Smart work clothes for med student..help!

[MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday]

DD1 is a medical student. Her placements have varied considerably for dress codes (varying from cheerfully casual 'where did you get those great hareem pants?' level to very formal)

She's just starting a placement where the lead consultant is very old school (she suspects he thinks women shouldn't be doctors at all) and actually failed one of her male friends ..one of the reasons was he didn't like his dress sense! ..Not sure how it was worded but her friend IS a tad camp and openly gay and I suspect that didn't go down well either :( )

She's not a well off med student unlike a lot of them, and hasn't had new stuff for a while. I'd like to get her a couple of complete outfits that would look suitable to pass consultant's gaze. She is 5 ft 10 size 8 willowy, long blonde hair in a casual bun type. Maybe smart skirts and striped shirts?

Any suggestions... or links? I can't afford expensive stuff but could probably run to a couple of normal high street bit and bobs for her. left to her own devices she lives in hippy pants, floppy jumpers or a Harry Potter Onsie... not quite the look we are aiming for here

My SIL had a wardrobe of flat shoes, a line skirts and short sleeved tops/shirts when on hospital placement.

Smart, because appearance was assessed as part of their professional attitude, yet also bare below elbow and suitable for legging it across the hospital when on call.

When i was at college, one of our visiting lecturers (very Senior Consultant) said she found black or navy under a white coat was very smart.

Hair must be tidy, nails short and naked, no jewellery except a wedding ring, make-up subtle, perfume muted.

Sleeves now needs to be above elbow to handwash.

I love stripes

Shirts/tops must have sleeves that can be rolled up if long. Elbow length is the longest infection control rules permit. Not too deep a v- neck.
Closed toe shoes not sandals. Small wedge or flat are the most practical. (Body fluids in the toes is never pleasant )
Smart trousers/chinos are popular with the junior docs or midi length skirts/dresses. Knee length or maxi more difficult for practicality reasons ie riding up when stretching/bending to examine patients or dragging on the floor.
As pp mentioned smart, professional appearance is really important and is mentioned as part of the assessment process.
Minimal jewellery and hair away from face too.

Trousers are often better than skirts as they are just more practical if you're bending over patients to examine them and for running about in. But nothing low rise that you see your pants over the top if you're crouched down. If you go for skirts make sure they are of a conservative length and nothing too tight or constricting.

For tops, if you go for shirts they'll need to be rolled up to above elbow so maybe better just to get short sleeved things. Nothing low cut or sheer.

High street stuff is fine but look for stuff that can be washed well and possibly at high temperatures just in case of bodily fluid accidents.

Thank you :) I think she would be happiest in trousers (being tall she finds dresses often come up short) So smart trousers and short sleeved blouses/shirts?

She has some nice tan closed toe shoes from clarks (look like granny shoes to me put apparently are in) that are definitely her best for work wear.
She has done ok clothing wise up til now but this guy is definitely very picky and she is on her guard!

Well done on your daughter doing so well

Sara have lovely fitted smart shirts (poplin)

Zara

I guess its the same deal as professional workwear in any active job - decent looking black or navy trousers and shirts. In (sen) education we have to have closed toe footwear (I bend this to include smart black rogues and trainers, I'm on my feet all day and if a child does a runner, so do staff) ditto the risks for encounters with bodily fluids of all kinds, DP and Next trousers are the best for size 8 and long legs, and wash well ime. She still needs to feel comfortable and not fussing over her clothing so maybe the odd smart t-shirt type top, again cool in a potentially hot hospital and check out whether scarves etc would allowed or not? If they are, a scarf around the neck of a plain black tee can work wonders.

As much as I am lmao at rogues, I typed BROGUES and got autoincorrected

In my day we wore white coat ( except on paediatric blocks) over smart trousers/ skirt and more casual top- smart t shirt or shirt.

No white coats any more..sadly (would be handy to cover up tired clothes!)
I feel a bit sorry for her as we are ordinary parents.. educated but not in good jobs ..I'm a TA as it fits with our youngest who is autistic..and most of her medic friends are children of doctors and considerably better off! Sending her food money every week is a struggle (I have another at Uni, nursing so supporting her too) She works bank shifts at the hospital when she can but can't do it regularly so is the poorest of her friends by a long way. She never complains or asks for more money and I'd really like to help her out.

Zara sounds good.. does it cater for thin and tall?

Jemina.. I work in a special school... yep..practical..able to run and not too worried if poo hits, is key

Scarf plus stethoscope around neck doesn't always work so well.

In my hospital the women wear a smart dress (wrap style mainly) with tights and flats or a skirt and blouse.
(Or scrubs)
Many have a small over-the-shoulder handbag, usually Cath Kidstone, (wipe clean) for lugging phone/cash for the cafe around the site.
Hair in a neat bun.

The clothes range from Boden to Tescos. :)

The chaps to a man wear shockingly tight chinos and a Jack Wills shirt.

I can't link here but the zara shirts are lovely. Tall and thin for sure. I think they would be perfect. Elbow length. Navy with white piping and there Iis a blue on with anchors that is smart. I have it. They are small fit so she might want to size up if she needs to move and stretch.

Corporette did an article on workwear for doctors and had links to doctor/med student style blogs.

Franish is a blog by a med student.

Style on wards is big-time dictated by speciality e.g. the opthalmologists can be stylish and in high heels etc but not so much the paediatricians.

On-call cardiac team requires flats, loose top, trousers (think doing resuscitation on a trolley)

HilarysMantelpiece
Style on wards is big-time dictated by speciality e.g. the opthalmologists can be stylish and in high heels etc but not so much the paediatricians.

When one of my children was in hospital last year I couldn't help noticing that the female med students were channelling Victoria Beckham with super high heels and tight (restrictive?) shift dresses. The actual doctors didn't seem to dress this way.

OP, I'd go for brogues, slim cropped trousers and fitted shirts. if I was 5ft 10 and willowy I'd wear hot pants and crop tops all day every day

Gap have a 30% sale on at the moment. great for simple trousers and some cotton shirts. it all washes really well. Good luck to her.