I'm about to let you into a big secret here, I used to work at McDonalds! I was an impoverished student with a serious Top Shop habit to support and needed the money.

Working there was an interesting and fun experience and taught me a lot about how a successful business franchise runs. It was also a great lesson in teamwork. There was a satisfaction in being an integral part of creating something, whether it was grilling burgers or placing that last dollop of ketchup and mustard to create the perfect quarter pounder.

The only downside of the job was wearing the appalling uniform. At the time, this was unisex style - dark navy, flared trousers and a shapeless tunic, topped-off with a baseball cap. I inherited a uniform from one of my predecessors. It was two sizes too big and I had to roll the waistband of the trousers up so that they stayed in place.

Wearing a shapeless and highly unflattering uniform does dent your self-esteem. So had Bruce Oldfield been designing for McDonalds at the time, I'd have been over the moon.

Uniforms ensure that staff present a tidy and consistent image and are easily identifiable. The thing that makes most uniforms unappealing is the lack of thought that goes into designing them. I really feel for people who work for EasyJet. Orange is such a vibrant, warm colour and looks terrible on people with cool skin tones. If you have had to wear a uniform in a colour or style that simply does not suit you, then you will know this can drain your energy. If you look terrible, chances are you'll feel terrible too.

It is not impossible to create a stylish and elegant uniform and the likes of Virgin Atlantic prove this. A major selling point on their careers page is the designer uniform. Their cabin crew work within very confined spaces, wheeling trolleys up and down and are on their feet for hours on end, yet they still manage to look glorious as they wave you goodbye at the steps of the plane, after a gruelling 10 hour flight.

It seems to me that the key to a good uniform is creating different garments that staff can choose from to suit their body shape. You cannot go wrong with classics such as straight leg trousers or A-line skirts and selecting colours that are "universal" and will flatter most skin tones. A little thought when choosing a uniform goes a long way…it may even make you the employer of choice!