy is important to your work, as a uniform provides the company’s brand image, as well as your hygiene and safety [3]. Keeping it in good condition is important to your safety and performance, it also just feels better to be in a clean uniform at the start of your shift. 

Even the most high quality detergent will struggle to get rid of grease and food stains. This is just the nature of laundry machines, it cannot get everything, even with all the spinning and rinsing. You could try to remove it manually, but to save your time and sanity, buying a spot cleaner is just more efficient. A spray, foam, or even dripper is the best, since you’ll be able to target a specific part of the clothing. These usually have surfactants that allow water to pull up and mix with oil to remove it from the fabric fibers. It is the same science as to why dish soap removes oil from dishes, so if you have a really persistent stain, it never hurts to try and scrub it out with dish soap.

3. Shower after shifts.

The smell of food is often very permeating. This is because the molecules of odor are fat binding, and they stick easily to sebum, which is the body’s production of oil in our skin [4]. So essentially, smell loves to stick on our skin and pores. After a shift, there has definitely been a long enough time for your skin to marinate and collect those odor molecules, which is why even after you’ve left the building, you still smell like food.

This is why it’s important to shower after each and every shift. You need to refresh and remove all of your body’s old oil and dead skin, since those are the things that are holding onto smell. If you only change out of your uniform, those odor molecules will transfer onto the fabric fibers that attract and build up that natural grease and sebum [5]. Showering everyday will ensure that you smell nice in your personal time, and that these food odors don’t transfer elsewhere. 

Even though maintaining yourself while working fast food can be a bit of a pain, that isn’t to say working fast food isn’t valuable. It can teach you a lot about customer service, communication, team work, and multitasking, which are all things any other career will build upon in the future [6]. It’s always important to look after yourself, and just improving on the little things can benefit your mental well being and self-perception. Daily little efforts can form into a habit of self care, which is ultimately the most important for your future. 

Image; Tips & Tricks for working in fast food.

Sources: [1]. https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes353023.htm, [2]. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7838324/, [3]. https://www.justluxe.com/community/why-food-industry-staff-need-uniforms-12511/, [4]. https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/facts-and-fallacies-about-perfumes-and-body-odours, [5]. https://www.homesandgardens.com/solved/what-are-odor-residues, [6].https://ca.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/fast-food-worker. 

Date Published: February 17th, 2026.

Office clerks and secretaries often get an oversensationalised portrayal in the media, their attire often taking a special concern in this matter. People find the juxtaposition intriguing, the style and femininity of ladies in button-down blouses and form-fitting skirts, against the usually exaggerated dreary depictions of an office. This special interest has been projected onto many different characters, and ultimately back onto the public’s impression of these jobs. However, office clerks hold professionalism just like the rest of the workplace, and their outfits are held to dress code.

It’s true that secretaries are mostly women. In 2012, the US Census Bureau found that more women were employed as secretaries than any other position, and 96% of all administrative roles were fulfilled by women [1]. This can be attributed to the 1880s, when the writing machine was invented and women first began taking on clerical jobs, even in the highly male environment at the time. It was partly due to these first secretaries that women joined the workforce, as they didn’t need to have a college degree to be educated, but rather gained professional training from secretarial schools. Later, due to World War I and World War II, men left their clerical positions to join the war, and women filled in the workforce gaps [2].

Office clerks handle the general office maintenance. Their job is to keep all filing and documentation organsised and efficient to find any information needed on behalf of a department or team. They’ll also handle the office’s mail, send invoices, redirect messages onto the right person, record any postage needs, and organise receipts depending on the project they were spent on [3]. Secretaries hold a similar position in the office, except they are often more personalised to specific executives or departments [4]. 

As they spend most of their time in the office, office clerks will dress appropriately to the requirements. Each office has their own dress code, but it will generally range from business casual to business professional. Office clerks also need to be comfortable with movement, as they spend a lot of time going around the office, whether it’s to scan files, hand them to the right people, or just bending to sort through a filing cabinet [5]. So, their outfits can’t be too high maintenance, where they are constantly constricted or fixing it. 

What Office clerks do wear [6]:

• Blouses,  collared shirts, button-downs, blazers, and sweaters.

• Skirts and tidy dresses over the knee, slacks, khakis, trousers.

• Flats, Oxfords, loafers, and comfortable, smaller heels. 

What Office clerks don’t wear [7]:

• Jeans, and any denim in general.

• Low-cut shirts or crop tops.

• Short skirts.

• Anything see-through, mesh or fishnet. 

• Showing of any undergarments.

• Tall, sky-high heels.

Office clerks and secretaries are normal roles of the office environment. Although they might be portrayed as scandalous characters in movies, or even as a femme-fatale aesthetic with the popularity of “office siren” in 2024, they are just women trying to do a job. Most are not going to dress like these overcharacterised versions, as it simply goes against basic office etiquette and dress code. If you ever find yourself starting clerical work, it’s important to remember that these outside views are just misguided perspectives. It’s always more important to stay within attire guidelines, than try to costume yourself as something rooted in exaggeration. 

Sources: [1]. https://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/employment_occupations/cb12-225.html,  [2]. https://signeasy.com/blog/business/womens-equality-day,  [3]. https://www.indeed.com/hire/job-description/office-clerk,  [4]. https://www.zippia.com/secretary-jobs/secretary-vs-clerk-differences/,  [5]. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/general-office-clerks.htm,  [6]. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/starting-new-job/guide-to-business-attire ,  [7]. https://www.ultimatemedical.edu/blog/what-not-to-wear-in-a-business-casual-office/. 

Date Published: February 17th, 2026.

Before you’re able to understand what the dress code is for your job, you’ll need to have applied, interviewed, and hired. The real first impression of you that your employer gets, besides your resume, is during your interview. Deciding what is entirely appropriate to wear can be a struggle, as your outfit should show your personality, as well as your professionalism. 

The purpose of your job interview is a two-way street. You, as the prospective employee, are able to get a glimpse of company culture, and talk more in depth about your prior experience and future goals [1]. The interview gives your employer the chance to fully assess your qualifications, skills, and fit for the job [2]. A main benefit from a job interview is being able to make a good impression with your personality onto your hiring manager, as being charming and confident gives you a higher likelihood of being hired. Of course, your outfit has a big contribution to the perception your employer has of you.

Your first impression should always be of cohesiveness. This means basic general care: no excessive pet hair, no wrinkles, and comfortable in the weather [3]. Even the most casual outfit can be elevated with these elements, as it shows you look into small details and keep yourself hygienic. Of the same vain, your outfit should also be slightly more upgraded than the standard uniform you’re applying for. If employees and leaders dress more casually, consider non-denim bottoms and a tucked in shirt [4]. 

Your outfit should depend on the workplace environment, and the personality you want to exude for that. 

For casual environments, employees can be wearing anything from hoodies, to khakis, to t-shirts. These often include careers like tech companies or startups [4]. An interview in this sort of environment should lean more business casual. This includes dark non-denim pants, blouses, button downs, knee-length skirts and dresses, and even cardigans [3]. Creative environments, like an art gallery, boutique, or design companies, invite a more personality driven outfit. You’ll have more freedom to be creative and fashionable during your interview, as being trendy and up-to-date is valuable. 

It’s important to note that even in jobs with industry specific uniforms, like medical, construction, fitness, and even food service, you’ll want to have a professional outfit to wear during the interview. The purpose is less about if you meet the dress code requirements, but rather more about if you’re able to make a good impression and put care into yourself. This also depends on the importance of the job you’re being interviewed for. A food service job is much more casual, and wouldn’t mind wearing dark jeans during your interview. The medical field is more professional, and applying to a hospital might have you wearing a step-up from business casual [4]. 

There are some things you should try to avoid wearing to an interview, throughout all career environments. These can distract your employer from your personality and qualifications, and ultimately take away from a positive experience:

Heavy perfume.

Too much jewelry and accessories. 

Flip flops or athletic shoes.

Patterns that are too busy and/or contrast with each other.

Anything that doesn’t fit the culture or environment of the desired workplace.

Your outfit for your job interview should also be something that you feel comfortable in. Being comfortable, both in the fit of the clothes, as well as the character of the attire, should be something that’s effortless and relatable to you. Being relaxed, pleasant with yourself, will give you the confidence employers look for and let your true personality shine through. Fundamentally, it’s less about the outfit, and all about you as a person and as a future employee. 

Sources: [1]. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/purpose-of-an-interview, [2]. https://www.pelagohealth.com/resources/hr-glossary/job-interview/, [3]. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/how-to-dress-for-a-job-interview, [4]. https://www.coursera.org/articles/what-to-wear-to-an-interview.