Starbucks Updates Dress Code To Focus On Core Mission

ORLANDO, Florida – Starbucks announced a new dress code for baristas on April 14, 2025, effective May 12, requiring solid black tops and bottoms in khaki, black, or blue denim to emphasize the green apron and create a consistent coffeehouse experience in North America.

The dress code change is part of CEO Brian Niccol’s strategy to address declining sales and refocus on the company’s community coffeehouse roots.

Starbucks reported a 7% drop in same-store sales for the fourth quarter of 2024, with U.S. transactions down 10% and China sales falling 14%.

High prices, long wait times, political controversies surrounding DEI and the Palestinian-Israeli confict, and competition have contributed to four straight quarters of declining comparable sales and resulting layoffs.

Niccol, who joined from Chipotle in September 2024, introduced the “Back to Starbucks” plan to simplify operations and prioritize handcrafted coffee.

The 2025 dress code update seeks to unify the barista appearance, with Starbucks providing two free black T-shirts and allowing flexibility in top styles while limiting bottoms to specific colors.