LONDON, UK // Phelan grew up in Devon before moving to London to study Fashion Communication and Promotion at Central St Martins. During her degree, she completed an internship at Vogue, after which she was offered the role of Fashion Assistant, working in this position for three years before moving to Marie Claire as Junior Fashion Editor. Phelan returned to Vogue in 1993 after being approached by Alexandra Shulman where she remained for eighteen years as Fashion Director. During this time she worked with fashion's most esteemed names, including Kate Moss, Alasdair McLellan, Mert and Marcus and Nick Knight.

In 2011, Phelan left Vogue to become Creative Director at Topshop.