How to Have a Uniform Without Having a Uniform

When we were younger, what we wore every day was dictated by your school and the uniform code that was in place. As we got older and worked in various workplaces, our uniforms became less consistent. Sometimes we were lucky enough to be given a uniform to wear every day. Other times, we either got a loose dress code or worse – no direction at all.

One of the trickiest things for employees to navigate is an unclear dress code. Finding something to wear every day that suits the dress code is not only time-consuming but extremely frustrating. At least if you have an unflattering uniform, you don’t have to choose what to wear every day!

Employers, if you’re wondering how to have a uniform without physically having a uniform, read on for our top tips.

Start with the basics

Start at the beginning – with your basics. These are the items that will tie your team together. You might provide them with a branded polo, shirt, or even accessories like a tie or belt. The rest is up to your employees! By keeping the items simple, you’re allowing your team to add a personal touch to their uniform, which can help them express themselves.

Some examples of basics could include the following:

· Springfield shirt

· Hudson shirt

· Newport shirt

· Leather reversible belt

· Women’s belt

Your basics may also be branded. Choosing to brand your basics for staff has a variety of benefits. This includes free advertising for your business, creating unity within your team and professionalism. The Biz Corporates range is deliberately made to be a blank canvas to allow for your business branding. Even subtle business logos on basic items look great and can make a big difference.

Colour code

Neutrals

Colour can play a significant part in a uniform. Not only does it make your team look more cohesive to your customers, but it also provides a connection between your staff. Setting some guidelines for acceptable colours can be as simple as choosing subtle or statement colours. Imagine, for example, one of your employees likes wearing a skirt while another prefers to wear slacks. Without colour guidelines, one might wear a charcoal skirt and the other navy slacks. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, colour guidelines add a touch of cohesion to your business. By stating that you’d like all lower garments to be black, navy or charcoal, you eliminate the colour clash that may be present.

A pop of colour

Experimenting with a pop of colour is always fun! You can still include colours without having a uniform. Like the neutral colours, let your team know that you’d like them to (where possible) add a specific colour to their uniform. This provides a subtle yet cohesive look for your team and can help customers identify them.

If you’re looking to add pops of colour, here are some of our favourites:

Cobalt blue

· Vienna short sleeve blouse

· Seville sleeveless layered blouse

· Springfield long sleeve shirt

· Springfield short sleeve shirt

Aqua

· Blaise short sleeve T-top

· Estelle sleeveless pleat blouse

· Kayla V-neck pleat blouse

· Aria fluted sleeve blouse

Lorikeet green

· Juliette plain short sleeve blouse

· Juliette plain long sleeve blouse

Dusty Rose

· Estelle sleeveless pleat blouse

· Kayla V-neck pleat blouse

· Aria fluted sleeve blouse

Auburn

· Estelle sleeveless pleat blouse

· Kayla V-neck pleat blouse

· Chelsea long line cardigan

Set some guidelines

Having a ‘uniformed’ approach means your team will look like one unit and present well to customers. If you’re not planning on setting guidelines around colour or basics, providing your employees with a general dress code (including examples) can be highly beneficial. There are so many different dress codes that simply saying “smart casual” may not benefit your staff – it can just leave them confused! Some dress codes you may have heard of in relation to business include:

• Business formal
• Business professional
• Business casual
• Smart casual

Providing some clear guidelines about what you mean by these dress codes can help your staff decode them. For example:

• “No denim”
• “No spaghetti straps or cropped tops”
• “Closed toe shoes only”
• “Ties must be worn”

Setting these examples lets your employees know what you expect from them.

To learn more about dress codes, read our blog.

Working from home

Hybrid working has dominated businesses of all sizes since the pandemic, with more and more people choosing to work both at the office and at home or just from home. Creating uniform guidelines or an unofficial uniform is a great way to connect employees who are working from home. For example, if you’ve introduced a pop of colour guideline, your team members can participate from their home offices. Not only does this help create a professional look for team members who interact with customers, but it also helps them decide what to wear in the morning and feel as though they are part of the team.

Working from home can feel isolating for some but having a form of uniform to connect with those in the office is one way to boost morale and increase productivity. One thing to keep in mind is that, like those working from the office, those working at home are increasingly seeking comfort as part of their uniform. Opt for choices or guidelines that consider the comfort of the employee. Versatile garments like chinos, cardigans and soft shirts make great hybrid options.

Want to learn more about hybrid uniforms? View our range here.

Not all businesses have a uniform. In fact, many corporate environments don’t have a uniform but often set dress codes that leave staff feeling a little bit lost. What’s the difference between business formal and business professional? How can you include those working from home? Is there a way to promote cohesion in your staff? These are all things to consider if you’re implementing a uniform that isn’t an official uniform.

Uniforms – official or not – are fantastic ways to boost morale and increase employee productivity. If you’re after some dress code inspiration, head into your closest Biz Corporates stockist today.