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!

Fall Fashion Week!

First, I just want to say that I LOVE the move to October for FFF.  While it's still warmer than my heart wants, at least it smells like fall.  September is still half summer, after all.

This is my take on one of those photos that used to float around on Pinterest a lot.  I love the rich color and luscious feel of these burgundy corduroy shorts, but they've always seemed too rich for summer.  I wore them with tights (usually with boots, not heels) for a few years, and now I see that all over the place!  Never expected to be ahead of a trend.  =)  The tights also make me feel comfortable wearing shorts to church, like I did with this outfit.

Shirt: Ross | Shorts: Anthropologie | Shoes: Fluevog, via eBay | Scarf: made by me! | Tights: ??

These are my neutral, skin-tone heels, but I love wearing them over contrasting tights to show off that super-sweet crossed strap action.  Surprisingly, this is a splurge-y outfit for me -- while nothing was full price, it was all new, nothing thrifted.  Not my usual MO.  That said, I've got a theme going on for this week, let's see how soon you can figure it out!  =)

It's always exciting to be part of a fashion week.  Go over to Deanna's place and see what everyone else is up to!

Dressed for Success

Do you know what time it is?

 

It's Go Time. This is Test Day.  I am taking boards, right now.  (I am not live-blogging -- I totally took these pictures early and pre-scheduled the post.  You can't even have a StupidPhone in the exam with you, much less access to the internet).

 

I think I have everything that I need, but I'm thinking I probably should have sharpened my brain before we began.  It's feeling a little dull.

Someday, I will tell the story of this sweater and how it came to be mine.  Someday, I will talk about eating disorders, nurturing one's soul, and how my face is clear evidence that I've gained 10% of my body weight in the two months I've been prepping.  Someday...but not today.

Today I am taking boards. 

DIY Debut

So... I made this dress.

I made it up as I went along, trying to copy another dress I have (without taking that one apart).  Of course, it ended up not really similar at all.  Someday I'll start using real patterns or slopers instead of winging it; for this one, I'm just happy that I was slow and careful and specifically not giving in to all the sloppy "eh, I can make it work" habits I've gotten into with my sewing projects.  Pattern-matching those stripes for a chevron in front wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, and I like how they work with the high-low hem. 

Dress: I made it! | Sweater: Anthropologie, thrifted | Shoes: thrifted

It was not really this warm out -- rather, it was fine in the sunshine but not warm enough inside my study -- for these bared legs and sandals, which I did not appreciate. So, most of the day was spent with leggings and socks for the cozies.  Wearing something that I made myself was empowering, and I think the pride ("Look what I can do! I totally rock at life right now") helped inspire me to a highly-productive day.

Inspired by Rachel's QUITEbeautiful campaign, I give you: my completely un-done-up face.  (Not that I normally wear much makeup...)  My siblings and I all have that crazy-high hairline; we call it the "Phelan phorehead."  We're also all covered in freckles -- why would I want to bury those under makeup?  (Although mine have long been covered by what I suspect is rosacea, that discrete red patch across cheeks/nose/low forehead -- perils of being a medical student, you think you've got every condition you study).  I've gotten more compliments on my teeth (?!) in the last six months than I ever imagined I'd get in a lifetime.  I've got laugh lines at my eyes and no stress lines in my forehead, and dang it if my collarbones aren't just the sexiest things ever. 

What's making you feel like you rock these days?  What parts of your un-done self are your favorites?

Spring Fashion Week - Sunday

As I mentioned before, Spring Fashion Week really snuck up on me.  Speaking of which, the mister snuck up on me (see what I did there?) while I was taking these pictures.  Then, when I'd chased him off, he went up to the window overlooking the side yard and started making creeper faces.  Not appreciated, dude...but still, gotta love him for it.  Anyway, hence the weirdo faces -- that was me was getting him back so hard.

I hear friends and family all talking about still getting snow(!) this past week, and I have a confession -- it has been beautiful, absolutely positively perfect, for, um, two weeks?  This has been the longest streak of lovely we've had for as long as we've been in California.  And I. am. LOVING it.  Never mind that I've got med school finals next week, and super-scary standardized board exams two months later.  Never mind that I got sunburned legs today from studying outside in the sunshine under the orange tree.  Never mind that I'm in denial about, oh, just about everything (sunburn included!).  This weekend?  Everything was amazing.

Shirt: Hubbard Avenue Diner | Shorts: Eddie Bauer, thrifted | Shoes: Teva Fuse-ion via Sierra Trading Post

Interesting (to me, at least) to note that, after a solid dozen years of hating fiercely on the color, I am introducing pink back into my wardrobe.  Why?  Eh, I don't know, it doesn't offend me any more, so why not?  I mean, I'm not specifically looking for it, but if it happens it happens.  Also, neener-neener I stick out my tongue because that is totally the mature adult response to a puck-y creeper mister.  Take that.

Ow-ow, check out that sunburn.  Yeesh.  Would you believe I've spent the past two weeks studying skin cancer (among other things)?  Obviously not practicing what I preach.

I am, however, taking my own advice and heading over to Spring Fashion Week.  You should, too!

A Month of Sundays, #4

Shirt:  Old Navy

Skirt/dress:  Goodwill

Tights:  JC Penney

Boots:  Merrell, from REI

Despite the title of this post, I actually wore this outfit on a Saturday, for dinner with friends.  I wanted to experiment with the shirt-over-a-dress style.  When I usually try this out, it looks awkward.  Either my shirt is too long, or too short, or the dress underneath looks lumpy.  But I liked how this turned out! I think this dress could work with a shorter shirt as well, so I'm going to keep trying.  Call me inspired.

Have you tried any new-to-you styles recently?

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy

how to work stripes

introducing: me! i'm a student in high school who likes to dress nicely. some might say my style is too fancy for school but i say, why not? if you like your clothes wear them! i don't mind wearing skirts or dresses to school.

this is my mullet skirt. (it's actually called a high-low skirt but really...it's a mullet. business in the front and party in the back.) my tights are lacey and white and my shoes are black army-style boots.

i wore this shirt with the skirt cause it's a tighter t-shirt. i like to balance tighter clothes with baggier clothes, like wearing t-shirts with boot cut jeans or skinny jeans with a loose shirt. my headband is also white and lacey. i love love love this shirt cause it promotes originality. that one zebra in the middle has a keyboard instead of stripes, a blue mohawk, an earring, and sunglasses. he doesn't care about what everyone else does and rocks his own style. i respect you mister zebra.

usually i don't match this much (like with two white lacey things). i don't mind mixing patterns (except for stripes and plaid. never.) but i don't like mixing unmatching colors. that just doesn't work.

i'm new to blogging but i'm super excited about it! tune in next week for more fashion fun.