Service with a style has uniform appeal for fashionable foodies

HOSPITALITY used to be about service with a smile, but these days it's increasingly about service with style.

Gary Bigeni, a self-confessed philistine in the kitchen, is joining a growing number of designers whipping up striking designs for some of Sydney's leading restaurateurs.

This week, Bigeni made his first fashion foray into fine dining, with the debut of uniforms designed by him for the Paddington restaurant Claude's.

''I don't really know how to cook but I was really interested and excited to go into that [restaurant] world and put my take on it,'' said Bigeni, who's eponymous label is stocked at David Jones and designer boutiques across Australia.

''The current evolution of Claude's is about dynamism and a modern aesthetic, and Gary's uniforms fit that brief,'' said the owner and chef of Claude's, Chui Lee Luk.

''Clothing for waiters is no longer simply black and white ... Gary's clothing makes the waiters look good but in an understated way that reflects the elegance of the restaurant.''

Bigeni was tasked with creating uniforms that chimed with a new restaurant makeover by the interior architects Gomes-McNabb, and a new menu with an emphasis on more casual dining options as well as a degustation format.

Bigeni and Lee Luk trialled different garments at a private dinner in the restaurant, before deciding on navy round neck dresses with three-quarter sleeves for women, and tailored pants with charcoal shirts for men. Dresses are cinched with leather belts in duck egg blue and pale mint, to reflect the interior design of the restaurant, and staff are shod in black Converse sneakers.

Merino wool and cotton were used to ensure the uniforms were practical as well as fashionable.

''The staff are running up and down stairs all day, so they need to be able to move easily and the uniforms are machine washable,'' Bigeni said.

Among the other top designers working with gourmet establishments are Kirrily Johnston, who is responsible for the laid-back elegance of staff at Neild Avenue, and Ksubi, which created the denim ensembles of waiters at North Bondi Italian.

Vanishing Elephant's uniforms for Gelato Messina debut in the gelato chain next week and LIFEwithBIRD and cult denim brand Nobody are among the other labels that have recently collaborated with restaurants on uniforms.

Vanishing Elephant's partnership with Gelato Messina was a no-brainer born of a sweet tooth.

''Truthfully, our approach wasn't focused on what we could gain in terms of opportunities,'' said the designer Felix Chan. ''It was an incredibly easy decision, we all love the brand and we love the product.''

Chan conceded the partnership could expose his label to a broader audience, but said the key impetus for working with Gelato Messina was simply trying something new.

''They have such a loyal customer base, so I guess it's definitely a possibility that we'll have a brand exposed to more customers ... [but] working with Gelato Messina just allowed us to step away from anything too traditional that we've done in the past.''

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald, 14 July 2012