In this article, we will see the Hooters dress code.
Introduction
Hooters opened in 1983. This restaurant chain is famous for its wings and its bold uniform. The women are hired as servers, hostesses, or entertainers. The concept of this food chain is based on the female sex appeal in the environment which is incorporated in their uniforms too.
The female staff members wear a uniform that consists of a white tank top and short orange runner shorts. The white top has the “Hootie the Owl” logo on it. On some days it differs from the usual to a military camp outfit or a black uniform.
Dress Code
- White and Orange
On Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, servers wear a white tank top that has the Hooters logo on it with nylon orange shorts.
- Military Camp Outfit
On Tuesdays, the uniform is a military camp outfit.
- Black
On Fridays, the dress code is a black tank top with the Hooters logo with black shorts.
- For all Uniforms
Their uniforms must be fitted and neat. It should be the right size and complement one’s body shape. Their uniforms can’t be loose or big but fitted in order to look appealing and fit the look Hooters wants. The same rules apply to all their uniforms.
- Pantyhose
Sun tan-colored pantyhose are provided as a part of the uniform. In some locations, the uniform is provided while for others you may have to pay.
- Socks
Slouchy socks were a part of the old uniform. They were replaced with normal white socks which have now gone out of style. Now shoes are worn without socks.
- Shoes
White sneakers are a thing of the past! They have been replaced with white high heels or platform pumps. Black high heels or pumps are worn with the black tank top and shorts.
Accessories
Jewelry isn’t allowed in the Hooters’ dress code. This includes:
- Nose rings
- Rings
- Tongue rings
- Elastic bands
Earrings are allowed if they’re studs or small hoops. Bracelets and necklaces aren’t allowed. There is no rule against wearing glasses.
Tattoos are also not allowed. If you have tattoos, you are required to cover them up with foundation or concealer.
Hair
According to an employee at Hooters, their dress code also involves their hair being styled. It requires using a heat product even if you have straight or curly hair. The point is to look glam. However, they also have to keep their hair down. This means no ponytails or braids, no half clipping it up, or anything else like that.
Some say ombre hair wasn’t allowed before but now it is acceptable according to another employee of Hooters. Their hair has to appear natural and ombre hair can appear that way too. Some chains may be flexible about letting workers put their hair up in half up/down hairstyles.
With time, some rules change a bit like having hair blown out 80’s style was in style for the Hooters girls.
Make-Up
You have to get glammed for this job so that requires wearing make-up. You have to look ready because photoshoots are often done and Hooters image is all about attractive young women.
They need to look their best. However, this does not mean funky and party make-up. Each branch and manager has its own guidelines so just make sure to follow the rules.
Make sure to carry a lip gloss! It doesn’t look professional if your lipstick is rubbing off. Clients often ask for pictures with the waitresses so they should be camera-ready.
The overall look
Keep in mind, some branches are stricter than others. So the strictness in hair and other things may vary per branch manager.
The main look that Hooters is all about is that a Hooters girl should always be camera-ready or look like “the girl next door”. This means their makeup and has to be done and styled. They have to be well-groomed which means shaving and having well-kept nails. This also means no tattoos.
Moreover, fitness is a big deal. Workers are required to maintain a fit appearance. They are required to have a healthy diet and lifestyle and can be reprimanded if they gain a little weight (in some branches).
Hooters mainly hire and aim for girls on the slimmer side as opposed to plus size. The company gets away with hiring thin and pretty girls by saying they were hired as entertainers and not servers. This is all to fit a certain image the company has for itself.
Requirements to be a Hooters girl
To be a Hooters girl, you have to fulfill some requirements. Hooters does lean more towards appearance but that is not the only thing to it. Basic requirements as well as other ones will be discussed below. You are required to:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Attractive
- Have a good personality
- Don’t need a lot of experience in waitressing
- Fit
There isn’t a lot required when it comes to applying for being a hooters girl.
There are rumors that maybe they are hired according to their weight or bra sizes but that is not true. Women of various sizes are hired as long as they give the image of being “fit and attractive”. It’s a vague term.
Just make sure to dress well if you choose to go to the restaurant to fill out an application. You can always go on their website and apply too.
The family friendly version
With an expansion of Hoots, this restaurant is going for a more family-friendly branch. The first Hoots opened in 2017 but their dress code varies from that of Hooters along with other things.
The differences are:
- Hoots hire both female and male servers
- They have a more modest uniform which consists of khakis and T-shirts.
Their menu is similar to that of Hooters.
The main reason for opening this branch was to target the family-friendly audience as well as people who are millennials or Gen Z.
According to some articles, the reason for the closing of some of Hooters branches is because Millennials aren’t as interested in breasts as their elders. Hooters used sex appeal in order to attract customers which became a loss for them now. Between 2012 and 2016, Hooters branches went down by 7%. Instead, they decided to spruce up the menu with items that could attract these customers. The youth and young adults make up a large amount of the population.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a Hooters girl’s salary?
They are paid the same hourly wage as other waitresses at other restaurants. The value itself varies depending on the state. On average they earn $16 an hour which would be an annual salary of $33,811.
- How much do top-earning Hooters girls earn?
They earn about $27 an hour and $56,500 a year.
- How long are the shifts at Hooters?
The morning shift lasts six and a half hours. It is from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm.
The night shift lasts for seven and a half hours which lasts from 4:30 pm to 12 am.
- Which state has the most Hooters?
Texas is the state with the most Hooters.
