Barnes and Noble Employee Dress Code

bookshelves

If you’re thinking about applying to work at this popular bookstore, it’s essential to understand how you will be required to dress while working. So, what exactly is Barnes and Nobles’ official employee dress code? 

The Barnes and Noble employee dress code is business casual. However, in recent years, this code has become more relaxed, depending on the store. For example, many employees are now allowed to wear jeans. However, closed-toed shoes are still required, and shorts are not permitted. 

In the rest of this article, I’ll discuss the exact dress code for both male and female employees, as well as whether or not you can wear leggings, have dyed hair, or have tattoos. So, let’s dive right in and learn about this bookstore’s dress code policy.

Can I Wear Leggings To Work At Barnes and Noble?

Leggings have quickly become a clothing staple in many people’s wardrobes due to how comfortable they are and their flexibility. Therefore, it’s natural to want to wear a pair to work. So, can you wear leggings while working at Barnes and Noble

You can’t wear leggings to work at Barnes and Noble. However, you may be able to get away with wearing leggings if your manager is okay with it, as each store location may have different dress code rules.

Many stores with a business casual dress code will allow their employees to wear leggings, as long as their shirts are long enough. However, it’s best to ask your specific Barnes and Noble if leggings are permitted before wearing them to work.

Ultimately, whether or not you can wear leggings will be dependent on how easygoing the management at your store is. An excellent way to feel this out is to observe what other employees are wearing and emulate this type of dress or to simply ask another employee or your supervisor. 

Does Barnes and Noble Hire People With Dyed Hair?

Colored hair has become increasingly popular over the years, and many employers have started moving away from their fears of hiring people with brightly colored hair. But what about Barnes and Noble? Do they allow their employees to have colored hair?

Barnes and Noble does hire people with dyed hair. The Barnes and Noble hair dress code is lax, so you’re free to have whatever hair color you like, so long as it’s well kept and styled professionally for work. 

If you have colorful hair, you should have no trouble getting hired at Barnes and Noble. As with most employers, all they ask is that you show up to work with it well-groomed, regardless of the color. 

back of colorful dyed hair

Can You Have Tattoos While Working at Barnes and Noble?

The world has grown much more relaxed about hiring people with tattoos, and many employers have altogether given up on trying to police other people’s skin. What about Barnes and Noble, though? Do they allow their employees to have tattoos?

You can have tattoos while working at Barnes and Noble, so long as they’re appropriate and non-offensive. However, some store managers may be more strict about tattoos, so you should always double-check before acquiring new ink somewhere visible. 

As with any job, the management will play a big part in what isn’t allowed dress code-wise. A great way to assess whether your store will be more lenient with tattoos is to watch and see if other employees have them. However, the easiest way to learn if your store allows employees to have tattoos is to ask the management. 

Ultimately, as long as you’re a hard worker, no one should give you too much of a hard time for having some ink on your skin. 

Barnes and Noble Female Employee Dress Code

Overall, the Barnes and Noble employee dress code are relatively similar for both men and women. Still, I will go over what women should consider wearing when working at this chain bookstore. 

Female Barnes and Noble employees should wear a collared shirt, word-free blouse, dress pants, and closed-toed shoes. Some stores will have specific shirts for employees to wear while on shift. Depending on your store, you may also be permitted to wear jeans without holes in them. 

As with any job, the more professionally you dress, the more likely you are to be taken seriously or looked at for promotions. So a simple way to remember what you should wear is to try and wear business casual attire

If you don’t already own some dress slacks, I recommend you acquire a pair. My favorite dress pants are Lee’s Relaxed Fit Straight-Leg Pants (available on Amazon.) These pants are great for dressing up or dressing down, and since they’re a relaxed fit, they’re meant to be more comfortable throughout the day. 

Barnes and Noble Male Employee Dress Code

The dress code for male employees of Barnes and Nobles is straightforward to follow as most men already own some business casual attire. So let’s take a quick look at what men should consider wearing when working at this bookstore.

Male Barnes and Noble employees should wear dress pants or khakis paired with a collared button-down, polo, or shirt management has requested they wear. Closed-toed shoes are also a must when working.

young people reading something in a book with many bookshelves

Basically, you’ll want to look professional, and it’s a well-known fact that those who dress well are more likely to be looked at for management positions in the future. So, dress pants paired with any collared shirt or polo should be just fine when on shift at Barnes and Noble. 

Just remember, no t-shirts, shorts, or open-toed shoes while at work. 

Final Thoughts

The dress code for Barnes and Noble employees is officially listed as casual. However, most employees opt to dress more business-like, i.e., dress pants, collared shirts, khakis, and nice closed-toed shoes. Therefore, you’ll want to dress comfortably yet professionally for a shift when working at Barnes and Noble. 

It’s also important to note that each store’s dress code rules may vary slightly depending on the management, so you’ll want to get familiar with your location’s dress code, as some locations allow employees to wear jeans, leggings, and tennis shoes while others don’t.

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