A number of years ago, it's hard to say exactly when, maybe 5 - let's be honest, it's more like 10 years ago - restaurants decided that the whole white shirt, tie, black pants, white bistro apron thing was over. The entire industry recoiled from those 'stuffy' tie wearing waiters of yesteryear and embrace a new exciting 'all black' vibe that they felt was more chic, cool and relaxed. White button ups gave way to black button ups, even allowing some female staff to wear a 3/4 sleeve - how daring!
It worked, people felt they were dining in trendier places when they saw servers in stealthy black. Ninja waiters everywhere! Service staff themselves liked the new rules, less bleaching of dirty cuffs (black hides so many imperfections), less embarrassing red wine stains that are impossible to disguise.
Fast forward: here we are, it's 2011 and nearly every restaurant in Stratford is populated by black clad wait staff, but like the goth memories of your high-school years, they're faded.
Crisp black dress pants have given way to ever shorter skirts, skinny jeans, and yoga pants! Shirts range from black, to grey and every faded shade in between. White tank-tops and technicolour bras peek out from under black t-shirts and open back tank-tops giving young service staff that 'well-put-together' look (please, generously slather sarcasm on that last statement). Shirts are buttoned lower (on both men and women) exposing cleavage and chest hair (though thankfully not in that order).
I for one would like to see some professionalism from the service staff in this supposed 'culinary destination'. Tuck in a little. Hem your pants maybe? Use Woolite Zero if you have to, keep those blacks looking as sharp as the day you bought them!
Basically, try to avoid going to work looking like it's laundry day and you didn't have anything else to wear! I for one would like to be taken seriously in this business, it's hard to command any kind of respect when you look like you don't even own an iron, let alone know how to use one.
Ok Chew, here I go. I have to play the devil's advocate. I too, enjoy the service industry. I get my energy from people and love learning about food and passing that information on. However, I love working in an environment where the owners trust their staff to make good choices about what they wear to work. It allows for freedom to be comfortable (because you still have to run around in hectic conditions and hot weather) but also to have some personality. I think food should be fun and a night out is a treat to be enjoyed, not to be fussed on by some uptight waiter in a bowtie and a pressed white apron.I would hate to think that a few hot pink bras and unhemmed pants will ruin it for the rest of us. I love the freedom of waking up in the morning and selecting my wardrobe and accoutrements for the profession that I have also chosen based on my personality. Long live individuality.
ReplyDeleteI agree with most of your points and appreciate your playing the devil's advocate! And of course the difference in appearance between, say, Rundles and The Boar's Head will be vast, as it should be. I'm certainly not suggesting we should return to stuffy pressed white shirts, I merely feel the pendulum has swung too far in the other direction (as it so often does!). I would like to see more service staff take as much pride as you describe selecting their wardrobes - particularly in the higher end restaurants.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I love hot pink bras and short short skirst, and even more tigher than ever skinny jeans, I have to agree that the situation may be getting out of hand. As a dinner at fine dinning restaurant, there is one thing I just don't want to see and that is a girls armpits!! We would never allow for a guy to wear a sleeveless shirt, why are the girls allowed? In my opinion there is no difference.
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree that one should be comfortable at work, I also don't want to see my servers armpits and I REALLY don't wish to see their toenails either!
ReplyDeletetoenails? seriously?
ReplyDeleteI have to say that when I go to a nice restaurant, I like to see the wait staff dressed up a bit, and neat and tidy. Show a little pride in your appearance. There's nothing like going to a nicer type of restaurant and seeing the front of house owner clomping around in winter boots while they serve you. Not only does it not look nice, but makes an annoying sound while you are trying to dine. This happened in an out of town restaurant, not in Stratford, so if you are trying to figure out what restaurant in town did this, don't worry. This particular restauarant has quite good food, or has had (things seem to be slipping), but I also want to mention that I have been turned off of the uncleanliness of the establishment as well. You can tell that it doesn't get cleaned on a regular basis, if ever. Needless to say, they are slowly loosing my business even though they are a cute, unique local dining spot for me.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. Lulu Lemon pants are for yoga or working out, not for serving!
ReplyDelete