A few recent favorites shared on my instagram (@maryorton)! For reference, you can always shop my instagrams by clicking on the SHOP >> INSTAGRAM tab on the top right navigation bar here on memorandum.com. Happy Wednesday!
JEANS | SHOES | JACKET | SIMILAR SHIRT | BAG
PANTS | SIMILAR TOP | SHOES | BAG
DRESS (AFFORDABLE OPTION) | BAG | SHOES | SUNGLASSES
Happy Sunday! Nordstrom’s Half-Yearly Sale ends today, so if you haven’t checked it out yet, you best hop to it! Currently in my shopping cart are these STUNNING sandals, this adorable romper (perfect for day or night), and this gorgeous summer sweater. I’m also thinking about snagging this beautiful white summer dress, because I bought it in blush last year and wore it constantly (spoiler alert: it has POCKETS)!
If you need any summer basics like white jeans, a fresh pair of cute sneakers (been wearing these constantly lately!), a jean jacket or a wear-everywhere nude bag, carpe diem y’all. You can find the rest of my sale favorites below and don’t forget to check out before midnight (pacific time) tonight!
PANTS: c/o Express | SHIRT: c/o Express | SUNGLASSES: c/o Express | BAG: M2Malletier | SHOES: old, similar HERE
Earlier this week I had the pleasure of hosting a webinar with Career Contessa on my top career tips for women just starting their careers. One of the questions I get asked most frequently in these discussions, especially by recent graduates just entering the workforce, is where to find affordable workwear. Invariably, I point them to Express.
When Express asked me to partner on their Spring campaign, I jumped at the opportunity. Their “Your Life, Your Dress Code” motto rings so true to me and my experience with the brand, whose clothing and accessories really, truly mirror the modern working girl’s lifestyle, which is what this blog is all about. They have great pieces for going out, for working out, for weekend jaunts and for grinding it out 9-to-5. So many brands sit squarely into one or two of those categories, but few seem to really span the full breadth of who we are and what our lives encompass in and out of the office. It’s why I started shopping at Express in high school, why I continued into college and the early days of my career, and why I still shop at Express to this day. They just get it. And, it doesn’t hurt that their price points still allow you to make rent.
After purchasing the pants that I’m wearing today in black, I promptly logged back on and ordered them in khaki as well. They’re the perfect lightweight, comfortable summer pant, in a breathable fabric that’s a fantastic alternative to classic wool suiting pants. I don’t know how they manage to get the fit and cut quite this perfect at a $40 price point, but I’ll take it (in every possible color I can get my hands on).
Speaking of beautiful things that I need in every color, this blouse also comes in a gorgeous peach hue. I might actually have to do an entirely separate post on all of the amazing peach pink things I just bought from Express. In addition to the beauties I’m wearing today, I snagged these joggers, this hoodie, these amazing satin slides and this waterbottle (which eloquently encapsulates who I am as a person).
PANTS: c/o Express | SHIRT: c/o Express | SUNGLASSES: c/o Express | BAG: M2Malletier | SHOES: old, similar HERE
Thanks to Express for partnering on this post!
JACKET: GREY Jason Wu | SHIRT: GREY Jason Wu | CULOTTES: A.L.C. | SHOES: Marc Fisher | EARRINGS: Jenny Bird | BAG: Phillip Lim (old, similar HERE)
It’s mid-May for crying out loud. I refuse to wear anything overtly wintery, buuuuuut it was also in the high 40s / low 50s earlier this week and, well, I can only be so masochistic. There’s nothing like the whiplash of constantly changing spring weather to bring me sprinting into the arms of my closet’s seasonless staples. And so reigns supreme the mystical powers of my always-appropriate navy favorites, especially these knock-out BEAUTIES by GREY Jason Wu that I recently found at Nordstrom (aka shopping Mecca).
If it’s possible for me to love a jacket more, I can not conceive of it. Leave it to Jason Wu to mastermind a moto-style topper that looks as appropriate walking into a boardroom in February as it does with ripped cut-offs at Sunday brunch in June. It’s this commitment to dressing—really dressing—the modern woman and her multi-hyphenate lifestyle that’s the ethos of his new GREY line, and has me in full praise-hands-emoji elation. It’s feminine, it’s whimsical, it’s polished, it’s all. of. the. things. I mean just look at the cut and the magnificent lines! Why the hell is there a lone silver snap mid-way down the split back and why am I 98% certain that it’s the single most thrilling artistic flourish in the history of mankind??
Navy and white stripes for spring? Groundbreaking. (*Said with Miranda Priestly-level disdain.*) But again! Mr. Wu takes a time-honored classic and makes it feel unbelievably fresh. With the face logo’s touch of red embroidery, a not-too-heavy/not-too-light knit and a distinct white-rimmed crewneck, wearing this beautiful top made me feel like surely, I was the first person to ever discover the Breton stripe. BRB, must go text all of my friends that this navy and white striped thing is, well, a thing.
Full disclosure: I also bought this top at Nordstrom and basically went into cardiac arrest when I tried it on. So simple! So timeless! SO GOOD!
Whether warm temperatures actually arrive for good this year or not, it’s a safe bet to populate your closet with seasonless navy staples like these. In the heat of summer you look nautical and fresh, in the depths of winter you look crisp and chic, and in these weird in-between days… you’re basically all of the above. I’ve amassed several other navy favorites for your perusing pleasure below. Of course, all of them sold at Nordstrom… because is there anything they don’t have? I mean, even brands like J. Crew and Draper James are at Nordstrom now. Oh Nordys, how I love you.
JACKET: GREY Jason Wu | SHIRT: GREY Jason Wu | CULOTTES: A.L.C. | SHOES: Marc Fisher | EARRINGS: Jenny Bird | BAG: Phillip Lim (old, similar HERE)
Thanks to Nordstrom for partnering on this post!
While finding the perfect dress for a special occasion is an exciting feat, it’s often those everyday, wear-everywhere pieces that are the most elusive. With my ongoing 30 Dresses in 30 Days series, I’m sharing my top picks for the marquis summer events that will highlight the warm weather months ahead, but today, I wanted to share a few favorite staples that I’ll really be living in all summer long. I’m talking about the super versatile, go-to pieces that will take you from Sunday brunch to weekday errands to dinners on the town and everywhere in between.
For me, there are three simple summer must-haves: (1) a breezy maxi dress, (2) a comfy espadrille, and (3) a nude bag. Best part? I scored all three on Amazon Fashion which has been my go-to shopping destination of late, partially because they have a killer selection of clothing, shoes and accessories and partially because I now pretty much feel like every aspect of my life should be powered by my prime membership. If you ain’t got free two-day shipping, you ain’t got me. The shows I watch, the books I read, the clothes I wear, even the paper towels in my kitchen—I’m all Amazon all the time. Can Amazon Prime do my taxes? They are probably developing a robot for that as we speak.
First let’s talk about this dress. As someone who would very much like to spend every possible moment out of the office in her pajamas, I can unequivocally say that this dress is basically one super chic nightgown—or at least it feels that way. If there is a softer, lighter, more comfortable fabric out there, I triple dog dare you to find it. The elastic waistband and flowy silhouette are tailor-made for staying cool and comfortable on hot and humid days, while the tonal textured straps add just the right touch of sophistication to take you from casual brunch to dressy dinner without a hitch.
When it comes to summer footwear, espadrilles are the pièce de résistance, especially in a place like New York City that becomes one giant sauna June through August. The breathable, flexible canvas of an espadrille will give your blistered, swollen feet the reprieve they deserve (and look darn cute while doing it, I might add). Pro tip: go for a pair of espadrilles in a navy hue like these ones because they look as appropriate during the day as they do at night and also don’t show any dirt that can sully the tops of their lighter-colored sisters.
The third and final summer style staple is, of course, a nude bucket bag. This beauty is just the right size—big enough to hold all of the essentials (and then some), while still being lightweight and comfortable to wear cross-body or over the shoulder. While the nude exterior will guarantee that it goes with absolutely everything in your closet, I’m a huge fan of the bright coral insides that peek out at the top of the bag, adding just the right amount of pizazz.
DRESS: Armani Exchange c/o Amazon | ESPADRILLES: Armani Exchange c/o Amazon | BAG: Armani Exchange c/o Amazon
Thanks to Amazon and Armani Exchange for partnering on this post!
This weekend I’ll be speaking at the Create & Cultivate conference here in NYC, and last week, the C&C editorial team asked me to offer up the nitty-gritty details on what a typical workday looks like for me. From early morning battles with my alarm clock to weekday workouts, morning meetings and late night conference calls, I give you the no-holds-barred look at my schedule. Click here to read the full article on their site!
