Starbucks announces new barista dress code. Here's what it looks like

Los Angeles Times - Apr 15th, 2025
Open on Los Angeles Times

Starbucks is introducing a new dress code for its employees, emphasizing simplicity and consistency across all its stores. Starting May 12, the updated guidelines will require workers to wear solid black shirts with khaki, black, or blue denim bottoms. This change aims to ensure the green apron, a signature symbol of the Starbucks brand, stands out and creates a familiar experience for customers. As part of this initiative, the company will also provide employees with branded T-shirts at no cost.

This dress code update is part of Starbucks' broader 'Back to Starbucks' strategy under CEO Brian Niccol, who took the helm in August. The strategy includes streamlining operations by simplifying the menu, reducing wait times, and eliminating extra charges for non-dairy milk options. These efforts reflect Niccol's focus on enhancing the customer experience and supporting baristas in delivering quality service, ultimately strengthening the brand's connection with its clientele.

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RATING

5.4
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article provides a clear and timely overview of Starbucks' dress code changes and strategic direction under CEO Brian Niccol. It effectively communicates the company's intentions but lacks balance by not including perspectives from employees or customers. The reliance on Starbucks' official statements limits source quality, and the article could benefit from more transparency in disclosing how information was gathered. While the story is of moderate public interest and has some potential to engage readers, its impact and controversy are limited due to a lack of diverse viewpoints and in-depth analysis. Overall, the article is informative but could be improved by incorporating additional perspectives and verification of specific claims.

RATING DETAILS

6
Accuracy

The article claims that the Starbucks green apron is iconic and has a coffee blend named after it. However, verification of a specific coffee blend named after the green apron is needed. The article accurately reports that Starbucks is changing its dress code to include specific clothing items, which aligns with information from Starbucks' official communications. The provision of free branded T-shirts to employees is also mentioned, but confirmation from Starbucks is necessary. The article states these changes are part of CEO Brian Niccol's strategy, but it lacks precise details about his initiatives. The claim about eliminating non-dairy milk fees and adding 'feel good' messages on cups needs further verification.

5
Balance

The article primarily presents Starbucks' perspective on the dress code changes and the company's strategy under CEO Brian Niccol. It lacks viewpoints from other stakeholders, such as employees or customers, which could provide a more balanced perspective. The focus is on the company's intentions and strategic goals without exploring potential employee or customer reactions or concerns. Including these perspectives could enhance the article's balance by addressing how these changes might affect different groups involved.

7
Clarity

The article is generally clear and concise, effectively communicating the main points about Starbucks' dress code changes and strategic direction. The language is straightforward, making it easy for readers to understand the company's intentions. However, the article could benefit from a more structured presentation of information, providing clearer transitions between points about the dress code and the broader strategy. This would enhance the logical flow and improve the reader's comprehension of the story's overall narrative.

4
Source quality

The article appears to rely heavily on information from Starbucks' official statements. While these are authoritative sources regarding company policies, the lack of additional sources or independent verification weakens the article's reliability. The absence of direct quotes or interviews from employees or industry experts limits the depth of analysis and fails to provide a comprehensive view of the situation. Including a variety of sources could improve the article's credibility and provide a more nuanced understanding of the impact of the dress code changes.

5
Transparency

The article does not clearly disclose its sources of information beyond referring to Starbucks' website. It lacks transparency in explaining how the information was gathered or whether other sources were consulted. The reader is left without a clear understanding of the basis for some claims, such as the specific goals of the 'Back to Starbucks' strategy. Providing more context or background on how the information was obtained could improve the article's transparency and help readers assess its reliability.

Sources

  1. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-04-15/starbucks-barista-dress-code-heres-the-look
  2. https://about.starbucks.com/stories/2025/updating-our-dress-code-for-a-more-consistent-coffeehouse-experience/
  3. https://abc7ny.com/post/starbucks-is-updating-dress-code-baristas/16178329/
  4. https://www.king5.com/article/news/nation-world/starbucks-updates-dress-code-2025/507-730d849a-2cc2-472d-8f79-17dc93727c91
  5. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/starbucks-dress-code-2025-new-look-apron-uniform/