It’s time to get into one of my all-time favorite topics – clothes! I was actually surprised to find out just how many business casual outfits you need in your wardrobe for orientation and clinical rotations throughout the first and second years. Especially when you’re around standardized patients, learning your physical exams, shadowing your preceptor, and doing assessments and patient panels.
Don’t worry; I’m here to ensure you and your wardrobe are fully prepared! When going through the process of figuring out my medical school looks, I actually ordered triple the amount compared to what I ended up liking and keeping. Below you can see all the winners with links to order so that you don’t have to deal with any annoying returns like I did. The last three are my favorite business casual outfits, and everything is from Amazon, Ann Taylor, Abercrombie, or M.M. LaFleur!
This post is all about business casual outfits
This post contains affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure here.
8 Affordable Business Casual Outfits
Outfit One
The first look I put together is a crewneck cream-colored sweater from Amazon to go with a pair of light high-waisted green pants. I was so happy when I found these pants to replace a pair I had in medical school from Calvin Klein that I used to always get compliments on. This sweater is so soft and very affordable. It also comes in different colors to mix and match with other bottoms, especially in the more neutral tones! I highly recommend this sweater if you run cold at the hospital like I do!
Outfit Two
Number two is head-to-toe Ann Taylor. This tank top really surprised me! I was expecting to return it, but it actually looks so cute. The pockets on these high-waisted ankle pants come stitched together, so you will need to rip them open before using them, which I definitely recommend doing. If you follow the instructions on the pant’s tag, they can be machine washed, too, so you don’t need to worry about dry cleaning! Another pro tip: never buy anything at full price from Ann Taylor. They constantly have amazing sales, so it’s always worth checking online and waiting it out.
Outfit Three
This third business casual outfit I just love so much! I know M.M. LaFleur seems super bougie, but I promise their sales are totally worth it. I probably wouldn’t have picked brown for the top, but it was the color that was available, and it ended up going great with my gold jewelry. The quality of this cotton immediately makes me feel more “adult-put-together” when I throw it on. These pants are the perfect color and match everything so well. The only con is that they’re not stretchy if you’re doing a lot of bending down throughout the day, like I am in pediatrics.
Outfit Four
As soon as I saw outfit four on Ann Taylor’s website, I knew that I was going to be obsessed with this top, and I was right! I had to get extra small for this one, but it’s so cute with its very chic shoulder cut. I think it goes really well with the light green pants from outfit one. They are definitely one of the best pairs for clinical rotations listed because of how soft and stretchy they are. The little pleat detail on them just adds that extra something as well.
Outfit Five
Number five is all from Amazon and finding business casual outfits from them is actually pretty difficult, but this was a good one I found. The fabric quality of this light blue blouse immediately made it a keeper when I was trying on tons of other shirts. I love that it’s long-sleeved for when I’m feeling chilly, and it doesn’t get super wrinkled either. The pants are some of the only slim-cut professional trousers from Amazon that I really like. I actually wore them for my med school interview as part of a suit set! They do run big, so be sure to order a size down. They’re very affordable for a really nice pair of professional pants you can wear with or without the blazer.
Outfit Six
I was honestly so impressed by this Amazon outfit! This stretchy and not wrinkly blouse has little ruffles that dress it up a bit, and it looks completely amazing with high-waisted, wide-leg pants. This pair is especially comfortable and flowy. They feel like pajamas which is basically the dream when dressing for med school. I always feel fancy when I wear this whole outfit together, sometimes too fancy? Though it’s perfect for when I do rotations in pediatrics and the attendings always dress up instead of wearing scrubs.
Outfit Seven
Full disclosure, I’m obsessed with all of Abercrombie’s sweaters. If you can ever find any of their sweater bodysuits, trust me, they are a must-buy! Be sure to always go online and check the sales instead of going to the store too. I love how thick and comfy this sweater is when I get too cold at the hospital. It goes perfectly with these black Ann Taylor pants that are cropped and high-waisted. The only thing to keep in mind is the loose neckline on this sweater, but I just wear a black bra with it that looks like a tank top and matches the pants, and it works great!
Outfit Eight
This last look is one of my absolute favorites! These navy Ann Taylor ankle pants are a bit longer than I’m used to, but because they’re so cute (and paying for shipping to return them is annoying), I decided to keep them anyway! They’re also so dark you can easily pass them off as black. Of course, the cotton on this M.M. LaFleur top is such good quality. I also love the thin stripe and the high neck cut, which always makes me feel so professional.
The Shoes
Last but not least, we can’t forget the shoes! Finding good footwear can be such a struggle when you need business casual outfits for medical school that are also comfortable. However, I swear by these Rothy Amazon Dupes! These flats are way cheaper than the originals and just as adorable. The jelly-soft insert makes them super comfortable; I didn’t even get a blister when breaking them in. They also come in so many other colors, which I will definitely be buying more in the near future!
Shop all business casual outfits here:
Final Thoughts
These eight outfits are sure to have you feeling both comfortable and chic for all the weeks when you’ll need to wear business casual outfits during medical school and clinical rotations! Be sure to follow along for future insights about what you can expect during your time in medical school and how to be as prepared as possible!
