# Updated Barista Dress Codes Starbucks' New Employee Dress Code Allows for Greater Individuality By Katherine Pendrill | Published 2016-07-27 | Business Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/employee-dress-code References: [fortune](http://fortune.com/2016/07/25/starbucks-dress-code-changes/) & [news.starbucks](https://news.starbucks.com/news/starbucks-dress-code) [Starbucks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/summer-drinks-1) recently updated its employee dress code to allow for greater personal expression. Up until now, Starbucks employees have had limited options when it comes to finding garments to go under the chain's signature [green aprons](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/oatly-and-kids-of-immigrants). Now baristas can let their individual personalities shine with a wider variety of clothing options available. In effect since Monday, the new employee dress code allows Starbucks employees to wear clothes that go beyond the previous black, white and khaki color palette. Now employees can wear shirts in shades such as navy, gray and brown, as well as dark wash jeans. In addition, Starbucks has also relaxed it policy regarding hair color by giving employees the freedom to dye their hair any shade. The updated dress code is meant to improve the overall in-store experience by giving employees more freedom when it comes to their outfit choices. As the company explains, "We want partners to be as proud of their look as they are when they tie on their green apron." ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.4/10 - Popularity: 49% | Activity: 45% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/business) > [Retail](https://www.trendhunter.com/retail) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Greater Personal Expression:** Opportunities for disruptive innovation lie in creating customizable employee dress code solutions that promote personal expression. - **Expanded Clothing Options:** Disruptive innovation opportunities exist in the development of stylish and comfortable clothing lines specifically tailored for baristas and other service industry workers. - **Acceptance of Hair Color Diversity:** Innovative haircare products and services can cater to the growing demand for hair colors that comply with relaxed workplace dress codes. ### Who This Affects Most - **Retail:** There is a disruptive innovation opportunity in the retail industry to provide customizable and fashionable employee uniforms. - **Fashion:** The fashion industry can capitalize on the expanded clothing options by creating stylish and comfortable clothing lines specifically designed for service industry workers. - **Beauty:** In the beauty industry, there is an opportunity for disruptive innovation in the development of haircare products and services that cater to the demand for hair colors allowed in relaxed workplace dress codes. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Liberated Airway Dress Codes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/british-airways.md) - [Bespoke QSR Beverages](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/summer-drinks-1.md) - [Collegiate Cafe Clothing Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/starbucks-and-beams.md) - [Festive QSR Drinkware](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/2024-holiday-drinkware.md) - [Cheeky Coffee Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/starbucks-new-ads.md) - [Vibrant Summer-Ready Drinkware](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/starbucks-summer-merchandise.md) - [Custom Apron-Wearing Tumblers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/custom-stainless-steel-bottle.md) - [Convenient Cafe Delivery Options](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/starbucks-and-doordash.md) - [Customizable Cafe Drink Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/official-starbucks-secret-menu.md)