The Psychology of Colour in Chef Uniforms

You might not be aware of it, but colour plays a key role in branding, and contributes greatly to how people might perceive your business. This is why, when selecting a personalised uniform for your employees, colour choice is an important factor to consider. The psychology of colours and what they signify to us is complex and tends to vary from culture to culture. Before implementing a new uniform, you should first understand the significance of a well-thought out colour scheme. In this blog, we’ll take a look at how colour psychology can impact the image of your brand, using chef uniforms as an example.

The Psychology Behind the Colours in Your Uniform

Colour is a powerful communication tool which can be used to signal action and influence mood. Whether you’re aware of it or not, colour can evoke strong feelings within us, which is why different industries naturally gravitate towards specific colours for their branding. Blue, for instance, represents trust, responsibility, relaxation, loyalty and reliability. As a result, it is one of the most popular choices for uniform colours. It is used most frequently by healthcare professionals, certain tradespeople and corporate workers - all professions wherein creating a professional, trustworthy image from the getgo is paramount.

Yellow is notorious for its connotations of joy and optimism. Some of the world’s most notable brands, including Disney, McDonald’s and Google, implement yellow into their branding to effectively entice customers. Plus, if you’re looking to present your staff members as welcoming, warm and enthusiastic individuals, a uniform with hints of yellow could be a great idea.

Black is thought to be a somewhat tricky colour as it can have both positive and negative associations: although it symbolises power, elegance and formality in some cases, it can also connote fear, aggression and unpleasantness. However, when used in the right context - in business settings, for example - it adds an air of dignification and formality that is appropriate. Black is also used by authoritative figures such as police officers and barristers due to the feelings of security and control it evokes, as well as many retail and corporate companies who wish to maintain a glamorous, stylish look.

Red is, of course, attention-grabbing and represents energy and positivity. Studies have even shown that red stimulates your appetite, which explains why it is a popular choice for many restaurant brands. Green, on the other hand, is commonly used in the uniform of outdoor professions, such as gardeners, landscapers and farm workers thanks to its obvious associations with the natural world.

Finally, white is suggestive of good hygiene, cleanliness, efficiency and purity. When we think of white uniforms, we tend to think of those in the medical field, health and beauty professionals and, of course, we cannot forget about the ubiquitous “chef whites”. 

Why are Kitchen Uniforms Traditionally White?

Everybody is familiar with the classic crisp, white uniform of a kitchen professional. Historically, chef whites conveyed a sense of prestige, admiration and expertise that comes with the mastering of the culinary arts, and even today many hospitality establishments still choose to honour this tradition by keeping the all-white uniform.

The origins of chef whites date all the way back to the mid-19th century, with Marie-Antoine Careme being widely regarded as the creator of this tradition. Careme’s choice of white for his innovative chef uniform design can be linked to colour psychology. As mentioned above, white signifies cleanliness - a factor that was important in 19th century Paris for improving the reputation of eateries in the area, and more generally providing chefs with a more professional and respectable image. The purity of white makes it extremely easy to notice any stains or blemishes which, by Careme’s logic, made it easy to identify a good chef from a bad chef - with a good chef making no mess. White is also great for reflecting heat, which helps to keep chefs cool in a boiling kitchen.

The Rise of the Coloured Chef Uniform

Today, although many chefs continue to don the classic white uniform for the same reasons they always have, there are also a number of coloured options that are now equally as popular. These days, chefs are allowed to choose between various colours and styles for their jackets, trousers and aprons to create their own individual look or to fit in with their team - both in the kitchen and front of house.

Chef Jackets

Some restaurants might choose to designate a colour scheme to their chef’s jackets to create a more streamlined brand identity, or even to establish a hierarchy in the kitchen, - with employees wearing different colours depending on their role - for example, having the head chef and main cooks wear white jackets, and the prep cooks wear black jackets. Some eateries might even scratch the white design altogether and opt for black across the board. Where white leaves no room for mess, black is convenient for hiding stains or blemishes whilst also offering a bold yet stylish look - making it a great choice for establishments with an open plan kitchen.

As a whole, however, the style and colour of a jacket is often the chef’s personal choice, and occasionally they are personalised through the addition of brand names or logos.

Chef Trousers

Although chef trousers were also originally white, in recent years all-black and chequered patterns have become the norm. Chequered chef trousers are generally designed in a black and white check or houndstooth pattern, which helps to camouflage food and grease stains easily. Chef trousers are also typically made out of a poly/cotton blend fabric which makes them highly fade resistant.

Chef Aprons

Much like the jacket and trousers, earlier iterations of the chef apron also consisted of a white waist or bib apron, which later transitioned to the popular navy or black striped variety. Nowadays, however, the choice of colours for chef aprons is endless. While many chefs still opt for navy or black with a thin white strip - especially over traditional chef whites - others might choose apron colours or styles that complement their establishment’s branding or decor, to differentiate their role or just out of personal preference.

How to Choose the Right Colours For Your Chef Uniforms

When considering what colours you should choose for your business’s chef uniforms, it's a good idea to make sure that the resulting shades match, or at the very least tie in, with your brand identity and the aesthetics of your establishment. Consider the theme of your restaurant: is it traditional or modern, casual or upmarket? Once you’ve established this, find colour schemes and combinations that reinforce this theme. A more rustic restaurant, for instance, could take inspiration from the natural world and implement lots of green, brown and neutral shades.

Don’t forget that chef uniforms can also be used to create a specific atmosphere thanks to colour psychology: blues and purples work well in establishments that offer a relaxed dining experience; brighter, bolder colours are better suited to a busier environment, like a fast food restaurant.

Of course, your chef’s uniforms should simply be one small piece in the larger puzzle of your brand identity. You should aim for consistency throughout your interior design, tableware, signage, menus and staff attire. As consistency is key, you should also ensure that your colours are going to look smart and appealing across your brand, so choose wisely!

Looking For White Chef Jackets, Aprons & Much More?

Reflect on your brand positively and keep your staff safe and comfortable with chef uniform hire from Stalbridge Linen Services, where we supply a range of high-quality, smart chef uniforms for all kinds of professional kitchen environments.

Here at Stalbridge Linen Services, our chef wear is crafted out of material that is highly breathable and protects the wearer from any spills or hazards that they might encounter in a busy kitchen. Alongside our luxury product range, customers also benefit from our convenient chef uniform hire service. Our process is simple: select the products you require, after which they will be delivered straight to your door by an experienced driver. Once your linen is ready to be cleaned, it will be picked up and taken to our laundry facilities, where it will be professionally laundered using state-of-the-art equipment. However, we won’t leave without first dropping off a batch of freshly cleaned uniforms - meaning that you’ll never run out of what you need to keep your business running efficiently. All of this and more is available at a highly competitive rate, and you’ll never catch us trying to tie you into a contract that you don’t want or need.

Browse our wide range of chef jackets, aprons, polo shirts, trousers and cloths in a variety of colours and styles that are suitable for your entire team. For more information, please get in touch.