Nursing Blogs

Look 10 pounds slimmer in your scrubs

With summer right around the corner, now is the time to rethink your medical scrubs so you can look your best. It’s not always easy to find figure-flattering scrubs that are also comfortable, durable, and breathable. However, some of the most popular scrubs brands, including Cherokee, Heartsoul, Dickies Medical, and Scrubstar, are renowned for these very features.

If you’re fed up with wearing a medical uniform that is less than figure-flattering, or you’re tired of choosing between comfort and style, read on. From v-neck scrub tops to straight-leg pants, certain styles, cuts, and colors can serve as the most flattering scrubs you’ll ever wear, and you’ll never go back to your old sets of scrubs again!

Here are our top tips for looking 10 pounds slimmer in your scrubs, without sacrificing durability or fashion to do so:

1. Say yes to monochrome

Dressing in a monochrome set of scrubs is the first and most important step to help create a longer, leaner line. Dressing in one color gives the illusion of changing the wearer’s body shape to look thinner because it doesn’t break up the vertical line like wearing two different colors can.

Another way to accentuate your body and camouflage those trouble areas is to wear dark colors. Colors like black, brown, navy, charcoal, burgundy, deep green and purple are slimming. Always wear the styles that compliment your body type. The feminine scoop neck scrub top is a great way to wear the monochromatic color combinations. The black, brown and navy are excellent choices for any medical professional, from the travel nurse to the CRNA and everyone in between.

The Round Neck Tuck-in Top from Heartsoul is tucked in and on-trend, available in black, navy, and pewter.

2. Get rid of anything too snug or too big

Don’t wear anything that is too tight—doesn’t matter if it’s your mock wrap scrub top or your straight leg pants. Nothing will make you appear more apple-shaped than wearing something that is too snug. On the other hand, oversized scrubs will also end up giving you a larger look. Although it’s tempting to try to hide in a long, bulky sweater or squeeze into something that’s too tight, neither of these strategies works when you’re trying to look thinner. This applies to everyone. Even actresses.

The other night, I was watching a TV show in which a beautiful actress with a great body walked into the scene. She always looks great on the show, but in that particular episode she wore a top that was too tight. The buttons across her chest were pulling so much they looked like they would pop open any second. If she was playing the part of Wonder Woman and needed to suddenly pull apart her shirt to reveal her costume underneath, I would understand. The ill-fitting blouse was so distracting that it took away from her acting and her beauty—not to mention it added 10 pounds to her. I don’t want you to make the same mistake!

3. Choose strategic detailing

A medical uniform with some embroidery brings the focus front and center. A forgiving cut, like a tunic-style top, gives you the look that is more figure-friendly, which creates a slimming and flattering look. Another way to look thinner is to wear a V-neck scrub top, which creates a nice vertical line and a leaner, longer look. The top scrub brands offer scrubs in a wide variety of options for strategic detailing. For example, check out this great v-neck scrubs top with knit side panels from Cherokee:

Cherokee’s v-neck knit panel top offers a modern classic fit with slimming stretchy side panels.

4. Get the perfect-fitting pants

Looking for scrub pants that can make you look trimmer? Make sure they really fit. If you find the right scrubs, they can slenderize certain problem parts of the body such as the butt, hips and thighs. Try wearing bottoms that have no pockets or pleats. If you can’t live without your pockets, make sure the pockets are small enough and placement on the pant doesn’t add any extra bulk. A flat-front pant will create a line that subtracts pounds. Make sure your scrub leg pants extend all the way to your shoe tops to give your legs a longer look.

Sporty meets classic design in the Mid-Rise Moderate Flare Leg Pull-On Pant from Dickies Medical.

5. Choose the right prints

If you’re attached to your prints and can’t see yourself in solid colors, be sure to watch the patterns. Choosing the right print can make all the difference in looking thinner. Big and loud patterns by some scrub brands can make you look bigger than you actually are.

This women’s mock wrap top from Scrubstar offers a beautiful print that isn’t too big or too loud, lending a slimming look for any medical pro.

Remember these fashion tricks of the trade; keep in mind that you don’t have to sacrifice comfort, fashion, or durability in order to look slimmer when you go with the top scrubs brands. Designing with you in mind, every brand featured above offers scrubs that provide premium styles, useful features, flattering designs, and an exceptional array of colors. Before you know it, your coworkers will be asking you if you’ve lost 10 pounds. Just smile and say, “Thank you, I do feel great!”


This article is mentioned in the Spring 2010 print edition of Scrubs Magazine, which can be found at uniform retail stores nationwide or purchased online. Go to https://medmagazine.com/magazine for a peek inside and to find out where you can get your copy!

Sponsored by Cherokee Uniforms

Katie Sparks

Katie Sparks has been a renowned television show costume designer for more than 20 years. She received a nomination from the Costume Designers Guild for excellent costume design for Arrested Development. When she's not dressing movie stars, she loves to write, and says, "Writing for Scrubs gives me the opportunity to write and give fashion tips! A perfect combo."

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