Your regular barista at Starbucks may look a little different soon as the coffee retail giant relaxes its dress code for staff.

Head into The Roasterie on 10th Street N.W. and you might find it hard to tell the servers and the customers apart. The coffee shop has allowed employees to wear whatever they want since it opened in 1985.

“I had a boy show up on Christmas eve in a houserobe,” said Lech Wojackowski, owner. “On a hot summer day, they can wear flip flops, t-shirts, there is no restriction. If you are comfortable in your clothing, you are going to be a happier person behind the counter.”

The Roasterie is a more extreme example of what is becoming a common trend: personal expression at work. Big companies like Starbucks are noticing the trend and jumping on board. The company says it helps keep workers happy.

“For new employees, they don’t have to go out and buy an entire new wardrobe, they can look in their closet, see things that they already have and be able to wear it to work,” said Rowan Williams, Starbucks store manager, Toronto.

But don’t expect to see bathrobes the next time you go out for your grande, no whip, soy caramel macchiato. Starbuck’s new palette of colours has been expanded from black and white to include grey, khaki, brown and navy, as well as subtle patterns and dark jeans. The idea is not to detract from the iconic green apron, and to make sure workers are safe, so no open shoes, short skirts or tank tops. Unnatural hair colours will also be allowed.

While the changes are not drastic, analysts say it is a sign of the times.

“As long as you’ve got the ability and the competency to deliver the product and the service that I want to buy, I really don’t care if you have purple hair or a few ear piercings or some tattoos, that just makes you who you are,” said Shelley Rathie, Bissett School of Business.

But also don’t expect that attitude to extend to everything. Rathie says business and finance are unlikely to embrace the same level of diversity, because when it comes to money, people want the comfort of conservatism.