Everyone knows the traditional image of the chef. Hunched over a steaming saucepan, tasting spoon in hand, wearing the iconic tall, white chef’s hat, crisp white tunic, checked trousers and comfortable shoes (essential when spending 12+ hours a day on your feet). But why exactly do chef’s wear white? And where did this familiar uniform come from? Perhaps more importantly, why is it that chefs are still wearing it today?
In this article, we’ll answer all of the above questions, finding out more about the history of the chef’s uniform, taking a closer look at each element, and introducing some important tips about how to look after chef’s clothes and other customer food service uniforms.
History Behind the Chef’s Uniform
The traditional chef’s uniform can be traced back to one highly influential French cooking maestro, namely Marie-Antoine Carême. He was the pioneer of modern cuisine and cookery, and is widely believed to have popularized the chef’s uniform of white tunic, black and white check trousers and chef’s hat (also known as a toque). Marie-Antoine chose white as he thought it epitomized cleanliness, one of the key working principles of any chef. Despite there being other practical reasons for wearing white (see below), the modern chef’s uniform is still widely worn as a mark of respect for Marie-Antione and his legendary successor Auguste Escoffier who carried on his teacher’s tradition.
Why Do Chef’s Wear Uniforms?
There are a number of key reasons why chefs wear uniforms at all times in the kitchen. These include:
Safety
Kitchens are hot, busy, and dangerous places, filled with hazards. The hard-wearing fabric of a chef’s jacket offers protection against heat, especially when arms and torsos are around naked flames, hot grills, splattering boiling liquids, and more. Sturdy shoes prevent slipping and offer comfort for feet that are on the hour go for hours each day.
Cleanliness
Changing into a crisp and freshly laundered chef’s uniform at work helps to prevent cross contamination from outside clothes. Chef’s hats also prevent hair falling into food.
Comfort
Chef’s notoriously work very long hours, often six or seven days a week. This is especially true if they’re doing both a lunch and dinner service. As such, being comfortable is absolutely essential during this time. A cotton chef’s jacket, roomy trousers, and comfortable shoes are all musts for keeping a chef cool and comfortable on shift.
Professionalism
Customers expect chefs to look a certain way, which is why a uniform is such a good idea. It creates the right impression of professionalism and also allows for a branding opportunity.
What Chefs Usually Wear?
Chef Hat
Chef hats are perhaps the most iconic part of the uniform. The tall, rounded, and crisp white hat is known as a chef’s toque. You might be asking yourself why chef’s hats are so tall. The reason is that it allows for air circulation above the head, which keeps them cool in the hot environment of a kitchen. Historically, the taller the hat and the more pleats it had, the more senior the chef.
Chef Jacket and Coats
Chef jackets and coats serve a number of key purposes in the kitchen. They offer protection against heat from ovens and from hot solids and liquids. The heavy cotton fabric is ideal for this, as well as promoting breathability. Long sleeves are preferred, as is a double-breasted jacket cut, which adds an extra layer of protection to the front and, combined with knotted cloth buttons, also makes them easily reversible.
Chef Shirt
Chef shirts generally have short sleeves and are either white or black. They are designed to be worn under a chef’s jacket, when doing prep work or when the chef is meeting diners or doing less dangerous tasks in the kitchen.
Chef Pants
A good pair of chef pants will be loose-fitting or baggy to allow air to circulate, as well as allowing freedom of movement around the kitchen. The classic design is a black and white houndstooth pattern, which is very useful for hiding stains.
Aprons
Although not part of the classic chef’s outfit, many chefs these days choose to use an apron, as both an extra layer of protection, and because they are easier and quicker to clean than a chef’s jacket. A good chef’s apron will be made of flame-resistant, high-quality fabric and have large pockets for carrying utensils.
Shoes
Generally speaking, most chefs prefer to use clogs rather than old-style chefs shoes. The reasons are simple—there are no laces to come undone in a busy kitchen and they offer superior grip over traditional soles. Additionally, most clogs are simple to clean and maintain.
Why Do Chefs Wear White?
With all the sauces bubbling away and ingredients to prep and serve, white might not seem like the most sensible color to wear in the kitchen from a cleaning point of view. But in a way, that’s the point. Marie-Antoine believed that white was an appropriate color because it symbolized cleanliness and professionalism. These were two characteristics that every chef should be proud of. An unclean uniform would be easy to spot, and therefore so would a chef not taking pride in their work.
Other practical reasons for wearing white include that it reflects heat, which can be intense in a professional kitchen environment. And even though white shows up stains easily, it can also be bleached clean.
How To Take Care of a Chef’s Uniform
Chefs work long hours, usually six or seven days a week, so they need uniforms that are going to stand the test of time and rigor of a commercial kitchen. In addition, they will need to be able to withstand frequent washing. Keeping the following in mind will help to expand the lifespan of any chef’s uniform.
Follow Washing Instructions Carefully
These can vary from garment to garment, and between different manufacturers, so it’s important to know the best way to clean any item.
Clean After Every Shift
Chef’s clothes will generally need cleaning after every shift. This will help to ensure odors and stains are not baked in and easier to remove.
Deal With Big Stains Quickly
In the cut and thrust of a professional kitchen, chef’s clothes are going to get stained. But try to deal with any major spillages or stains as quickly as possible, applying stain remover as soon as you can.
Use Professionals
Using a professional laundry service is the best way to ensure clean uniforms and correct garment care.
Have Spares
Having more than one set of chef’s clothes lightens the load and allows more time for adequate cleaning.
Correct Storage
Whether clean or dirty, clothes will last longer if they are stored correctly and not scrunched up in a ball.
What Chefs Should Avoid Wearing in the Kitchen
Kitchens can be dangerous places, with lots of hot liquids, sharp implements and machinery working around the clock. As such, health and safety practice dictates that there are certain things chefs should never wear in the kitchen. These include inappropriate footwear such as flip flops, open toed sandals, or shoes with limited grip.
Clothing should be hard wearing and never made from flammable or synthetic fibers, as it can easily catch and burn. Nor does it offer the same degree of protection against spillages. Clothing should ideally cover all parts of the arms and legs to offer maximum protection.
Browse the All Seasons Uniforms range of chefs clothing and footwear, including top kitchen brands like Chef Designs clothes and Edwards Chef clothes to properly equip yourself for the exciting and creative world of the professional kitchen.
You can find the latest promotional codes and discounts for All Seasons Uniforms here.
About the Author
Nick Warrick
Nick Warrick is the Sales Manager at All Seasons Uniforms. With over 15 years of experience in the work uniform business, he has worked with hundreds of clients across 20 different industries. Holding bachelor’s degrees in both Business Administration and Information Technology, Nick revamped the company’s online presence, offering its customers a new uniform shopping experience.