Happy Threads UK Blog

Nurses are often the first members of the clinical team that a patient will see so it is important that they make a good impression.  Their uniform plays a key role in this identifying the nurse as an important member of the team.

Dr. Abigail Moore, a paediatric dentist, shares her thoughts on maternity wear.

Pre-bump I was wearing mostly koi Ashley and Katelyn tops with Karlie or Lindsey pants in size extra small (XS).
By about week 18-20 the Katelyn top was proving to be an overhead struggle in the chest area so I moved up a size!! I still found my XS Ashley roomy enough though.  At this stage I tried a patterned Kathryn top in a size small which suited the mini bump well as it tied under the bust & highlighted my new curves!  I found the Karlie pants a bit tight and high waisted so moved up to a small in the Lindseys which were really comfy as they sat low, under the bump and the elasticated waist made them easy to get on.

At about 24-28 weeks my original Ashley tops were a bit tight in the midriff so a size up was called for.  As it was coming into winter I loved the extra warmth of the Harlow tops with the snuggly cotton under t-shirt.  The Kathryn was still fitting well in a small and I added another patterned top, a Rylee which was a bit less fitted and sat loosly under the bust.

I am now at 35 weeks and still growing rapidly.  I have moved up to a medium Ashley which is deffo the most comfy at this stage.  I find the more fitted tops with under bust ties aren’t working so well now as they are very big on the shoulders if they are big enough to fit the bump!  I am still in the Lindsey pants only a size up from BB (before bump).  They are so comfy and don’t interfere with bending as they are low slung.

Only 3 weeks of work left!!
Will keep you posted ……

This is a hot topic at present. While the idea of an anti-bacterial fabric may be appealing this requires a bit of investigation. How are the antibacterial properties achieved? Generally this is either via treating the fabric with a liquid chemical or introducing silver thread. The purchaser should be aware that the active chemical or silver thread will wash out of the fabric and into the environment. As much as 45% of the silver thread can be washed out, therefore the effectiveness of the anti-bacterial properties is reduced. The manufacturer should be able to provide information on the anti-bacterial qualities after a set number of washes. The danger is that the garment will have lost the anti-bacterial qualities without the wearer being aware.

There may be little point in changing into a surgical top without changing trousers or shoes, work uniforms should be a full outfit. Uniforms should be laundered together and not taken home and mixed with a domestic wash. A common sense approach should be adopted.

Many dental practices require a more individual look and seek a uniform that reflects their personality and profession, they may wish for something more than the generic scrub top or a beautician’s tunic.

The work of the Dental Professional is active and so the clothing and footwear they wear must be comfortable, through the breathability of the fabric and the fit of the garment or shoe. Work clothing should look smart and allow the individuality of the wearer to shine through. What does your uniform say about you? does it say, ‘I am professional, I am clean and I am happy at work’.

The dental team may wish to look different from the beautycare professionals and often find that the high polyester content of these tunics do not offer enough breathability for the active role undertaken by Dental Professional. The traditional scrub top is a unisex product that does not flatter the female figure.

Some companies have bridged this gap by providing breathable uniforms specially designed for the female figure while maintaining the correct clinical appearance, these are sometimes referred to as a designer scrub.

Many practices have a strict uniform policy and there are certain advantages to this as it creates a professional environment and lets the customer know they are in safe clinical hands. Practices may wish to have different teams in different colour schemes but with a degree of continuity.