Front Of House Uniform Inspiration
Front of House Uniform Inspiration
Front-of-house staff are your brand ambassadors. They have an important role in your customers’ experience and their first impression of your establishment.
If you’re looking for uniform inspiration for your front-of-house staff, we have put together a list of 20 successful workwear designs. From formal coats to casual rayon shirts, this article has all the front-of-house uniform inspiration you need.
1. Momotaro - Japanese-Western Symbiosis
From Instagram, @momotarochicago
This Asian-influenced Momotaro was inspired by the ‘economic miracle’ period in Japan where traditional Japanese and Western aesthetics merged, and we wanted the front-of-house uniforms to mirror these influences.
For the food runner uniforms, we decided that aprons with cross-back straps would help minimize discomfort and neck strain.
However, we also wanted to reflect the restaurant’s interior design. That’s where the natural braided straps came in. For strap adjustment, we used engraved leather cord stoppers.
Under the apron, the runners wear a button-down fit with a stand collar.
2. Madeline Hotel - Using Texture to Tell a Story
From Instagram, @madelineauberge
Our uniform program with the Madeline Hotel was all about texturesm an upscale boutique nestled in Telluride.
We used organic materials that pay homage to the mountain town’s mining roots. You’ll see the staff outfitted in waxed cotton, leather, denim, wool, corduroy, and chambray.
Because the style is based on Western motifs, it works perfectly with all these natural fibers.
The bartenders wear a quintessential Western accessory — the crossbow bolo tie. Meanwhile, the servers get a herringbone weave apron.
From Instagram, @madelineauberge
We love how the crisp white dress shirt pairs with the indigo jeans. This look can be completed with a waxed jacket.
From Instagram, @madelineauberge
Accessories can make all the difference in the uniform, so we added bandanas and caps for styling.
3. Rubens - Regal Flair
From Instagram, @rubenshotel
Every aspect of the Rubens’ hospitality uniforms ties back to the hotel’s refined taste, and it all starts with the liveried doorman.
From Instagram, @rubenshotel
You’ll see hints of the doorman’s red frock coat and black trousers in other FOH uniforms. Such as the printed ties and tailcoat jackets.
From Instagram, @rubenshotel
4. San Ho Won - Chic Lab Coats
From Instagram, @sanhowon
San Francisco’s San Ho Won is an industrial-chic grill that builds on BBQ and traditional Korean cuisine.
The chef and project director wanted restaurant apparel that marries classic and modern elements. They also wanted the staff to feel comfortable in their outfits. This led to them picking garments that easily adapt to different body shapes and sizes.
They settled on a uniform that’s not all that different from a butcher’s coat.
Navy blue was a wise choice for two main reasons. For one, the restaurant’s interior is mostly neutral. Plus, navy blue is often associated with classic workwear.
From Instagram, @sanhowon
Lab coats are only used by FOH staff. Chefs, on the other hand, wear green aprons over white tees.
5. Parachute - Smock-Style
From Instagram, @stockmfgco
The staff at Parachute wear cross-back aprons. The apron is complemented with a spin on high-fashion tees that the husband-wife founding team (Beverly Kim and Johnny Clark) liked.
The Stock team helped them develop a new version using French terry cloth. The cut features a cropped body, wide sleeves, and a tall ribbed neck. Overall, the uniform mirrors the restaurant’s confident, cool vibe.
We also made custom napkins in navy blue just to tie back to the linen aprons.
From Instagram, @anelyachicago
The wife-and-husband duo also opened Anelya, a Ukrainian spot, as an homage to Clark’s heritage and more or less maintained the same core elements from Parachute’s uniform.
6. Point C - Lots of Contrast and Printed Collars
From Instagram, @pointchotelbdg
The Point C Hotel in Bandung, Indonesia, has a peaceful ambiance with modern hints here and there. Yet, they resorted to bold colors and prints for their uniforms. Their front-desk staff, for instance, wear black blazers with yellow shirts.
A theme of plain shirts with printed collars and/or cuffs is shared among other hotel staff uniforms in the FOH side of the business. You’ll see white and black tops with the same print pattern, depending on the role.
From Instagram, @pointchotelbgd
From Instagram, @pointchotelbgd
Side Note: Some BOH positions also follow the printed collar theme. This can be a good idea for creating a sense of cohesiveness throughout the different departments.
From Instagram, @pointchotelbgd
7. RPM Steak - Chicago Steakhouse Uniform With a Contemporary Twist
From Instagram, @rpmsteak
We designed RPM Steak’s uniforms with a core goal in mind: Putting a spin on classic Chicago steakhouse attire.
The result was servers outfitted with white double-vented suit coats over dress shirts and black ties.
From Instagram, @rpmsteak
As for the bartender attire design, we saw that a double-breasted tweed waistcoat in charcoal would be the way to go. Underneath is a white Coolmax shirt.
It’s also worth noting that this tweed waistcoat was such a hit that it became our standard in-stock vest.
8. Los Felix - Simple and Practical
From Instagram, @losfelixmiami
The FOH uniform in the Miami-based Los Felix is adapted to the city’s scorching sun and fun vibes. It’s also designed to be as practical as can be, thanks to the wrinkle-free fabric.
The top’s color was chosen specifically so that it doesn’t overpower the neutral sandy walls used inside the restaurant.
For the bottoms, the team went for stain-resistant work pants in a warm, earthy tone. This choice balances the outfit nicely without drawing too much attention from the interior design.
9. Goose Island - Merch Potential
From Instagram, @gooseislandchicago
We’ve collaborated with Goose Island Brewhouse on many projects.
One of the most iconic pieces we designed for them is the embroidered chambray shirt. It’s so iconic that the staff don’t just wear it — they also sell it to loyal customers.
That’s one reason to opt for casual-looking shirts customized with your logo, they make great merch!
10. Lure Fishbar - Nautical Flair
From Instagram, @lurefishbar
The look we designed for Lure Fishbar can be tweaked around to work for pretty much any high-end restaurant. Based on our design concepts, servers would wear a vest with a charcoal satin back and a waist apron over a dress shirt.
For Lure Fishbar, we added nautical elements that tie the FOH outfits to the dining room decor. The color choice of the double-breasted vest with the adjustable cinch and how it contrasts with the maroon bib/apron are prime examples.
The fact that we picked a blue-and-white striped dress shirt also helps evoke that nautical vibe.
From Instagram, @geneyoon
11. Hu. - Workwear and Graphic Tees
From Instagram, @hu.roof
The historic Hu. hotel’s aesthetic is all about modernizing and redefining southern hospitality. And we helped them do just that with an unstructured navy blazer (inspired by Japanese workwear) over a white banded-collar shirt. That’s what the front desk staff wear at Hu.
On the roof, however, the staff have a more fun, casual look with iconography-based graphic tees.
The result is customer-facing employees who are both sharply dressed and relaxed.
12. Smith & Wollensky - Detail-Rich
From Instagram, @smithwollenskynyc
Even before you step into the Smith & Wollensky steakhouse, there’ll be signs that you’re in for an old-world experience. The first of these signs is the doorman’s dark green suit with gold accents.
As you walk in, your eyes will be drawn to all the little details inside — the quartzite bar top, the oak wainscoting, and the green-and-white tiling work. All these elements are mirrored in the bartender/waiter uniforms.
From Instagram, @smithwollenskynyc
But once you give yourself a chance to take in the uniforms, you’ll start to notice the level of craftsmanship and attention to detail that went into each piece.
From Instagram, @smithwollenskynyc
The pattern on the ties is actually a rendering of the restaurant’s logo, which happens to be the S&W New York branch.
Meanwhile, the embroidered stars on the pocket and above the name tag represent seniority. Each star means the employee has been with the S&W team for five years!
13. Gemma Foods - Fresh and Youthful
From Instagram, @gemmafoods
When Gemma Foods’ owner reached out to us, they were looking for uniforms that match their brand’s modern color palette and style.
Bib aprons seemed like a practical choice, and our cotton canvas apron in green was a particularly good fit.
14. Jac’s on Bond - Down to Earth
From Instagram, @authentic.ny
The FOH staff at Jac’s on Bond wear a rayon undershirt over a button-down paired with carpenter pants.
Together, these pieces create a subdued look that reflects New York’s essence perfectly.
15. Birdie’s - Hip and Clean
From Instagram, @birdiesftwayne
The Bradley brand identity stands out with its loud print and bold colors.
When we were asked to create uniforms for the customer-facing employees in the hotel itself, the main restaurant, and the rooftop bar (Birdie’s), we had to embrace the boldness. However, we still wanted a clean and classic look.
To do that, we paired whites (banded-collar oxfords and technical polos) with lots of blues (unstructured navy blazers and chambray). Then, we added color pops with our Gold Duck waist aprons.
16. Tre Dita - A Play on the Tuscan-Style Steakhouse
From Instagram, @stockmfgco
The Tre Dita uniform program is a modern take on the classic Tuscan-style steakhouse, with each piece being as comfortable as can be.
Service staff are dressed in dark green suits made from wool and spandex. Underneath, they have our signature Coolmax dress shirts. Note that both the textures and colors here complement the soft Italian leather chairs in Tre Dita’s hall.
From Instagram, @stockmfgco
17. Miru - Japanese Influences in a Draped-Front Vest
From Instagram, @mirurestaurant
Miru is sort of the casual, all-day, and Japanese-inspired version of the high-end Tre Dita.
That’s why we focused on lined blends and worsted wool fabrics in earth tones. To keep the look unique and reflective of the brand’s identity, we opted for braided rope and a wooden toggle rather than a standard button on the vest.
18. Vornado Realty - Upscale and Durable
From Instagram, @stockmfgco
FOH doesn’t always mean restaurants and hotels. While we’re a restaurant uniform supplier, we also cater to other types of businesses.
For instance, Vornado Realty Trust needed forward-facing security teams in its commercial real estate projects. And we helped design uniforms for their security guards.
With charcoal high-twist wool suits and full-placket shirts, the attire was durable, breathable, and upscale. We used a made-to-measure suiting process to eliminate any ill-fitting looks from the program.
We also designed matching brown leather belts and dress sneakers (with extra arch support) to complete the look.
19. Office Hours - Functional and Fashionable
From Instagram, @officehours.nyc
This gourmet grab-and-go operation at the heart of the PENN District is here to make its customers’ day a little brighter with a cup of joe. The staff does it in style, thanks to our blue herringbone denim waist apron.
20. Brasero - Letting the Accessories Shine Through
From Instagram, @brasero
Both the FOH and BOH concepts we made for Brasero are quite simple. We opted for canvas bib aprons for the kitchen team and waxed cotton waist aprons for the restaurant server uniform. Underneath, the uniforms feature a banded-collar shirt in blue chambray and wheat.
What really makes the attire unique is the companion items. Think baseball caps, silk scarves, bandanas, and pins. Every accessory was made with the brand’s South American inspirations in mind.
Your Restaurant Uniform Supplier
As a hospitality uniform supplier, we know the role that a well-thought-out uniform can play in creating a positive brand image. And we can help you find the perfect FOH design for your business.
Partner with Stock today and join our long list of happy clients!