Forced to purchase expensive clothing . Is this legal?

[bubbleberry]

My wife works for a high end fashion retailer.

They have suggested that she wear their clothing to work, which is fine, when there is stuff that she can afford she buys it.

But the issue seems to be coming to a head, there is a meeting of management/owners and staff next week, they want the staff to wear their clothing and seem to be pushing the issue.

The problem is that my wife earns �6.50 per hour, and a pair of the companys jeans costs nearly �200.

Their dresses, their jackets, tops etc are much more expensive, and while they offer 50% discount to staff, by the time tax is added to the sale, whatever she buys becomes far to expensive for our income.

Can they legally state that she should wear their clothing?

She is an employee, not a customer, if they want her to wear the stuff, the least they could do is give the clothes at cost?