Clinic dress code

[Pjeak]

This question may be kind of strange, but what was the dress code at your grad schools? I'm nervous I'm not gonna have enough "clinic" clothes but I also don't want to break the bank. Good quality professional clothes is so expensive. I bought a couple of tops and slacks but I don't know if it's enough. Thank you!

[theominousfuture]

I definitely feel you on the pains of finding work clothes that aren't super pricy! I don't know if you have one near you but Burlington Coat Factory/Marshall's/TJ Maxx is where I get my work/clinic clothes! They have a lot of Calvin Klein and Tahari clothes super cheap (and even some comparable knockoffs). I'm not in grad school yet but at the lab, school visits, and observations, I usually go with slacks (ankle/capri cut for warmer days), close-toed shoes, and a top that's not jersey T-shirt material but also not necessarily button down either. I'd also say make use of cardigans as they immediately formal up an outfit! 

[JcSLP]

I'd suggest outlet/factory stores if there are any near you (a lot of them have websites as well though!) This summer I've been accumulating clothes little by little from places like Loft outlet, Banana Republic Factory, Old Navy, etc. For example, I've found pairs of nice dress pants on clearance for $10-$15! That way I don't have to drop a ton of money in one lump sum. You don't need to break the bank! TJ Maxx & Marshalls are also really good. I think for women, the universal dress code would be tops with high necklines and long enough to cover your back fully even when bending down, full or ankle length dress pants, a few cardigans to throw over sleeveless tops. I think some schools allow you to wear knee-length dress shorts in the summer. For men, button ups or polos and dress pants.

Edited July 13, 2017 by JcSLP

[plume]

You don't need to break the bank! I have been buying cheap professional clothes for years but when I first had to buy them I wasted money at J Crew and Banana Republic because I didn't know any better. Try H&M, Target, Nordstrom Rack, thrift stores if you live in an area with good ones, Old Navy sales racks, sometimes Macy's sale racks, and Express. I'm sure TJ Maxx and Ross have great finds, too. I second the outlet comment. I think a couple pairs of slacks, some blouses, and a couple of cardigans will do the trick to start!

[honeydewthis]

Some additional considerations (relating to certain fashion trends): no shoulder cutouts, no shirts that have low fronts or backs (i'd also avoid ones that feature cut-outs in those areas), make sure you wear closed toes shoes that also cover your heel, no sheer tops that show your bra, dresses should fall at least to a couple inches above your knees. "From-fitting" professional pants are OK as long as they have pockets (or at least the illusion of), zipper, button, and belt loops. Leggings aren't okay alone unless you're wearing dress with it.

Honestly, I just bought a few things that I designated as my "clinic outfits" and wore them when I had clinic. Boring, yes, but it also saved me from the stress of putting together a variety of professional attire.

[esopha]

If you are building a professional wardrobe from scratch, I recommend buying a couple of basics in the broad categories of slacks, sheath dresses, skirts, tops, and cardigans/blazers. You've gotten some good advice as to where to buy them, and don't forget that you can also go to second hand stores, etc, to get pieces as well. I agree with the poster above that you should avoid trendy pieces. Building your wardrobe by outfit is also a good idea. My work clothes are all in the same color palette, too, mostly black, dark blue, and raspberry with some tan thrown in. That makes it easy to mix and match.

[maurmaur]

I received an email outlining a bunch of our basic clinic stuff at WSU/EWU and our basic dress code is:

solid color dress pants

polos

and shoes you can wear in an emergency

[angela4]

For anyone looking for places to shop, I highly recommend Goodwill. I've gotten tons of new looking professional tops there for $3.99 each. I've never bought pants or shoes from there, but I love going for tops. You have to spend some time sifting through and maybe visit a few locations, but it's totally worth it. 

[ayeshakhan]

On 7/13/2017 at 6:10 AM, JcSLP said:

I'd suggest outlet/factory stores if there are any near you (a lot of them have websites as well though!) This summer I've been accumulating clothes little by little from places like Loft outlet, Banana Republic Factory, Old Navy, etc. For example, I've found pairs of nice dress pants on clearance for $10-$15! That way I don't have to drop a ton of money in one lump sum. You don't need to break the bank! TJ Maxx & Marshalls are also really good. I think for women, the universal dress code would be tops with high necklines and long enough to cover your back fully even when bending down, full or ankle length dress pants, a few cardigans to throw over sleeveless tops. I think some schools allow you to wear knee-length dress shorts in the summer. For men, button ups or polos and dress pants.

1

Yes, this is correct.

If I were you, I would avoid the shorts even in summer though. Just to be clear, I am not against wearing shorts. It is just my personal opinion.

[lexical_gap]

Keep in mind the age of the clients and the kind of work you'll be doing with each.

When I did my student rotation with adult clients, most of my clients were over the age of 40.  As a man who looks very young despite being in my 30s, I decided to wear a shirt and tie for those sessions to "dress up" and be taken more seriously.  Now that I'm employed in a school working with preschoolers through 8th graders, I go for comfort and function over "looking nice".  That's not to say I dress like a slob, but a t-shirt with the school logo on it is not out of the question.

I have since ditched the necktie as it is a choking hazard.  3 year olds on the spectrum can have very strong grip strength and like to grab at things hanging around the neck.  I also often find myself on the floor playing with toys one session, going outside chasing kids as they try to escape the playground  the next, followed by leading a whole-class push-in session for middle schoolers all in the span of 90 minutes.  So, I swapped out the dress slacks for durable khaki-material pants that will stand up to multiple washings.  (Be careful with sidewalk chalk and kids who like to give hugs! Those white pants will become rainbow-colored in a heartbeat!)  

My school has 4 floors and a policy that I must escort each student to and from therapy, regardless of age, so out went the dress shoes and in came the solid black sneakers.

Currently, I am working summer school in a building without air-conditioning.  Last week, temperatures were in the mid-90s for three straight days.  By 10 am, I looked like I had ridden Splash Mountain a dozen times in a row.  After the first day in that heat, I decided to put on a pair of nice, knee-length, khaki-material shorts.  It may not be the most professional look, but I can't be effective at my job if I am on the verge of passing out from heat exhaustion.

As for make-up, I have a colleague who wears bold lipsticks.  Not because of fashion choice, but because it makes her lips stand out when she models speech sounds. She has a few kiddos on her caseload with visual impairment who benefit from high contrast and the colors she chooses help provide that contrast. (Nothing too outrageous like lime green; but she's done a dark maroon or sometimes a brighter red.)  She has the data to show that her kids make progress, so if administration ever came down on her, she can pull out her therapy notes and the kids' IEP that says, "Due to visual impairment, X needs high contrast visual input".  Others, keep it natural or no make-up at all.

This is my very long way of saying what's considered "professional dress" will vary depending on your facility, your clients (and their ages), the kind of work you do with them, the activities you use, and the weather.  Take cues from the way others in your facilities dress (your classmates and your professors).

 

[SLPhopeful2018]

On ‎8‎/‎12‎/‎2017 at 6:26 PM, angela4 said:

For anyone looking for places to shop, I highly recommend Goodwill. I've gotten tons of new looking professional tops there for $3.99 each. I've never bought pants or shoes from there, but I love going for tops. You have to spend some time sifting through and maybe visit a few locations, but it's totally worth it. 

I was just in Goodwill the other day because I needed an 80s costume and I really couldn't believe how much great stuff there was! I do live in a fairly nice area and I can imagine it's kind of a pain with trying to find sizes etc. but I agree with you that you can find good stuff for cheap.

[StPaulCCC]

On 7/10/2018 at 2:55 PM, SLPhopeful2018 said:

I was just in Goodwill the other day because I needed an 80s costume and I really couldn't believe how much great stuff there was! I do live in a fairly nice area and I can imagine it's kind of a pain with trying to find sizes etc. but I agree with you that you can find good stuff for cheap.

That's great to hear. I've always wondered how graduate students afford to look nice and wear clinic clothes for (sometimes) 4 days out of the week with no income. I'm worried about it. 

[bibliophile222]

2 hours ago, StPaulCCC said:

That's great to hear. I've always wondered how graduate students afford to look nice and wear clinic clothes for (sometimes) 4 days out of the week with no income. I'm worried about it. 

I've been making the most of my income while I still have it. I got a new computer and phone for Christmas, and a few months ago I tried to buy all, or almost all, of the clothes I will need for the next two years, leaving as little to buy as possible once I'm in school. I bought almost nothing but clinic-appropriate clothing, including shoes, since I'm a sneakers and sandals person. 

[Gkj _ Speech]

My school actually has the clinic staff wear scrubs bottoms and a clinic tshirt... but I guess that's not the norm?

[StPaulCCC]

5 hours ago, Becky G. said:

My school actually has the clinic staff wear scrubs bottoms and a clinic tshirt... but I guess that's not the norm?

That would be amazing! It's like a school uniform, you can't judge someone on their outfit/price of outfit.  It isn't the norm at the schools I've been to, though. 

[Rorororosy]

I agree with all of these. You need a pair of good dress pants, some flats and just regular clothes. You just need to look nice for clinic but you dont need to break the bank, marshalls, TJ maxx are great places to shop!

[LilacSLP]

I also strongly recommend thrift stores for anyone on a budget. If you can spend a little more, you can find quality clothes at outlet stores. I also bought a lot of clothes from "mom" type stores like L.l. bean and Land's End that have held up wonderfully to crawling on floors and frequent washing. I'll be able to wear those clothes (that I bought over a year ago) when I start my CF in the fall. When I first started clinic, I bought a lot of stuff from H&M and Target because it was cheap. Most of it only lasted a semester and I would have been better off buying one or two outfits of better quality. As for style, I've found slacks with a nice sweater or T-shirt and blazer to be the best combination of professional and comfortable. 

[Jordyn_M463]

When I did observations at my undergrad school's clinic, it seemed like the clinicians could wear nice pants (I saw a lot of Pixie Pants from Old Navy) and a nice blouse or thick strapped tank tops. Is this similar to anyone else's programs? I haven't gotten anything about the clinic dress code for my graduate school. 

[angela4]

@Jordyn_M463 

Here is the dress code from my school’s handbook. People don’t always follow it. My black pants definitely have denim in them. We do have a polo shirt with the university name on it that we can wear too. I purchased mine at the beginning of the year for I think about $25. Hope this helps! 

Dress for all clinicians should be appropriate for a professional setting. Male clinicians are required to wear a dress shirt with a collar (t-shirts and tank tops are not acceptable) and a pair of slacks. Male clinicians may wear jackets or sweaters, if they choose. Female clinicians may wear dresses, suits, skirts, dress slacks, jumpsuits, blouses, and sweaters. Tops that reveal cleavage (e.g. halter tops, sheer blouses, tank tops, tube tops) and overly short skirts are not acceptable. Under no circumstances are clinicians permitted to wear jeans, leggings, gym or sport shorts, beach attire, flip flops, or warm up suits. Footwear should be appropriate for a professional setting. Optional dress: you may wear the Department Polo Shirt as a shirt/top. 

Edited July 19, 2018 by angela4