What not to wear (to work); updated
by noel on Sep 22 2009 (8956 Views)Edit: In response to the comments on how I feel about lab coats, this is absolutely not to undermine the importance of PPE. Closed toe shoes, safety goggles, gloves and long pants are worn at all times, in addition to clothing with only natural fiber. Face shields and the likes are always in order when needed. I guess the lab coat culture at the company I worked at just was not very prominent.
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In a 2001 interview[1], George Eads was asked to comment about his character, the ever so adorable Nick Stokes from CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. "I like the fact that my character is a scientist for the new millennium, in that, why does the scientist have to be a nerd?" he said, "I mean, why is it that when we think of a scientist we often think of coke bottle glasses and chalky white skin?"
What he said here inspired me to write this post about one aspect of social aptness: fashion. The stuff you wear as a chemist.
Last year I graduated from college and returned to work for a research lab that I had interned for the summer before. Armed with a diploma and a hefty pay raise, I was determined to make a more significant impact both in my work and my appearance. I didn't want to look like an intern anymore.
Over the next months I started filling my wardrobe with knits, cardigans, dress shirts and the likes. My goal was youthful business casual (I hope). My mother especially welcomed the change. Right about the time I started to dress better than my post-doc, I left the job to go to grad school.
Now I'm searching for another identity. This time, I am trying to dress somewhere between my old self, the California beach bum, and the polished research associate that I was playing. Although it seems clear that some of my colleagues have more important things in mind (i.e. the boys definitely weren't watching what they're wearing), I was determine to figure it out.
The interesting thing is, stereotype aside, dress code and the sense of fashion really does have something to do with your field of discipline.[2] I was in awe when my boyfriend put on his suit jacket to teach his "Faith, Doubt and Fanaticism" class[3], since he would acts like he it'd kill him to wear long pants. I, on the other hand, really can't afford to buy nice clothing just to ruin them with organic solvent.
After all, there is no store that caters to chemists and sells tasteful, business casual, inexpensive to a point of almost disposable clothing that is made of 100% cotton (bonus points for being chemically inert and a fire retardant). Or is there? Does any business-minded readers out there want to start something like that?
And seriously. When you cross from being a student (undergraduate, grad, whatever) to a young professional, a change in the way you dress is definitely something to consider. But where do you start when fashion is a totally new territory? And considering the nature of our jobs, how do you do it in a reasonable and affordable manner?
Noel
P.S. A comment on lab coats: I don't know who is that diligent in wearing those. I only wear them when I'm dealing with really nasty things. It gets really warm inside the lab sometimes.
[1]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiimdF60s-Y
[2] One's reluctance and sheer cluelessness of dressing up for anything at all can be seen at ACS conference. Where I must say women seem to have more trouble with formal wear.
[3] Humanities people get the best course titles
My supervisors wear polo shirts and jeans, so it'd be pretentious to wear anything more formal than that (what do others think?).
It's as if you have taken the thoughts right out of my mind. I'm a 2nd year PhD student in synthetic organic chemistry, but I'm older than a lot of my colleagues (just turned 30). I constantly battle between trying to present myself as a semi-professional young woman and feeling like being a complete slob because my clothes will get ruined anyways!
I lucked in recently when I inherited a bunch of clothes that didn't fit my sister anymore. She's a chartered accountant and works in a professional office. She had lots of dressy tops, and pretty knits that she gave me that were in great condition. So, I wear them to the lab, try to present myself well, but if they get ruined, I don't feel too bad about it, because I didn't have to pay for them!!!
P.S. A comment on lab coats: I don’t know who is that diligent in wearing those. I only wear them when I’m dealing with really nasty things. It gets really warm inside the lab sometimes
In all labs that I have worked in this attitude would be a disciplinary offense. it is slightly less stupid than not wearing eye protection (which in the UK is a criminal offense). PPE is or should be mandatory in all lab enviroments and useually is in Industry
Lab coats are a must. More interestingly, how dirty and worn your lab coat is displays your status in the Department. It can be thought as a form of feudalism; having a filthy, dirty or clean lab coat equates to being a Knight, Noble or a peasant (Post Doc, Post Grad, UnderGrad). In our Department, there is a long serving member of staff who's sheer knowledge of synthetic chemistry can only be described as encyclopedic, he is King (although I've never seen his lab coat).
I'd second A Process Chemist above about lab coats. Investigators found that not wearing a lab coat may have contributed to the death at UCLA last year (http://pubs.acs.org/isubscribe/journals/cen/87/i31/html/8731sci1.html).
One more "must": closed shoes. I remember finding the same post-doc twice with his foot in the sink, washing whatever was burning his skin off his sandal-clad foot. I'm not saying steel-toe boots, but leave the Birkenstocks at home.
Yes - Lab coats are a MUST! Accidents happen, and it easier and less embarasing to peal out of a lab coat than your cloths. And in some instances running off to the rest room is not and should not be an issue. You use the saftey shower in the lab.
We had a few long time PhD supervisors that actually wore "whites". That is clothing provided much like scrubs in a hospital and lab coats on top of that. It wasn't manditory to wear "whites" but many particularly those that worked in scale up situations did in fact.
I kept separate pair of shoes that stayed in the lab. I didn't wear them home. Also kept a change of pants. I have seen what happens when people bring home contaminated clothing. A colleague once spilled something on himself. Went home to change. Contaminated his car and home. Caused long term health issues with his family.
However - none of this prevents a researcher from looking nice and professional when called for. One can always change into better attire when attending meetings, etc... Where I worked most supervisors kept a sport jacket, sweater or something similar hanging in their office to slip into when attending meetings.
A colleague once spilled something on himself. Went home to change. Contaminated his car and home. Caused long term health issues with his family.
Details, please -- this is a pretty horrific thing to hear.
Can't really say more than that. Sorry. Insurance law suits and other crazy issues insued, but it was kept pretty quite. The fellow was a very productive scientist but not very saftey aware you might say. 20+ years in lab environments I have seen or heard of a lot of very stupid things being done by usually very smart people.
out of curiosity...is it just me...or does it appear that labs that engage in organic chemistry are...well...messier than others? Not meaning that organic chemists are slobs...but every organic oriented lab I've ever walked into has been messier (and in some cases scary) than inorganic labs.
Oh,this article really hits home! I have always struggled with trying to look professional, somewhat fashionable and well presented in the lab. FRC coats are required where I work and it is very difficult to wear a sweater under a labcoat. And women's shoes that are a) closed toe leather b) stylish and c) comfortable to stand in all day absolutely DO NOT EXIST. After spilling dilute acid on my pants, I now keep extra clothing at work. I also know many people who keep their work shoes at work as a previous poster mentioned. Maybe a business opportunity exists here somewhere(?)
And yes I agree with the generalization about organic vs. inorganic labs.
Well, wearing a lob coat is required where I work as well. You'll get fired if you are caught without it. And buttoning is definitely a must. I once wore a shirt I liked to work and didn't button my lab coat. I accidently got toluene on it while cleaning a container (we tested asphalt) and I had a nice green shirt with a big yellow spot on it after.
As for shoes, Dansko's are great for standing all day as are the Shox line from Nike. Lots of nurses use these all day as well.
I wear jeans and t-shirt just about every day to work and I'm a "senior chemist" here with about 11 years experience. Most labs understand that nobody wants to wear their nicer clothes to work.
I found this while googling for appropriate attire for conferences.I have a question. Do you think wearing a sleeveless top tucked into a skirt while presenting at an ACS conference is inappropriate? I already have hese clothes in my closet and really can't afford new ones. It sucks that the audience can wear whatever but the presenter much really pay attention to attire:(