Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Uniform shopping experience:
1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Uniform offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Uniform at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.
2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about
3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Uniform? Wrong! If the Uniform is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.
4. Questions - Got a question about Uniform then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....
5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Uniform? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Uniform and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.
6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Uniform wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your Uniform then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Uniform site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about Uniform, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your Uniform, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
A
uniform is a set of standard clothing worn by members of an organization whilst participating in that organization's activity.
People performing religious activities have often worn standard costumes since the dawn of recorded history. Other early examples of people wearing uniforms include the clothing of the armies of the
Roman Empire and other civilizations.
Modern uniforms are worn by armed forces and
paramilitary organisations such as police, emergency services,
security guards, in some workplaces and schools and by inmates in
prisons. In some countries, some other officials also wear uniforms in some of their duties; such is the case of the
Public Health Service Commissioned Corps of the
United States Public Health Service or the
France préfets.
Service and work uniforms
Workers sometimes wear uniforms or corporate clothing of one nature or another, including but not limited to retailer workers,
bank and
post office workers, airline employees and holiday operators, and
bar (establishment), restaurant and
hotel employees. The use of uniforms by these organizations is often an effort in
branding and developing a standard corporate image but also has important effects on the employees required to wear the uniform. The first
service uniform registered with the
United States Patent and Trademark Office was the
Playboy Bunny outfit (U.S. patent number 762,884). However the term 'uniform' is misleading because employees are not always fully uniform in appearance and may not always wear attire provided by the organization, while still representing the organization in their attire. Academic work on organizational dress by Rafaeli & Pratt (1993) referred to uniformity (homogeneity) of dress as one dimension, and conspicuousness as a second. Employees all wearing black, for example, may appear conspicuous and thus represent the organization even though their attire is uniform only in the color of their appearance not in its features. Pratt & Rafaeli, (1997)described struggles between employees and management about organizational dress as struggles about deeper meanings and identities that dress represents. And Prat & Rafaeli (2001) described dress as one of the larger set of symbols and artifacts in organizations which coalesce into a communication grammar.
Rafaeli, A. & Pratt, M. J. 1993. Tailored meaning: On the meaning and impact of organizational dress. Academy of Management Review, 18(1): 32-55.
Pratt, M. & Rafaeli, A. 1997. Organizational dress as a symbol of multilayered social identities. Academy of Management Journal, 40(4): 862-898.
Pratt, M. G. & Rafaeli, A. 2001. Symbols as a language of organizational relationships. Research in Organizational Behavior, 23: 93-133.
Schools
Across the world uniforms are worn in schools. School uniforms vary from a standard issue T-shirt to rigorous requirements for many items of formal wear at private schools.
Countries with school uniforms mandated include Japan, India,
Australia and the
United Kingdom, as well as many other places. In some countries uniform types vary a lot from school to school, but in the UK many pupils between 11 and 16 of age wear a formal jacket,
necktie and
trousers for boys and
blouse,
necktie and trousers or skirt or
culottes for girls. The ties will usually be in a set pattern for the school & jackets will usually carry a patch on the breast pocket with the school's
coat of arms and
motto or
emblem and name. Jackets are being replaced in many schools by sweatshirts bearing the school badge. Children in many UK state primary schools will have a uniform jumper and or polo shirt with the school name and logo.
Sports
Most, if not all, professional sports teams also wear uniforms, comprised of the team's distinctive colors, often in different variations for "home" and "away" games. In the United Kingdom, especially in football (soccer), the terms "kit" or "strip" (as in 'football kit') are more common.
Security and armed forces
In the case of uniforms worn by military personnel or civilian officials, there are generally several kinds of uniforms:
- battledress, khakis;
- everyday work uniform, where earned medals are typically replaced by ribbon bars;
- dress uniform: worn at ceremonies, official receptions, and other special occasions; medals are typically worn.
Prison
Domestic workers
Domestic workers are often required by their employers to wear a uniform.
Scouting
The Scout uniform is a specific characteristic of the Scouting movement, in the words of
Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell at the 1938 World Jamboree, "it covers the differences of country and race and make all feel that they are members one with another of one World Brotherhood". The original uniform, which has created a familiar image in the public eye, consisted of a khaki button-up shirt, shorts and a broad-brimmed campaign hat. Baden-Powell himself wore shorts as being dressed like the youth contributed to reducing distances between the adult and the young person. Nowadays, uniforms are frequently blue, orange, red or green, and shorts are replaced by long pants in areas where the culture calls for modesty, and in winter weather.
See also
A
uniform is a set of standard clothing worn by members of an organization whilst participating in that organization's activity.
People performing religious activities have often worn standard
costumes since the dawn of recorded history. Other early examples of people wearing uniforms include the clothing of the armies of the
Roman Empire and other civilizations.
Modern uniforms are worn by armed forces and
paramilitary organisations such as police, emergency services,
security guards, in some workplaces and schools and by inmates in prisons. In some countries, some other officials also wear uniforms in some of their duties; such is the case of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service or the
France préfets.
Service and work uniforms
Workers sometimes wear uniforms or
corporate clothing of one nature or another, including but not limited to retailer workers,
bank and post office workers, airline employees and holiday operators, and bar (establishment),
restaurant and hotel employees. The use of uniforms by these organizations is often an effort in branding and developing a standard
corporate image but also has important effects on the employees required to wear the uniform. The first
service uniform registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office was the
Playboy Bunny outfit (U.S. patent number 762,884). However the term 'uniform' is misleading because employees are not always fully uniform in appearance and may not always wear attire provided by the organization, while still representing the organization in their attire. Academic work on organizational dress by Rafaeli & Pratt (1993) referred to uniformity (homogeneity) of dress as one dimension, and conspicuousness as a second. Employees all wearing black, for example, may appear conspicuous and thus represent the organization even though their attire is uniform only in the color of their appearance not in its features. Pratt & Rafaeli, (1997)described struggles between employees and management about organizational dress as struggles about deeper meanings and identities that dress represents. And Prat & Rafaeli (2001) described dress as one of the larger set of
symbols and artifacts in organizations which coalesce into a communication grammar.
Rafaeli, A. & Pratt, M. J. 1993. Tailored meaning: On the meaning and impact of organizational dress. Academy of Management Review, 18(1): 32-55.
Pratt, M. & Rafaeli, A. 1997. Organizational dress as a symbol of multilayered social identities. Academy of Management Journal, 40(4): 862-898.
Pratt, M. G. & Rafaeli, A. 2001. Symbols as a language of organizational relationships. Research in Organizational Behavior, 23: 93-133.
Schools
Across the world uniforms are worn in schools. School uniforms vary from a standard issue T-shirt to rigorous requirements for many items of formal wear at private schools.
Countries with school uniforms mandated include
Japan, India,
Australia and the
United Kingdom, as well as many other places. In some countries uniform types vary a lot from school to school, but in the UK many pupils between 11 and 16 of age wear a formal jacket, necktie and trousers for boys and
blouse, necktie and trousers or
skirt or culottes for girls. The ties will usually be in a set pattern for the school & jackets will usually carry a patch on the breast pocket with the school's
coat of arms and motto or
emblem and name. Jackets are being replaced in many schools by sweatshirts bearing the school badge. Children in many UK state primary schools will have a uniform jumper and or polo shirt with the school name and logo.
Sports
Most, if not all,
professional sports teams also wear uniforms, comprised of the team's distinctive colors, often in different variations for "home" and "away" games. In the
United Kingdom, especially in football (soccer), the terms "kit" or "strip" (as in 'football kit') are more common.
Security and armed forces
In the case of uniforms worn by military personnel or civilian officials, there are generally several kinds of uniforms:
- battledress, khakis;
- everyday work uniform, where earned medals are typically replaced by ribbon bars;
- dress uniform: worn at ceremonies, official receptions, and other special occasions; medals are typically worn.
Prison
Domestic workers
Domestic workers are often required by their employers to wear a uniform.
Scouting
The Scout uniform is a specific characteristic of the
Scouting movement, in the words of Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell at the 1938 World Jamboree, "it covers the differences of country and race and make all feel that they are members one with another of one World Brotherhood". The original uniform, which has created a familiar image in the public eye, consisted of a khaki button-up
shirt, shorts and a broad-brimmed campaign hat. Baden-Powell himself wore shorts as being dressed like the youth contributed to reducing distances between the adult and the young person. Nowadays, uniforms are frequently blue, orange, red or green, and shorts are replaced by long pants in areas where the culture calls for modesty, and in winter weather.
See also
