No matter what you’re doing at work, looking professional is a necessity. No matter where you work, you’re representing the hospital or medical office. Looking like a competent and qualified nurse is essential.

Here are five tips (with helpful visuals…ahem!) to help you be mindful of fashion blunders!

(1) Watch the cleavage
(2) Steer clear of stains
(3) Too tight ain’t right
(4) No peek-a-boo, please
(5) High waters = low marks

First, watch the cleavage…

Here, a guide for scrubs combinations that look great and are easy to coordinate. It was put together by one of Hollyood’s top stylists, who, in costuming for multiple sitcoms, is known for making “real” bodies look terrific.

Drawstring Pants with Basic Tunic

I like this pair of drawstring bottoms because of the loose fit, which is always comfortable and important for your workday. Check them out in Hunter green:

Men's Utility Scrubs Pants in Hunter

Wear a long-sleeve tee with the short-sleeve scrub top for a hip look to mix it up a bit:

Men's Scrubs Tunic Top in Hunter

My other favorite colors in this style are black, navy, khaki, royal blue, teal and ciel (light blue).

A tip on shopping for color: There are more choices than ever these days. If the never-ending options become overwhelming, simplify your search by looking for your favorite colors that you know you’re comfortable wearing.

Cargo Pants

Another option that’s comfortable and functional is the cargo pant with cargo pockets, cell phone pocket and outside scissors pocket. It’s both convenient and stylish (also comes in tall!)

Cargo Pant in Wine (Style 4200)

The most common colors, black, navy, olive, white are great, but other popular colors for this style include Caribbean blue, chocolate, galaxy blue, grape, grey, hunter, khaki, new eggplant, pewter, and royal.

Pair the pants with a polo top. You can find a great selection at Target.

C9 by Champion® Microknit Polo

Fan Tops

For you sports fans, you can proudly display your allegiance at work with these fun tops (living in L.A., I couldn’t help but show the L.A. Dodgers top!):

Team Logo Scrubs Top

If you like, wear a t-shirt under your scrubs top. We like the ones from American Apparel.

Fine Jersey Short Sleeve T-Shirt

Print Tops

Camouflage is one print that isn’t too busy and can look great on any guy. The faded camouflage background with the MASH lettering is fun without being too crazy. You can match the bottom with camo, too, or go with a solid pant:

MASH Camouflage Scrubs

Okay, that’s it. With just a few simple steps, you too will be on your way to looking your best at work. Happy shopping!

Here are our fashion expert’s picks for scrubs outfits that look great from top to bottom. Pick your color from our list below to find a great match for you.


White | Purple | Blue | Green | Pink | Yellow | Brown | Black

FOR MALE NURSES

Green | Black

Don’t even think about borrowing her jeans! Tight skinny jeans should be left to the teenagers.

The trick to looking great in your clothes is feeling comfortable. I don’t mean the kind of comfort that comes with wearing sweatpants and a T-shirt around the house—that look is for the gym. It doesn’t take much to put on some pieces that you can wear at home or feel good in while running errands.

(1) If you do want to wear something that’s in between a work outfit and your sweats, check out GapBody for an incredible black hoodie with a large front pocket and great black pants to match.

Gap Body Black Hoodie

This is not your average hoodie. You can turn it inside out and roll it up, and it morphs into a small knapsack. You can use the zipper in the sack to hold your ID and lipstick! Once the hoodie becomes a knapsack, you can either belt it around your waist or put the strap over your shoulder and carry it as a purse. So if you must wear some kind of sweats as you run errands, grab these fantastic pieces now before they sell out.

(2) The fall is a great time to add a few pieces to your wardrobe. If you’re looking for a new pair of jeans, think about “the boyfriend” jeans. They literally look like you borrowed them from your boyfriend. They’re great for a relaxed, carefree look that’s stylish at the same time. Make sure the jeans aren’t too baggy—the pants will start wearing you! Proportion is key. Roll up the pant legs and put on a pair of Converse, a tee and an oversized sweater cardigan for a hip, fun look. You can always add a scarf when you’re out and about to complete the outfit.

Bootleg jeans are still in fashion and are always an excellent staple for any closet. Check out the Gap’s new line of jeans—there’s a style for every body type.

Gap’s Bootcut Jeans

(3) Plaid shirts with ruffle plackets are back and add a feminine touch. Pair one with jeans and boots for a great look. A herringbone blazer complements this well. Don’t be afraid to mix plaid and herringbone patterns—they will look good together. I like J. Crew’s plaid shirts and jackets this season.

Plaid with Ruffle Placket Shirt From Banana Republic

(4) You might also like to try on a jean jacket from J. Crew. It’s a nice look with a pair of jeans.

J.Crew’s Denim Jacket

(5) I also like Autumn Cashmere sweaters for classic styles that you can wear for many seasons. They come in a vast array of colors. J.Crew also has great cashmere sweaters that come in lots of different colors. You can see a few of J. Crew’s sweaters in this article’s main image.

(6)Old Navy has inexpensive tees to layer under your sweaters.

Old Navy Women’s Tee

Old Navy Men’s Tee

(7) Theory and Banana Republic have perfect white shirts that everyone should own. Choose a classic white shirt or one that’s more feminine for a romantic look. Layer the shirt with a sweater or wear it with a blazer. A white shirt with a pair of bootleg jeans and boots always looks good.

Banana Republic’s Front Pocket Shirt For Men

Banana Republic’s Multi-Ruffle Shirt

(8) If you buy one pair of shoes this season, make it a pair of boots. When choosing the leather, think twice about getting suede if you live where it rains or snows a lot—the boots will be ruined after just a couple of outings. A nice chocolate brown or black goes with everything. When shopping for boots, wear the jeans that you’ll be wearing with them. That way, you can be sure the length will be right. You can always take up the hem, but you certainly don’t want them to be too short. Check out Piperlime.com for a great selection of boots and other fall shoes.

Banana Republic’s Vivica Equestrian Flat Boot

(9) The next time you go to Target, check out the clothing. Anna Sui has designed a line of women’s clothes just for the chain.

Cotton Butterfly Text Tee Shirt

(10) Or, try on a pair of Mossimo Engineer boots. Target has some great prices and styles for your new fall look.

Mossimo’s Engineer Boot at Target

Have fun exploring different shapes and styles. Look at different stores for similar styles at better prices. If you mix and match lower-end pieces with higher-end clothing, you’ll get a more interesting look and feel good about the savings. Happy shopping!

We were inspired to expand on a great feature from the print version of Scrubs Magazine, where a stylist-to-the-stars put together two chic outfits that pair scrubs basics with great accessories.

Flip to the last page of the mag and you see how you can forge new fashion trends by having some fun with an extra pair of scrubs (you can pick up your print copy of Scrubs Magazine at a scrubs retail store near you!).

We asked our own stylist-to the-stars Katie Sparks to help us, and she came up with a novel way to put together some great outfits. Read on for her great tips!

See Katie’s ideas (inspired by the nurses from the hit show Mercy)…

The hours of checking in and waiting for surgery can often be the most stressful time. My check-in that day, thankfully, went well. Saint John’s is extremely organized, and I knew that having a ten o’clock surgery meant the hospital wouldn’t be that crowded at eight.

Nurse Barbara came to take me to my waiting room. She checked my blood pressure, temperature and the usual vitals that one has taken before surgery. She wore lavender scrubs and beautiful gold drop earrings with lavender stones that matched her scrubs. I’m a true believer in how colors affect one’s mood. When I see the color lavender it reminds me of the sweet fragrance of lavender that I find calming and relaxing. Even the color of lavender has a calming affect on me. I told Nurse Barbara how much I liked her earrings and her scrubs that looked great on her. We found out that we were both stepmothers and had all kinds of similarities about step parenting.

Before I knew it, I was wheeled into surgery and greeted by two lively nurses with big smiles: Amy and Caryn. Amy wore a printed scrub hat and wacky printed top. She was from the South and had a great laugh and sense of humor which reminded me of my husband who is also from the South.

When my doctor came in, I jokingly told him my scar was barely noticeable after nine years. With this surgery, I would have to stop wearing my strapless dresses again. He looked at my scar and said, “I’ll probably have to make this one a bit bigger because I have to take the old pacemaker out and put a new one in, but let me see what I can do.”

I told him I was just kidding—my strapless days were long over. But seeing that he was seriously trying to figure out how he could make the incision small made me understand why I like him. He cares.

I continued talking to the nurses, and then Amy said, “Okay, you’re all done.”

“What?” I asked. “What do you mean?”

“You’re all done, sweetie. Surgery is over.”

I couldn’t believe it. It seemed like there wasn’t a beat between all the talking.

It was the nurses who chatted with me, fluffed my pillows and made me laugh who were able to keep me distracted. I missed holding my husband’s hand before I went into surgery, but in the end, it had been okay. Barbara, Amy and Caryn made sure I was relaxed, comfortable and even laughing before surgery. How much better could it get? Without these amazing nurses, with their colorful personalities and scrubs, my experience would have been completely different.

There are four basic body types. Knowing your type is imperative in creating the right look. Many people differentiate these shapes by using fruit as examples. I don’t really like to think of myself as a pear, even though I might have the shape of one. Therefore, I won’t be mentioning any type of fruit in this article!

Not sure about your shape? Take a good look in the mirror without your clothes on.

1. Are you busty/large chest with broad shoulders?

2. Do you have narrow shoulders and carry more weight in your hips and thighs?

3. Are you athletic and slim, and narrow through the torso?

4. Do you have curves both in the bust and hips with a narrow waist?

These are the four basic body shapes. Of course, no one fits exactly into these categories, but you should see some kind of resemblance to one of these types.

No matter what “shape” you are, please see the beauty in your body. Many people have adopted a critical voice that often compares their bodies to those of celebrities on TV, in film and in magazines. And – having worked in TV for years and having seen hundreds of actors in their underwear – here’s the dirty little secret I can tell you: They dress to showcase their greatest assets. They have professional designers find the right clothes to make them look and feel fabulous. That’s what I’m here for…think of me as your personal designer, here to help YOU look and feel fabulous. So let’s connect your body type to the best scrubs to buy and wear!

Body Type 1
If you are Body Type 1 (busty/large chest with broad shoulders), try to steer away from wearing tight tops. Not only will they be uncomfortable, but they won’t be flattering, either. And don’t go in the opposite direction and wear a baggy top to hide your bust. A V-neck, mock-wrap scrub top will be flattering for you. Stay away from prints on the top and lean toward darker colors. Keep your pants fitted, but not tight. Your goal is to enhance your look with the correct proportions.

Body Type 2
If you have narrow shoulders with more weight on your hips and thighs, you can easily wear a printed top. Try layering a printed hip-length jacket with a solid boatneck or scoop-neck top. Pair this with a solid pant.

Body Type 3
If you have an athletic, narrow and slim build, prints can be flattering on you. Don’t hesitate to layer. You can wear a short-sleeve jacket with a long-sleeve tee to “hip” up some of your separates. Any kind of ruching or other details on your tops would be great for you. A pair of flared pants will complement your look.

Body Type 4
If you’re #4 on the list (lots of curves on the top and bottom), try flared pants with scoop tees. V-neck wrap tops are good for you. Try a nipped-waist jacket with straight-leg pants. Small-print tops can be great for your body type.

Katie’s Picks:
Black or grey unisex drawstring pant – goes great with any top.
Try this great empire waist print top from Cherokee’s City Scapes Collection. It’s feminine, fresh and pretty.
Stylish short sleeve t-shirts. Love these! Both the black and white are great staples to have in your closet.
The new fold over waist pant in black. These fold over pants come in many different colors and look so comfortable.
Zip front warm up jacket. This jacket will look great with the fold over pants and either the white or black tee. Mix it up for two different looks.

Style Tips for Men
For you male nurses, be sure you feel comfortable in your scrubs. Don’t wear anything, top or bottom, that’s too tight. If you’re not at your ideal weight, don’t let the size number influence you. Buy scrubs in a size that fits well. No one is looking at the tag.

I’d love to hear about and see your success stories! I’m also here to help you with any questions you may have for me. Remember, first impressions do count and can project an assured, stylish nurse. Scrubs can affect your job, especially if you’re wearing the styles that flatter your body shape. Not only will you look better in scrubs that work for your body type, but you’ll also have the confidence to wear them well!

I always have a lot of questions for the writer. When and where does the story take place? What season is it? Where does each character live? What’s their educational background? Are they married, divorced, single? Children? Pets? Any hobbies or interests? What kind of car do they drive?

The more information I have about each character, the easier it is for me to begin designing the look of the show. Even shows such as Nurse Jackie, with most of the actors in uniforms, can be complicated to design. In that case, you have to emphasize the slightest nuance, using a certain style of clothing or jewelry to tell the audience a little more about a character.

I’ve been avidly watching Nurse Jackie on Showtime. There hasn’t been anything on TV like this edgy nurse’s drama. I was a big fan of Edie Falco from The Sopranos, so I knew I would like Nurse Jackie. Yes, the show’s representation of nurses is controversial – like most good dramas, it’s the exaggerated, complicated personalities of the characters that make the show compelling. And from my perspective as a costume designer, the more complicated the characters, the more fun it is to observe the actors and the clothes they wear.

Each character on Nurse Jackie has his or her own style. Falco, as the lead character, Jackie, is an ER nurse in New York City. She’s a veteran straight-shooter whose experience shows in the authority and ease she has at work. Her scrubs and entire wardrobe are the shorthand to her personality. With one look at her, you take in more information than you may realize!

Jackie wears blue scrubs. She favors an empire-style top. Her scrubs have great subtle details that make her stand out from the other nurses—the mock-wrap top, side slits, front pockets and the side bands with buttons are a hip version of the traditional blue scrub top. The blue is a great color on her; it intensifies her beautiful blue eyes. The simplicity of Jackie’s uniform makes her seem reliable, and the simplicity and severity of her look makes it clear she’s not soft and fuzzy. She not harsh, but it’s clear that she’s intense, articulate, smart and caring in her own way.

Jackie’s accessories are minimal. She wears small silver hoops; occasionally, a small drop earring, but nothing fancy. Again, her jewelry is part of her daily uniform. Jackie’s inexpensive white watch has a big white face that reminds her patients of a time when nurses wore all-white uniforms. The watch is stylish, but not distracting. White always looks clean and fresh. Jackie’s staple is her necklace of—who knows—the Virgin Mary? Another patron saint of nursing? We don’t know yet if Jackie is religious. Does she wear it to comfort her patients? Or is it just a necklace her husband gave her as a gift? It keeps one guessing, which is good costuming and good writing.

The few times we see Jackie out on the street, she wears a feminine, light green version of an army jacket. Her tan satchel worn over her shoulder shows us again that she is practical. The bag she carries can even hold socks that she buys on the street for her husband. Jackie’s shoes, a comfortable running/walking sneaker, are practical, too. On the other hand, her infidelity is completely impractical. The on-again/off-again gold wedding band represents her double life. It’s complicated and pulls us in.

Jackie is the rock of the ER. It will be interesting to see her character evolve as the show continues.

There are other nurses in Jackie’s world. Her new assistant, Zoey, wears loose-fitting scrubs. She wears pink bottoms with either a pink floral print or (my favorite) a bunny print top. As soon as we see Zoey, we know she’s emotional, naïve and young. Her scrubs are a great contrast to Jackie’s look, which is fun.

Jackie’s other friend, male nurse Mo-Mo, has his own look. Even with his traditional green scrubs, he looks intense, like Jackie. His close-cropped hair, beard and pierced diamond studs immediately tell us he’s not afraid to be different. But underneath this hard exterior is a vulnerability I hope to see more of in upcoming shows.

All of these nurses on Nurse Jackie have come to the profession for different reasons. We don’t know yet what these are. We see that they all wear scrubs, but from the eyes of a costume designer, this is only the beginning.

Editor’s note: The original version of this article had a reference to the scrubs worn on HawthoRNe (we’re watching all of ‘em!). We removed the reference from the body of the article.

That said, there’s room for every type of print in your closet, and mixing and matching can be one of the most fun parts of being a nurse.  Here are some quick rules of thumb I would use to mix and match any nurse’s wardrobe:

• Use prints to draw attention to your face. When you wear a print top, you keep the focus on your face and not the bottom half of your body. Not that there’s anything wrong with your derrière.
  
• Buy the prints you really love. If you’ve not yet ventured into wearing prints, now is the time to start. You’ll probably find a pair you love! If you’re not sure if you’ll make the leap to actually wearing them, wait until the next day to make the purchase.  And I don’t mean never or a month from now! I just mean, wait until tomorrow. This is a good rule of thumb if you have any hesitations deciding  on a color, a print, or style.  It gives you time to go home and access your other scrubs to see if it’s truly something that you would like to add to your wardrobe. If it is, you’ll be back tomorrow. If not, choose a different style that works for you.

SHOPPING TIPS

• Looking for a new top? Begin by perusing the prints and solids, but keep in mind what color pants you already own. Stick with the palette of colors that will complement your wardrobe. For example, if you’re looking for a blue top, stay in the blue section. Don’t wander around looking at all the different colors. Keep your color palette controlled and you’ll find that shopping will be easier. If blue is the color on your list, let your eye go toward all the different shades of blue. Have fun with blue!
• Make a list before shopping. It will keep you focused and make your choices simpler. It’s easy to get distracted by all the different colors, styles and prints. If you’re not careful, you’ll end up buying the wrong piece of clothing.
• Shopping is fun, but it is work. Stay organized. Make your list, know what you want and, most importantly, remember your color palette. It will make your purchasing uncomplicated and certainly put you on the print scrubs “Glamour Do” list!

New prints will definitely lift your spirits. A new print is always fun to buy, especially if you’re the first one at work to wear it.

We asked Katie for her top picks for summer scrubs wear, from top to bottom. Let’s start at…the bottom.

Shoes for Nurses

Lightweight Clog: I like the clog that has a cutout flower on top. (Style # DOC) It’s a nice update for summer.  The clogs are lightweight which is important when you’re on your feet a lot.

Most importantly, they’re fun!  It’s available in 17 colors.  Try wearing a lighter  pair of socks with them and see the color peek through the flower pedals!   I like the lavender and and baby blue to coordinate with your colored tops, either matching or in a different hue to compliment each other.  One example would be a yellow printed top with the lavender clogs.

Original Professional Clog: The second pair of shoes that are on my summer list are the original professional clog.  You can’t go wrong with these.  They’re classic, comfortable, and are available in four colors. Black, Brown, grey, and white. I’m always drawn to the  brown and black, but I love the dark grey. It’s a subtle color with a twist.

Summer Scrubs Pants

Bamboo Planet: The flat front pant, style # 3129, looks stylish and comfortable. I like the Espresso Bean and the Black.

Med Man Pant: The men’s utility pant in the matching dark grey is just right with the V-neck tunic. The pants I like are Style # 4000. The cargo pockets are ideal for carrying a cell phone, or anything else you can’t go without! They have
these in 13 other colors.

Summer Scrubs Tops

BabyPhat: Viva La Diva. Top Style # 26849 is just the thing for summer. White only, and for a good reason. White has a fresh crisp look that’s wonderful on anyone. The cut out embroidered neckline is a feminine detail that makes this stand out from the others. I like this top with any color trouser. It’s all good!

Go Tooniform: I’m fond of the Totally Felix print. It’s a classic cartoon that both young and old patients will enjoy. What a conversation starter and just what the RN ordered! I like the yellow (color FXTO) mini mock wrap top style #4825. It’ll look great with your new brown or black trousers!

Med Man Tunic: The traditional V-neck tunic, unisex style # 2991, is good-looking. I suggest the dark grey with the front pocket logo of the Baltimore Orioles. I’m not much of a sports enthusiast…I chose Baltimore because of the color combo!  I do know that many other people love sports and what a great way to start a conversation with your patients.

More Winners: You can’t go wrong with any of these tops: Butterfly Beauty, style # 3978D; Bejeweled, style # 2989; V-neck style # 3857, color BBUP; and V-neck, style # 2994, SPFD Springfield. The mock wrap is a great style for summer.