Royal Mail are trialing new uniforms for frontline staff – but posties have said the look is far from first class.
The postal service unveiled the outfits to workers this week as part of a 12-week trial.
They include unisex belts, black “hi-tech” leggings and hi-vis waterproofs.
But postal workers have criticised the updated kit.
One on the Royal Mail forum uploaded a photo of William Shatner in the Star Trek sci-fi series, and wrote: “Where’ve I seen those red and black uniforms before?”
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Another said the outfits were a rip-off of a rival delivery service.
He said: “I know Royal Mail are more focused on us being a dedicated parcel courier, but do we really have to copy DPD’s uniforms?”
Others claimed bright yellow “stormproofs” made them look like crossing patrols.
One said: “They forgot to provide the lollipop stick for the yellow stormproof uniform.”
The kit, which Royal Mail calls “the performance wardrobe”, is the first redesign for almost a decade.
It includes chinos for women and a cross between a polo top and a shirt, branded a “sholo”.
The trousers have pocket for a dog peg, a tool laun-ched in 2011 to let posties pop letters through a door if they fear being bitten.
Royal Mail’s Field Operations Director Ricky McAulay said: “Royal Mail postmen and postwomen are at the heart of the communities in which they work.
“Their highly recognisable red uniforms help cement this relationship of trust with our customers.
“We worked closely with our people to come up with these designs, poised to help them in their highly physical jobs while reflecting the shift towards parcels.”