The tighter the belt is, the more restraints on the employer and hence the uniform policy. It infuriates me that so many companies demand certain manner of dress/uniforms and expect that the person pay for these. If they make it a company policy and you don't comply, then they can honestly terminate you for not following policy. If you fight this,there will be 5 people who will be glad to get your job and be happy to wear uniforms. I hate to say this, because I was HR for a company that did just as you described. I feel personally that if a company wants you to wear their color and expect neat, fresh uniforms every day, they should provide them, however, in this day of disposable and easily replaceable people, you will end up the loser if you fight it. I am in Texas and we let 5 people go for not complying with the uniform code. They didn't get unemployment because they didn't comply with a company order. They were warned three times and then fired. Sorry, wish there were more encouraging words.