Macy's Puts the Smack Down

No one likes to be told what to wear. We didn't like it much in grade school--remember the skirt length rule? (Insert eye roll here.) And, we're not about to like it as adults. Macy's, though, is giving it the good ole' college try. The retailer has announced that effective Sept. 4, 2007, all of its employees must wear black--all black, all the time. Except, of course, for shoes and accessories. Macy's will allow its employees to be "creative" and wear whatever they choose in way of accessories and shoes. They feel this satisfies an employee's need for individuality.

Results, however, are mixed. While Macy's reports that customers find employees in all black easier to spot and more "fashionable," a journalist's inquiry yields different results. Apparently, customers think telling grown adults how to dress is a "little ridiculous." I tend to agree, but I also understand the desire to make life easier for consumers. Out of curiosity though, don't Macy's employees already wear name tags? Why the need for head to ankle black?

Word on the street is this is one of the strictest requirements of any retailer. Even Saks stores let their employees dress how they want, under the "fashionable, yet professional" mandate--leaving plenty of room for individuality. Macy's insists it's all in the name of increasing customer service (we love that!) and to add a more "fashionable" touch. I'm not sure about the fashion angle of all black--vampire, anyone? But, I get where they're coming from--serving customers is supremely important.

I would just hate to see Macy's get into hot water from a bunch of dress code hub-bub. Remember, Abercrombie & Fitch recently settled a $2.2 million lawsuit due to accusations that they forced employees to buy and wear their clothes (ouch, spendy!). Allegedly, Macy's is giving a "deep discount" to employees who purchase their black goods, but there's no requirement to do so. What do you think? Are employee dress codes good for business and employee retention? We want to hear it from YOU!

--Heather Strang

Comments

[mia]

My sister is a store manager of a clothing store and she had to wear the store brand, so she did and she also put that as an expense on her taxes. According to her accountant she could do that since it was required. At the end she was happy that she had nice clothes and was able to get something back for it and follow company policy. And her company gave them 40-60% off.

[Shanna]

Rachelle, you must not have worked in retail EVER before.
Imagine being on your feet for 7 hours straight, wearing closed shoes and black clothing. Depressing.

[MCWRKRGRL]

This is not all that there is to it. As someone who has recently started working at Macy's, I can tell you that it is a real pain.
The comment about being less expensive is not accurate. Men cannot just wear a nice black shirt, they must always have a blazer on as well as a tie.
Women must also wear a blazer or a matching sweater/shirt combo. The only exception is if you are wearing an all black dress, then you don't need to wear the blazer.
As a new employee with plenty of business attire which just happens to be other colors besides black, I now have to go and spend my money to conform to their dress code even before I receive my first paycheck.

[Kay]

In conducting my own completely unscientific survey and examination of Macy's dress code policy, here's what I've observed: 1) Employees are actually spending much less on apparel in Macy's stores (which may account for a small percentage of Macy's recent sales woes); 2) The general attitude is one of grudging obedience; 3) Associates, by their own admission, are dressing more casually. For example, instead of men wearing jackets and ties on the sales floor they can now wear a simple black shirt and black pants with no jacket or tie.
Like much that has come out of Macy's recently, I don't believe the full ramifications of the dress code were completely thought through by Macy's executives.

[Krystal]

At least it's better than target...I mean, really, whoever came up with the idea of red and khaki going together is crazy.

[Michael Curtis]

If a retailer is mandating a dresscode such as Macy's, they should give their employees a wardrobe allowance along with discounts.

[Rachelle]

From a retailer's perspective, Macy's is making a smart move. Competition is fierce in the fashion industry - anything you can do to set your store a notch above in the eye of the customer is worth considering. Yes, the employees are being forced to conform and squelch their individuality, but they are representing the company they work for - not themselves. I see the positive side of this being that employees will have to step up their personality and friendliness if they want customers to distinguish themselves from their coworkers. I bet you will see a rise on store accessory sales as well because every salesperson will be highlighting them without even thinking about it. How many customers really take notice of an employee's apparel unless it's unacceptable anyway? If I were a customer I would appreciate the ease of finding help at a glance...I just wouldn't wear all black myself when shopping!