• Source:JND
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Beginning May 12, Starbucks' baristas will sport a new look. The coffee giant revealed an updated dress code Monday, introducing solid black tops and restricted color variations for bottoms—all to make the iconic green apron stand out.

What's Changing?

Under the new regulations, baristas are required to wear solid black tops, short or long-sleeved, crewneck, collared, or button-up. Bottoms have to be khaki, black, or blue denim. No more colorful tops and gray or brown bottoms. Starbucks will also give two free company-branded T-shirts to each worker. By modernizing our dress code, we can provide a more uniform coffeehouse experience," the company stated. "Our partners are the face of our brand, and our green apron is an emblem of the relationship we have with our customers."

Baristas may select short- or long-sleeved crewnecks, collared, or button-up black shirts. The company will also give two branded T-shirts at no cost. Although personal attire is still permitted, Starbucks has done away with the former latitude that permitted any shirt color or gray and brown bottoms.

A Return to Core Values

The rebranding is a component of Starbucks' broader "Back to Starbucks" initiative under new CEO Brian Niccol, who began his tenure in October 2024. "There's a collective sense that we have wandered away from our roots," Niccol stated, explaining his vision for Starbucks as "a warm coffee house where people come together and where we serve the best coffee. The shift is intended to bring all the stores under a more unified look and feel as Starbucks seeks to restore the warm, welcoming environment that originally distinguished it.

Not Everyone's Sipping the Cool-Aid

But not everyone is happy about it. Starbucks Workers United, the union that represents over 500 of the company's 10,000 corporate-owned cafes, pushed back against the new dress code, calling on the company to focus on agreeing to a collective-bargaining deal instead. In spite of the outrage, Starbucks stands firm on the move. "This dress code update is a reflection of our commitment to reconnecting with our heritage and being able to allow our partners to focus on the important stuff making great drinks and building customer connections," the company wrote.