Guess Who? How Doctors’ Attire Affects Students’ Perceptions of their Speciality

Hippocrates said that a doctor should be “clean in person, well dressed, and anointed with sweet-smelling unguents” [1]. Until the late 19th century, doctors often wore black. Black clothing was considered “formal wear,” not least because calling the doctor was often the last resort prior to death [2]. The dress code changed when, in the latter part of the 19th century, the idea of antiseptic techniques emerged [3] leading to a move towards “cleanliness” and “purity”, reflected in the now iconic white coat.