so good

Hello!

It feels like it's been forever since I actually wrote a post - the last couple of weeks have been so busy! Between finishing peds and taking the shelf exam, my family visiting, moving six hours from home for the month, and starting my new ObGyn rotation, it's been a bit crazy! I am so excited about this rotation though, which is why you may not hear from me as much this month. It's my first time working with ob residents, and working in a big hospital means we get to see the most acute of the acute cases. Not only has it been nice to learn a lot about the management of these acute situations, but it's been so helpful to be around residents who were in my shoes just a few years ago. I was on night float the past two nights, so while it's slightly draining to switch between day and night, while living in a dorm room, it's been so good. 

And speaking of so good....this J.Crew Factory dress. Unfortunately it looks like the polka dot version is currently not in stock, but definitely worth checking out in stores if you are near an outlet. I wore it a few weeks ago when CR and I went out to brunch and it was perfect for the occasion (back when it felt like spring, and not this weird cold stuff we have right now!). Like I mentioned in my review post, it is on the short side, so definitely a weekend-only dress for me, but it could be a fun work dress for the petite ladies out there. Wouldn't it look great with a tan blazer (the regent is still my number one wishlist blazer right now!).

Dress: J.Crew Factory [exact]

Jacket: Paige [similar]

Purse: Michael Kors c/o Shopbop [similar]

Shoes: Banana Republic [similar]

Watch: c/o Larsson & Jennings [exact]

J.Crew Factory has everything up to 60% off (+ 20% off if you buy 3 items). I'm ordering the white popover top (perfect for the summer with distressed jeans) and debating on that sweatshirt just because I think it's so darn cute. 

sweatshirt | shell top | popover

gingham shell | midi skirt | striped wedges

summer fever

Although we are only 14 days away from fall (I only know this because my birthday is the last day of summer!), it looks like summer just decided to show up around here! Besides that tiny break of cool weather a few weeks ago, it has been in the high 80s/low 90s for weeks now, and I'm so ready for it to finally cool down. All I want to do is wear the wool skirts, jeans, and sweaters in my closet - I'm so sick of my warm weather clothes! Anyone else have a bit of "summer fever" now that we're close to the cooler temps? Or you happy to keep the warmer weather around?

Top: Boden [exact]

Pants: The Limited [exact]

Necklace: Forever 21 [similar]

Belt: Gap [similar]

Shoes: Banana Republic [exact]

Watch: Michael Kors [save | exact]

Besides jeans and blazers, the best part about fall clothing is the scarves. Forever 21 has some really cute ones out currently - I just ordered the camel one, but the colorblocked version is very similar to the popular Zara scarf from years past. 

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you x modcloth

A few weeks ago, I was offered the chance to try out a few new pieces from the new Modcloth label. Coincidentally, I was already eyeing a few of the pieces anyway, so it was perfect timing! The designs are adorable - just enough whimsy to make them special, but still appropriate for every day life. 

I chose the Peace and Client dress to wear to CR's cousin's wedding last week, and it was perfect for a family wedding. It's stretchy, flattering, and with a small stitch put in, appropriate for a night of dancing with parents and cousins. Bonus: it has pockets! I got so many compliments on it that I may just wear it for the next wedding we are going to. 

During last week's fall preview (it was in the 60's for most of the week!), the snuggly cardigan in forest was perfect to keep me comfortable while reading outside at a coffee shop. The fabric is thick and soft, but doesn't feel heavy like some other open cardigans I've tried. I went with the green version of the cardigan because it's CR's favorite color, but they also have a red version that would be super cute during the holidays. 

outfit one

Dress: c/o Modcloth [exact - I'm wearing a large]

Belt: Gap [very similar]

Shoes: Banana Republic [exact]

Necklace: c/o Rocksbox [use code franishxoxo for 1 free month]

outfit two

Sweater: c/o Modcloth [exact]

Tee: Everlane [exact]

Jeans: Uniqlo [exact]

Shoes: Sperry [exact]

Purse: Madewell [save | exact]

Below are some of my picks from the new Modcloth collection. I've always wanted a bright and cheery skirt, so maybe this yellow one will have to be future purchase. Which of the following is your favorite? 

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Disclosure: thank you to ShopStyle for sponsoring this post!

dresses are second best

Last week I said that jeans are my favorite article of clothing, and while that is totally still true, dresses are absolutely my second favorite. They are just so easy to throw on with a few simple accessories, and you're set. I don't like over-accessorizing anyway, so just matching leathers and a simple necklace are all I need to feel ready for the day.

Remember how I fell in love with that gingham dress a few months ago but could never get my hands on it? I was casually browsing through the sales section recently and there it was - only one left, and in my size. Fashion fate? Possibly. I also picked up this little striped number - it's currently 50% off, and will be perfect for my trip to Santorini (I promise it's cuter in real life - you can see it on my snapchat @fhasselhof)!

Dress: thrifted [similar below]

Belt: Gap [similar]

Shoes: Banana Republic [exact]

a couple of you have mentioned you wanted to know what my outfits look like with my white coat on, so here I am, in all my short coat glory...

and because my dress is from Goodwill (and apparently homemade!), here are a few current options out there. There's also this longer sleeved version, which would be perfect for once the temperatures drop!

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real life

I wasn't really planning on taking pictures of this outfit because it was nothing at all special - same pants I always wear, probably the oldest shirt in my closet, and the same accessories I wear every. single. day. My hair was a bit limp, and we had to take pictures after work because CR leaves for work three hours before I do, and my tripod hadn't been shipped yet. 

And then I remembered that someone asked me on my survey in April about how I feel about those blogs that pretend are their real life, but clearly are not. Blogs where people say they are going to work, but don't actually have a job anymore (isn't it crazy how much money you can make off of blogging?), or blogs that openly admit they shoot a bunch of outfits in one day, but don't actually wear those clothes in real life. And to be honest, I have a love/hate relationship with those kinds of blogs. I love looking at the pretty clothes with the professional photography with the interesting backgrounds. They serve a purpose, and that purpose is to be beautiful things to look at. But I also hate them, because I feel blogs used to be about real life and somehow have turned into fake life. Even the big blogs that say they are for working women are no longer real - how many working women do you know who wear $1400 skirts, or a new whole c/o outfit every single day, or can wear off the shoulder dresses to work ? I don't know any.

So. These are my real clothes that I wore in real life to my real "job" (that I don't get paid for, but am expected to show up to every day). Not every day can be something pretty and new to show you guys - sometimes it's just going to be a simple outfit and hopefully that's okay too :)

Blouse: H&M [similar]

Pants: The Limited [exact - I really should get a second pair!]

Belt: Gap [similar]

Shoes: Banana Republic [exact on sale]

Tote: Madewell [save | exact]

Watch: Michael Kors [exact]

95% love, 5% DIY

I'm in the process of writing a few posts on how to build a cohesive wardrobe (I'm hoping to have the first post done by the end of the week!) so I've been thinking a lot about what I've learned over the past few years, from the beginning of doing a closet clean out to buying those finishing pieces. One of my biggest rules over the years has been to only buy items you 100% love - or else, why spend money on it? 

A few weeks ago, I feel in love with this top from Anthropologie. On the model it looks light and airy, but on me, I felt it was too airy. The shirt sleeves actually don't really close all the way around the arms - they are open down half way the sides. I felt it made me look wider than I am because there was no waist definition, as you can see on the picture below. Besides that though, I really really liked it. The more I looked at the top, I wondered if there wasn't a way to fix it - the fabric lines up perfectly enough to sew shut along the sides. So the night after my board exam, I spent an hour sewing the sides closed and now it's so much better on me. It's still light and airy and perfect for summer, but now it's perfect for me too.

Listen learned? Sometimes a little DIY turns a no into a hell yes.

Blouse: Anthropologie [exact]

Denim Jacket: Paige c/o Nordstrom [very similar]

Jeans: Paige c/o Zappos [exact]

Bag: Madewell [save | exact]

Shoes: Banana Republic [exact]

Lipstick: Nars [exact]

i have no idea what i'm doing

Today was the first day of my third year of medical school - that's crazy! I still feel like I'm supposed to say I'm a first year, when I'm really a third year who supposedly knows things now.

My first month of rotations is in family medicine. I'm in a one doctor clinic, and so far (...one day), it's been really great. All of my shadowing experience was in family practice, so it was the one rotation I knew what to expect. I spent the day following the doctor and the nurse practitioner around. I got to feel some hernias, help with an EKG, and gave someone a shot. All around, I think it was the perfect way to start all of this off.

And since this is a style blog and all, this is what I wore. I wanted to go in pretty conservative as I wanted to make a good impression and I didn't know how the atmosphere would be. Bootleg slacks, my new "watch", and a flower blouse that buttons high enough - can't really go wrong! Turns out they are super relaxed there, so I can play around a bit more with outfits than I will be able to when I'm on surgery for my second and third rotation ;)

For you med students out there - any reading material suggestions for family med? I don't even know where to start.

Blouse: Loft [very similar on sale]

Pants: The Limited [exact]

Bag: Madewell [save | exact]

Shoes: Banana Republic [exact]

Belt: Gap 

via instagram

the end of an era...

I wore this dress for one of our last days of school a few weeks ago. I didn't do what I did last year, where I wore the same thing as I wore on the first day of school, but just wore something that felt completely "me". A simple dress, simple jewelry, and a little too matchy-matchy with my leathers ;) It's actually surreal to me that we are half way done with medical school now. I told someone yesterday that I'm a third year now, and it felt so weird. I don't know anything!!

It's a little sad to see the background of the picture from the first day of school though, because that is exactly what my room looks like now. CR and I are moving in together on Wednesday, and I'm so excited, but I'm also really going to miss my current apartment. I've had so many great memories here with my roommate - I really couldn't have found a better person to live here with. Now we are tearing up our little bachelorette pad to move hours and hours away from each other. Thank God for group messages and snapchat!

Dress: Tahari c/o Nordstrom [exact]

Shoes: Banana Republic [exact - get 40% off w/ code BRSUMMER]

Belt: Gap [similar on sale]

Purse: Madewell [save | exact]

Although my dress is currently still full price [although it does come in a ton of different colors - I looooove the blush version], Nordstrom's currently has so many cute work-appropriate dresses on sale. My absolute favorite one is the pink floral number because I think it could be super versatile - nude wedges and a cardigan at work, or with more dressed up heels and the right clutch it would be perfect for a wedding. 

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