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The exam is approaching fast and there is one subject we haven’t covered yet: the appropriate outfit for taking the CAP pastry chef exam. Actually it’s quite simple, it’s a classic CAP kitchen professional outfit but that doesn’t help you much! Know that the outfit is quite standardized and that professionals are very attached to it. No question of doing anything crazy! But a few touches of creativity are allowed, so I’ve listed my tips for equipping yourself properly. And read all the way to the end, I have a (very very) great surprise for you at the end of the article!

What does the CAP pastry chef reference material say?

We hear all sorts of things about the outfit - that it must absolutely be white, definitely not black, long sleeves mandatory... So let’s start by clarifying what the official texts say. In the official reference material, it is mentioned that the outfit must comply with safety & hygiene standards in professional conditions. Again this doesn’t help you much, but it actually concerns:

• non-slip safety shoes to protect your feet in case of falling objects (and believe me the "non-slip" aspect isn’t a luxury in a lab!)
• a cotton (or polyester cotton) jacket to protect yourself from splashes (especially if they’re hot)
• cotton pants (or polyester cotton) as well
• an apron (with or without bib) in cotton or even disposable
• a head covering that covers all your hair

Despite common misconceptions, the instructions are quite flexible since there is no mention of either form or color. So in theory you can adopt any outfit that meets these requirements: short, black, pink or whatever. You can also choose between a toque, a cap, a charlotte, a scarf... it’s quite free as long as the head covering respects the reference material conditions.

Can you have style in your professional outfit?

I think so. Many brands work on their styling to have outfits that meet professional requirements while looking nice visually (especially with pastry chef jackets, there are really nice results). If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen mine in a story (with me in it too) and honestly I think it looks nice... but add a cap and I look like I’m heading to the slammer with a pickaxe to break rocks. You can’t have everything ^^!

Of course, above all it’s about having an outfit you feel comfortable in and that protects you effectively; style comes second. But for me it’s not incompatible to have a nice outfit (especially since a complete outfit costs around 150 euros, might as well have a set you like).

My tips for choosing your CAP outfit

Okay, so as long as we respect the reference material we can let loose? In theory, yes... Except that in practice it’s not that simple. As I told you in the intro and throughout many articles, juries at the CAP pastry chef exam are sometimes VERY conservative. For them, a professional outfit is white jacket, houndstooth pants, an apron without a bib, classic safety shoes (ugly therefore!) and a cap or charlotte.

As an independent candidate, you already start with a handicap with this type of jury. Adding a green paisley jacket and hot pink fuchsia pants risks putting you in an even worse position. Even if you theoretically have the right, it’s better to try to blend in as much as possible. So it’s up to you to find the right compromise between the outfit that makes you happy and the one that will please the jury, it’s not incompatible either in my opinion. I had let my goody-two-shoes side express itself and opted for the most classic houndstooth pants and a white jacket (with long sleeves, which I love the cut of!).

But more important than the choice of outfit itself: wear it before the exam (for example during your mock CAPs). First of all, this will allow you to test it under real conditions (safety shoes in particular, they’re far from comfortable!). But it will also allow you to "break it in" and not show up at the exam with a brand new outfit: a glaring sign of your lack of professional experience. Once again, no need to add to your handicap! But your outfit still needs to be clean for the exam though, right?

Other things to know for the exam?

And yes! There are still other points on which you can get criticized, particularly on hygiene:

• for girls, hair must be tied back
• no makeup or very very subtle (but honestly, can’t we go a whole day without a single brush stroke? Anyway believe me by the end of the day you’ll look like NOTHING, makeup or not! ^^)
• no nail polish, it’s a breeding ground for microbes!
• no jewelry (an exception is made for wedding rings) and no piercings (if you have any, cover them with tape)

And so this surprise?

Well since I know it’s quite a budget to equip yourself for the CAP pastry chef exam, I contacted MyLookPro, specialist in professional clothing, to have you win a complete classic outfit:

• a cap
• a white jacket
• houndstooth pants
• a white apron
• safety shoes

Yes I know they’re cool!!! And since they’re really very cool, each contest participant will win a 10% discount code to use on the website!

To participate, it happens on Instagram (if you don’t have an account, it’s worth creating one for the occasion, I have other great things to have you win for the exam over the coming weeks!).

Step 1: follow me on @camille_patisserie and follow @mylookpro.paris

Step 2: comment on this post by tagging 3 friends (whether they’re taking the CAP or not, you can always steal the prize from them if they win ^^!)

You have until March 30th to participate!