Maids and Housekeeping Uniforms
by Josh Stone

History of the maids and the housekeeping uniforms

Services of maids and the housekeepers started in and around 1921 in Wales and in England . During this period these maids and housekeepers were paid very less salary but they were provided other facilities like boarding and lodging. All these maids and housekeepers were to work round the clock and they were considered as family member.

Later on Government training schools were opened to train the maids and housekeepers and they were trained in all the domestic activities starting cooking to cleaning of the homes. Along with this training they were also given the responsibility of stitching their own clothes for the purpose of cleaning and during maintenance of the home. This is how the trend in maids and house keeping uniform has started.

By taking clue from this government-training center various other manufactures started their business in maids and house keeping uniforms. Advertisements were also given in various magazines and in newspapers about the uniforms due to which the rich people stared buying the uniforms for their maids and house keeps. It was considered as matter of pride by keeping maid.

The attire

Separate attire were used by the maid during the various hours of the day say in the afternoon the maids and housekeepers wore formal clothing where as in the evening they used aprons and gowns and for the house hold jobs casual clothing’s were recommended. In later years the fashion was also introduced along with maid and housekeepers uniforms

While serving the meals in the afternoon the maids and the housekeepers were provided with uniforms. This uniform consists of crepe, taffeta, kerchief and the apron. Normally the uniform was in green and dark blue colors. For evening tea and for special occasion like gathering and parting dark gray and black colors were preferred by the owners for their maids and housekeepers.

In some of the cases the cuff and the collars were also recommended but the headpiece of kerchief was made compulsory for all the maids and the housekeepers to prevent excess sweating and falling of hairs in to the prepared dishes. Later on the pleated cap was introduced and this cap was white in color. A colorful ribbon were also a part of maid uniform in some the areas. The material of the uniform depended on the occasion and as per the will of the master. Separate uniform was reserved for the special occasions and celebrations. These special uniforms were costly when compared to the normal daily uniforms.

While serving the afternoon and evening meals the maid and housekeeper were asked wear neat and clean uniform and that too in a proper manner other wise the maids were asked leave the service.

There are separate uniform for the various maids and the house keepers, let us go through these uniforms one by one to understand the duties and uniforms of maids, although there is very minute changes between the uniforms.

There are verities of housekeeping and maid uniforms like Spun Poly housekeeping dress, Dinner Belle dress, Princess dress, Pin cord dress and the Rick Rack maids dress

Main maid or the head maid

The head maid is the senior most maids among the other maids and housekeepers. She is the overall in charge of the kitchen and other related works. The uniform of the head maid was of pure white color and consists of apron, pleated cap and the gloves. Her main job was to look after the lady of the house and to supervise the maids and other working staff.

Kitchen Maid

The uniform of the kitchen maid consists of a skirt up to knee level, apron covering the skirt, kerchief, a cap and the shoes. These uniforms were changed every day to maintain the hygienic conditions. The purpose of the apron was to safe guard the main clothing from falling of the stains. The pleated cap or the headgears was compulsory while working in the kitchen to maintain standards of the kitchen.

Nursery Maid

The uniform of the nursery maid is consists of apron, smocks, skirt up to the feet level, shoes with socks. These nursery maids took care of the children and looking after the nursery. In case of emergencies she also helped the nurse.

Chambermaids

As this type maid had carry various types of jobs during her tour of duty her uniforms consists of long skirts, aprons, headgears, tunic shirt either half or full sleeves and the gloves. She had to all the various jobs like, cooking, looking after the children and the pets, washing, shopping and ironing the clothes. As she did varieties of house hold jobs she had to change her uniform often during the day.

Parlor Maid

The parlor maid uniform is supposed be the well maintained when compared other maids because she had to care of the parlor during the major function and the parties and at the same time she had to receive all the guests. Her uniform was made of fine quality fabric and consists of jacket, apron, well-maintained shoes, tunic shirts and the gloves.

The housekeepers had to maintain their uniforms manly consist of smocks, a tunic half sleeves shirt and trousers.

Smocks

A smock is an outer garment, which is loose in size and usually, wore while carrying out various household jobs. This part of the maid and house keeping uniform has various uses. The pockets of the smocks are covered so that items should do fall during the tour of the duty. Some times a coat is also wore over the smocks to protect the smocks while serving the food. These smocks are light in weight and have short sleeves or the full sleeves. Name of the maid or the housekeeper is also embroidered on the smocks and on the outer coats and are available in various sizes and attractive colors.

Tunics and Shirts for Housekeeping and Maids

To have professional look these attires of maid and housekeeping uniform is tunic shirts and the shirts. There are mainly three types of tunics like a grey, mint and the navy blue

Pin cord housekeeping tunic. At the same time there are two types of shirts for the housekeepers one of them is a teal and other one is black house keeping shirts.


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