Creating a Professional Style

This week marks the start of my last unit as a first year. Last week was absolutely wonderful. Spencer had classes all last week so our trip to Pittsburgh was just a weekend venture. The rest of my week was spent catching up on things I've been putting off until after my exam as well as catching up with friends and preparing for the last few weeks of school. 

This shirt was one of my J. Crew sale rack finds. I instantly fell in love with the bright colors and delicate pattern. One of the hardest things about dressing professionally as a medical student is the fact that you're always working with a white coat. While some doctors and other healthcare professionals don't have to wear their white coat if they work in an office, medical students are always expected to show up dressed in a white coat. This obviously rules out blazers and cardigans as staple items. My solution is to invest in eye-catching pieces that will stand out under the white coat. A word of caution though - make sure to dress appropriately for whatever specialty you're working in. I'd recommend wearing more conservative pieces on your first rotation in a specific area. First impressions are important, and while a statement necklace may be fine to wear while rotating with a dermatologist, it may be best to go with something more classic while spending time in the emergency department. There are lots of other ways to spice up you're white coat too! 

Textures: Play around with textures like silk, chiffon, and lace - even dress pants come in all sorts of textures!

Patterns: Stripes are always classic, and one of my current obsessions is herringbone. Also look for floral, watercolor, checker, polka dot, and chevron. 

Scale: This is related to prints and describes the size of the pattern. The size of the pattern can dramatically change how our eyes interpret it. For example, large vs. small polka dots. 

Colors: Bright and vibrant colors, pastels, and eye-catching color combos are some fun ways to work some color into your outfit.

Accessories: Necklaces, earrings, and belts are some of my favorites. I avoid bracelets and watches as well as large rings because of how hands-on medicine is. 

Shoes: My collection of flats is constantly expanding. Classic black or tan are a necessity but leopard and bright colors are lots of fun to work with. I avoid heels for most clinical experiences because, although lovely, its a disservice to your patients if your attention isn't 100% on them because your feet are killing you 

Thanks for reading and hope this helps to spark some creativity!