Sprummer Day 7 -- Feeling French

I've got to say, I love a classic Breton stripe.  I've managed to restrain myself to two thus far, but only because I want them to be appreciably different from each other.  This breezy, lightweight sweater is definitely the more fun one, and just right for a springtime Sunday.

In addition to the stripes, rocking the crops with ankle-strap sandals makes me feel oh-so-French.  Je ne sais pas si les vetements sont vraiment francais, et bien sur j'ai oublie beaucoup des mots, mais... =)

Sweater: Kohl's | Pants: thrifted and DIY cropped | Sandals: Chinese Laundry, thrifted

Oh, and I promised that I'd be debuting my favorite new accessory.  The thing I just can't leave the house without these days is...dog hair!  All over everything!

While that's not a perk, the new four-legged family member certainly is.  Her name is Ada, she's about two years old and a mutt of unknown origin, and whenever she's not sleeping she's looking at me like this:

No joke.  All. The. Time.  (Not that I'm complaining -- this puppy is very good for our egos!)

It's been another lovely fashion week -- much thanks to Deanna & Joanna for hosting! -- 

Sprummer Day 6 -- Pseudo Summer Camp

Such fun thus far for sprummer fashion week!  I really like seeing everyone in their warm-weather best.  Today, here at Phenofab we're living up casual Saturday.  No professional dress, no obligations, just some grocery shopping and enjoying the beautiful day outside.

Shirt: Colombia, thrifted | Shorts: Eddie Bauer, thrifted | Shoes: Merrell, via eBay 

The combination of the button-up with rolled sleeves (it's one with fancy sun protection, too, which is awesome 'cuz I sunburn just thinking about going outside) paired with shorts, moccasins, and a ponytail (it's runty, but it's there!) makes me feel like a summer camp counselor.

My shoes are part of Merrell's barefoot line.  I've been intentionally working toward minimal footwear for over a year, you've got to have your foot strong enough to not hurt yourself, but I *love* them.  It's like wearing jazz dance slippers, they fit my feet like a second skin.  Plus, I can feel everything -- did you know that 25% of the muscles and bones in your body are from your ankle down?  And that the palms of your hands and soles of your feet have the most nerve endings per surface area?  That's a ton of information about the world you're interacting with that you're just not getting if you're wearing stiff shoes all the time!  =)

You know the drill -- head over to Delirious Rhapsody, drop your thanks to Deanna and cheer on everyone participating!

Sprummer Day 5 -- Playing Favorites

If this dress came from a furniture store, it would be IKEA.  Because of that, it's one of my favorites.

Okay, that makes no sense.  Let me explain: in solely an aesthetic sense (quality is something else entirely), IKEA -- & Scandinavian design in general -- rocks my world.  Not everything is a hit, far from it, but the combination of form-is-function minimalism, elegant classic lines, and sweet, primary-colored traditional motifs is totally my jam.

 Dress: Old Navy, thrifted | There-might-be-dancing shoes: Aerosoles

So this dress -- with its white-yellow-red-orange tulips and breezy shirtdress shape, in seriously-I-can't-turn-down-navy-blue -- is pushing all the right buttons for me.  It's also just right in so many occasions; last summer's wine tasting to this spring's Easter, working at the clinic to exams on campus.

Oh, and these are my "there-might-be-dancing" shoes -- originally purchased for our wedding, and re-soled with hard leather on the bottom suitable for swing dancing in street-shoe-acceptable venues.  They made good on their name when last worn on Easter, as our worship band did a rollicking gospel blues rendition of "Wake Up, O Sleeper" that had our congregation literally dancing in the aisles.

Dance yourself over to see everyone that has got it going on down at the fashion week extravaganza!

Sprummer Day 4 -- Proportion Play

The clinic where I've been working lately has a no-white-coats rule, and I've got to say, I really like it.  It means that rather than just trying to look professional, it's worth it to put some effort into dressing cute, because it's actually visible.  It also means I get to wear things, like this majorly-dolman-sleeved sweater, that simply wouldn't work worn under a lab coat.

Sweater: thrifted | Pants: thrifted | Sandals: Chinese Landry, thrifted | Necklace: gift

I can never figure out what color this sweater is (disclosure: I'm slightly colorblind).  Is it grey?  Lavender?  A kind of putty-taupe?  No idea.  It does go well with the wall, though.

This is a new type of silhouette for me.  It doesn't do the things I'm used to or address my usual style priorities.  It's fun, though, to push those boundaries a little, to play with proportion and shape and emphasis in ways that differ from my MO.

You know the drill...Sprummer Fashion Week!  Let's go give everybody some love.  =)

Sprummer Day 3 -- Junebug Redux

Not much to say here.  This was a church outfit; somehow, I feel like I can get away with a slightly higher hemline there than at work (medicine is soooooo conservative!).  

Blouse: Kohl's | Skirt: vintage Talbot's, thrifted | Sandals: Chinese Laundry, thrifted 

This skirt is so happy-making.  I love the bright color, the ladybugs, the sketched, doodle-y appearance.  I like the texture on the blouse, too -- embroidered cutouts up top, and a slubby linen knit for the rest.  Breezy and summery in black, yes please!  

Derpy face, but you get to see the embroidery texture a little better...

Join me for the party that is Sprummer Fashion Week over at Deanna's place!

Sprummer Day 2 - Commencing

My original medical school class graduated recently(!) -- of course I went, wouldn't have missed it for anything.  This is what I wore:

Cardigan: Target | Tunic: Kohl's | Jeans: thrifted | Shoes: Crocs  

The school colors are dark blue & white, but matching them was serendipitous rather than intentional -- I just tend to wear a lot of navy.

I really like the shirttail hem on this tunic -- I like the length in the front and back, with the higher sides allowing a flattering continuation of the visual leg line.  I am also nearly a month into the bangs and still liking them -- takes a touch more work in the morning to brush them out (compared to my normal "I do nothing to it" hair routine), but for relatively minimal effort I get a much more polished look.  I'm looking forward to the rest of my hair growing out a bit so I can do the braid-&-bangs combo I'm aiming for.

It was awesome to go to my [old] class's graduation.  I sat with some other classmates who had added an extra year -- for medical reasons, research, public health study, what-have-you -- and we ended up being right on the aisle that all the medical-students-commencing-to-be-doctors processed down during the entry.  Half the class stopped and hugged us, causing major traffic jams =) and it was SO COOL to remember being strangers four years ago and now see them on the verge of being doctors.  It wasn't bittersweet, either, because I still feel like I need at least a year of school yet; it was exciting to look forward to our ceremony next year, but purely, 100% happiness and celebration for the 2014s.

Any big celebrations your way recently?  If nothing else, you should go join the party for the Sprummer Fashion Week!

Sprummer Day 1 - Broken Promises

At the end of 2013, I made a New Year's resolution not to acquire any new clothes (with a few important exceptions).  While I keep my word faithfully and hold promises in high regard, I broke this resolution in April and feel absolutely no remorse.

Allow me to introduce Greta:

A friend invited me on a thrifting excursion and I said yes -- "for the social outing" -- which I *knew* was a tricky, tempting situation to put myself in.  I did well, SO well, trying things on for fun and playing with how things looked on my body with no expectation for purchase...basically, dress-up with a good friend.  Of course, I had to go and grab this at the end of the day; the folksy navy-and-white pattern (totally me!) caught my eye; when I touched it the airy, silky cotton, I knew I had to try it on.  And when I tried it on...

Okay, it took a little work -- repositioning straps, shortening the hem -- but the fit is spot-on and look at the twirl factor!  Plus, it even has a built-in bra.  (Not enough to go jogging in or anything, but adequate for a wedding reception dance party in a non-Lindy crowd.)  The mister approves of the, um, torso fittage, and I feel both utterly lascivious and totally girl-next-door.  If my hair were long enough, I'd put it in milkmaid braids...and then model for pinups.  (Again.  I was Miss July, once upon a time.)  Hence, Greta -- mostly sweetness and simplicity, with a touch of va-va-voom.

(Lest Joan and Greta make you think otherwise -- no, I don't name all my dresses.  Only certain ones, that are really worth it.  Besides, they really name themselves.)

Hair disheveled post-spin, sidelong glances and oh-so-pleased-with-myself grin...do I look even remotely sorry?  Yeah, I'm totally not.  And I am perfectly okay with that.  Consider that resolution well and truly broken, with pleasure.

Go to Deanna's and play along with the fun!

Hello Again!

After nearly four months in scrubs, I'm back!  Back to wearing cute work clothes and not being paranoid about contaminating the sterile field.  Back to caring what my hair and face look like because they're not covered by a mask and hairnet every day.  Back from surgery, and never to return!

(Just kidding, I have one month of surgery next spring.  I get to choose who I'm working with, though, which helps.  I am SO OVER surgeons!)

There some changes on the horizon.  We've got the Sprummer Fashion Week coming up, in which I'll debut a new haircut and quite possibly the cutest accessory of the season.  For now, though, I want to enjoy a rare Really Good Hair Day in its pre-trim form, immortalized forever on the internet.

The clothes are all thrifted.  The necklaces were both gifts.  The red glass pendant came with matching earrings, and was a wedding gift.  Is that weird?  It seems a little odd to have gotten a wedding present so obviously intended for only one party.  Though, the mister likes the necklace, and how it 'fits,' so I guess everyone's happy with the situation?

 Come back and play next week for Fashion Week!  You know those are always a blast.  =)