Fashion Science of the Lab Coat

In today’s high tech world full of advancements in the medical and bio-medical fields, many people find themselves wearing lab coats at work. Lab coats are knee length, long sleeved white garments issued to employees who may encounter a possible staining agent or pathogen. Doctors wear them; nurses sometimes wear them, and all lab technicians wear the standard white coat.

When you wear a lab coat to work every day, you may feel as though there is no need to extend your wardrobe function to include anything more professional. Your main focus may be on staying comfortable. While comfort is indeed an important factor, especially if you are on your feet most of the day, it should never be forgotten that you are a professional first and foremost. Even if you have no patient or client contact, your outfit should remain professional and not be too casual.

The main reason why it is important to maintain professional attire under the white lab coat is because it is the basis for an employee’s mindset. This doesn’t mean that a lab tech must don a suit and tie under their white coat. However, it pays to choose business casual attire instead of a completely casual outfit.

Most people who wear a lab coat will also carry an ID badge inside of a plastic ID badge holder. The ID badge often also seconds as a key or pass from one area into another. If this is the case, a retractable badge holder can be a great tool that can be functional as well as fashionable. If you carry an ID badge, switch out your standard badge holder for a retractable badge holder that features a design that suits your personality.

A badge holder that attaches right to the lab coat works best; because a badge hanging from a lanyard can get in the way of the lab tech who must work over a patient or work surface. By attaching a retractable badge reel to the coat, there is nothing dangling to possibly get in the way while you are working.

While the badge and the coat are probably the two most important pieces of clothing a lab tech will wear; other wardrobe pieces will bring comfort and also a sense of overall style to the professional look. For instance, instead of wearing tennis shoes and jeans under the lab coat, one could dress more business casual. A pair of comfortable slacks worn with closed toe flats or boots would look more professional. In the end, this will increase your feeling of professionalism and show your superiors that you take your job seriously.

Wearing a white lab coat to work every day doesn’t mean that you have to lack style. Through business casual clothing like Khakis, skirts or slacks, a lab tech can look and feel more professional. By wearing a decorative badge holder instead of a standard plastic case, you can show off your personal sense of style while adhering to the dress code in your workplace.

Author Bio: William F. Gabriel gives practical tips on choosing the right badge holder and retractable badge.

Category: Womens Interest
Keywords: badge holder, retractable badge

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