Blue Collar, White Coat

Ann Taylor white fitted blazer (00P) // 

Thrifted Ann Taylor light blue button down blouse with tiny pinstripes (2P petite) //

Thrifted cobalt blue skirt // Payless white low heel pump //

Photography: self; tripod and remote

Long time no see! My summer research job with pediatric plastic surgery turned into a lot more than I bargained for, and that's a wonderful thing. So far in these past two weeks I have been in cleft palate clinic thrice, watched two surgeries, dug through stacks of literature, tinkered with new tech, and met some awesome kids (and adults, too). Every single day is a new adventure that I'm juiced for.

Working at a hospital and clinical research means no blue jeans or tshirts, so I have to find a way to dress for the baking humid commute and the chilly air conditioning. A button down and skirt are standard for me by now - simple to throw on and professional. A couple of weeks ago I went to a Goodwill near campus and was pleased to find a big variety of on-trend small pieces. Downside was a slightly higher price tag ($7 for a sundress) for a thrift shop but the never-before-worn or designer items made it worth it. This top was a welcome teeny Ann Taylor discovery in 2Petite that fits me well. It is of a thicker soft cotton material and has tiny vertical stripes for a whole $4. The cobalt blue skirt hits right above my knee and fits at the waist, also for $4. It has side slits but my coat covers it. The white blazer is going to simulate my white coat and the whole look reminds me slightly of flight attendant.

Off to late night life on the town and catching up with friends! Warm nights, firefly lights, maybe a sip and a munch in hand too. C'est la vie!

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Classy-fied | Satin Tank and Cropped Jacket

H&M mocha brown satin drape tank (deal) // H&M jewel beaded trim cropped jacket //

Ann Taylor Loft "Kate" straight leg black dress pants (00) (petite version) // 
Thrifted Melie Bianco faux camel leather satchel bag (deal) //

DIY/Payless red sole black pumps (DIY Christian Louboutin) //

Wet n Wild berry lipstick in Wine Room // Rose pearl necklace (gift) //
Ghetto $5 Walmart classic round watch (with a second hand for taking pulse) //

Photography: self; camera and remote

Balmy rays of sunshine, robins pecking at the ground for their version of gummy worms, longer days of clear blue sky: finally spring is here to stay! Today (4/8/13) I revisited this outfit from a few summers ago, when I was so excited to apply to medical school and start dressing more professionally for lab. Look how much has happened since! I wore this under my white coat for my clinical test (switched out black flats for heels, yellow backpack for my camel satchel, and threw on a necklace - what I would have worn if I weren't running late this morning). The cool spring breeze calmed down the warm 70s weather but inside the med school buildings, our heating/cooling is never thermostatically regulated and two words: pit stains.

Just because we blog about fashion doesn't mean we can't wear an old favourite and remix via accessories. My hair is significantly less fried than before and pulling it into a pony got the wind-blown strands out of my face and made for a cleaner, more twenty-something look. The satin top billows in the wind and reminds me of mocha sails fluttering on a chocolate sea - yum! These dress pants from Loft are the most slimming pair I've found so far for my uncommon leg/body ratio - these muscular thighs make it difficult to find a pair that skims over my upper leg while staying cinched at my waist. Have been too lazy to get it tailored so I just fold the bottoms in to make it more petite-friendly, since the 00P version was not flattering on me.

Cardiology so far has been really cool - I enjoy listening to the rhythm of heart sounds, taking advantage of my musical background to imagine a picture of what is happening. Reading EKG's and the physiology also appeals to visual-tactile learner me and I'm excited to learn more (this is rare optimism when living through the daily grind). My day-to-day schedule is more organized and manageable, so I'm able to feel like a normal semi-well-adjusted being again and do things like attend conferences on literature, draw with art students, scope out spring fashions, stuff my face with yummy treats, blog. Boy am I chatty today - off to watch the Mad Men season premiere and sip some Angry Orchard.

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Let's Have a Kiki | Merry Christmas

H&M silver sequin and tulle dress // Aldo nude pumps // Silver beaded sequin clutch from China (gift) //

Wet n Wild lipstick in Wine Room //

Photography: self; tripod and remote

LOCK THE DOORS TIGHT. This dress would be the epitome of a tinsel-meets-ballerina holiday outfit. I wore this sparkly little number to our post-finals party with my pink blazer and burgundy tights, leopard fur coat reserved for the nightcrawling hours. Today it felt right to throw it on for a cloudy and dreary San Diego Christmas to pizazz some festivity back into the atmosphere. With nude pumps, a high pony, and classic wine red lips, everything feels more classy and sassy. But really, let's have a kiki.

The fire in the sequins comes alive with ambient lighting and unfortunately doesn't photograph well. Therefore my cheesy dancing as a human disco ball is reserved for in-person enjoyment. If anyone has any tips on photographing sparkles and sequins, please share your knowledge! I amused myself for a whole 3 minutes reflecting the rainbow with my torso standing in front our tree. I hope your holiday has been wonderful and close to the loved ones around you. Gift-wise, my brother went all out this year and got me the new apple EarPods which fit wonderfully inside my big earholes and produce some quality beats. Santa also left me lime green Play-doh which this 90s kid is freaking ecstatic about. Already I've made dumplings, a lopsided heart, and a bracelet with it while taking breaks to sniff the memorable scent.

Since starting break I've finished The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg, a great analytical-but-engaging read to changing your bad habits into productive ones ... and howled with laughter with every page of Me Talk Pretty Some Day by David Sedaris. That I believe completes my goal of 10 books in 2012, surprisingly half of them read during med school. Cheers to two more weeks of exorbitant movie-watching and not getting trampled during after-Christmas sale shopping.

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Floral Inkblots | Summer Work Outfit

H&M bright floral inkblot sheath tank // Thrifted @Scholarshop/Escada bright yellow pencil skirt //

Predictions by Payless white low heel pumps // Med student white coat //
Revlon Colorburst lip butter in Lollipop //

Photography: self; tripod and remote

WHAT TO WEAR UNDER WHITE COAT #1. This was what I wore on Monday (8/27) for my first patient interview: bright peppy colours as a final salute to the (hopefully soon) last days of blistering summer. These sessions are videotaped so we can watch and reflect on what we did and how to improve, so I'm determined to wear extra fresh outfits to distract myself from the anxiety I get from watching myself on tape (I HATE hearing my own voice in these things ... hence not having branched out to Youtube). Keeping it simple and having a base colour of white for my top allows it to blend into my white coat better while introducing pops of fuchsia and green and yellow. I like the straight-cut sheath shape of this tank and decided without much deliberation at H&M, as it's one of my favourite showcased pieces of theirs this summer. The back has a tiny slit that's buttoned, so it's classy with a bit of interesting detail. It was a nice grey semi-rainy day so I was able to photograph outside with the colours un-distorted and vibrant.

The days are flying by in med school. In the past three days, I interacted with my first patient (who praised me for my empathic personality yay!), got a taste of anatomy lab with hands-on exploration, and learned how to draw blood, put in an EKG, test for blood glucose, give shots, etc. Lectures are never-ending inside class and out, and the work multiplies like a drug-resistant strain of bacteria. But I am always finding new fun things to do, like ZUMBA classes with friends, grabbing high class bubble tea, watching horror flicks when the biochem pathways become too serious. Tomorrow I am camping out early for the grand opening of the H&M in Polaris, hoping to get that $300 gift card. This Labor Day weekend, JJ is coming to visit and we're going to hit up Cedar Point for the best roller coasters in the country! If I can describe my life right now in a word, it's "intense." Dressing up every day helps me squeeze the word "fantabulous" in there too.

Scroll down to see a final surprise image ...

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Cat Eye

H&M faux leather biker jacket // H&M hunter green colored skinny jeans //

Forever 21 sheer black top w/ woven embroidery // H&M nude cami tank top //

H&M cat eye sunglasses w/ snakeskin inside //

Predictions for Payless black pumps // Aldo black feather rainbow glitter earrings //

Photography: JJ

EYE OF THE TIGRESS. Today's hastily thrown-together outfit, from the cold but delicious time at JJ's Russian professor's annual picnic to the mall for graduation dress shopping with my friend Sherraine (see fitting room review here). It's feminine yet bad girl at the same time. Sheer dolly long top with some coloured skinnies and a leather jacket. The best part is actually these uber fun glitter-dipped feather earrings from Aldo. They shed glitter everywhere, so by the end of the day my body looks like it's covered in unicorn vomit, not that I oppose that kind of thing. Also found the PURRfect pair of cat eye sunglasses (FINALLY) that flatter my round face, stay on my flat nose, and aren't vintage-sharp to the point of Rita Skeeter. They even have snakeskin print on the inside, an added quirk. Yay now I can look like everyone else in the fashion world *eye-rollage*

Thank you JJ for taking time out of your busy Circuits schedule to shoot this outfit! Apparently when it's right about to get dark outside and it's a grey gloomy day, the camera shuts up and picks up the perfect amount of light/exposure/temperature that requires minimal post-processing. However, humidity = instant Ms. Frizzle 'do (gosh I miss Magic School Bus).

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Pepper{MINT} St.{PATTY}

Pitaya bunny print mint peter pan collar top (S) // Lush mint green scallop hem shorts (S) //
Faded Glory white tank top (underneath) (S) //

From Taiwan mint green Longchamp Le Pliage dupe tote bag (gift) //

Predictions by Payless white low heel pumps (5) // From Taiwan grey and white striped socks (gift) //
Nordstrom BP ombre brown and mint green wayfarer sunglasses //

Bracelets: pearls from Forever 21, white bead from H&M // Forever 21 white plastic bow ring //

Lips: Clinique chubby stick lip color balm in Super Strawberry //

Photography: JJ

FRESHLY MINTED. Haha, clever title, no? This was the all-mint green outfit I was aiming for this St. Patrick's Day but it rained the entire day in San Diego, so yesterday (3/19) was the perfect opportunity to wear it back in St. Louis: 84 degrees and sunny (someone needs to fire that meteorologist, because we all felt like losers in our rain gear) and SPRING SPRING SPRING! There's nothing more mood-lifting than the blossoming pastels of flowering trees on campus and spontaneous trips to Starbucks and the Loop. In fact I think the Midwest skipped spring and went ahead and did summer on the Spring Equinox. Warning: this post may lead to visual overdosing on mint green. This exceeds your recommended daily amount by 10^9. Proceed with caution and open-mindedness towards my pastel obsession problems.

Can you believe this mini Longchamp Le Pliage look-alike was a free gift from a contacts store in Taiwan? At first I had no idea what I would use such a tiny thing for but it surprisingly holds a lot: my EKG manual, sunglasses, keys, cards, notes, etc. It also folds up and buttons shut and is quite sturdy. The socks were free gift along with a cute plastic popsicle container when I got my Tarepanda mini-scale too. My white pumping disappearing into the lush grass, almost feeling their cool soft spikiness between my toes, add a few pearls to balance the mint with cream. This big tree with all the gorgeous white flowers finally woke from its slumber and gave off such a wondrous aroma. It felt like playing under a giant mushroom and then the bumblebees scared me off. Ha.

Here's a funny story: since I've had this outfit planned for a week now, I wasn't taking no for an answer - rain or shine. But alas, after pulling both mint items out of my suitcase, they were and have been wrinkled (the most frustrating fabric) and unsightly. So I dripped some water on them and hung them on my window, hoping the sun would dry them before class, but they remained sopping wet. Then I threw them in the laundry. Then I aired them out during racquetball practice. Then I went to the locker room and held them under the hand dryer machine for 20 minutes. Yay finally dry and unwrinkly! Then I put them on and they immediately wrinkled FML lol.

I really need to go to bed earlier - self, at 3 AM.

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Biker Ballerina

Forever 21 leather panel strapless mini dress (S) // Forever 21 light pink tulle skirt (S) //

Aldo nude pumps (35) // Poshlocket Celeste Silver Roped Bracelet (c/o) //

Rings: real pearl silver from Epcot Japan (4), green topaz from medieval fair //

Forever 21 birds double gold chain necklace //

Photography: JJ

TOUGH LOVE, BABY. It was freakishly warm for a St. Louis January day yesterday (1/16) so I took the opportunity to style an outfit that was meant for frolicking around in SoCal sunshine: LEATHER MINIDRESS + TULLE SKIRT. With a strong breeze, it was too chilly to run around in this all day so it was a play-dress-up-and-change kind of outfit. Good thing too because it started hailing soccer balls at my windows at 2 AM - geez, Mother Nature's mood swings are scary as *@$! sometimes. I love paradoxes in life, and pairing leather and girly tutu skirts makes for the perfect oddity. This dainty pearl ring is actually a real pearl I got out of an oyster at Epcot Center Japanworld. I had the 7 mm yellow beauty set in a sterling silver band, size 4. Pretty costly, but for the experience and magic, right?

Today was the first day of my last semester in college, but I didn't go to class (bad kid, iknowright?) Nah, I was at an interview. It's weird being at two different stages of your life at once - it's like being two places at one time. Awkward moment: when you realize that the doctor sitting across from you actually knows more about fashion than you do. Karl Lagerfeld what what?

I have Selena Gomez's "Love You Like a Love Song" stuck in my head on re-peat-peat-peat-peat

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H2O

Styleta for Charity: Water v-neck tshirt (S) // Forever 21 navy collegiate preppy cardigan (S) // 

H&M plaid tweed boyfriend shorts (Euro 4) // Merona blue sweater tights // 

Zoe&Zac/ Payless penny loafer pumps (5) // Taiwan brand red frame glasses //

Photography: JJ

PREP-ARATION. Outfit for yesterday (12/11), quick throw-together for some late brunching at a nearby pho noodle venue. My new favourite way to eat it: gather a little sliced beef and noodle in the soup spoon, dab a bit of hoison sauce and 2 drops of sriracha hot sauce, submerge in the broth, slurp! My mouth waters at the delicious memory :D As much as this outfit is great for a day in the library, it was worn for rabidly-hungry college senior face-stuffing and bumming around the house writing papers all night.

It feels so nice to be re-motivated to blog. Recently, videogaming has been preoccupying my life and obsessive mindspace, and today I finally reached the point where I'm reluctant to proceed because that means the end of the game and possibilities D: Many a videogame has been left 95% finished for that reason, but hopefully I'll man up and finish Zelda: Skyward Sword before Winter Break. Meanwhile ... my penultimate finals week is here, which ironically means more blogging to relieve stress like a good pair of bike shocks.

This comfy loose-fit tshirt was from Saturday's Styleta Fashion Night Out (post coming up after editing hell). Even though it's an American Apparel size S, it's quite big - perfect for a lazy Sunday lounge feel. These tomboyish plaid tweed shorts from earlier in the fall have been recycled through many outfits not shown here, and as you all know by now, I can't live without pockets. Lastly, throw on some bright warm tights that, if I might add narcissistically, make my legs look nice. Penny loafer pumps and collegiate cardi and systems are a-preppy-go.

[This post was all ready to go yesterday, then Flickr crashed for Google accounts. Why is Flickr owned by Yahoo anyway? These photos were uploaded on Picasa instead Fixed 10:50 AM]

Readers - what's your favourite charity?

Fire, Hot, Mild

Faded Glory red tshirt (XS) // H&M orange pleated midi skirt (S) // Pitaya patent yellow belt (S) //

Forever 21 red patent peep toe pumps (6) (buy 1, 2, 3, 4) //

Photography: JJ

HI MY NAME IS EDNA MODE. This outfit could be inspired by the first three colours of the rainbow, or the degree of hotness on those beloved Taco Bell sauce packets (6/27). Chugging my way through this backlog of outfits, I see how this summer my H&M orange pleated midi skirt has been a fave for work and going out. It hits just above the knee and makes my legs look thinner, concealing my thighs that would make Marion Jones proud. [Update 8/25/11: Featured on the Ruby-Eyed Okapi for modesty in fashion. I'm so flattered! Thanks Victoria!]

This was right after I dyed my hair black too. Ended up with an awesome mod asymmetrical bob that works great with red lipstick and retro-flaved pieces. Does this remind anyone of Edna from the Incredibles? The golden hour is pretty - I should try for more shots then. I used to think that photographers photoshopped in all the perfect lens flare and excess of light. Yes I notice the gunk on my shoes. That's what you get when you climb into dirt trying to get a perfect shot in 4-inch stilettos.

Why can't it be both fall and summer at the same time? Alternate days to make it exciting. I can't wait to wear chunky knits, long and drapey pieces, loose sweaters, knee high boots with super high socks, scarves, scarves, scarves! I'll also miss the romanticism of tearing down the streets in a red-hot convertible (okay, maybe only in Florida with Cassandra) but oh the lovely sun and warm summer nights ...

For now, it's 3 days away from St. Louis and 6 from the start of senior year. Last time I checked, it was only senior year in high school. It's both an exhilarating and scary time, but mostly I am ready to shop for some cutesy school supplies (for once in my life - I know where to save so I can dole out the green  for the closet mmhmm) and install a basket on my bike. Spent a few hours scouring the web for deals on textbooks, but even with a bunch of rentals we've rung up quite a bill. Curse textbook companies and their "new cover, new edition" crap. Until robots have feelings and I can fly a hovercraft to work, I'm not buying that much has changed since the last issue.

Readers - who is your doppelganger?

Photo credit of Edna Mode: virginmedia.com