My son just started medical school--in a major lower mid-West city, in case this varies with geography--and tells me he needs some dress shirts, ties, and at least somewhat dressy slacks (I did not think to ask about shoes) to wear on "rounds" (I hope I am using the right nomenclature) under "whites."
What do physicians/interns/students typically wear under whites in general (for instance, non-surgery, non-emergency room) settings under their whites? I mean, I know, dress shirt and tie, and slacks of some sort. (I really have no idea re shoes.) But more precisely what kind and color dress shirt. And, actually, what color and type of tie. (For instance, I wear a suit every day, generally dark, and I find I do not wear dark blue ties all that often because they tend to blend in with the suit. And I was thinking maybe traditonal blue Oxford shirt with red or burgundy striped ties for him, but his very funny quip was that he did not want to look like he was dressing as the American flag. He has a point. Given a brilliant while coat, maybe a red tie stands out too much. Maybe a pure Oxford blue shirt is too much blue against the white coat. Maybe the shirt is better pure white, too, or subtlely patterned.)
Re shirts: I would say long sleeves, with barrel not French cuffs, or am I wrong and are short sleeves somehow okay? I assume button down collars are okay, but should they be a first go to choice? I am thinking regular not spread collars, if not button down. What about shirts in subtle patterns? Are they somehow better or do they take away from some formality or respectfulness the physician is seeking to establish. Does traditional light blue Oxford in fact look jarring against a white jacket? Are white and lue stripes out for one reason or another? Is a pure white shirt over doing it/too formal? Are dark blue ties too funeral? Should one choose ties that are rather boardroomish or something softer maybe even non-silk so as to seem "warmer" to patients? Four-in-hand tie knots I am thinking, unless physicians have some obsession with Windsors and half-windsor knots that I do not know about!
Are khakis about the right level or are dressier slacks better, I assume gray or khaki so as not to appear that one is wearing the bottom part of a business suit and again so as not to present such a dramatic contrast with a white coat? I take it jeans really are out, right?
Is there anything about potential stains or anything I am overlooking?
How about shoes? I take it physicians are on their feet a lot, so something with some cushioning to it may be acceptable. Or because we seem to be adding some formality, should we be talking standard lace business shoe? Black, brown, tan, oxblood? Or are we talking topsiders or weejuns?
Again, am I overlooking anything as to what might get spilled on shoes even in a general hospital setting, which might call for something more waterproof or even, heaven help us, non-slip!
Who knows whether I am right but I sort of have in mind Wilson on "House" as something of the archtype for this. Sort of put together, but still approachable. Nice, I bet expensive, but not austere, ties. Generally darkish and not starkly/boldly striped. Generally lightly patterned, mostly white shirts. No idea re slacks or shoes, frankly.
Thanks! I know we have lots of physicians on these fora!
What do physicians/interns/students typically wear under whites in general (for instance, non-surgery, non-emergency room) settings under their whites? I mean, I know, dress shirt and tie, and slacks of some sort. (I really have no idea re shoes.) But more precisely what kind and color dress shirt. And, actually, what color and type of tie. (For instance, I wear a suit every day, generally dark, and I find I do not wear dark blue ties all that often because they tend to blend in with the suit. And I was thinking maybe traditonal blue Oxford shirt with red or burgundy striped ties for him, but his very funny quip was that he did not want to look like he was dressing as the American flag. He has a point. Given a brilliant while coat, maybe a red tie stands out too much. Maybe a pure Oxford blue shirt is too much blue against the white coat. Maybe the shirt is better pure white, too, or subtlely patterned.)
Re shirts: I would say long sleeves, with barrel not French cuffs, or am I wrong and are short sleeves somehow okay? I assume button down collars are okay, but should they be a first go to choice? I am thinking regular not spread collars, if not button down. What about shirts in subtle patterns? Are they somehow better or do they take away from some formality or respectfulness the physician is seeking to establish. Does traditional light blue Oxford in fact look jarring against a white jacket? Are white and lue stripes out for one reason or another? Is a pure white shirt over doing it/too formal? Are dark blue ties too funeral? Should one choose ties that are rather boardroomish or something softer maybe even non-silk so as to seem "warmer" to patients? Four-in-hand tie knots I am thinking, unless physicians have some obsession with Windsors and half-windsor knots that I do not know about!
Are khakis about the right level or are dressier slacks better, I assume gray or khaki so as not to appear that one is wearing the bottom part of a business suit and again so as not to present such a dramatic contrast with a white coat? I take it jeans really are out, right?
Is there anything about potential stains or anything I am overlooking?
How about shoes? I take it physicians are on their feet a lot, so something with some cushioning to it may be acceptable. Or because we seem to be adding some formality, should we be talking standard lace business shoe? Black, brown, tan, oxblood? Or are we talking topsiders or weejuns?
Again, am I overlooking anything as to what might get spilled on shoes even in a general hospital setting, which might call for something more waterproof or even, heaven help us, non-slip!
Who knows whether I am right but I sort of have in mind Wilson on "House" as something of the archtype for this. Sort of put together, but still approachable. Nice, I bet expensive, but not austere, ties. Generally darkish and not starkly/boldly striped. Generally lightly patterned, mostly white shirts. No idea re slacks or shoes, frankly.
Thanks! I know we have lots of physicians on these fora!