Everett's Ideal Bikini Barista: Shorts, Tank Top, Maybe A Man

EVERETT, WA - Meet the bikini baristas of the future: they wear shorts and tank tops, some of them are men, and they fancy neck-length hair. The city of Everett this week circulated a document about the city's new no-bikini bikini barista dress code. The document was published to help Everett workers understand what city officials want them to wear.

In August, Everett passed new laws governing dress at drive-thru restaurants. One law is a dress code governing what workers at "quick service" facilities, like drive-thru coffee stands, can wear. Essentially, quick service workers have to cover everything from mid-thigh to the collarbone.

The second was a change to the city's lewd conduct ordinance. That change gives an anatomically specific description of what is considered lewd in public view: "An exposure of more than one-half of the part of the female breast located below the top of the areola, provided that the covered area shall be covered by opaque material and coverage shall be contiguous to the areola [and coverage of] the bottom half of the anal cleft.”

On Monday, seven bikini baristas (and one bikini barista stand owner) sued Everett over the laws. The baristas think the laws are unconstitutional and stifle free expression. Everett officials - and many in the community - say that prostitution-like activities are happening at bikini barista stands, and so they feel tamer dress will help reduce that activity.

"The Quick Service (Dress Code) ordinance requires that certain food service workers, including baristas, wear at least shorts/skirt and a tank top when working. The clothing cannot be see-through," the guidance document from the city says.

The city's new rules went into effect Sept. 5. There's a $250 fine for businesses that allow employees to violate the dress code ordinance. But violating the lewd conduct ordinance is a misdemeanor - so bikini baristas could end up in jail for wearing bikinis.

Image via City of Everett