I’m going to say it like it is. You’re a professional, and ought to look the part. Your appearance will affect others’ impression of you before you’ve even opened your mouth! My point? Make sure those scrubs fit right! It doesn’t hurt that well-fitting scrubs work wonders on your self-confidence as well, and who can’t use a little ego boost every now and then? I certainly can. Now for the lesson. Your neckline should not gap in the front when you bend over, (awkward!) nor should your top ride up when you bend. Scrub pants should be snug enough that they don’t slip down, (yikes!) and loose enough to be comfortable. Don’t pick up any dust mites with your pant legs, but cut them too short and they’ll look outgrown. My advice? Try on scrub pants with the shoes you wear to work.
I’m going to say it like it is. You’re a professional, and ought to look the part. Your appearance will affect others’ impression of you before you’ve even opened your mouth! My point? Make sure those scrubs fit right! It doesn’t hurt that well-fitting scrubs work wonders on your self-confidence as well, and who can’t use a little ego boost every now and then? I certainly can. Now for the lesson. Your neckline should not gap in the front when you bend over, (awkward!) nor should your top ride up when you bend. Scrub pants should be snug enough that they don’t slip down, (yikes!) and loose enough to be comfortable. Don’t pick up any dust mites with your pant legs, but cut them too short and they’ll look outgrown. My advice? Try on scrub pants with the shoes you wear to work.
While it may not be as exciting as all the bells and whistles on the newest scrubs, the fabric makeup of your medical uniforms is arguably the most important characteristic. The ratio of cotton to polyester, or the addition of another material may be the difference between cool and comfy, and saturated with sweat. In-store or online, no matter. Knowledge is power! Check out our nifty fabric guide for the lowdown on all the fabrics that are used in scrubs, and then use your newfound knowledge to choose the scrubs that best suit your needs.
You work hard and you need stuff. If you’re anything like me, you tend to lose that stuff. Which is why I’d like you to meet my good friend, Pocket. Pocket and his family would like to be your new best friends. They promise to be well-made, strategically placed, and serve as personal organizers that will never ever get lost. So when you’re looking at medical scrubs make a mental list of your daily must-haves and consider where they’ll go. Lip balm, pens, iPad, phone, make sure they all have a designated place. Think optimal convenience with zipper pockets, Velcro closures, and extra-large iPad pockets. Pen pockets, patch pockets, side vents, cargo… Go pocket crazy!
Scrubs are scrubs any which way you slice them, so when manufacturers feel the urge to go all upscale and become the Prada of scrubs, they add details and conveniences you never knew you needed. Think a hidden headphone cord system, where you can listen to your iPod without the cord hanging out, a la Cherokee’s HeartSoul scrubs! Or how about metal-free scrubs for radiology, bungee loops for your id, and fold-back waists which give a slimming effect. When I say you can find every convenience in today’s scrubs, I mean it. Read the fine print, you’ll be surprised at all the amenities hidden in your medical scrub set. Now all you need is a little robot to chart for you and you’ll be all set!
I deplore dirt. Can’t stand stains. Yes, life is difficult for me as a nurse. I am constantly engaged in a losing battle with the stains and smells that are the bane of my existence. Unfortunately, a nurse’s salary does not cover the cost of dry cleaning so it’s vital for me to have easy care scrubs. Cotton is easy to clean in any temperature water, but be forewarned that the colors will fade. Blended fabrics such as poly/rayon preserve the brightness of the colors better, but they may not stand up well to hot water. Check your scrub’s washing instructions, and follow it carefully! If your place of work sends your scrubs out for commercial washing or you can’t be bothered with an iron, stay away from delicate scrubs! Nothing is worse than a nurse in wrinkled scrubs.
Great fashion sense (ahem!) is all about mixing and matching and artful layering. Tees and warm-up jackets are the perfect way to stay warm while also staying true to your fashion sense. Stock up on some basic colors that will go well with different colors and prints; you can thank me later. For more of a statement, check out the newest tees that feature burnout designs and foil detailing. Warm-up jackets with knit cuffs are HIPAA compliant for those in the dental field, as well as a great way to obtain more pockets! Some of my personal faves are the cardigans and jackets that double as street wear, with RTW styling that doesn’t brand you as a nerdy nurse. My, my, my…the chic factor appears to have hit an all time high!
Scrubs by nature identify you as a part of a large group, and to patients you just become ‘one of them doctors’. Flaunt your individuality by adding a personal touch to your scrubs! A decorative ID badge reel or stethoscope sock can liven up a difficult day, and the right hairstyle (think my signature, fashion forward ponytail) will work wonders! Shop around for those perfect button earrings that will satisfy your dress code, as well as the little girl inside of you who craves some sparkle. Check out my Bling Things for more fabulous accessory ideas.
Just running through a quick checklist here. Cloth tape measure. Check! Friend. Hmmmm, friend. Care to be my friend? Pretty, pretty please!
We carry soooo many different scrubs from soooo many different manufacturers with their own size charts, I figured I’d first demonstrate how you can take your own measurements, so you can match them up with the size guide of your choice. Which by the way, you’ll find right beneath my ramblings.
Still wondering why I need you to be my friend, aren’t you? Well, it can get a little tricky measuring yourself. Ever tried figuring out your inseam all on your own? Right, that’s why I need you. Let’s do this together! Chop, chop!
Before purchasing your scrubs, follow my guide below to be sure you’re measuring yourself correctly.
Note: Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, so there’s absolutely no reason to suffocate yourself with the tape measure in order to lose an inch. Keep the measuring tape comfortably snug instead, and I promise I won’t disclose your size. Alright, alright; pinky swear!
- Height: Kick off your shoes, show me your perfect posture, and let your friend measure you from head to toe.
If you’re Miss Independent, have a pencil handy, back up against a door frame or wall, and make a small mark where the top of your head meets the wall. Now measure from the ground to the pencil marking. All done! - Bust/Chest: Breathe in, breathe all the way out, and then measure around the shoulder blades, under the armpits and over the fullest part of the bust.
- Waist: I refer here to your natural waist. Find it by bending to one side (while concentrating on not falling over,) then measure; without cheating!
- Hips: Measure the fullest part of the hip (usually about 7-9 inches below the natural waist). If your hips are two sizes or more larger than your waist, use your hip measurement to determine pants size.
- Outside Leg: I need you to find your waist one more time, and measure from the point where you’d like your pants to sit, all the way to where you’d like your pants to end. A friend would probably be useful for this step.
- Inseam: The inseam is the inside pant length, which is measured from the crotch area, to the bottom of the ankle.
I like to think that I’m here to prevent any major fashion faux pas from going down. I’m talking pants which appear to drown its wearer, and on the flip side, flood pants. *shudder* That’s why here at MSC, we have petite and tall sizes!
Petite Sizes
Petite simply refers to your height, and the length proportions for jackets, sleeves, skirts, and pants. No matter your size, if you’re a woman under 5’4″ you are considered petite.
Tall Sizes
The same premise exists for tall sizes. Tall merely refers to your height, and the length proportions of jackets, sleeves, skirts, and pants. Women 5’8″ and over, and men 6’2″ and over, are both considered tall regardless of size.
Plus Sizes
Everybody can look fabulous, and thanks to the plus size industry, that means everybody! Whether you are petite, average, or tall, plus sizes usually refer to those sizes 2XL and up.
I’m pleased to inform you that the WonderWink brand in particular has recently launched a strictly plus- size line. And it’s gorgeous! Go on, have the first look!
Thanks for being my friend, dear! I now officially deem you a scrubs purchaser par excellence. You’re welcome!
So you have a V-shaped body; big whoop! All that means is that you’re bigger at the shoulders and bust, and narrower at the hips. I know you may feel absolutely and totally disproportionate, but there is a way to streamline your look to give you a more even appearance. Yaaay! First off, I beg you from the bottom of my fashion loving heart, do NOT wear anything with padded shoulders or over the top patterns. You want to go with a sleek and simple look. In the scrubs department, I would suggest a mock wrap or empire-waist in solid colors. The solid color won’t draw any unnecessary attention, and the empire waist will give you a teeny waist and then flare out at the bottom in a way that will balance out your upper body. In the pants department, opt for a boot cut or straight legged pant. Remember, we’re going for balance here. Now work it, girl!
An apple a day…keeps the apple shape away! Or so we all wish. Are you carrying excess weight around your abdomen? Average to large bust size? No waist whatsoever? Okay, okay, I’m sorry for rubbing it in. There is a great solution, though; I promise. Avoid shapeless scrub tops that fail to give you the definition your body so desperately needs, as well as bulky scrub bottoms. I’m talking those pants with so many pockets, zippers, and buttons, you’re literally a walking storage closet.
So what should you wear? Option number one; scrub tops with soft, stretchy, dark-colored panels. Think Cherokee Flexibles. Oh, the power of panels; it literally makes you look ten times thinner. Best of all, you can wear the top in almost any color, because the dark, contrasting panels will do all the slimming work! Another fabulous option is a scrub top with ruching at the waist. Shhhh, let’s not tell anyone about that tummy underneath or the fact that there really is no waist. It’ll be our little secret! Can’t forget about ’em scrub bottoms, can we? You’ll want to go with a straight leg or flared leg. It’ll keep things neat and balanced.
Women with pear shaped frames carry excess weight at their hips and thighs. Once again, you want to achieve balance between the upper part of your body and the lower part. You’ll do this by wearing solid-colored, fitted scrub pants. Yes, I said fitted! The goal is to look as slim as possible on bottom, and while your instinct may be to hide your body under baggy and billowy pieces, know that you won’t be doing yourself any favors. No siree! In fact, all the extra material will just solidify that ‘big’ impression you were trying oh so hard to avoid.
To further distract people from your pear shape, opt for a patterned scrub top- and I mean patterned! In fact, you want your top to be busy enough to get all your colleagues talking. And you know what- let them. The upper half of your body is your ‘good feature’ so why not flaunt it. Hint: Maybe sew into your top a shoulder pad or two in order to create a seamless and totally balanced look.
Don’t be fooled by the word slender. Yes, every woman’s wish is to be thin but it’s not all sunshine and roses. Ok fine, maybe it is- sort of. But those slender girls have their issues as well. Talk about having no dimension! Women want to have some sort of shape. The fix? Well we’re talking to nurses here, so how about a fitted scrub tee that shows off that svelte figure, with a nice knitted jacket to go over it in order to give your body the added dimension it needs to be truly fab! As an aside, feel totally free to wear those skinny scrub pants every nurse dreams of wearing and looking good in. You know what; why don’t you just wear anything that pleases you. Chances are you’ll look A-1 in whatever you choose to showcase your amazing figure!
Hear ye, hear ye, I’ve got some great news! You’re proportionate! There’s another thing- you’re curvy. While that’s a highly sought after feature, it’s also difficult to maintain. Remember, the goal is to put your unique body type in the best possible light. So don’t hide your hourglass figure in shapeless clothes, because then you’ll look, well- shapeless. Instead, try and accentuate your waist by wearing an empire waist scrub top. Like this we get to see your curves (and admire them!) as well as your teeny tiny waist in comparison. As for those scrub bottoms? This is an easy one. Everything will look good on you. Literally! Skinny, boot cut, flared leg, straight etc. As long as the top is right, the bottom will definitely work.
Love thy body in the Shape!
Drum roll please… Here it is! The ultimate guide for choosing the scrubs that best suit your individual body shape. It doesn’t matter what’s in style, (um okay, maybe a little!) or what ‘everyone else’ is wearing (who is ‘everyone else’ anyway?); you have to dress to impress, which translates into clothing your unique body type in the medical scrubs that will have you looking, and even better yet, feeling, your absolute best!
Scrubs to the Rescue is giving you a sneak peek at the science behind the scrubs, so that you can choose the scrub fabric that will work best for you.
How The Fabrics In Your Scrubs Go To Work For You
A revolutionary line of scrubs explodes onto the market in a burst of – no, not color, but fabric. Bolts of perfect, beautiful woven threads. It is the fabric of the scrub that will determine whether it drapes well or hangs limp, and whether it is moisture wicking or not. The fabric will dictate the ease of care and the scrub’s stain resistance. And so, even as colors and styles come and go, a good fabric will last.
Fabrics
Most scrub fabrics are a blend of two or more fibers. We’ve featured the fabrics that are most commonly used in scrubs, as well as the blends that you’ll see most often. Check the percentages on the tag of the garment, as the balance of fibers is what lends each fabric its characteristics.
Cotton
The good
- Comfortable year-round
- Soft texture
- Drapes well for a nice fit
- Durable
- Doesn’t build up static electricity
- Prints show up nicely
The bad
- Fades with washing
- Shrinks – the looser the weave the more it shrinks
- Fibers soil easily
- Wrinkles easily
The Upkeep
- Easy to clean – launder in cold or hot water
- lay out to dry to prevent shrinking
who knew?
- Easy to clean – launder in cold or hot water
- lay out to dry to prevent shrinking
- Often blended with another fiber to prevent wrinkles
- Formaldehyde sometimes added to cotton to create “easy care cotton.”
polyester
The good
- Easy care
- Durable
- Resistant to stretching and shrinking
- Quick drying
- Wears well
- Wrinkle resistant
- Abrasion resistant
The bad
- Rough texture
- Builds up static electricity
The Upkeep
- Turn inside out to prevent snags and pilling.
- Wash in warm water, using fabric softener to prevent static.
- Dry on low temperature with dryer sheet, or line dry.
who knew?
- Made out of oil.
spandex
The good
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Resistant to stretching and shrinking
- Dyeable
- Prevents bagging and sagging
- Perspiration resistant
- Abrasion resistant
The bad
- Rough texture
The Upkeep
- Machine-wash in warm water with a cold rinse.
- Machine-dry any garments containing spandex on medium temperature.
who knew?
- When combined with cotton, if the fabric content of spandex is 10% or greater, the fabric doesn’t wear as well.
rayon
The good
- Durable
- Extremely absorbent
- Comes in a variety of qualities and weights
- Drapes well
- Looks soft and silky
The bad
- Wrinkles easily
- May stretch when wet
- May shrink when washed
The Upkeep
- It is best to hand wash and line dry.
- If manufacturer’s label allows for washing, wash on delicate cycle and lay flat or hang dry.
who knew?
- Made from cellulose, and can be made to resemble many natural fabrics.
Fabric Blends
Polyester/Cotton
The good
- Polyester helps retain shape
- Polyester resists stains and wrinkles
- Cotton makes fabric absorbent
- Cotton makes fabric comfortable
- Easy care
The bad
- Not as cool as cotton
- May pill when washed
The Upkeep
- Machine wash on warm.
- Tumble dry low or hang dry, based on manufacturer’s label instructions.
who knew?
- A permanent press property gives the fabric extended wear.
Polyester/rayon
The good
- Polyester provides durability
- Polyester helps maintain shape
- Rayon gives nice texture
- Rayon makes fabric absorbent
The bad
- Not as durable as polyester
The Upkeep
- Wash on a cold, gentle cycle.
- Lay flat or hang to dry.
who knew?
- Entirely synthetic, and therefore not biodegradable.
Fabric Weaves
poplin
defined as
Plain weave of any fiber or blend, with crosswise ribs that give a corded surface.
THE GOOD
- Durable
- Prevents wrinkles
- Easy to iron
- Stains are less noticeable
dobby
DEFINED AS
Small geometric patterns that add extra texture to fabric.
THE GOOD
- Very absorbent
- Prevents wrinkles
- Stains are less noticeable
twill
DEFINED AS
Diagonal parallel ribs
THE GOOD
- Durable
- Prevents wrinkles
- Drapes well
- Stains are less noticeable
brushed Cotton
DEFINED AS
Cotton fabric which is brushed to remove excess lint and fibers from the fabric.
THE GOOD
- Durable
- Very smooth and soft
- Highly absorbent
- Stains are less noticeable
So there you have it. A ten minute crash course on fabric technology and scrub fashion. Your diploma will arrive in the mail any day now!
If you loved reading this as much as we loved writing it, spread the love! Let your friends in on the secret of what makes your scrubs do the things it does.