By Alice Lane
The history of uniform scrubs in the medical profession makes fascinating reading. The earliest existing records of medical practice are found in the remnants of ancient civilizations. The treatment of illnesses has of course been practiced for ages, developing and evolving up to the precise, highly technological science that it has become at the present time. As the science of medicine progressed, so too did the style of clothing worn by medical practitioners. Healers of past ages wore everyday dress, whereas modern medical practitioners wore regulation uniforms such as white medical scrubs and laboratory coats. In the nineteenth century it was common practice for surgeons to operate in their street clothing with an apron to prevent their clothes from being stained by blood and other body fluids.
By the middle of the twentieth century a standard surgical uniform had evolved consisting of a white coat over white pants (white was chosen because of its clean and crisp appearance. It was soon found, however, that the glare of white uniforms and white sheets cause eyestrain and fatigue in many people; moreover the sight of bloodstains on white uniforms looks unpleasant.
When the hit television program MASH was launched in 1972 it brought some changes to medical fashion. By this time pale green had become the color of choice for uniforms scrubs because it doesn't cause eyestrain and it blends with bloodstains. However the idea that fashion should be incorporated into medical apparel was long overlooked. It was unimaginable that scrubs and lab coats should at the same time help women in the medical profession to strike a balance between presenting a professional image and looking fashionable. It was quite a challenge to create fashionable designs which are feminine and self-expressive for women in an industry dominated by males. Every component of the medical scrub uniform has its function and is part of the whole.
A complete outfit consists of scrub top, pants, lab coat, jacket, shoes and sometimes cap. Scrub tops are designed for comfort as well as utility, allowing for a wide range of unrestrained movement for people who are usually working long hours in difficult positions. Since hospitals are air-conditioned, scrub jackets should provide warmth as well as comfort; and the jacket pockets should be large enough to enable wearers to keep medical instruments handy. Similarly, scrub pants should allow wearers freedom of movement for people who are on their feet for long periods and who sometimes have to react and move quickly in emergencies.
For example, to make medical apparel appear both professional yet stylish required changes in the design of scrub tops, adding darts at the bust and tailored sleeves; as well as tapered waists and hips which give women's garments a trendy and modern look and a good fit, without compromising on the comfort which is associated with scrubs. The addition of feminine colors, printed fabrics, and accessories has brought medical scrubs up to date with the latest fashion trends. Nowadays fashion has become a factor in medical dress, and medical scrubs are worn not only by surgeons but by doctors in all fields as well as nurses and other health professionals.
Popular television dramas such as Grey's Anatomy Scrubs have made medical scrubs trendy both for fashion and for comfort, so modern medical scrubs are not limited to the hospital premises but can also be worn as street clothing because of their chic designs. For example, cheap Landau scrubs includes its Plum, Sage, and Salsa lines of hot styles for fashionable street as well as professional wear.
