What should a 40 yr old Doctor wear

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AIBU to ask you enlightened ladies for advice? I have been wearing the same old boring stuff to work for ages. I turned 40 recently and know I need some new clothes. I am a part-time GP so need to look smart but also must be comfortable and practical. Budget is not as big as you might think due to being part-time, nursery fees and recent house move but I realise I need to spend a bit. I am a size 8-10 and generally petite. When you imagine going in to see a smart professional lady doc, what is she wearing?

I could bore for Britain on the subject of Uniqlo and especially these www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/women/bottoms/ankle-length - smart-looking, cheap, incredibly comfortable. The shop will shorten them for free if you are near a branch, but there's also online ordering. Things from the Uniqlo Ines line might be worth checking out too. For something a bit dressier, LK Bennett?

My GP is about 40. The last time I saw her she was wearing knee high boots, a knee length brown patterned skirt which looked like Boden or maybe White Stuff and a plain jersey top in a complementary shade of brown. She looked nice, smart but not overdone, and approachable.

Usually dresses or smart trouser and a top. I have visited lots of GP surgeries for work and most do not wear jeans or anything too scruffy looking, the women aim for smart but approachable.

I wear alot of shift dress kind of things with jacket / cardigan for work. It makes getting dressed easy as there is no shirt + skirt / trouser combo to worry about and your shirt cant come untucked and there is no risk of exploding shirt buttons. hobbs/coast do nice ones but M&S do some great ones and they are easy to wash. I have given up dry cleaning stuff and now wash stuff on the 'wool wash' setting.

This kind of thing is easy to wear.
www.marksandspencer.com/cross-stitch-lined-short-sleeve-shift-dress/p/p22491732?image=SD_01_T59_9067D_F4_X_EC_90&color=NAVYMIX&prevPage=plp&pdpredirect

wear a wedding ring - what the heck?

Anyway, not a Dr but am in a professional role, I wear White Stuff, Sea Salt, Boden jersey dresses with opaque tights and either knee high flat boots or pumps during the winter. In the summer I wear natural tights and neutral or navy low heels.
The kind of dresses I have suggested can be dressed up with a jacket or down with a cardigan depending on your current needs.

sock why should OP wear a wedding ring?

I also pick up nice jersey, knee length dresses from Sainsburys too. They don't last as long and aren't quite as fitted or smart but are fine to mix it up.

I wouldn't expect you to be suited and booted but smartish, relaxed office wear?

Bur really, unless you looked particularly scruffy or dirty I wouldn't pay much attention. After the 2 weeks it takes to get an appointment at my surgery I'd probably be half dead anyway!

Ooh thanks for all the suggestions. I like the idea of the cigarette trousers but I don't think they can be worn with socks? I think I need to explore some of the brands suggested. I have been wearing plain unflattering trousers, ankle boots and jumpers and I just feel I need to smarten up. More dresses would make sense and probably some blouses.

I couldn't care less what my GP is wearing as long as they are listening so I'm really only looking at their face so I would just concentrate on not having rocket in your teeth or bogies on your nose. Wear whatever you feel comfortable in OP.

Clothes. Whatever your comfortable in. Im a gp receptionist and love that our docs are a mixture of fairly casual to smart depending on what else they have going on. It means that my work wardrobe can also be comfortable. I think it makes us more approachable to our patients.

don't tend to look at clothes - just face, like a prior poster - so a smile would be good.

I see a lot of drs and most of them seem to dress in a blouse and skirt, with flat sensible shoes for running to emergencies.

www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/womens-shirts-blouses/long-sleeved-tops/wa771-spk/womens-chalky-pink-spot-floral-olive-blouse

www.whitestuff.com/womens/skirts/green-bessie-chino-skirt/

But as long as you look presentable I think it's fine.

You can totally spend a bit on one or two sessions with a personal stylist you know... you're totally worth it!

All previous suggestions sound good, apart from converse lol.

I think you do need to look smart as a GP. I'm a lawyer and I make a point of looking smart, although some days I can't be bothered with it!

I'd probably avoid clothes that are dry clean only - I imagine you sometimes get covered in coughs, germs, oozing stuff, bodily fluids etc so it has to be pretty washable.

Wedding ring: all the GP photographs on my surgery's website have a wedding ring ostentatiously visible on the female GPs' photographs. The male GPs' hands usually aren't even visible. I can only assume it's to ward off unpleasantness. Just passing on what I've seen.

Gosh YellowDinosaur, a smiling consultant surgeon - can you please come to my Trust?!

I'd wear whatever you feel comfy in.

As long as you're bare below the elbow (or wearing something long sleeved that can be pushed up or removed), not flashing your bra or wearing anything with slogans, logos or Disney characters I think you can wear what you like.

Anything around your neck that can dangle is a no-no in infection control terms, as is clothes that can't be washed. For god's sake don't wear Merino jumpers or cashmere! Can you imagine how gutted you'd be if someone bled on it!

I'm a practice nurse and very glad I can wear a uniform!!

boden and hobbs....i wear mostly tailored slim trousers / pencil skirts with fitted cashmere sweater, heels mid height or loafers..

all very preppy/smart yummy mummy look....

Anything except jeans.

I'd be a bit put off by a GP who was dressed in formal office wear.

Ankle trousers with pop socks? Or - in nice weather - with ballerina flats? And silky shirts. Noa Noa is another nice brand that's practical - everything is washable...

Anne Weburn (but not the ruffled dress, obv). www.laredoute.co.uk/brnd/anne-weyburn.aspx?brndid=anne-weyburn

I am mid 40s and a doctor but it's a PhD not an MD. I like her stuff for work. Stylish, practical, good value, smart but not stuffy.

My GP surgery may be quite casual but I've seen a few Dr's in stuff like this. I've always thought my female GP's are very trendy.