Scary Fashion Faux Pas

By Jordie Papa

Image courtesy of TreeHugger.com

I was handing out candy to the kids in my neighborhood on Halloween when it hit me that October 31 isn’t the only time I’ve seen people dressed in scary outfits.  If you have any fashion sense at all, then you’ve encountered friends, family, strangers and even coworkers who for lack of a better term ought to be locked up by the Fashion Police.

What happens when the pros foul up?

Sure, it’s easy to point the finger at Uncle Roger, who’s been stuck in the 80’s for the past three decades. But when it comes to pointing the finger at those with no fashion sense, he isn’t alone.  Even elite fashion designers have been caught with their palazzo pants down from time to time.  And we’ve all heard ad nauseum about the all too frequent wardrobe malfunctions that seem to plague pop singers and Hollywood actresses.  But what happens when fashion faux pas happen a little closer to home or at work?

Do you dress for healthcare success?

Image courtesy of  Dress-Trends

Being in the healthcare profession means helping sick people get well, not the other way around, right?  But how many times have you seen a doctor, nurse or some other healthcare worker show up for their shift looking like they were getting ready to try out for a role on a hip-hop music video?  While it’s true that physicians once wore white lab coats and nurses dressed from head to toe in white, the past couple of decades has seen a gradual relaxation of the medical dress code.  Medical scrubs are now the norm for most healthcare professionals, along with hospital service personnel.  While donning scrubs makes it fairly simple to dress and look professional, in some cases it’s what healthcare providers wear with their scrubs that can be a fashion faux pas.

What should healthcare providers NEVER wear to work?

·         Open-toed shoes, high heels or boots

·         Fanny packs

·         Hair scrunchies

·         Skintight spandex pants or leggings

·         Leather pants

·         Short shorts

·         T-shirts with messages

·         Spangles, bangles & beads

·         Hats

·         Long fingernails

·         Too much makeup

·         Facial tattoos

  

There are other factors that can contribute to causing a fashion faux pas.  For instance, your skin tone has a direct bearing on how you look in scrubs. People with paler skin look their best in darker scrubs and people who have dark complexions look best in lighter scrubs.  If you’re into patterned scrubs, you need to select the pattern that best compliments your physique.  That means those who are bigger boned need to avoid big, bold patterns and horizontal lines.  If you have a prominent belly, try wearing low-rise pants that accommodate your midriff without accentuating your stomach.

Nobody wants to have a finger pointed at them.

Image by Uniform Destination

While it’s okay to stand out from the crowd, nobody wants to be the focus of derision or ridicule. Unless it’s Halloween and your employer encourages you to come to work in costume, you want to make sure your attire is appropriate for the workplace. When it comes to being fashionable without overdoing it, healthcare workers should always keep in mind that their profession is one in which the public puts their faith and trust without hesitation.  It’s more important for you to make a good impression than it is to make a fashion statement.

Jordie Papa is owner of Uniform Destination with four locations in North Florida.