A few staple uniform colors are your go-to Browns, Blacks, Whites and Navys. You can't go wrong when wearing these simple but stunning colors. Especially when pairing them with your favorite print top!

Black has been, and will always be, a favorite color in practically everyone’s wardrobe... We all end up using it at some point in time! Black scrub pants make for a great foundation to many medical professional’s uniforms. I love the pairing of our White Cross 3-2-1 Wild And Free Crossover Scrub Top and our White Cross 3-2-1 Flare Leg Scrub Pant In Black.

Brown is another must-have color! So many different colors and prints go well with Brown, even Black which I think it is forgotten by many. While I was flipping through our new Fall 2012 catalog I noticed a really fun Print top, the White Cross 100% Cotton Wild Stripe Scoop Neck Scrub Top  which can easily be paired with our White Cross Six Pocket Flare Leg Scrub Pants in Espresso.

White is one color that some shy away from. Possibly because of the age old rule “You Can't Wear White After Labor Day”. But White is a really fun color to brighten up with just about everything and it just always looks crisp and fresh! Another great thing about White is that pretty much every brand has the same shade so you can mix and match without the hassle of trying to make sure you select a top and pant from the same brand. The White outfit I paired has a range of brands including our Grey's Anatomy by Barco Heart Line Lab Coat over top of our Med Couture by Peaches Hidden Accents Contrast Mock Wrap Scrub Top. I would pair this outfit up with a all-time customer favorite the Koi Lindsey Scrub Pant in White.

Last but not least is the color Navy, a great color to wear at anytime and for anything! You can easily pair it with a variety of colors or wear it as a full set. I personally like the all Navy look with a hint of lime green! Our new IguanaMed Dual Swirl Scrub Top and IguanaMed Legend Cargo Scrub Pant both have the small Lime Green logo along with a fun green drawstring on the pants.

These are just a few of my go-to solid colors, I would love to hear what yours are!

 

Grey's Anatomy by Barco: When it comes down to it, we’re here to make a difference. In the industry we love. And in the lives of the people who wear our products. To make their work easier. More productive. More rewarding. And a little less like, well, work.

Grey's Anatomy by Barco Junior Fit V-Neck Scrub Top is hands down one of our top scrub tops! And it's just just one of the lovely pieces offered in this line of medical uniforms.

This top features a junior fit with a mock wrap, two large pockets, set-in sleeves, side slits, button back detail and is made with Dura-Tech 77% polyester/23% rayon with mechanical stretch and moisture wicking and is 25 1/2" long.

Here's a review from our customer Julie from Louisiana:

Favorite Scrubs!

I have been wearing scrubs for work/school for over 15 years. I have been through many styles/brands, but have never been so pleased. The fabric is soft and comfortable and does not wrinkle. They do run a little small, so you may have to go up a size. I have a 36DD bust with a size 28 waist and took a large top and medium pants. Worth every penny, and if you get them on sale...even better!
 

If you love color you have to try Crayola Threads by Barco. When it comes to bright, fun and youthful medical uniforms what could be a better go-to brand than Crayola? Check out the two tops below to see what I mean. Not only are the colors and prints eye-catching, but the fit and features of these medical uniforms are also unique.


If you haven't purchased new summer scrubs yet then I think this is the perfect brand to get you started. And if you get the Kaleidoscope print top (shown on the left) make sure to grab a few different color pants, since it coordinates with so many. Happy shopping and have a great weekend!

Barco is known for their quality, fashion-forward medical uniforms and their Grey's Anatomy line is just that!

A flattering favorite is the Grey's Anatomy By Barco Mock Wrap Princess Seam Scrub Top. It feature two pockets, mock wrap, princess seams, front slits, elastic back, junior fit. This top is made with 77% polyester/23% rayon and Barco’s arcLux technology that makes it super soft and luxuriously touchable.


Here’s a review from our customer Leslie in Portland, OR:

LOVE this!

Have this in claret with matching pants and I just love it. Very nice material and super soft. Very flattering! I have washed and worn them MANY times and they still look like new. Well worth the money!

This month there are so many opportunities to win free scrubs from Lydia's that I can barely keep track of them all! We're giving away Lydia's gift cards and medical uniforms right here on our blog and also on the Lydia's Facebook page; I want to make sure that you know about each and every contest so that you don't miss your chance to WIN!

• With Valentine's Day just around the corner, we can't help but ask you to "Like" us. And to express how much our Facebook fans mean to us, we'll be giving away a $100 gift card when we hit 4,000 fans. We're well on the way, but we can't do it without you! Once you become a fan, suggest us to your friends. With your help I'm sure we'll hit 4,000 fans in no time!
• Once you're a Facebook fan stop by our wall and share a link to your favorite scrubs. On Friday, 2/11/11, I'll randomly select one person who posted to win scrubs of their choice. Hurry, only 3 days left to enter this contest!
• We want to see you showing off your medical scrubs from Lydia's! Take a picture, submit it to our blog and share it with all of our customers. Each month, one customer who has submitted a photo will win a new uniform from Lydia's, their choice.
• Post a comment on the blog and tell us which hospital scrubs you consider must-have medwear! Is it Cherokee Authentic, Barco, Landau? Share your opinion and you'll be entered to win a $50 gift card. Submit your comment now.

Best of luck :-) I hope that I'll be sending out brand new scrubs and Lydia's gift cards to some of you in the very near future.

Barco medical scrubs have been a long time favorite and we can see why. They have "The Barco fit": "Barco knows the importance of flexibility, movement and comfort. That's why we're known for "the Barco Fit," an approach to design and sizing, perfected over time, that ensures that your uniform fits and flatters."

A fun and trendy item from the NRG by Barco collection is the Nrg By Barco Inset V-neck Scrub Top. This top features two kangaroo pockets, v-neck with inset, fitted back, DTM twill tape accents and comes in over ten fun colors.  It is made with 74% polyester/22% rayon/4% spandex.


Here’s a review from our customer Sue in Natchez, MS:

Great scrub top

I have this top in the bright pink and it is the one I want to wear everyday! Very soft and comfortable...doesn't bind anywhere. Basically wrinkle free and the color doesn't fade! I have washed mine dozens of times and they still look great. Back for more! The fit is generous but I like that...the pants are also plenty long so I can wear my Dansko clogs! Great scrubs.

It's no secret that I'm not a fan of the cold, so when temperatures start to drop I immediately unpack my winter clothing. I get out my boots, coats, scarves, sweaters and of course all my favorite long sleeve tees. I love to wear comfy t-shirts with jeans or layer them with other tops for extra warmth and I bet a lot of you do the same! Right now we're currently carrying a few t-shirts at Lydia's that I absolutely love. The first two would work perfectly for everyday wear or paired up with your favorite medical scrubs. And I promise that all three are as soft and cozy as they look, so try one out!

Koi Zoe Thermal Knit Tee




Grey's Anatomy by Barco Medical Uniforms Speckled Scrub Tee




Koi Harlow Scrub Top
This long sleeve tee and scrub top come together. You get two pieces for the price of one and they're already perfectly coordinated. And of course you can wear the tee with other scrub tops or by itself.

Our Fall Catalog is hot off the press and you'll find all sorts of amazing values inside. A few highlights of this catalog include:

• Two new collections that we can call our own- Lydia's Pro Series and Lydia's Pro Stretch Scrubs. Read more about these styles here. And open up your catalog or vist us at LydiasUniforms.com to try a pair for yourself!
• Popular Dickies Uniforms are back in stock. Find your favorite basics on pages 12-15 of the catalog or click here.
• Fun new brands like Wink, bGreen and Alegria add even more variety to our catalog and online store.

And of course, you can't go wrong with new medical scrubs from Medgear, Koi Uniforms, Cherokee, Barco Uniforms or L.A. Rose. 

So go check your mailbox, see if your new Lydia's catalog is waiting for you!

St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, do you have your green ready? In the U.S. it’s customary to wear green on this holiday and if you don’t follow the custom you’ll get pinched. We don’t want that to happen so get out your green scrubs!

For those of you who want to purchase new medical scrubs, below are a few recommendations.  I particularly like the Barco Scrubs Top on the left; the Keylime color is just right for spring. And if you already have a pair of stylish medical scrubs that you plan on wearing send us a photo, we would love to post it on the blog on March 17th.


From left to right: Barco Uniforms Mock Wrap Scrub Top in Keylime, Urbane Scrubs Two Pocket Crossover Top in Island Green/Navy, Peaches Urban Jungle Shelly Scrub Top in Honeydew 

Grey’s Anatomy is back tomorrow with its season six premiere and as a faithful fan I know that I’ll be watching (after last season’s finale, how could I not?). Are there any other fans out there? What do you think will happen with George, Izzie and the rest of the crew in tomorrow night’s episode?

In addition to an all new season, there are also brand new Grey’s Anatomy uniforms online at Lydia’s (that’s right, one more thing to get excited about). The medical uniforms are perfect if you love the show, but I would recommend them even if you don’t watch it; they’re so soft and have such a great fit that you can’t go wrong.

So what do you think? Will you be watching season six and checking out the new Barco Grey’s Anatomy Scrubs? If you do either, share your thoughts here!

Did you know that Lydia’s has an awesome selection of maternity scrubs? We have Barco medical uniforms, Grey’s Anatomy Uniforms, Landau scrubs and Cherokee scrubs all made just for expecting mothers. And fortunately, none of these scrubs skimp on style and there’s an awesome selection of colors and prints to choose from. A popular pick is the Grey’s Anatomy uniform which is comfy and fashionable. Check out this top here or browse our entire selection.

Do you already own a great pair of maternity scrubs from Lydia’s? If so, leave a review and help our other mothers-to-be decide which maternity medical uniform is the best buy.

Have something to say? Leave a comment here.

Whether you like to finish off your medical uniform with a traditional, white lab coat or you prefer medical coats that are a bit different from the norm, I bet that Lydia’s has something that suits your personal taste. I browsed our selection of lab coats to bring you my recommendations for white, colorful, zip-up and trendy additions to your work wardrobe.

Want to go the traditional route? Try one of these two style coats; both have a crisp, professional look that would work with any medical scrubs. The left is a Barco Medical Uniforms lab coat, which received great customer reviews. And on the right is an embroidered four pocket lab coat that’s slightly shorter in length than the first one and also has a collar.



Prefer some color? Try one of these three lab coats that are everything but traditional white. On the left is an Urbane Scrubs short jacket in Pearl Pink; it also comes in 7 other colors (talk about variety!). In the middle is an L.A. Rose Contrast Stitch lab coat in Black. And on the left is a Unisex lab coat in blue.


Or are you looking for that stylish piece to complete your medical uniform? Try one of these two pieces that are unique and fashionable while still getting the job done. On the left is a zip-up lab coat by Urbane. And on the right is a Peaches MedCouture Women’s Lab Coat.



So what’s your favorite lab coat look, traditional or trend setting? Browse our whole collection and don’t forget to write reviews of your personal faves.

Have something to say? Leave a comment here.

January’s already over and February’s here which means it’s time for an all new Editor @ Large Contest! As usual the contest will run for the entire month and the winner will be awarded with a $50 gift certificate to Lydia’s Uniforms. Keep reading for all the details.

 

Speak your mind and win a spot as guest editor at Lydia’s Uniforms. If you win you get a $50 gift certificate to spend on new medical uniforms and your winning entry will be featured on our blog! Each month there will be a different topic, so feel free to enter every month to increase your chances of winning. We’re running the contest wherever you connect with Lydia’s, whether it’s our blog, MySpace or Facebook.

For February, we want to hear all about your favorite brand of medical uniforms. Which brand do you think is best and why? Are you in love with Barco Medical Scrubs and Grey’s Anatomy Uniforms because they’re irresistibly soft? Or do you prefer Cherokee Scrubs and their wide selection of styles and options. Maybe you’re not crazy about either of these brands, but there’s another one that you can’t get enough of. Regardless of which brand is at the top of your list we want to hear about it and why it made the top. So go ahead, leave a comment and tell us about your favorite brand. And don’t forget, doing so will enter you for a chance to win free medical scrubs from Lydia’s!

The important details (there aren’t too many):  
-Comments must be under 200 words.
-The contest will begin on the 1st of each month and end at 11:59 p.m. on the last day of the month
-One winner will be chosen from all of the comments we receive.

P.S. Check back later this week to find out who won January’s Editor @ Large Contest!

Season Five of Grey’s Anatomy is in full swing and I’ve been trying to keep up with all the new developments and the never ending drama (what’s up with Izzie and Denny?!). Since I know that many of you have been watching since September, I thought I would ask what you think of the cast members in their scrubs. Who rocks their medical uniform and who doesn’t? Or do you think that you and your co-workers look better and, of course, more like real medical professionals than anyone on that show when you throw on your Grey’s Anatomy Uniforms. I noticed that these hospital scrubs have 5 star reviews on the site and I think maybe it’s because you do look better than the cast in them.

So tell me what you think about the show, the medical uniforms and whatever else is on your mind! Leave a comment here. 

Barco Medical Uniforms  
Grey's Anatomy Top    

Want something new to freshen up your medical uniforms? If so, you’re visiting Lydia’s Uniforms at the right time. Brand new Barco medical scrubs, the Classic Cord Collection, have just arrived in our warehouse; as of this week they’re available on the web site. What I love most about these designer medical scrubs is their combination of comfort and style. After I felt how soft they were I had a whole new outlook on corduroy. It’s so subtle in these apparel scrubs, yet it still enhances their feel and style.  Plus I love the tiny details like the little buttons on the tops and pants. Check out this video and if you like what you see, head to LydiasUniforms.com and find these new Barco medical uniforms in your size and color.

Want to see more videos from Lydia's Uniforms? Visit our YouTube channel here.

The colors of fall are here. I spent a few hours in my car driving yesterday and I saw one tree after another with yellows, oranges, browns and reds emerging from the branches; I realized that autumn is upon us. The rich colors of fall are perfect on the trees, but also perfect for apparel. All the clothing web sites I frequently visit are featuring these deep colors on their home pages and I think they have the right idea.

On September 16th I posted a blog about Halloween print scrubs. In that post I mentioned that a great alternative to print apparel scrubs are medical uniforms in fall colors. I didn’t give you any examples of what Lydia’s offers in those colors, so today I’m going to do that. Here are my picks for stylish scrubs in this season’s best colors.

                   
                         
Scrub tops from left to right: Dickies Contrast Mock Wrap Top in Mandarin, Katherine Heigl Woodstock Drawstring Mock Wrap Top in Cafe, Barco Grey’s Anatomy Scrubs Junior Fit V-Neck Top in Merlot

Scrub pants from left to right: Dickies Everyday Ladies’ Flare Leg Pants in Mandarin, Katherine Heigl Woodstock Low Rise Flare Leg Pants in Cafe, Barco Grey’s Anatomy Scrubs Junior Fit Pants in Merlot

What fall colors do you like to incorporate into your wardrobe for work?

I’ve been working at Lydia’s for a little over four months now. Even after such a short period of time I feel like I’m basically an expert on medical scrubs. From Barco Nursing Uniforms to Cherokee Scrubs, my brain is bursting with information about Lydia’s. So considering all I know about scrubs and about Lydia’s Professional Uniforms, I can only begin to imagine what kind of information is in the mind of a long term Lydia’s employee.

For today, we’ll hear from one of those long term employees. I didn’t quiz him about the knowledge he has on scrubs (I’ll save that for another time), but I did find out how he wound up working at Lydia’s and why he’s stayed here for the past eight years.

Read on. 

I’m a Lucky Person by Francisco Saenz

Yesterday it was eight years of me being an employee of Professional Uniforms.  On that day I always look back and realize how fortunate I am to be here. 

I used to live in Denver, Colorado. There I worked for a company that sold science fiction toys, and let me tell you, there was no better day than product training day.  On product training day you went into a room full of toys and well, you had to play with our new product line.  It was awesome!

But as years went by and the national economy took a downturn, sales decreased and I decided to look for other employment opportunities.  One day I received a call from my current boss here at Professional Uniforms, he called and said, “Hi I’m Jim with Professional Uniforms, I’m calling you from Grand Rapids, Michigan”.  At that time many thoughts went through my head but mainly…  Where is Michigan?  So we talked for awhile and while he was telling me about his product line, his catalog, etc. I was searching the Internet trying to find Grand Rapids on a map. I agreed to meet with him in person, so a few days later I came to Michigan and we talked for nearly 6 hours.  I met his family (they all work here) and we all shared our views about the industry and the importance of quality customer service.  I was so impressed with this company that as soon as I went back to Denver I sold my house and moved to Michigan (July 2000).  Since then, I can honestly say that the fast pace we experience here at Professional Uniforms sure beats playing with any of the coolest toys we ever had in Denver.  It has truly been a blessing to be able to serve customers whose jobs are so necessary and so important.  Thank you for keeping me here all these years, and thank you to Jim. As always, I look forward to serving you soon.

One look through a Lydia’s catalog will tell you that medical clothing uniforms come in all sorts of styles. Whether traditional hospital scrubs, lab coats and suits, a nursing dress or designer medical scrubs; the many styles of medical clothing uniforms continue to transition with the times. With so many styles of medical clothing uniforms to choose from, it seems that the line between acceptable medical clothing uniforms and unacceptable is extremely blurry. As that line continues to become more blurred, employees must abide by the policies and opinions of their employers when it comes to picking out their medical clothing uniforms or medical scrubs. 

When researching dress codes at different locations around the country I discovered that there’s no uniformity when it comes to uniform dress codes. It seems that the most popular dress code is basic scrubs with a specific color for each position (green for surgeons, blue for RNs, etc.). But even this dress code isn’t uniform. Colors are different for different facilities. Sometimes patterns are acceptable and sometimes they’re not. And then there’s the whole issue of jewelry, nails, hair, etc., and it’s a complicated issue! There are other facilities that seem to be more lax, permitting any style of scrubs, having casual Fridays and some that even permit jeans to be worn with scrub tops.

As I read different forums and posts across the Internet, I discovered that employee’s opinions about dress codes are just as diverse as the dress codes themselves. Since personal care providers are often required to do strenuous and/or messy work and because more facilities are no longer providing medical uniforms, but instead requiring employees to buy medical uniforms; it’s no surprise that there are strong opinions about what can and cannot be worn.  On one site I looked at, more than one individual expressed that they were actually narrowing down their job options based on dress codes. Many individuals stated a dislike for dress codes that require all white scrubs if they’re going to be performing duties that will likely be messy. And some individuals were perfectly fine with dress codes, whatever it may be, as long as they could wear comfortable medical scrubs.

I also discovered an article at American Nurse today that outlined a study on medical scrubs. The study attempted to discover what patients preferred when it came to medical scrubs. Results showed that 64% of patients thought nurses should be allowed to wear any uniform color, 39% said they would like to identify their RN by uniform color and 80% said they would like to identify their RN by a large print “RN” on a name badge. Interesting results considering the number of hospitals that use color as a way to define their employees’ positions.

In my opinion, both the more modern stylish medical scrubs and the traditional basic scrubs look professional as long as they are worn in a neat and clean matter. What's your dress code and what do you think?

And as someone who wears medical scrubs, which look do you like best? The first look is a dress by L.A. Rose. The second look consists of Barco Medical Scrubs. And the third look is a scrub top by L.A. Rose with a pair of flare scrub pants by Dickies.

           

Uniforms can be good, uniforms can be bad and uniforms can be downright ugly. After putting some serious thought into it I decided that medical scrubs fall into the good uniform category. Now I know you might be thinking that my opinion is biased and of course I would think scrubs are good, but hear me out on this one. 

Before working at Lydia’s I spent four long years working in a restaurant and wearing a uniform that easily falls into the category of ugly. Think non-fitted, faux denim button down shirt, accompanied by a pair of unflattering khaki pants, topped off by a men’s tie. If the scratchy fake denim shirt didn’t send that outfit straight into the ugly category, then accessorizing it with a men’s tie certainly did. And that’s not really the worst part about this uniform. The worst, most obnoxious thing about this uniform is that it was replaced with a much more flattering uniform the exact same week that I put in my two weeks notice.

Prior to that I had a job which required me to wear a blue polo with black pants. Alright, there’s nothing horrible about that, right? Wrong. The shirt was only available in sizes that were twice the width and length of any normal shirt I would wear. Trying to tuck it in, as was required, resulted in me trying to shove yards of fabric into the waist of my pants. Needless to say this was not a good look or feel, and that is why this uniform falls into the bad category.

On the contrary to my old uniforms, medical scrubs come in a variety of colors and prints and there are more and more stylish medical scrubs each season. Although some of you may not get to choose the scrubs that you wear, you do get the reassurance that at the very least your medical clothing uniforms will be comfortable. For those of you that do get to choose, you’re lucky. Designer medical scrubs from brands like Koi, Urbane and Katherine Heigl follow all the latest fashion trends and come in a variety of styles and sizes. Your options are endless.

Bearing all this info in mind, you have to believe me when I say I browse through the racks of Barco Medical Scrubs, Landau Scrubs or stylish medical scrubs by Katherine Heigl with a slight feeling of envy. I would be elated to wear any uniform that was a nice color and didn’t feel like cardboard, not to mention any uniform with a pretty pattern, shape or fashion forward style. So for all those reasons, I feel completely justified placing medical scrubs in the category of good uniforms, even if I am biased.

Plus, as long as your uniform consists of scrubs, you can be reassured that you’ll never have to dress like this (unless you want to):

To see uniforms that fit into the good category, including restaurant uniforms, check out our sister company Uniform Warehouse. Or of course you can head to  Lydia's Uniforms. And please feel free to comment and share any stories that you have about the uniforms you wore before you wore scrubs.

I had the opportunity to have a great conversation with Kathy Peterson, the designer of Koi Scrubs the other day.  She and I really see eye-to-eye, probably because we both love to show off the fashion side of medical scrubs.  Here’s what she had to say…

 

Can you talk a little bit about your background?  Why scrubs?

My background is actually in fashion. I’ve been in the fashion industry for 15 years and started off working for Carole Little and have also worked for companies like Guess. I’ve done Disney product and really, I’ve just run the whole gamut of fashion design. I ended up at a uniform company called Barco and designed for companies like McDonald’s and KFC.  I had an opportunity to do some designs in the medical field and just loved it. It was the best happy medium between doing fashion and doing something that was functional. I really enjoyed the fashion element.  I love creating something that has a purpose… so that was the best opportunity to do something in fashion that was practical.

 

I started Koi because when you work for someone you don’t have control over the image of a product.  You have to turn it over to a marketing department and it wasn’t a complete vision for me. I wanted to control my product from beginning to end and have a unified vision. This was the next step because I was at the maximum I could grow.  This gave me an opportunity to share my vision and hope that people liked it.

 

What is Koi Happiness?

How we qualify a garment is that we look for something that is cheerful and happy, but functional.  We want to take the current trends and infuse the two. We interpret from fashion because we feel like a lot of the customers that are shopping for scrubs are the same ones shopping at Macy’s Bloomingdale’s or other stores. It’s important for me to have scrubs look like they’re viable in that same marketplace.  I think that the scrub market had existed for a long time on scrubs that did not have a fashion component.  Scrubs used to have fashion as a secondary component, and people focused on how practical it was, just the function.  We looked for things that married the two.  It’s great to create a product that people appreciate and helps them to feel good about themselves. 

 

What is the one thing you want customers to feel from your designs?

If we could in a small way help someone to feel better about themselves, that is the great reward for us. They work so hard and have such long shifts- anything we could do to make their lives easier or better is what we strive for.