Have you ever caught yourself looking in the mirror while getting ready for work and thinking that your outfit, well (not to brag), fits pretty well?
You leave the house feeling great, but when you get to work you realize the weather has done an about-face. Either it's too hot or too cold for you. Default setting? You feel uncomfortable.
If you work in a medical facility, you know that indoor temperatures can swing just as much as outdoors, depending on where you live. Sometimes it's so hot that you only need lightweight scrub pants and a scrub top or T-shirt. Other times it's so cold that you need a long-sleeved T-shirt or a crew-neck undershirt, not to mention workplace-appropriate jackets or lab coats you can throw over your outfit.
They say one of the keys to a great outfit is knowing how to layer. When it comes to operating room attire, this couldn't be more true. But adding extra layers to your operating room attire isn't as simple as just throwing them on and going for the typical clinician. If you want to layer your uniform without breaking a sweat, read on.
We have tips on what to wear under surgical clothing and how to stay comfortable and look good when you wear multiple layers.
What to wear under your coat to stay comfortable
There are several options for undergarments, both for scrub pants and scrub tops.
For the top:
- Check out long-sleeve undershirts for scrubs. This option is one of the most common types of undershirts and is generally a good choice for winter. These long-sleeve undershirts are made from lightweight, stretchy, super-soft fabric that fits close to the skin and is perfect for staying warm during long shifts.
- Perfect for looking stylish while remaining modest and professional, tank tops are also an option, especially if you're looking for answers to the question of what to wear under your lab coat in warm weather. If you wear a light or white coat and worry that dark underwear will show through, a tank top works wonders. This is all the more true if it's a bit warm in your healthcare facility and you need extra protection so that sweat stains don't soak through your outer shirt.
For the pants:
- In combination with a scrub jacket and an undershirt, jeggings are a great way to stay warm in winter, especially if your scrub pants are rather loose-fitting, like our drawstring joggers. Think of them as long underwear, just a bit more fashionable. Just make sure the fabric isn't too tight.
- Compression pants for men, compression pants for women, or biker shorts are also a good choice. Biker shorts can be made of elastane and are often worn as a kind of shapewear under the lab coat. With their moisture-wicking properties, they can hide heavy sweat stains on the lower torso. Compression pants support muscles and joints without adding bulk. That way you can maintain a slim silhouette while enjoying an extra measure of comfort.
And finally, there are bonus points for the underwear you wear under your lab coat. It's certainly not the first thing you think about when you put on your work clothes. But for the coat to have a clean cut and fit your curves perfectly, you need comfortable underwear that doesn't show a panty line.
How to choose the perfect underwear
Now that you know what kind of garments to wear under and over your lab coat, you can start your search! But how do you choose the right, smart, and elegant work outfit, and which are the best underscrubs for nurses and nursing staff? Are there any other factors you need to consider?
When shopping, you should always pay attention to three things: color, fit, and style.
Color
The color of surgical gowns is always important, and that idea still applies to high-quality underscrubs. There may be specific guidelines at your workplace regarding the color of the gowns you are allowed to buy, or you may be required to wear neutral colors. You should also consider how these colors will harmonize with the colors of the rest of your wardrobe.
Do the colors of your smock layers clash? Is your underwear dark while your surgical clothing is light? If that's the case, you might not want to pair the two garments together. Even if it has nothing to do with underwear, dark fabrics can show through lighter materials and create an unflattering silhouette.
Fit
Choose undershirts that match your body proportions. In industry jargon, that's called: "not too tight, but also not too loose".
That may sound a bit vague, but in practice it means the pant legs don't sag, the neckline doesn't gape, and the clothing isn't so tight that your underwear shows. The undershirt should not extend past the bottom edge of the top, and the undershirt itself should be tighter than the top so you can wear it seamlessly under your uniform.
Type
This is relevant to what we discussed earlier: Are the undershirts especially suitable for your environment?
If you work in a cold place, do these under-gowns keep you warm? If your facility is hot and humid, what kind of gown do you wear to make sure you don't sweat so much that you turn into a puddle on the floor?
In practice, choosing the right coat type is quite simple. In cold weather, simply wear long-sleeved shirts, and for sweat-inducing tasks, short-sleeved or moisture-wicking shirts.
When to wear layers and when not
Last but not least, the question arises: "When should I wear layers and when shouldn't I?"
Wear layers when:
- Your dress code explicitly requires you to wear layers.
- You want to convey a modest, professional appearance.
- You often tend to feel cold.
- If you bend over a lot or reach up, your surgical gown can ride up. The movement can expose your waist. But an undershirt can prevent that.
- If you do very strenuous work, you should wear undershirts that protect your main outfit from sweat.
Do not wear layers if:
- Your dress code expressly prohibits this.
that makes you sweat excessively.
- The under-smocks don't match the coats you're currently wearing (yes, you want to be comfortable, but a little fashion never hurt anyone).
- The layers of the gown don't fit you properly. If they don't sit correctly, they can come into contact with unintended surfaces or objects, potentially exposing you to additional contamination.
