How to Look like a Grey's Anatomy Character
Whether you’re an intern, an attending physician, a nurse or a resident, odds are you’re pretty familiar with the television programs that heavily dramatize the hospital experience. Grey’s Anatomy is easily one of the most popular. While you may not relate to everything these medical professionals go through on TV, it’s likely you can connect with them rather easily on a fashionable level.
As style goes, the characters on Grey’s Anatomy wear authentic uniforms that reflect their positions. Attending surgeons are typically outfitted in navy scrubs while residents wear light blue. If you’re inspired to elevate your professional look to emulate Meredith Grey or Alex Karev, keep these style suggestions in mind.
Gather Your Blues
Once upon a time, medical professionals wore white business scrubs. It wasn’t until sometime in the early 20th century that surgeons realized the stark color was actually a bit too vibrant for the operating room. Gazing at such a light color before looking at a tray full of metal instruments or red blood could be disconcerting and even momentarily blinding. It’s similar to the effect that one might experience when stepping inside after being outdoors on a sunny, snowy day. Surgeons discovered that looking at a sea of white in the operating room left their heads spinning.
A clever doctor decided to make the switch to green and blue, and so began the start of a new trend in the medical industry that quickly caught on around the world and eventually even made its way onto television screens. So if you want to make exactly like your favorite Grey’s Anatomy character, you need to begin with an accurate color palette. Start with a scrub top in either Dark Cobalt Blue, which is a variation of navy, or True Blue, which is a softer, lighter option.
Choose Pants Carefully
Your bottoms should be identical in color to your top. Virtually every pair seen on Grey’s Anatomy boasts a crisp silhouette and a relaxed cut, just like you would expect of a pair of traditional scrubs uniform pants. Whether you’re racing down the stairs for an emergency case or spending some quality break time with your own personal McSteamy or McDreamy, it’s equally important to be as comfortable as possible while you’re at work.
That calls for elements that stand up to the activities of a busy day. Look for features like stretch built into the fabric—a hint of spandex works wonders!—along with flat, comfortable waistbands that have drawstrings to allow for an easy, adjustable fit. Elastic in the waist is also a sensible touch that will make the pants even more comfortable. Again, seek out colors that complement the top: scrub pants in Dark Cobalt Blue or True Blue are ideal partners for your shirts.
Shop Lab Coats
Naturally, you will also need a lab coat if you want to channel your inner Derek Shepherd or Cristina Yang. As with anything else you wear in the hospital environment, your topper of choice should fit like a charm. A crisp, no-fuss silhouette like the type you see on the small screen is an excellent choice that not only feels comfortable but looks great over your scrubs of choice.
Even more efficient is a unisex lab coat that is designed with a touch of spandex to improve flexibility and breathability while you’re doing rounds in the morning or bounding up the stairs two at a time to handle an emergency. A vented back is another beneficial feature that boosts your comfort and even improves fit. Look for other extras that are just as practical, such as multiple pockets and liquid-resistant fabric to prevent spills from soaking into the material.
Add Layering Pieces
You’ll notice that many of the show’s characters layer their scrub tops over other shirts. Of course, this only applies if you aren’t working in the operating room. It’s appropriate and acceptable to wear a comfortable long-sleeve or ¾-sleeve top underneath the top. You can always push up the sleeves if necessary.
A long-sleeve T-shirt works well, and you can typically select any color you want so long as there are no specific rules that forbid you to do so. Shades like gray, black and purple are all common, as they fit well within the neutral spectrum and don’t appear too jarring with your blue scrubs.
Embrace Your Style
Even if you aren’t exactly vying for a role on Grey’s Anatomy, you can certainly look the part with the right pieces in your closet. Always prioritize your comfort over everything else, and make sure that each garment fits perfectly and doesn’t constrict your movement. Embrace that professional style with your head held high—and with the knowledge that you can pull off a television-worthy look with complete ease!