• Home
  • News
  • Fortune 500
  • Tech
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
McDonald's

McDonald’s Unveiled New Monochrome Uniforms. But Not Everyone Is Loving It

By
Jennifer Calfas
Jennifer Calfas
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Jennifer Calfas
Jennifer Calfas
Down Arrow Button Icon
April 22, 2017, 12:19 PM ET

McDonald’s unveiled new uniforms for its employees — but some people think they’re better suited for a dystopian universe.

Employees will start wearing the gray, monochrome uniforms at all of McDonald’s 14,000 restaurants in the United States this month, the company announced.

And while McDonald’s said 70% of its employees “feel that the new uniforms provide a modern image that they would be proud to wear,” others on social media compared them to those worn on the Death Star in Star Wars or District 12 citizens in the post-apocalyptic Hunger Games.

The new uniform for #McDonalds – serving storm troopers on a Death Star in a Galaxy far far away. pic.twitter.com/UJ3QuRRSbG

— Max Willson (@max_willson95) April 22, 2017

https://twitter.com/RonanFarrow/status/855580939442958336

McDonald's new uniforms is as dystopian as you can imagine. pic.twitter.com/zGqzIupUim

— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) April 22, 2017

https://twitter.com/darth/status/855431281928159232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fnews%2Ffood%2Fwp%2F2017%2F04%2F22%2Fmcdonalds-new-uniform-hot-or-existentially-depressing%2F

The uniforms were designed by Waraire Boswell, who has dressed celebrities like Will Smith, Ellen DeGeneres and Pharrell Williams, among others. Boswell himself once worked at a McDonald’s in California and wanted to design a uniform that would give employees “a greater level of confidence.”

The new uniforms will be worn by 850,000 employees across the country, McDonald’s said.

“Individuality is important to McDonald’s restaurant employees, and the new collections were designed to bridge the gap between fashion and function, allowing for an easy transition from the restaurant to social environment,” McDonald’s said in a statement announcing the new look.

About the Author
By Jennifer Calfas
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Careers

Financial advisor presents a graph to her client.
Career HubEducation
How to become a financial advisor: 4 steps to a life-long career
By Preston ForeJanuary 2, 2025
11 months ago
Group of business people look at charts and graphs.
Career HubEducation
How to become an actuary: 4 steps to earn six figures
By Preston ForeOctober 21, 2024
1 year ago
Woman analyzes a chart with a laptop next to her.
Career HubEducation
How to become a CPA
By Preston ForeSeptember 27, 2024
1 year ago
Woman explains a concept to a woman sitting next to her.
Career HubEducation
How to become an accountant
By Preston ForeSeptember 20, 2024
1 year ago
Group of varied professionals stand looking toward the camera.
Career HubEducation
These are the nation’s fastest growing jobs—and many pay $100k
By Preston ForeSeptember 13, 2024
1 year ago
Nurse pulls cash out of the front pocket of their scrubs.
Career HubEducation
A guide to a nurse’s salary: Broken down by all 50 states and industry type
By Preston ForeAugust 7, 2024
1 year ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Economy
Two months into the new fiscal year and the U.S. government is already spending more than $10 billion a week servicing national debt
By Eleanor PringleDecember 4, 2025
11 hours ago
placeholder alt text
North America
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos commit $102.5 million to organizations combating homelessness across the U.S.: ‘This is just the beginning’
By Sydney LakeDecember 2, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Success
‘Godfather of AI’ says Bill Gates and Elon Musk are right about the future of work—but he predicts mass unemployment is on its way
By Preston ForeDecember 4, 2025
7 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
Ford workers told their CEO 'none of the young people want to work here.' So Jim Farley took a page out of the founder's playbook
By Sasha RogelbergNovember 28, 2025
6 days ago
placeholder alt text
North America
Anonymous $50 million donation helps cover the next 50 years of tuition for medical lab science students at University of Washington
By The Associated PressDecember 2, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Health
Bill Gates decries ‘significant reversal in child deaths’ as nearly 5 million kids will die before they turn 5 this year
By Nick LichtenbergDecember 4, 2025
18 hours ago
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.