As soon as I turned 15, my parents started squinting at me, wondering what I had done to deserve a $20 weekly allowance. Before high school, I did a lot of things around the house. It wasn’t until I started taking gigs and stepping up my extracurricular activities in college that I started to give up on housework. I was not interested in working at the local grocery store or taking care of the kids, and I started doing mail as my chore every day after school and before my parents got home. Obviously, it wasn't worth $20, and after a week of playing charades, I was told to get a job. Thus began my on-again, off-again relationship in the service industry. I have over 10 years of experience dealing with drunk assholes, self-righteous wine connoisseurs, and staying within the confines of the dress code.
Typically, every new restaurateur comes with a new uniform. Sometimes it's a three-piece suit with some embellishments or advertising that only further objectifies you as a servant. Sometimes, that all-black, versatile uniform inevitably leaves behind disgusting, unidentifiable stains after every shift. Uniformed or not, just because you serve the public on your off time while they throw money at you, doesn't mean you need to look like...well, a servant.
I've been waiting for the past ten years for another job where I can wear whatever I want. Since my first job at Dunkin Donuts, where I wore a maroon cotton/poly blend with a tan collared shirt and khakis (not exactly my usual style), I was eager to wear anything Clothes I want to wear. Since then, I've usually had to wear all black at my previous bartending gigs; as someone who wears all black 5 out of 7 days a week, I can't stand mixing social attire with work attire . When I received the news via email that I had been hired for my latest gig, our boss said the dress code was “Brooklyn chic.” As I read these words over and over, I realized that I needed a whole new wardrobe to separate my work BK butt clothing from my personal BK butt clothing.
Turns out, it's not that hard when you keep these simple principles in mind to keep your work flowing.
1. Comfortable shoes
When I first saw a server wearing a healer, it drove me crazy. When I questioned her decision, she told me that it was actually "very comfortable" on her feet. When I next saw her, she was wearing flats. I couldn't help but notice the inflammation around her ankles and the blisters where the boots hit the top of her feet. You may not feel pain now, but you will definitely experience some less-than-pleasant effects afterwards. Not only are blisters not cute, they hurt like hell. The effects aren't just short-term either, varicose veins are more common in people who have little to no support on their feet.
If Croc-life isn't your thing, wear comfortable, stylish sneakers for long days on your feet. Make no mistake, Vans and Converse are definitely stylish, but since they're flat on the inside and have no support for your arches, your feet will probably start complaining before you're done with your side hustle. Invest in insoles to avoid long-term, irreversible foot pain. personally? I've been a Ked Girl my whole life.
2. Keep it light and fun
Real talk: You're working for tips, and while the feminist in me hopes you'll get as many tips for wearing a turtleneck as you do for wearing a crop top, that's probably not the case. This of course doesn't mean that you should wear anything that makes you feel overly exposed, it just means that you should still look your best like you would any other job and not wear anything that will make your desk identify you as "out" sweaty waitress” outfit to differentiate you from the rest of your group. My favorite looks are a cute tank top paired with shorts, or a crop top paired with a long pencil skirt. My personal rule of thumb is that if I'm going to show my upper body, I'll cover my lower half. Not only was I comfortable, but I also had the benefit of not being drenched in sweat. What we have to face is that whether it is winter or summer, running around delivering hot food will cause severe sweating.
3. Treat your jewelry wisely
When I was told at a casual chain restaurant that I needed to remove my nose ring, my first reaction was, you don't own me, punk! Before the words came out of my anti-authority mouth, I quickly realized that, as my employer, they had exactly that. Unfortunately, many restaurants have strict rules about the amount of jewelry a server or bartender can wear. Fortunately, this rule has no effect on my new job. That doesn’t mean everything will be ok: Wearing a clunky ring that you have to take off every time you wash your hands (hopefully that happens more often), or a wobbly necklace that babies will inevitably rip off, is a no-brainer mistake. Basically, you want to protect your jewelry. My earrings are dainty with tiny studs and a simple necklace that won't get in the way of good service or get ruined.
4. Simple dress
Personally, my favorite comfy service attire also gets me the most compliments; the more customers compliment me, the more tips I get. Wearing a simple lightweight sleeveless dress (bought super cheap on ASOS or one I've had from Beacon's Closet for years) is a sure way to stay cool. It's a much more enjoyable experience to be able to run around a restaurant without complaining that my high-waste jeans are too tight and make me look super polished. If your dress has pockets, that's an added bonus for storing your wine keys, lighter, and lip gloss.
5. Serious Hair
There's nothing worse than finding a hair in your food. Some restaurants will let you hide your hair away from food or cause damage, depending on your kitchen setup. Apparently my back and forth wasn't even allowed near the kitchen. If you have long hair, the last thing you want is for your hair to end up in someone's Instagram food post. #Total. Keep your hair neat and stylish with a simple updo, such as a two-strand crown braid, or use a scarf to cover your face. What if you have to keep the locks locked every shift? Check out the different ways to tie a headscarf! Trust me, clients will be eager to know how to make this happen too!
Whether you're dining at a chain restaurant in the suburbs, an upscale steakhouse uptown, or a trendy pizzeria in Brooklyn, our servers and bartenders rely on these skills to make our dreams come true. Ever wonder why no one tips you for all your hard work at the art gallery? This is because you can potentially make more than $3 an hour. See how you can help us, and you, with these hilarious but very important tips from the If You Can't Afford to Tip website.
Image: Christine Collins Jackson /mememaker.com
