Did you know that Lydia’s Uniforms has an Online Only Scrub Shop? There’s a whole portion of our web site devoted to medical clothing uniforms that you’ll find exclusively online and not in our catalog. So if you have a love for shopping and you’ve already seen everything that the Lydia’s catalog has to offer than head to this part of our site for even more options. And if you haven’t seen everything in the catalog you should still check it out; there are some ultra stylish and, of course, functional scrubs that aren’t to be missed.

 Here are a few of my top picks from our Online Only Scrub Shop:

      

I was shopping for a birthday card yesterday and as soon as I stepped into the card aisle I realized that Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. I know that many of you will be going out to dinner or having a romantic date with that special someone on February 14th, but I also bet that many of you will be hard at work. So if you fall into the latter category why not make the best of it and spread some love around your workplace? Wear one of these cute heart print medical uniform tops that are perfect for Valentine’s Day. 

Clockwise from top left: White Cross Love Stinks Scrub Top, Landau Warm Hearts Empire Waist Scrub Top, Landau Hearts Afloat Empire Waist Scrub Top, Cherokee Flexibles Love Lines Scrub Top

Click here to see more Valentine's Day prints. 

Have something to say? Leave a comment here.
 

Open your Lydia’s catalog or browse all our new scrubs online and you’ll notice an emerging trend: bamboo. Bamboo scrubs are incredibly popular this season and with good reason; they’re soft, eco-friendly and come in a variety of styles.

Only a year or two ago it was difficult to find any type of clothing made out of bamboo. Now at Lydia’s Uniforms you can find bamboo medical uniforms (scrub tops and pants) from three different brands: White Cross, Landau and Iguana Med. Each brand’s bamboo scrubs are extremely different styles, but they’re all fashionable in their own way.

White Cross incorporates colors and designs from nature into its bamboo scrubs; I love the palette of blues, greens and tans! Landau uses bold hues and prints and even offers a few unique mandarin collar scrub tops. And the Iguana Med Bamboo Scrub Top is one of a kind because of its stylish crew neck and deep colors. Like I said, each collection is stylish in its own way; it’s all a matter of personal taste. What the scrubs do all have in common is that they're soft and comfortable thanks to the bamboo fabric.

So do any of you own bamboo scrubs (or any type of bamboo clothing)? What do you think about this new fabric trend, is it here to stay? Let me know your thoughts by leaving  a comment here.

Want to know more about bamboo scrubs, read another blog post I wrote on the topic here.

 

In recognition of National Dental Hygiene Month I would like to shine the spotlight on one of our valued customers, Judy. Judy is a Registered Dental Hygienist Alternative Practice; she provides services to patients in long-term care facilities. I interviewed Judy about her career and found out that it’s a tough, but rewarding job. Here’s what she had to say:

What factors influenced your decision to become a Registered Dental Hygienist Alternative Practice? 
I have been a dental hygienist for over 26 years and the last 2 years practicing as an RDHAP. This has allowed me freedom to practice preventive hygiene care to patients who have little or no access to dental care, to serve the underserved.

What type of schooling is required to become a Registered Dental Hygienist?
A dental hygiene education is a minimum of 2 years, but it can be a long as 4 years. A 2 year program offers a diploma, certificate, or associate degree.  A four year program offers a baccalaureate degree. There are some schools that offer Master's degrees for those interested in education, research, or administration.  An accredited dental hygiene program requires an average of 1,948 clock hours of curriculum. This includes 585 clock hours of supervised clinical dental hygiene instruction.  For a list of all dental hygiene programs in the country you can utilize the American Dental Hygienists' Association website.

As an RDHAP working with patients in long term care, what does your job consist of? 
Every day is varied. I try to stay flexible with the resident patients, the nursing staff, and all the adjunct support staff. I usually have a list of residents to see, but sometimes it is not a good time to visit...sometimes they are in the beauty shop having their hair done, or they are in the shower room, or physical therapy, or in activities. Heaven forbid we disrupt a hot game of Bingo!  Each patient that is seen, their facility chart is checked for their current medical and drug status. I then will see the resident in their room, in their bed, wheelchair, or reclining chair. Complete an intra and extra oral assessment. Chart missing, decayed, broken teeth. Complete a periodontal assessment; perform preventive hygiene services as necessary such as scaling, root planing, and applying fluoride. I try to adapt toothbrushes, and other intra-oral aids for ease of use of the resident or for the staff or family members that may be assisting the resident in their oral care. Then the charts are completed and equipment is packed and moved to the next room. At the end of the day a Resident Oral Health Needs Assessment form is filled out for the residents that are seen on that day. This form addresses the acute needs, suspicious oral lesions, denture concerns that will need the attention of the facility's dentist.

Some days I do an inservice for the nursing staff or an informational evening with resident's family members. I am a speaker that promotes and provides education on prevention of oral health diseases and total health to the public, special needs and senior caregivers, other professionals, and government agencies.

What are the things you love about your job and what makes your job difficult?
I love the people! Everyone has a story to tell. Most all my patients are thankful for the services I provide, and it is rewarding to see the improvement in my patient's oral health and the improved self esteem they have.

What makes my job difficult is the long hours. Takes about an hour to pack my supplies for the day and load my car. It is a set-up time of approximately 15 minutes before seeing a resident, and a tear-down time of about 20 minutes before I can move on to another resident's room. Upon the return to my home-office it is time to unpack, clean, sterilize instruments and equipment and pack up my mobile cart again. Then there is the paperwork and billing insurance and Denti-Cal. Each resident seen takes about one hour of clinical time and the same in preparation and completion of paperwork and equipment maintenance. 

Is there a dress code at your place of employment? If so, what is it? If not what do you wear on an average day? Do you have a favorite medical uniform? 
No dress code, when seeing residents I wear single color scrubs, with a white lab coat with my name embroidered on it. I love Landau Scrubs especially the pull-on pants. I think I have all the colors!  When meeting with the public or giving an inservice I usually wear nice street clothes with my lab coat.

Will you be doing anything specific to participate in National Dental Hygiene Month 2008?
Yes, on October 30th my local dental hygiene society along with dental hygiene students will be having a "Sugarless Shack" at a market night. We will have stuffed "goody bags" with sugarless treats, toothpaste and toothbrushes and floss. The dental hygiene students will be demonstrating tooth brushing techniques, and some tooth fairies in costumes appear! It's a fun time for adults and children alike!

If you’ve noticed more pink than usual on the Lydia’s Uniforms’ homepage lately, it’s because October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It’s a month devoted to increasing awareness, sharing information and providing access to screening services. One way to show your support and recognition this month is by adding a little pink to your day. This tradition started in 1992 when Evelyn Lauder and Alexandra Penney launched the pink ribbon campaign. The idea took off and has evolved from pink ribbons to pink clothing and more. Even buildings are going pink in order to raise awareness. Pink lights shine on building and monuments (including the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Sydney Opera House and Saks Fifth Avenue in Time Square) in more than 40 countries each year in an effort to raise awareness.

One popular program that’s all about wearing pink is Passionately Pink for the Cure. Businesses or organizations can pick a day for everyone to wear pink and donate to the cause. You can visit this website to learn more about it.

So even if pink isn’t your color, add a little bit of it to your wardrobe this month to show your support. And if you want to go all out, participate in Passionately Pink for the Cure. Get your friends together and wear all pink for a weekend outing or get your co-workers to take part and wear pink scrubs for a day. Even small accessories like pink ribbons can make a statement. So go ahead; put on your pink!

And if you do want to bring your pink to work with you, here are a few ideas for pink medical uniforms:


Left to right: L.A. Rose Kimono Top in Hot Pink, Cherokee Authentic
Workwear Unisex Top in Pink Blush, Landau Snap Front V-neck Top
in Cherry Blossom
             

If you’re wearing pink or doing anything else to take part in Breast Cancer Awareness Month send me your stories and/or pictures and I’ll share them on the blog. I want to see how you’re making a difference this month

For last month’s Designer Style to Scrub Style post I showcased three sets of medical uniforms and designer outfits that shared similar shapes and styling. This month my focus has shifted. I’ve found three stylish uniforms which borrow their enticing color palettes and patterns from high end designer tops. I’m personally trying to add more colors and patterns to my wardrobe. It would be great if I could do it by purchasing affordable women’s uniforms like you can!

Although each of these tops features a daring print, they all have a slightly different appeal, which is what makes these stylish uniforms so special.

The first pair consists of a scrub top by Los Angeles Rose and a designer top by Sweet Pea. The muted color palette combined with the shapes on each top creates a subtle style. 

                 Designer Style: Sweet Pea       Scrub Style: LA Rose
             

The second pair consists of a Landau Medical Scrubs Top and a designer top by Shoshanna. The vibrant bursts of color on these two tops create a more fun, outgoing look. And the two are just another example of how designer nursing scrubs are keeping up with high end styles.

                Designer Style: Shoshanna          Scrub Style: Landau
              

The last pair consists of a second top from Los Angeles Rose and a designer top from Cynthia Steffe. To me, these prints seem to combine trendy style and sophisticated style. I think it’s the baroque patterns that make them seem so sophisticated. 

                  Designer Style: Cynthia Steffe  Scrub Style: LA Rose
             


Have you noticed any other color palettes, prints or styles that are showing up in the new fall medical uniforms and also in your favorite clothing stores? If you do, e-mail me pictures or links to these styles and I’ll feature them in the next month’s Designer Style to Scrub Style post.

Everyday our office here at Lydia's Uniforms is full of cute apparel, and I’m not just talking about the stylish uniforms. The five other members of my department have great taste and it always shows in their clothing. I inquired into these fashionable minds to see what they love about the new scrubs for fall and they told me which stylish uniforms are their favorites.

Leesa:
My favorite product is the new Flex-i-bles print jacket.  The colors in the print are my favorite combination for this fall - simply spectacular!  Flex-i-bles has always been one of my favorite lines because of the knit spandex, roll down waistband on the pants.  The jacket has this same coordinating knit spandex inserted into the sides.  Ooohh...so comfy!

Lindsey:
I really like the new Koi Vanessa Prints. The scrubs have retro patterns with really trendy styling. I don’t think they look like scrub tops at all!

Rachel:
I like the new Bamboo line by Iguana Med. It’s super soft and very light, plus they’ve taken the sporty styling to a new level by adding some feminine details (i.e. gathered seams, colors match what’s hot for fall).

Amanda:
I would have to say Katherine Heigl Woodstock is my new favorite collection.  The colors are bright and pretty, and I love the hippie vibe that you get from these scrubs!

Nicole:
The Swirls and Whirls Contrast Sash Mock Wrap Scrub Top by Dickies is my favorite. I love the style with the tie back and especially love the color combination of aqua blue, off white and chocolate brown.  This top will go great with the Back Elastic Cargo Scrub Pants in Chocolate, which are an everyday favorite. 

Personally, it’s hard for me to choose a favorite. There is definitely something to love about each of the choices above, whether it’s the fashion forward style (Katherine Heigl’s Woodstock line!) or an extra touch of comfort (Cherokee Flex-i-bles!). I think that in addition to all of the stylish uniforms shown above, the new Landau Medical scrubs are some of my favorites. This style top is flattering on different body types and I adore the bright prints and patterns.

So now that you've seen the designer medical scrubs that we love, which new scrub uniforms do you like best? Do you agree with one of us or is there a fabulous new item that we didn’t mention? Share your opinion; we would love to hear it!

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.

Another one of our great customers, Karissa, offered to take a pair of scrubs for a road test (what would I do without so many helpful customers always willing to give their feedback?) She chose to tell us about her Sand Washed Mock Wrap Scrub Top and Flare Scrub Pants from Dickies.  As a busy RN/BSN, Karissa wears these scrubs about one out of the three nights a week that she works. After all that wear time I bet Karissa is almost an expert on what these nursing scrubs have to offer!

Karissa answered some questions about the scrubs for us. She had some particularly helpful advice about their sizing. Let’s hear what she had to say.
 

What are your thoughts on the fit of the scrubs?
The fit of the top is great.  You can adjust the fit of the sides of the top with the back tie, and it actually lets you have a shape rather than looking like a box.  The pants are really nice, too.  The drawstring ensures that they won't fall down, and the elastic back gives you the extra flexibility.  Also, the pant legs are not super tight; however I would suggest buying the next bigger size for both pants and tops if you are on the cusp of sizes.  For example, I usually wear a medium in most scrubs (Cherokee, Landau), but with the way Dickies does their sizing, most of the time I need a large after they have been washed due to shrinking.   

What is your favorite thing about these scrubs?

They are super soft and they are comfortable to work in; they don't bunch or ride up while you're walking or doing procedures at the bedside.  Also, they don't show your midriff if you reach up.    
 

What is your least favorite thing about these scrubs?

They collect lint like it's their job.
 

Are there any unique features to these scrubs that your other scrubs don’t have?

The pocket in the top, some other brands have started to do that now, but this one is just the right size for 3cc saline flushes. 
  

Have you received any compliments on them?

Yes, usually about how soft they are.   

So it’s nice to hear that these stylish medical scrubs are not only cute, but also comfy and soft. In any outfit it’s always reassuring to know that you can do what you normally do without being uncomfortable, your clothes bunching up or your midriff showing and it’s especially reassuring to know these things when you’re at work!

Thanks again Karissa for all your helpful comments!

Just because you have to wear scrubs, doesn't mean you have to give up your sense of style. Many of the new scrub styles have been finding their inspiration from the latest fashion trends.

One fashion trend that never seems to go out of style, the empire waist, has been making an appearance on some of the cutest scrub tops.

Check out the similarities I found between these designer styles and scrub styles!

            Designer Style: Marc Jacobs Top         Scrub Style: Landau Top

          



             Designer Style: GAP Top        Scrub Style: Landau Top

            

I think both of these scrub tops look great with the empire waist, it gives them that little extra touch of personality. Plus, the bright colors and the white would be perfect tops for spring and summer!

What are your favorite fashion inspired scrubs?

As a new employee at Lydia’s Uniforms I’ve met all sorts of people since I started just a week ago. It’s hard to remember all the new faces and especially all the new names, but I’m working on it! One thing that I noticed when visiting the different departments is that everyone at Lydia’s is involved with customer service. It seemed like there was someone from every department, whether it was the call center or the warehouse, who was trying to figure out how to best meet a customer’s needs or make a customer happy. The best part was, nobody was complaining about it! And as someone who has worked in customer service for the past seven years, it’s refreshing to see employees who are dedicated to the customer and willing to help (without complaining about it).

One particular employee that I met on my first day here, Jose Ortiz, is an expert in the field of customer service. As a Team Leader in the Customer Service Department, Jose’s job is to ensure that customer’s needs are met. Turns out, that is exactly what he was doing the first time I met him. When I approached Jose to introduce myself he was on the phone with a customer. I realized right away that Jose wasn’t trying to hurry the customer off the phone, but was instead trying to assist them with whatever they needed. I decided not to bother him and come back and introduce myself another time when he wasn’t as busy! I eventually found a time when we both had a free moment and I got the opportunity to meet him. Jose seemed extremely friendly and personable (perfect for a job in customer service).

              After meeting Jose and realizing what an important part of the Lydia’s team he was, I wanted to ask him a few questions about his job here. What better way to get to know more about the employees and the company than actually hearing what they have to say? This is what I found out from Jose:

What is your favorite thing about working for Lydia’s?

My favorite thing about working for Lydia’s is the diverse clientele we have on a daily basis.

What did you think when you saw Rachel & Leesa road-testing scrubs for the day?

I believe it is a good idea. It gives us the opportunity to try it before you buy it.

What’s your favorite scrub?

My favorite line of scrubs is the Urbane from Landau. The scrubs are trendy. I actually own a few pairs of the Urbane Boot Cut Pant 9502. It is very comfortable, and fits very loose.

(I guess you don’t have to work in the medical field to buy medical scrubs!)

He also shared his customer service philosophy with me. This is what he had to say: “As a Customer Service Specialist, I feel it is crucial that every individual receives the utmost care and dedication he/she deserves. I have worked in the Customer Service industry for over 11 years, and dealt with all types of situations. Some time ago, I had a customer who was unsure about ordering uniforms for sizing reasons. I suggested she sample the items, to make sure it was the color, style, and size she was looking for. Finally, the package was received and some of the items worked but a few didn’t. I instructed the customer to send what she didn’t like back at no charge. We shipped her requested items, and now all the items worked out perfectly.  Now the customer knows what color, size, and brand to order and we have her business for life. It’s not always about getting the customer off the phone, but getting them what they need. Our customers rely on us to get them their uniforms, and making their experience as smooth as possible.

          Working for Lydia’s Professional Uniforms has been a great experience for me, and I will continue to strive in giving the best customer service possible.”

After having many of my own terrible experiences with all kinds of customer service representatives, reading Jose’s philosophy helped me understand why he is such a valued employee. I cannot imagine Jose ever telling a customer, “that’s your problem, not mine,” which is something I personally have been told by a customer service representative of a company whose name I won’t mention. I wish every customer service representative that I spoke with had a motto like Jose’s. It would make life just a little less frustrating.

I have to say that the road test of our scrubs was a success- not just because of what Leesa and I found, but because of YOUR comments.  What we found was that you are looking for sizing options and comfortable fit (kind of like us!).  I agree that everyone should feel like they look their best, whether at work or not, in scrubs or out of them.  So, without further ado, here are my top suggestions for medical uniform brands to try based on body type.

If you are petite or slender, try…

Urbane Scrubs - These designer medical scrubs are junior fit and flatter petite types most.

Baby Phat Medical Uniforms – Choose Baby Phat scrubs for a fun and funky alternative in scrub fashion.

Dickies Hip Flip – Popular “hip flip” scrub pant styling, and you’ll love the color palette.

Grey’s Anatomy – More celebrity uniform style comes to you in the form of quotes from the show and super soft fabrics. Made by Barco medical scrubs.

Our Own Signature Collections – Our Lydia's Signature Scrubs as low as $5.99.  Starting at XS and featuring petite and tall options as well as a variety of fabrics and prints galore. Great option for offices and hospital teams!

If you are average, try…

Dickies Sandwashed Scrubs– This line is missy fit and is sized like the misses section of your favorite department store. Lots of cute options!

Cherokee Authentic Workwear – The “hip flip” styling on their pants makes for a comfy fit and avoids “baggage”.

Katherine Heigl Medical Uniforms – She created this line after working in scrubs on “Grey’s Anatomy”, and trust us, she knows what you need in a stylish medical scrub!

Koi Nursing Scrubs – Youthful tailoring and girly details make everyone feel great.

Cherokee Flex-i-bles – This yoga-inspired line keeps you ready for action.

LA Rose – Cool basics & prints with extra detail in the styling.

White Cross – Your own style expressed in artistic designs.

Our Own Signature Collections – Our Lydia's Signature Scrubs as low as $5.99.  Looking for options?  Check here first!  Our hospital uniforms feature the most color choices you’ll find anywhere.

If you are curvaceous, try…

Dickies W – These scrubs are designed to fit all of your curves. 

Cherokee Basic Uniforms – One of the world’s most recognizable brands features specializes in super soft fabric. 

Landau Medical Scrubs – Top notch comfort with lots of options up to size 5X.

Our Own Signature Collections – Our Lydia's Signature Scrubs as low as $5.99. As always, our own line has options for EVERYONE up to 5X.

If you are tall, click here to see our full selection of uniform pants for tall sizes.