Dress to Impress

At Eau Spa by Cornelia, staff members don flowy white uniforms to complement the spa’s whimsical ambiance.

The old saying “You never get a second chance to make a first impression” holds true for many aspects of the spa industry. As soon as clients step foot into a spa, they begin forming opinions. From the way the decor and atmosphere make them feel to the type of greeting they receive, a first impression can make or break a client’s view of your spa. Spa uniforms support a clean, professional environment, and uniforms that complement the spa decor and brand add to a client’s experience. “The ideal uniform will naturally complement the unique design and image of the spa and at the same time enable staff to be comfortable and convey a consistent, professional look across all functional areas of the spa,” says Lawrence Grum, vice president of Yeah Baby. “As many uniforms can easily be over-designed, the functional and logistical elements of a uniform are equally as important as the look and should always be evaluated together to form a final decision.”

Employees at the Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas wear uniforms created by designer Vivienne Tam.

Name of Company/Brand: Vivienne Tam

Name of Spa: Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas

Information on Uniform: Designer Vivienne Tam created uniforms inspired by the style and elegance of Shanghai’s Art Deco period. Their streamlined fit is reminiscent of the classic Qi Pao dress of the ‘20s and ‘30s. Durable and free-flowing fabrics create fashionable pieces for functional movements.

Why it Works: “We worked with the design team to create uniforms that not only complemented the 1930s Shanghai interior design but were both stylish and practical,” says director of spa Jennifer Lynn.

Name of Company/Brand: Spa Uniforms, Inc.

Name of Spa: Heavenly Spa by Westin at the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa (GA)

Information on Uniform: The uniform is from the Dolce Collection and consists of a polyester, nylon, and spandex blend powder-blue top and charcoal-grey pant.

Why it Works: “The color represents our uplifting spa brand,” says spa director Cindi Moreno. “It’s comfortable, attractive, and easy to care for.”

Name of Company/Brand: Fashionizer Spa Uniforms

Name of Spa: VH Spa for Vitality + Health at Hotel Valley Ho (Scottsdale, AZ)

Information on Uniform: Female staff members wear the Zeta tunic and Saphora capri pants, while men wear the Zeus top and Rios trousers. The cream-colored uniforms feature an exclusive cotton performance fabric, which is a blend of 63 percent cotton, 34 percent polyester, and 3 percent Lycra, and then treated for stain release.  

Why it Works: “Our spa is very light and airy with nary a hint of black, so black uniforms really don’t work for us,” says spa director Brad Garrett. “The tops have a very fashionable V-neck design with reverse color braiding and stitching, and the short sleeves work well for both massage therapists and estheticians.”

Name of Company/Brand: Nike and Be Present

Name of Spa: Hualalai Spa at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka’upulehu (Kailua-Kona, HI)

Information on Uniform: Employees wear Nike Golf polo shirts in black, which are made of DriFit fabric. Female employees wear Be Present Kona cotton pants in graphite, while male employees wear Baja style pants in graphite.

Why it Works: “Our management team and therapists selected our uniforms because the light fabric and relaxed fit allow for ease of motion while performing treatments and provide maximum comfort for the therapists,” says spa director Karen Cosgrove. “They are also extremely durable and keep the staff cool in our tropical climate.”

Name of Company/Brand: Original design by Ayelet Rahav

Name of Spa: Eau Spa by Cornelia at The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach

Information on Uniform: The uniforms consist of a flowy white shirt and pants with streamer-like panels around the hips.

Why it Works: Ayelet Rahav, creative director of ZG Practical Concepts, says her aim was to reinforce the spa’s sensual, fun ambience. “They’re practical and elegant, but also goddess-like,” she says. “They set the spa’s free-spirit tone.”

Name of Company/Brand: Yeah Baby

Name of Spa: RockResorts Avanyu Spa at the Snake River Lodge (Teton Village, WY)

Information on Uniform: Employees wear the Yeah Baby Aria jacket and pants, which are made of 100 percent microfiber. The jacket features vents on the hips and sleeves for easy movement.

Why it Works: “We are located in the mountains, so we needed a uniform that reflects the classic style of our spa while at the same time enable our therapists to be comfortable and also hold up to staining from massage oils,” says spa director Debbie Thompson. “Yeah Baby’s exclusive Spa-Dri fabric ensures my staff is able to look and feel great during and after treatments.”