What To Wear To A White Coat Ceremony
During the medical student white coat ceremony ritual, first-year students don a white coat and recite an oath that acknowledges their obligation of care, signifying their entrance into the profession. The idea behind the concept is that the ceremony is a way of placing an important emphasis on compassion and scientific excellence from day one of a student’s training.
General Tips for What to Wear to a White Coat Ceremony
The world of medicine is pretty conservative, so while you’ll want to dress to impress under that iconic medical student white coat, it’s important to keep it classy. Most schools will stipulate a ‘business casual’ white coat ceremony dress code, which tends to lie between nice-casual and business formal. It’s always worth airing on the smarter side if you’re unsure though! And remember, it’s important that you feel comfortable and confident in your white coat outfit. This is an occasion you’ll look back on in years to come.
When we say the white coat ceremony dress code needs to be kept classy, this means hemlines no shorter than a few inches above the knee. The white coat itself will fall somewhere around your mid to upper thigh – you don’t want it to look like you’re wearing nothing underneath the coat.
And while it’s fun to glam up your outfit, keep accessories minimal.
Men, keeping it business casual for your white coat outfit doesn’t mean whipping out that full suit. Think more dress slacks and button-down shirts. Make sure that you’re presentable and professional though, as you still want to impress. Avoid anything sloppy, unclean or baggy – you need to keep it as classy as those girls!
Related: The Ultimate Doctor Salary Guide – Updated for 30 Specialties
Option 1 for Women: Dress
When looking at dresses for the white coat ceremony, you need to think about style, cut and color. The white coat itself is straight cut, so anything extra-voluminous will either get squashed or add unfavorable bulges to the bottom of the coat. Our top 3 picks are sheath dresses, wrap dresses or fit and flare dresses, as these will give a flattering silhouette under the coat.
While dark colors like black, navy and charcoal are stylish choices, you can afford to be playful with the color of white coat ceremony dresses. Pastel colors like peach, blush or petrol blue work well against the white coat, as do floral prints. Just be careful, however, not to go too loud.
It’s best to avoid a full-on white dress, as white on white will look too ‘samey’ when you throw on that coat. Subtle white within a pattern, however, would complement your outfit.
| Best Overall | ||
| Miusol Ruffle Slim Pencil Dress | Calvin Klein Women’s Sheath Dress | VFSHOW Sleeveless Pencil Sheath Dress |
| 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| $39.99$34.99 | $89.98$49.00 | $37.99 |
| Buy Now | Buy Now | Buy Now |
10/16/2023 08:58 am GMT
Our Top 3 Picks:
- Calvin Klein Women’s Round-Neck Sleeveless in Blossom
- Miusol Retro Ruffle Style Slim Pencil Dress in Pink
- VFSHOW Sleeveless Sheath Dress in Dark Blue
Option 2 for Women: Pantsuit
For some women, a pantsuit is a more comfortable white coat ceremony outfit choice. When selecting the pantsuit, something well-fitted would work well, preferably a slim fit. For the bottom half you have the choice of either a skirt or pants.
We recommend a pencil skirt, as this will give you a flattering silhouette style under the coat.
Color-wise, like with the dresses, classic black, navy or charcoal will look stylish. However, you could be a bit adventurous with the color. We like the deep forest color of Le Suit’s lapel pantsuit as it’s a little unique but would look great against the stark white of the coat.
| Best Splurge | ||
| Marycrafts Formal Skirt Suit Set | J.Crew: Willa Blazer In Italian City Wool | Marycrafts Women’s Business Jacket Skirt Suit Set |
| 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| $55.90 | $221 | $59.90 |
| Buy Now | Buy Now | Buy Now |
10/16/2023 09:06 am GMT
Our Top 3 Picks:
- Marycrafts Formal Skirt Suit Set
- Le Suit 2-button Lapel Pantsuit in Deep Forest
- J.Crew Willa Pantsuit in Black
Related: Our 9 Favorite Backpacks for Medical School
Option 3 for Women: Chiffon Blouse & Preferred Skirt/Pants
Another doctor white coat ceremony dress code option for women is a blouse paired with either a skirt or pants. For the blouse, our top pick is chiffon as it has an elegant feel to it. We recommend either long or short sleeves, or sleeveless, but perhaps play around with the style and neckline. We like a bow tie neck collar as this can look classy, or a self-tie waist as this adds some flair to the white coat outfit.
Either a pencil skirt or slim fitted pants will match up well with a chiffon blouse. If you choose to add some color to the blouse (we’ve chosen a couple of pinks), keep the skirt or pants a more subtle color, like charcoal or black. Alternatively, you could go for a white blouse, and then play around with the color of the bottom half.
| Best Overall | ||
| ACEVOG Bow Tie Neck Long Sleeve Chiffon Blouse | Romwe Self Tie Chiffon Blouse | Verdusa Sleeveless Pleated Mock Neck Satin Blouse |
| 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| $30.99$17.99 | $28.99 | $28.99 |
| Buy Now | Buy Now | Buy Now |
10/16/2023 09:09 am GMT
Our Top 3 Picks:
- ACEVOG Bow Tie Long Sleeve Chiffon Blouse in Dark Pink
- Romwe Women’s Self-Tie Waist Chiffon Blouse in Pink
- Verdusa Sleeveless Mock Neck Satin Blouse in Khaki
Related: Dating in Med School: What to Expect & How to Make it Work
Men: Dress Slacks & Button Down
The doctor white coat ceremony dress code for men doesn’t imply you should wear a full suit. However, you do need to make sure you keep your look business casual and professional. We recommend either tailored or slim fit dress slacks, as these look semi-formal, paired with a smart shirt. The shirt can either be a dress shirt or button-down.
When thinking about colors, we recommend keeping the shirt white as this gives off a classic, clean and crisp feel. For the dress pants, keeping the color dark is best. Feel free to wear black, but navy, grey or charcoal may bring a bit of life to your white coat outfit. Lastly, you need to make sure to wear suitable footwear. Our top pick is Clarks Tilden caps in dark tan leather. Smart yet stylish.
| Haggar Men’s Iron Free Straight Fit Pant | Clarks Men’s Tilden Cap Oxford Shoe | Van Heusen Men’s Dress Shirt Poplin |
| 3.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| $44.99$39.99 | $90.00$50.00 | $31.43$29.99 |
| Buy Now | Buy Now | Buy Now |
10/16/2023 09:20 am GMT
Our Top 3 Picks:
- Haggar Iron Free Pants in Black
- Clarks Oxford Shoe in Dark Tan
- Van Heusen Poplin Collar Dress Shirt in Persian Blue
What to Wear to a White Coat Ceremony
1. Classic Elegance: For a timeless look, opt for a tailored knee-length dress in a solid color, such as navy blue or charcoal gray. Pair it with a structured blazer and complete the outfit with neutral pumps and minimal accessories. This is a great option to go with whether you are a guest or a new medical student.
Get the look HERE
2. Chic Jumpsuit: Make a bold statement by wearing a well-fitted jumpsuit in a solid color. Choose a style with a tailored waist and wide-leg pants to elongate your silhouette. Add a statement belt, sleek high heels, and delicate jewelry to elevate the look.
Get the look HERE
3. Sophisticated Skirt Suit: A skirt suit exudes professionalism and sophistication. Opt for a knee-length or midi pencil skirt paired with a matching blazer and a button-down shirt. Stick to neutral or pastel shades and complete the ensemble with pumps or heeled ankle boots.
Get the look HERE
4. Modern Pantsuit: For a contemporary twist, consider a pantsuit in a bold color or a trendy pattern like plaid or pinstripes. Ensure a tailored fit and accessorize with a silk blouse, statement earrings, and classic pumps or loafers.
If you don’t want to wear a full suit but still want that business attire, pair your suit jacket with dress slacks or dress pants in dark colors.
Get the look HERE
5. Floral Dress: Embrace your feminine side by choosing a knee-length floral dress. Opt for soft, muted tones or pastel hues. Pair it with neutral heels and a structured handbag to maintain an elegant aesthetic. Flare dresses can be paired with structured blazers for a chic business casual look.
Get the look HERE
