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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

What should a 40 yr old Doctor wear

85 replies

balletjump · 20/02/2017 13:04

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?

OP posts:

khajiit13 · 20/02/2017 14:23

Most of the female GPS where I am look smart in cigarette trousers and a blouse/jump with flats.

One GP I used to see always wore flip flops and big floaty skirts. She always looked so happy. I liked her.

anotherBadAvatar · 20/02/2017 15:00

As an anaesthetist, I both love and hate my uniform of scrubs (can't decide what to wear - great! wear scrubs. want to look like a potato in an ill-fitting blue sack - great! wear scrubs!), so do sometimes envy people who get to wear nice things to work.

When I have to "Dress" up, I mostly wear grey skinny trousers with plain-ish tops from white company, zara or boden; or dresses, again boden or fat face. Mix with either ankle boots or smart flats.

The female surgeons are all v glam where I work - really nice fitted tailored suits and dresses, we gas monkeys look like right scruffs next to them! I even asked one of my male (anaesthetic) colleagues if he was off to the coroners the other day, as he was wearing a suit.

Most of the female GPs I have seen (as a patient) tend to wear things similar to me, I've never seen one dressed up as much as the surgeons.

Grilledaubergines · 21/02/2017 00:01

If a patient is an arsehole, I'm not sure a Wedding ring will be a deterrent! I would have thought the less hand jewellery the better in case of infection/germs

Astoria7974 · 21/02/2017 00:08

I personally like to see my GPs at least as smartly dressed as me (business formal). The female GPs at the surgery attached to my office wear suits, pearls, and heels.

ScarletSienna · 21/02/2017 00:16

Our doctors pretty much wear what I do. Chinos or jeans with a sweater etc or simple skirts/dresses. All wear flats - seems sensible! None wear suits and I haven't seen any ties on male GPs. I like it-it's more comfortable somehow! Business style dress isn't appropriate IMO as it is too formal and less approachable.

JorahsMissus · 21/02/2017 00:47

When my mother was in hospital recently I saw an abundance of trainee doctors who seem to have been cloned. The young girls all wore cigarette trousers, blouses and flat brogue style shoes while the men looked exactly as a PP described....preppy beanpoles. But all very smartly dressed.

As for a 40 something GP, honestly I feel more comfortable talking to someone casually dressed as it feels less intimidating than trying to speak to someone who is suited and booted. My GP is quite an eclectic dresser but very warm and friendly, she looks like she has had most of her wardrobe since the 90s but she wears it with confidence and looks comfortable.

Lucked · 21/02/2017 01:19

Well the world is your oyster here as there is no right dress code. If I am stuck in a rut I make a point of really noticing what other women are wearing to get ideas of what might suit me.

For me I wear a lot of shell tops rather than blouses (because I need to be bare below the elbows) although today I wore a cotton blouse with the sleeves rolled up. I also have some loose shift type and cos dresses which I wear with opaques and Chelsea boots.

My Boden stuff is my smart stuff, most of my clothes are from the high street.

I am laughing so hard at the preppy skinny beanpole comments, it describes all the male junior doctors to a T!

Spring2016 · 21/02/2017 02:19

Trousers, shirt, blazer/white coat, any non high heeled footwear. Same goes for a male gp.

DogMama89 · 21/02/2017 06:10

A forty year old doctor wears whatever the hell she wants because she's fantastic!

But if you're struggling, I'll let you know what our lot wear. I'm at a CMHT and our dress code is fairly relaxed, (I can't for the love of me think what my GP actually wears owing to me not seeing them in about six years )

But the general concencus on our ward and amongst other community professionals, and the consultants and GPs seems to be, skinnies (not in denim blue)/ cigarette pants, well tailored tops. And nice shoes

I'm sure you'll look gorgeous

StealthPolarBear · 21/02/2017 06:22

A long multicoloured woolly scarf.
rubber soled shoes so you don't slip in the tardis.

PossumInAPearTree · 21/02/2017 06:38

One of the drs at work often wears a funky skirt with a nice top, often smart, fitted t shirt type tops.

She has this skirt here but I think she's shortened it as it's just above her knee.

honeylulu · 21/02/2017 06:40

I'm a solicitor and when I want a break from boring suits and shirts I wear a dress and jacket combo with opaque tights. I think that would work well for a GP and is surprisingly practical.
I tend to go for knee length fitted dresses that don't restrict movement and require no ironing (win win). Phase Eight is good. Also Karen Millen (only go there when there's a sale or I've got a few second hand ones from Ebay!) But I've also had compliments about my Primark dresses!
I put off wearing dresses/ skirts for ages as I walk a lot but now I wear pumps or loafers for the journey and keep a pair of heels under the desk.

JemimaMuddledUp · 21/02/2017 06:42

In A&E with one of the DC recently the doctor was wearing a jersey dress, opaques and brogues. She looked really nice, but also as though what she was wearing was comfortable and practical. I can't tell you what anyone else was wearing, but her appearance stood out (in a good way)

foxychox · 21/02/2017 06:53

gas monkeys arrrfff!

Paninotogo · 21/02/2017 07:00

I am not in the UK, they all wear scrubs here, looks a bit weird.

superj · 21/02/2017 07:13

This is my favourite work dress at the moment
www.warehouse.co.uk/gb/clothing/dresses/ditsy-floral-ponte-dress/028556.html?dwvar_028556_color=76&position=22&cgid=dresses#page=2&start=22&categoryID=dresses
Have become a convert to the dress, black tights and flat shoes/ankle boots for work

Ohyesiam · 21/02/2017 08:36

I work in a go surgery at times, and one of the female doctors looks great. She has an endless selection of dresses, none of them tight. I've noticed seas salt, urban outfitters, and a debenhams one. She looks professional, approachable and attractive. The others go in for boden style cigarette pants, with roll necks and necklaces. Lots of non chunky knitwear.

Parker231 · 21/02/2017 08:49

My DH is a GP - he usually wears chinos or jeans and a polo shirt and the women GP's wear jeans or cigarette trousers. The practice has a reputation for a relaxed atmosphere which seems to go down well with their patients.

myoriginal3 · 21/02/2017 10:09

Gabilan - I have never heard of Anne Weyburn before but I've just become a fan!

Gardencentregroupie · 21/02/2017 10:14

You're a GP so people come to you, but if you went to your patients I would highly recommend you wear some ID, unlike the male doctor that strolled into my hospital side room the other week asking if he could shut the door. Er, who the fuck are you?! (He was wearing jeans and a fitted, bright pink jumper and was fit as fuck, not that that's relevant)

Otherwise I would also suggest smart ish cigarette style trousers and a comfortable but smart sweater or shirt with fitted sleeves. Bad times if a patient collapses on the floor and you have to worry about flashing your pants doing CPR.

glueandstick · 21/02/2017 10:27

GPs are like hens teeth around here. So long as you have clothes on I couldn't give two hoots! Just grateful I got to see you.

Boden, white stuff, sea salt. That'll see you through :)

glueandstick · 21/02/2017 10:30

And Sainsbury's. Their clothes are great for padding out a wardbrobe without being extortionate.

Oh and Hobbs. Love Hobbs.

CaraAspen · 21/02/2017 11:04

Sainsbury's TU clothing is beyond awful. No one should recommend it. Ugh

LevantineHummus · 21/02/2017 16:40

My DH got very, very sick on a business trip to Russia and was taken to the company doctor (first). He never notices what anybody is wearing and couldn't care less. That day he was in great pain, but still remembered what the dr was wearing...

a white coat, undone
blouse unbuttoned to mid sternum, which was obscured by breasts in a lacy push up bra (or naturally not needing that type of bra)
above the knee skirt
platform high heeled stillettos.

He said it was awful because he had no idea where to look and when she came to check him over the breasts were uncomfortably close. The other doctors weren't dressed like that, only the company one!

So OP, don't wear that and you'll be fine!

NootNoot · 21/02/2017 16:57

Vet here- smart trousers (Next, Debenhams, M&S). I have one pair of super dark indigo skinny jeans that I wear in knee high boots when my trousers have all got bodily fluids on them

Smart sweaters in winter, peplum type sleeveless tops in summer. (Oasis/Warehouse/Phase 8/ Debenhams).

Flat sensible shoes- I can't have open toes for safety reasons & heels not allowed but I don't see why kitten heels/sandals wouldn't be ok for a consulting GP

Discrete jewellery ie studs/wedding ring. No bracelets or OTT necklaces (to avoid inevitable stethoscope strangle). I dislike seeing GP/nurse with garishly painted nails, don't know why, probably cos my own hands look like something out of the Walking Dead.

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