DIY Labcoat Costume

Get a lab coat from a hobby store science section or at a university bookstore. Choose a short lab coat or a long one. Short lab coats are typically worn by dentists and medical students, while long ones are used by doctors, microbiologists, chemists and various industrial technicians.

Pull on a pair of white scrub pants that tie at the waist if your costume depicts a medical occupation. Tan or dark pants are fine for most other lab career fields. Wear jeans if your costume depicts an agricultural inspector or an aquaculture expert.

Tie on some white tennis shoes or slip into some rubber clogs, if you want to portray hospital or clinical staff or just about anyone else in the health professions. Add paper shoe covers for surgical staff.

Wear dark street shoes are appropriate for chemists, nuclear technicians and people who work in academic laboratory settings.

Sew a patch on the sleeve of your lab coat to designate the industry or branch of service you represent. You can find U.S. military medical patches at a military base or post exchange.

Embroider your persona's name on front of the lab coat, just above the left side pocket if you are playing a doctor, dentist, nurse practitioner or other high-level job. Stick a pen and penlight into the pocket and don a stethoscope around your neck.

Make name tags for agricultural inspectors, power plant workers and ultrasound techs. Get pre-made name tags that have plastic covers and a pin attachment on the back. Cut them to the size you want and add your printed label.

Fabricate your own patches showing radiation and nuclear symbols and add a creative name for your organization. Use stiff fabric and draw on names and symbols using colored fabric markers.

Get peripheral items to complete your outfit to make it look more real. Wear paper hair covers, beard covers and plastic aprons. Put a Petri dish or lab specimen container in your pocket for show and tell.