'It's about women's rights': Baristas working at a 'sexpresso' stands are suing for their right to serve coffee in bikinis
On Monday, a group of baristas and one coffee stand owner filed a lawsuit against Everett, Washington after the city passed restaurant dress code ordinances that would essentially abolish "bikini stands," the Seattle Times reported.
The baristas argued that the ordinances - which ban bikinis as well as bare shoulders, midriffs, and buttocks on restaurant employees - violate their constitutional rights to free expression. Further, the lawsuit alleges that the ordinances intentionally target women and infringe on baristas' right to privacy.
"This is not about the bikini," attorney Schuyler Lifschultz reportedly said. "It's about women's rights and the U.S. Constitution. The City of Everett violated these women's rights across the board."
The Everett City Council passed the dress code ordinances in August, which the Seattle Times says would effectively abolish bikini-clad baristas and the "sexpresso" coffee stand trend from the city.
"The proposed dress code would be a minimum of tank top and shorts," one Everett bikini stand, called Candy Girls Espresso, wrote on Facebook in August. "Tonight is the last night for public comment on the ridiculousness of this proposed ordinance. We need all your help to speak out against this attack on bikini stands!"
Bikini stands have exploded in popularity in the last decade, especially in the Pacific Northwest. Many traditional "breastaraunt" chains like Hooters have struggled to keep up as concepts like Candy Girls and Bottoms Up Espresso have pushed racy employee dress codes to the limit.