I’ve gotten tons of questions this spring and summer about how best to create that capsule collection of workwear must-haves, so today, I’m sharing an updated version of my Working Girl Wardrobe Essentials. Whether you’re a recent graduate new to the workforce, interviewing for a new job, or eager to up your style game at work to land (or keep!) a recent promotion, these are the staple items every working girl should have in her closet…
I’ve owned a lot of suits, and this Theory number continues to reign supreme in my closet as my very favorite classic, dark suit. Of course, when you start making the big bucks you can invest in higher-end suits like this D&G suit, this Armani suit, or this St. John suit. However, if we’re talking working girl “starter” wardrobe, Theory’s suiting is a much more reasonable price point, is great quality, wears like iron and comes in classic, timeless cuts. As mentioned above, I also really like the quality suiting options at J. Crew and Brooks Brothers, for that basic, staple starter suit that every working girl should own.
For those of you who work in creative or casual environments that don’t have to wear something this business formal everyday, I still think it’s really important to have at least one dark suit in your closet. You never know when you may suddenly get tapped to make a client presentation, attend a more formal conference, or be brought to a higher-level meeting. You want to be armed and ready for those unexpected moments!
Happy Friday! Today I’m sharing some more pieces that I snagged during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale which ends on SUNDAY! AGH! If you haven’t finished your sale shopping, better get your running shoes on. The good news is that everything I’m wearing—even these perfect olive fringe sandals!—are still in stock in every. dang. size. So let’s break it down now y’all…
These olive fringe sandals were one of my very first purchases of the sale, and to say that I’m obsessed is the understatement of the year. When I was preparing today’s post I about fell off my chair to find that they’re still fully in stock. HOW?! I’m thinking people must be zooming past them because of the atypical olive hue. But guys, have you ever owned an olive green jacket or bag? If you have, you know that the color goes with literally EVERYTHING. It looks great with black, navy, literally any shade of blue jean, burgundy, grey, camel, you name it. Then, add that perfect suede and a little fringe action to the versatile hue? Sold. Every simple, monochromatic late summer and fall outfit just got amped.
And now for this navy double-breasted vest… oh where to begin… Ok so I’m going to go ahead and put it out there: this is honest to goodness my very favorite purchase of the entire sale. AND YOU KNOW THAT’S SAYING SOMETHING. It is the most beautifully made, most perfectly-fitting majestic piece of fall goodness I’ve ever beheld. Hear me out on this one: For years, the long sleeveless coat/vest was one of those clothing items that I always threw on the “who the heck would actually buy and wear that” pile. I mean a sleeveless coat? Isn’t that an oxymoron?!
It wasn’t until I randomly got my first sleeveless coat when working on a project with Ann Taylor a couple years ago that I saw the light. I ended up wearing it every other day all fall, winter and spring long. Anytime the outside temperature was in that cold-but-not-crazy-cold state, the sleeveless coat was my constant companion. Today, I have a simple tee layered under this beauty, but my favorite thing in the fall and winter is to wear the vest over a really big, chunky knit sweater like this one, this one, or this one! You know those awesome, super warm sweaters that just don’t stuff into an actual coat comfortably? Wearing a sleeveless coat/vest is the perfect way to stay warm and look put-together while avoiding stuffed sausage arms. You feel me?
But holy smokes you guys, the way this thing falls and drapes? I can’t wait to wear it with a black sheath dress or a pencil skirt and blouse for a more business formal look. I mean, the perfectly placed darts and double-breasted perfection? K, I’m gonna shut up about it now. But sheesh if only the pictures could do it justice. Also, don’t look now, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that this is definitely not the only Rag & Bone work of art that’s on sale…
Oh these black ripped skinny jeans? You want to talk about these? Mmmk, well they’re literally $40, they’re PERFECT, and they’re still available in every size. *mic drop*
*picks mic back up*
Lastly, I’ll just mention that I purchased this basic white tee in three colors (black, olive and white) because it fits perfectly, is under $20 during the sale (!!), and you can never have too many. Also, the shirt comes in a casual 17 different colors. NBD.
If you’re wrapping up your sale shopping this weekend, be sure to check out my post on the Anniversary Sale’s best kept secrets, as well as my top 30 picks of the sale. There are tons of items that are either still available or that have now been restocked, so get going before prices go up Sunday night at midnight! Have a great weekend guys!!
Today is the last day of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale!! Since this sale is all brand new fall items (not just discounted pieces that didn’t sell in seasons past), prices go back up tonight at midnight where they’ll stay throughout the fall season. There are so many items still available and tons that have been restocked, so be sure to peruse my sale picks in this post, and this post, as well as all of my favorites under $50 below!!
But first, a few snaps of this super comfy striped sweatshirt (on sale, fully in stock, and under $50!!) and these white jeans (also on sale!!) that I wore yesterday, PLUS a couple other items that need special attention…
I thought I had seen everything this sale had to offer, but I seem to keep discovering new gems. Here are the three things currently in my shopping cart:
This gorgeous lace detail tank sold out on day one of the sale (no surprise there), but has been restocked and is available in three colors! (How pretty is this grey?!). I can see it with a pencil skirt at the office or ripped skinny jeans on the weekends. On trend, on sale, on point. Done.
You know from this post that I’m all about olive hues these days, so feast your eyes on this gorgeous coat. Absolutely PERFECT for the office, regardless of what color you’re wearing underneath—black, navy, camel, white, burgundy—there’s basically no color that doesn’t go with olive. Oh, and while we’re on the olive train, just LOOK at this parka. Somebody hold me back.
Another item that sold out super fast but has been restocked is this. black. dress. Office-appropriate silhouette with some seriously festive flair… I think I can mic drop this one. No explanation required.
Today I wanted to share one of my very favorite dresses from our trip to Portugal: this super comfy lightweight blush pink shirtdress. It comes in two other prints (thinking of buying a second one in this awesome stripe) and was light as a feather on some of those brutally hot and humid travel days.
You can’t see them super clearly in these photos, but the dress does have high slits on both sides which help a lot when you’re trying to stay cool! If you’re looking for something more work-appropriate, check out this similar dress or consider just having a tailor do a simple tacking job of the slits (super easy/cheap).
ALSO, when searching around for similar shirtdresses, I stumbled upon THIS and THIS. Cutest dresses EVER? I think yes.
If you’re just starting to plan your honeymoon, check out my first honeymoon post here on how to approach the process and choose the right destination for you. If you’ve settled on a destination, check out my second honeymoon post on how to prepare for the trip and ensure the experience is incredible!
When planning our honeymoon, we wanted to go places that neither of us had been before, and we also wanted to split our time between beach relaxation and adventure. The first part of our trip was spent on the beach in the Seychelles (read all about it here) and after ten days of sun, sand and resting up after our whirlwind wedding, we headed to South Africa where we embarked on a six-day safari at the Chitwa Chitwa Lodge in the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve, adjacent to Kruger National Park. Whether you’re thinking of a trip like this for your honeymoon or just going for a special vacation, I can say that it was unequivocally the most incredible travel experience of my life to date. Today I’m going to cover my safari packing tips, my recommendations on what time of year to go, and finally all of the details on our experience at the Chitwa Chitwa Lodge in Sabi Sands.
We were there at the end of August/early September, when the weather is very pleasant, but can be chilly, especially in the early mornings and late afternoons. Plan on boots or tennis shoes, comfortable pants, and layers on top. On the hottest afternoon, I was still entirely comfortable in jeans, boots and a light long sleeve chambray shirt. On the coldest morning, jeans, boots, a layered shirt-sweater-jacket combo and cozy scarf was perfect. I recommend bringing a pair of gloves and a hat (we wore baseball caps which were great), because your hands and head can definitely get cold in the mornings. No need to go overboard with cold-weather gear however, because the Land Rovers are stocked with warm blankets and heat packs for each person.
According to our guides (and corroborated by further research), the need to wear earth tones and khaki-colored clothing head-to-toe is a total myth. Of course, if you want to get your safari-chic on, have at it! However, our guides said you can really wear anything, in any color—it doesn’t make a difference. They only said that you should perhaps avoid bright white or bright yellow when going on bush walks, which we only did on one afternoon. I’ve read that black or very dark colors can attract flies in some safari locations (Zambia and other places) but Rich and I often had dark jeans or a black jacket on, and we can’t remember seeing a fly once. Overall, you just want to bring clothes that are comfortable for climbing in and out of a Land Rover and can be layered easily for the fluctuating temperature.
We brought this amazing Ona backpack that’s specifically designed for photography equipment, and it perfectly housed our cameras, lenses, extra batteries as well as extra layers, gloves, and binoculars. I’d definitely recommend bringing a backpack of some kind to house similar necessities while out on game drives during the day.
At Chitwa Chitwa, there’s daily laundry service included in your stay, so you can pack light! This was actually quite necessary, because the very small plane we took to the Lodge only allowed for one small bag each, so outfits were certainly repeated during our stay (poor Rich was so distraught…)! Be sure to check on those bag restrictions for any small planes you may be taking before you go!
If you’re reading this from the United States or any other location in the northern hemisphere, keep in mind that South Africa’s location in the southern hemisphere means that its seasons are opposite ours. This worked in our favor, because going in August during their winter is the ideal time for seeing big game and basically living out all of your Lion King fantasies. Because the terrain is dry and foliage dormant, the wild animals that inhabit the area are forced to stay closer to more limited water sources, making it easier for our guides to know where to find them. They’re also much easier to track and spot from a distance when you don’t have lush grasses and leafy trees in the way. Although we’ve never been during their summer months, several of the other guests at the lodge that we befriended during our time there had, and said that this trip during the South African winter was by far superior. We saw all of the “big five” (lions, elephants, buffalos, leopards, and rhinos) on our very first morning! And, that’s not even mentioning the giraffes, zebras, baboons, hyenas, hippos, warthogs, impalas, kudus and countless other animals we had the opportunity to see from the get-go as well.
If I could only travel to one location, and only stay at one place, for the rest of my life, it would be Chitwa Chitwa. I honestly feel homesick writing this post and scrolling back through these photos, and we were only there for six days (I realize how ridiculous that sounds, but it’s true). It is impossible to overstate the absolutely magical experience we had—everything from the beautifully appointed villas (with this safari chic decor that’s straight out of Architectural Digest), mind-blowingly spectacular meals, unbelievably wonderful staff and a location that is straight out of a movie. The lodge is situated on a small lake with each of its villas nestled right on the edge of the water. Each villa has a private back patio and infinity pool where we would sit every afternoon, just yards away (yet still completely safe!) from hippos, giraffes, zebras, elephants and countless other animals who would come by to drink and bathe in the lake.
Honestly, I’ve never met friendlier people constantly eager to help and ensure that your every waking (and sleeping) moment is the best it possibly can be. I can’t remember the last time Rich and I left a resort or hotel and truly felt like we were saying goodbye to good friends. Every last member of the staff makes you feel not just like a valued guest, but like a treasured member of their family. It’s indescribable.
Each day begins with tea, coffee, scones and a panoply of other treats served on the deck of the main lodge, before our tracker and guide would lead us on the first early morning game drive. The game drives were the most thrilling experiences and our guide Rodney and tracker Ranson were astonishingly knowledgeable about the area and animals—able to identify animals and behavior by the faintest print in the sand. Guests are kept completely safe during the drive, and in every possible way, the trackers and guides exhibited a total commitment to environmental conservation and the utmost respect for the wild animals and their natural habitat. It’s incredibly inspiring and impossible to leave the experience without with a newfound appreciation for mother nature. It’s the circle of life, ya’ll. Fo real.
After the early morning game drive, which includes a break for tea and coffee out in the bush, we would return to the lodge to indulge in the most elaborate, delicious breakfasts we’ve ever experienced. Then, we would basically roll ourselves over to the lounge areas in the main lodge, or back to our villa to nap, read or take a dip in the pool, always keeping one eye on the lake and the amazing wealth of wildlife that was constantly filtering through. We also could use the time to hit the Lodge’s gym or spa (though more often chose to relax!). This midday period of free time continued into the afternoon, when lunch was served at 1pm and high tea served at 3:30. Following tea, it’s back on the Land Rover for the evening game drive, which always included a stop halfway through for cocktails and sunset in the bush. We would then come back, have an hour or so to wash up and regroup, before enjoying dinner and drinks at the lodge or (some nights) in special surprise set-ups out in the bush. I could write a book just about how insanely beautiful and delicious every meal was. We’ve honestly never eaten so much or so well.
Speaking of books I could write, it is impossible to describe how special each and every game drive was. We went into the experience having virtually no expectations, other than the general sense that we would hopefully see some cool animals. However, on our very first game drive, we were absolutely dumbfounded when we drove out of the lodge driveway and in rapid succession, came upon a herd of elephants, a herd of zebras, and a pride of five male lions—just a few short yards away from our vehicle. Because there are such efforts to preserve the natural habitat and respect the animals in Sabi Sand, the opportunities to see wildlife are unparalleled. From just a few yards beyond our vehicle, we saw a male leopard on the prowl at night, a pair of giraffes having dinner at sunset, three dozen female elephants bathing with an eight-week-old calf in a watering hole, a pride of lionesses napping in the sun, and countless more. One of the most memorable moments was seeing a female leopard drag an antelope she had just killed up into a huge tree where her nine-week-old baby was waiting for dinner. We parked under the tree and watched the tiny leopard kitten tear away at the fresh antelope meat as his mother rested on a large branch nearby. Every moment was surreal, and every turn was more exciting than the last.
Safaris always operate on a set schedule, because game drives have to start and finish at set times in the early morning and late afternoon to ensure the best chance of seeing animals based upon their feeding times. The rest of the day is then structured around these drives, so definitely be prepared for keeping a tight schedule throughout the safari experience. Not only is it entirely worth it, but they make every moment of the experience so phenomenal, you’ll quickly find you’re excited to show up on time so you don’t miss a thing! As the self-proclaimed worst morning person ever, I actually found myself excited to hop out of bed at 5:30, and loved sipping coffee in the crisp air, looking out over the lake as the hippos woke up and the landscape started to come alive before our first game drive which typically left at 6. While the schedule for meals and game drives is a bit more rigid, the 4-5 hours in the middle of the day between the morning and evening game drives are yours to relax, nap, go on a guided bush walk, visit the local village.
As you can imagine, the safari was certainly a photographer’s paradise, so Rich and I were in heaven, capturing all of the animals we saw each day. We have literally thousands of photos from the trip, so if you’d like a little reprieve from your Wednesday morning grind, keep scrolling below!
If there’s anything I missed, any questions you’d like answered or tips you’re looking for in anticipation of a similar trip, please don’t hesitate to ask in the comments below!
Happy Friday!! As you may have heard me mention on instagram and snapchat, this has been a particularly grueling week work-wise because we will be publicly launching my company on Monday!! As many of you know, running this blog is not my only full-time job, but up to this point, I really haven’t been able to talk about my other work. I’m so excited that I’ll finally be able to share it all with you on Monday, and really hope (and believe!) it’s something that all of you will love. Be sure to check back here first thing on Monday along with instagram and snapchat, where I’ll be sharing all of the juicy details. Can’t WAIT!!
Today, at long last, I am SO thrilled to introduce you to my company, TROVE! After over a year and a half of building the platform, today is our official public launch, and I can’t WAIT for all of you to check out the app!
Trove is a new mobile style destination, and after almost two years in the making, it is impossible to articulate how excited I am to finally be able to share it with all of you!
Just a few months after starting this blog, I began thinking about the challenges that we all face when searching for style inspiration, especially as the world grows increasingly mobile. We’re all constantly looking for fresh sartorial ideas, but navigating countless websites, social platforms and retailers can be exhausting.
Two years ago, my husband Rich and I conceived of a mobile style destination that could be that single, centralized hub for all things fashion. A place where users could find style inspiration from the world’s top style influencers, brought together in one beautiful, shoppable experience.
Thanks to the amazing team that has worked tirelessly beside us, I’m so proud to finally be able to put Trove in the palm of your hand.
If you’re reading this on a mobile device, you can now find this very blog post (click here!), and all of my outfit posts, right on Trove. You’ll not only be able to see my latest style content, but with a simple swipe, you can glide between the posts of other amazing blogs like Atlantic-Pacific, Something Navy, 9to5Chic and countless others. Trove offers a dynamic mobile experience where you can explore top-notch style content, save your favorite looks, and even purchase your favorite products all within a single app.
I wish I could thank each and every one of you personally for all of your kind words, support and encouragement not just today, but everyday for the past three years that I’ve occupied this little corner of the internet. In every way, Trove was built as a solution for you from what I’ve learned about the way you like to find style inspiration and shop. Rest-assured, this app doesn’t change anything here on memorandum.com—this blog isn’t going anywhere! But now when you’re on the go or just looking for more inspiration and a broader style experience, I hope you’ll find Trove both useful and lots of fun!
Without further ado, go ahead and get your Trove on! If you’re on an iPhone, you can click here to download the app. Can’t WAIT to hear what you guys think!!
There will be a walk-through of the app, a Q&A, and other shenanigans on my instagram and snapchat later today, so be sure to stay in touch there! Happy Monday everyone!! xx
It has been quite the whirlwind week since the public launch of Trove on Monday! We have been absolutely FLOORED by the truly unbelievable response we’ve received in the few short days since the app was made public, and are grateful beyond words for all of your support.
In case you missed the big news, you can read all about the launch of Trove here, and if you’re on your iPhone and would like to download, click here! We were immensely grateful for the wonderful articles written about Trove by Forbes, Women’s Wear Daily and others, so if you’d like to hear about the app from someone other than its enthusiastic co-creator (yours truly) have a read there. Receiving such a warm response from the media, industry insiders, fashion bloggers and users alike has offered the most humbling and gratifying reward for what has been 18+ months of blood, sweat and tears (mostly from Rich… he’s a HUGE cry baby). Of course, this is only the very beginning, but we just can’t thank you all enough.
With lots of work and very little sleep, this week has meant messy buns, flats, and knit sheath dresses (that feel like nightgowns) at the office. This striped sheath dress is an old favorite from Ann Taylor, but I’ve found tons of similar beauties below. As far as I’m concerned, a working girl just can’t have enough knit sheaths in her arsenal. They look super professional without the constriction of less-forgiving fabrics.
And while we’re on the subject of favorite workwear staples, I’d be remiss if I didn’t offer these pointed-toe flats a moment in the spotlight. I’ve been hoarding pointed toe flats ever since I entered the workforce, because they’re just the ultimate silhouette when it comes to footwear versatility. They can go with any kind of casual or business casual look, but are a definitive step up in terms of dressiness from a ballet flat, so can also go beautifully with more formal dresses or suits on days when you just need to give your feet a break from heels. This is why I included them in my list of Working Girl Wardrobe Essentials, because, well they’re essential! I’ve included tons of favorites below, and almost all of them come in multiple colors, so check ’em out:
Hopefully those of you who posed questions in my last post about Trove saw my answers there in the comments, but in case you didn’t, I’ll repeat answers to the most commonly asked questions as follows:
At this time, Trove is a mobile app built for iPhones only. Unfortunately, this means that the app can not be used on iPads or Androids. However, we are currently working on making it iPad compatible, and are also building an Android version as well. If you follow @thetroveapp on social media, you’ll be the first to hear when those versions are ready to go!
Happy Friday! A few shots from last Sunday night when Rich and I celebrated our one year wedding anniversary. I bought this white jumpsuit a year and a half ago for our engagement party, but ended up wearing a different one at the last minute. I’ve always been enamored with the unique chiffon overlay detailing, so it was really fun to finally bust this beauty out of my closet to celebrate our first anniversary. It’s sold out in white now, but is still available in black here which is perfect for occasions any time of year. If you’re a fan of the white like I am, I’ve included lots more favorites below!
For those of you who have asked, you can revisit all of the details on our wedding one year ago via the Wedding section of my site under the top navigation bar’s Lifestyle tab. I posted all of the details on our wedding ceremony, our wedding reception, and also our day-after photo shoot! Ahhh can’t believe it’s already been a year…
Before the week comes to a close, I have to thank you all again for your amazing support of Trove this week! We’re still blown away by the response we’ve received from all of you, and are so indescribably grateful.
While we’re on the subject of Trove, I wanted to mention that if you’re enjoying the closet functionality on the app as much as I am, remember that you can also access your closet on the web from your laptop or desktop by going to mytrove.thetroveapp.com and signing in using the same credentials that you use to sign into the app on your iPhone. We built this web closet for those of you who still don’t love checking out on mobile, and prefer to shop from your computer. So, if you’re adding products to your closet while perusing the app on-the-go, you can easily find and shop them via the MyTrove web closet from your computer later on!
I wore this outfit last Friday evening for a quick getaway to Napa for the night. This amazing white fringe sweater has been on repeat all summer (you may recognize it from my Portugal posts) and it’s currently on major sale in both white and black!! You can also find the awesome dress version here and many similar sweaters linked below (because I just love the style so flipping much):
My sweater is by a local San Francisco brand, Amour Vert, which I discovered earlier this summer. Their pieces are made from all eco-friendly, sustainable materials and I don’t know how they do it, but the fabrics are hands down the softest things I’ve ever felt. Just wait ’til you touch one of their t-shirts. Absolutely insane. I’m eyeing this adorable striped dress, this tie-front top, and this perfect long-sleeve tee.
I snagged these J. Brand frayed-hem ripped skinny jeans on sale a few weeks ago, and they’ve been on constant rotation ever since. As you may remember, I styled them in this post with a nude leather jacket and lace-up flats. The length of the jeans fit me perfectly without alteration, but over the weekend I had a reader ask advice on how to alter them because they came too long for her. The beauty of unfinished hems is that you can actually just cut them to whatever length you want with a scissors—no tailor required! Trendy and cost-effective for ze win.
Whether you’re taking a long weekend away with your family or headed on the honeymoon adventure of your dreams, you want to be equipped with the necessary tools to make sure you and your loved one(s) are able to take amazing selfies at every. possible. opportunity. Kidding! (Kind of.) Over the years, Rich and I have gotten really into photography, and now travel with a truckload (not actually, but close) of our favorite cameras, lenses and ancillary equipment. I get asked all the time about what cameras we use, what recommendations we have for travel photography, and what tips we could offer on how to capture amazing moments while on vacation. So after years of learning all kinds of great tips and tricks, here are my top travel photography recommendations for making sure your trip is beautifully preserved for posterity and your instagram/snapchat game doesn’t miss a beat.
1 . DITCH IPHONE PHOTOS & BUY (OR RENT!) ONE OF THESE CAMERAS
Especially for important trips like a honeymoon, you may want to venture beyond iPhone photos and invest in something a little nicer to capture those once-in-a-lifetime moments. As mentioned, we’re really into photography, so we typically bring our Canon 5D Mark III and our GoPro. If you’re not a photography freak, there are tons of great point-and-shoot cameras like this one which has amazing capabilities, is super easy to use, and connects directly to your phone. I’ve also heard great things about this camera and this camera. However, if buying a new camera for the trip isn’t in the cards, look into rental options. We’ve used BorrowLenses.com repeatedly to rent camera equipment for one-off projects or trips, and even rented a few special lenses from them for our honeymoon. You can rent everything from the simplest point-and-shoot cameras to high-end professional photography accessories like tripods, lenses, extra memory cards, and underwater cases.
2. UP YOUR iPHONE CAMERA GAME
If you just can’t bear the thought of abandoning your iPhone (or Droid, etc.) for a nicer camera, or you rely on your phone’s camera for instagram and snapchat (like me!), there are some tricks to making your phone photography the best it possibly can be. Smartphone lens attachments like this one or this one can really enhance the existing photo capabilities of your phone. Also, check out my favorite photo editing apps like Afterlight, VSCO, Snapseed, or if you’re a more advanced photographer, Adobe Lightroom’s app.
3. BRING A SELFIE STICK (SERIOUSLY!)
Believe me, no one enjoys ridiculing selfie sticks more than yours truly. However, I got one in a gift bag at a conference a couple years ago, and after jokingly fooling around with it, I actually realized that there are some merits to the devices. [insert embarrassed emoji here] Especially if you’re off exploring without lots of other people around to help snap photos, there are easy ways to hold the selfie stick from a side angle so that the embarrassing pole isn’t visible in the picture. No one has to know.
4. PURCHASE EXTRA MEMORY CARDS (WITH SPECIAL FEATURES)
Not only do I recommend bringing extra memory cards for your camera and/or GoPro in case you run out of space while you’re out exploring, but I also highly recommend buying one of these amazing EyeFi memory cards that connects wirelessly to your phone so you can take a great photo with your camera or GoPro, and instantly upload it to your phone for viewing and sharing. Some cameras have this phone connection capability built-in, but many do not. With the ability to check out the camera photos instantaneously on your phone, Eyefi memory cards make travel photography so much easier and so much more fun.
5. COME EQUIPPED WITH EXTRA BATTERIES
If you spend all day relaxing on the beach, swimming, hiking and/or exploring, there will be few opportunities to plug in your camera battery. We bought extra batteries for our camera and GoPro so that we always have fully charged backups in our bag. GoPro batteries are especially notorious for dying quickly, so make sure you have a few extras charged if you’re using your GoPro a lot. And, don’t forget to recharge everything each night!
6. INVEST IN AN EXTERNAL CHARGER
In addition to extra batteries, we also always had a portable charger at the ready to refuel our other dying devices (phones and tablets that were used constantly for listening to music, reading on the beach, taking photos, and checking out EyeFi camera photos). I prefer a portable charger because they’re typically much more powerful, but a lot of people love these charging phone cases which offer the extra juice and phone protection all in one unit. I also highly recommend this portable battery pack for a beach or otherwise-adventurous vacation because it’s waterproof and shockproof, so if you slam your backpack during a hike or get a little water splashed in your bag, it will be no problemo.
7. REMEMBER CONVERTERS (AND THE EXTENSION CORD TRICK)
Going out of the country? Don’t forget a converter or adapter to charge everything! I highly recommend this universal travel adapter which I use every time I travel internationally, no matter the destination. However, with lots of cameras, phones and other gadgets that need recharging every night, you either need to bring several adapters for each, OR bring a power strip! In the past, we’ve brought one power strip with a dedicated adapter so you can plug all your US-based gadgets into one station for charging overnight. More recently, we purchased this unit that’s an adapter and power strip all in one. It also has four USB outlets, so your phones and tablets are covered as well. This way, you don’t have to bring a million adapters for every single item that needs charging AND if you’re staying in a room that doesn’t have a ton of outlets, you’re good to go with just one or two.
8. BRING A CAMERA-FRIENDLY BACKPACK
If you’re planning on doing some hiking, a backpack is a great thing to bring so you can comfortably carry cameras, snacks, etc. when you’re out exploring. Since we typically travel with lots of cameras, lenses, and other tech accessories, we always bring our favorite ONA backpack that’s specifically designed to house and protect camera equipment. We’ve brought it everywhere from hikes in the Seychelles, to game drives in South Africa, to daytrips exploring medieval castles in Portugal. Not only does it keep our cameras, lenses and equipment safe and comfortably packed, but it also has great pockets and compartments for other supplies, layers of clothing, you name it. Especially if you’re a photographer or aspiring photographer, I can’t recommend these bags highly enough! As an alternative, I’ve also heard fantastic things about these Copper River bags as well.
9. DON’T USE A WATERPROOF PHONE CASE!
After listing all of the camera accessories that you should bring above, I thought it would be helpful to mention one I would avoid: the soul-crushing “waterproof” phone case. If you’ve used a waterproof phone case that works reliably and didn’t flood your phone, more power to you. However, I know at least a dozen people who have bought various “waterproof” phone cases to use on a beach vacation, just to find out once they’re far away from civilization and any Apple/Verizon/Whatever store that the case is not really fully totally 100% waterproof. After attempting to take some cool underwater shots on day one, they are now cut off from the rest of the universe for the entirety of their trip. The up side of this situation is a nice (forced) vacation from technology, but the downside is that you likely need your phone for traveling, logistics, safety, and providing your paranoid mother with periodic updates that you’re alive. If you’re not Tom Hanks, the whole real-life Cast Away thing where you start growing a beard and losing tons of weight and calling inanimate objects Wilson just isn’t as cute. Don’t risk it, y’all. Better off investing in a GoPro (or renting one) and its iron-clad under water cases, than risking your phone. Remember, there’s really no way to know whether it works or not until you’re underwater. Soooo not worth the risk, in my opinion!
10. ENROLL IN AN INTERNATIONAL DATA PLAN OR RENT A MIFI DEVICE
This one just applies to international vacations: Whether it’s to periodically check your work email, correspond with family and friends, instagram / snapchat like a mad-woman or use in case of emergency, don’t forget to arrange for international data to be enabled on your phone during the trip. If that costs an arm and a leg, look into renting a portable MiFi device. Our phone plans are Verizon which has an amazing new(ish) travel plan called “Travel Pass” which is super affordable, but we’ve also used mi-fi devices from Orange in Spain and most recently MyWebspot in Portugal and Denmark (but it works all over Europe). Aside from social media and work, the biggest thing is making sure you have a connection to back up the photos and videos on your phone to iCloud or whatever storage you use. I had my phone stolen in Paris a couple years ago, and because I didn’t have a MiFi device or international data plan allowing my photos to be backed up, I lost two weeks worth of wonderful photos. You want to make sure you’re able to connect to the internet and back those puppies up as often as possible!
11. USE SNAPCHAT EVERYDAY AND SAVE YOUR STORIES EVERY NIGHT
During our most recent trip to Europe, we used snapchat consistently everyday to document little moments that we experienced throughout the trip. From great meals, to great views, to funny navigational issues we had in the car, to favorite scenes on the streets of quaint little towns, it was a wonderful way to document our trip and remember all of the “little things” that perhaps don’t warrant an actual picture, but are fun to look back on nonetheless. At the end of every day, I saved down my Snapchat story to my iPhone (the Memories feature was actually introduced halfway through our trip!), so I now have a snap story for each day of the trip that can easily be strung together into a longer movie of the trip as a whole. The beauty of snapchat is that it forces moments to be captured in ten seconds or less, so at the end of the trip, you don’t have to go through hours and hours of video footage. We have two to five minutes of snaps from each day, which don’t require editing, and will be so much fun to look back on. So whether you’re dying to share your travels with your millions of snapchat friends, or are completely new to snapchat and don’t have a single follower, the platform is a great tool for preserving all of those special memories.
Any questions or travel photography tips that I missed? Chime in below in the comments!! xx
Happy Friday! Ahh it’s so great to be back in NYC! I’m here for a couple days of work and then one of my best friend’s weddings this weekend in Connecticut. I wore this suede moto vest and black slip dress yesterday for meetings and appointments around the city, and I’ve gotta say, the slip dress trend is a total godsend in the New York heat and humidity. My suede moto vest is actually quite light, so was the perfect topper for meetings during the day, and once the workday was over, the look seamlessly transitioned to dinner and drinks with friends.
Every girl knows their closet is incomplete without the famed Little Black Dress. However, in addition to the LBD, I’m convinced that the same is true for its younger, more limb-inclusive sister, the Little Black Jumpsuit. To be honest, in the last few years, my favorite LBJ (not to be confused with the 36th president, though I feel like he would’ve appreciated a good jumpsuit) has actually been worn more often than any of my LBDs. I know. Shots fired! It’s full-blown WWIII in my closet right now.
Not only are jumpsuits super comfortable, but they actually can be much more versatile than their dress counterparts. An LBJ in particular can look just as dressy as an LBD, but the pants factor allows the jumpsuit to be more easily dressed down. And while both pieces are great seasonless investments, I’d be inclined to say that the little black jumpsuit is the better purchase as we head into fall and winter—because again, you’re getting all of the formality without the excess exposure of your lower extremities as temperatures drop. I can say from experience that the LBJ is a cold-weather godsend.
I wore this black jumpsuit to the rehearsal dinner of one of my best friends this past weekend, and it was super comfortable for a hot summer evening. However, I’m excited to wear it all through the fall and winter with a leather jacket, and not freeze my keister off like I do in little black dresses.
The jumpsuit you see today is new to my closet, but I got this long-sleeved DVF wrap jumpsuit a couple years ago and if you follow me on instagram, you know I have worn it COUNTLESS times since. Easily the MVP of my closet in the past two years.
I’ve included a bunch of my favorite LBJs below, but holy smokes, check out this one and tell me it isn’t the coolest most versatile (literally) thing you’ve ever seen. I’m 100% purchasing it… I’m just torn about what color to choose. I know I’ll get a ton of use out of the black… but that blush?! Sheesh that beauty’s hard to pass up.
We’ve been long overdue for another Triple Threat post around here, so today I’m excited to bring back the series by featuring three ways to style one of my very favorite trends of the moment—the bomber jacket! While the athletic-inspired piece may seem like something strictly for your weekend wardrobe, this pinstripe beauty has a lot more versatility than you think. Check out my three favorite ways to take the bomber from workweek to weekend, and everywhere in between…
Click directly on the individual images above for product details or see the full list at the bottom of this post.
Happy Thursday! Sharing a few recent finds from Ann Taylor today including these amazing wide leg pinstripe ankle pants and this black tie-neck blouse. Worn together, they’re perfect for work, but I can also see the pants with a black crop top and sandals on the weekends, and the black tie-neck blouse with a pair of skinny jeans and heels for a chic and easy dinner date look.
I’m packing up again for a trip home to Wisconsin for the long weekend and then it’s straight to NYC for fashion week! Follow along on instagram and snapchat, and have a wonderful weekend!! xx
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the knit sheath dress is a working girl’s best friend. For rough mornings when coming up with a top/bottoms combo is just too much for your pre-coffee brain to bear, slap a dress on that situation, and a super comfy one at that. The knit dress is not only a styling no-brainer, but with “knit” as the operative word, it’s about as comfy as your favorite nightgown—without sacrificing any polish or formality for a long day in the office. This navy sheath is a timeless favorite, but I’ve included lots of my favorite knit sheath dresses at all price points below!
I enjoyed a much-needed break visiting family in Wisconsin for the long weekend, and now I’m back in NYC for fashion week! I’ll be sharing lots of favorite looks here on the blog, but keep up with all the action on snapchat and Instagram!
If you’ve followed this blog for a while, you know that I am an addict and pinstripes are my drug. Actually, anything menswear-turned-feminine is pretty much going to be a home run with me, and this pinstripe drop-waist dress is no exception. I wore it yesterday for day one of New York Fashion Week here in NYC, and it served me well throughout the day of business meetings, fashion shows and events. Whether you dig the more fashion-forward style of this particular Marissa Webb dream of a dress or not, check out allll of my pinstripe favorites below!
PUMPS: Sam Edelman (my favorite style right now, and they come in several colors!)
Hi guys! Apologies for things being unusually quiet here on Memorandum! Between travel, work, blog, fashion week, and everything in between, I’ve been a bit overloaded. I got back to San Francisco super late last night and have tooons of fashion week looks and more that I’m excited to share with all of you, so there’s a lot coming your way! While I work on all of that though, I wanted to share with you a peek at my experience on Amazon’s Style Code Live! If you haven’t checked out this show yet, you MUST! They air live every night on Amazon at 9pm ET / 6pm PT, and offer up the best, most relevant tips and must-haves in fashion and beauty. While I was in NYC, I had the opportunity to go over and hang out with Frankie Grande, Rachel Smith and the whole amazing Amazon SCL crew to talk all about my favorite fall trend—leopard! I wore these adorable block heel ankle strap leopard pumps on the show, and also wore them earlier during fashion week when running between early morning meetings (they’re UH-MAZING and come in a ton of colors). I’ll be posting that outfit later today (so check back here later on!), but in the meantime, click here to watch my episode of Style Code Live!
As promised this morning, here’s another way I styled these amazing leopard block heel ankle strap pumps. On Amazon Style Code Live (click here to see the video if you missed it!), we talked about the re-emergence of leopard on fall runways, and I for one am SO on board with the trend. I can’t wait to bust out my favorite leopard pieces that have been collecting dust the last few seasons, and am spotting (GET IT?! #leopardjokes) tons of great new pieces for fall that incorporate the trend in amazing ways. I’ve included a few favorites below, but am especially a fan of these leopard loafers and this leopard coat. Also, I’ve owned this leopard clutch for about three years now and it has been a major closet MVP.
As promised, I have a whole slew of New York Fashion Week looks that will be coming your way, starting with this outfit which might just be my favorite of the lot. Fashion week is always a fun opportunity to push the envelope a little and wear things that you don’t get the chance to wear everyday. Picking up on several trends of the moment, I had a lot of fun pairing these ivory high-waisted split-leg trousers with this favorite beaded bomber jacket, a cropped tank and metallic sneakers. The trend factor was tempered by the classic black and white palette, and I even threw in a little print-mixing by adding the black and white striped clutch. I wore this on day two of NYFW, which was one of the most brutally hot and humid, so the cropped tank and light, airy wideleg trousers were mission-critical in making sure I didn’t make like a Yeezy model and drop.
BOMBER JACKET: Alice & Olivia (old, similar HERE, & HERE) | PANTS: Alexis | CROP TOP: Wacoal | CHOKER: Cara (love this one) | SNEAKERS: Zara (identical HERE, also love THESE and THESE) | CLUTCH: old similar HERE | LIP: MAC
DRESS: 
SIMILAR JACKETS 
SKIRT: c/o 
DRESS: Ann Taylor (old, similar 
JUMPSUIT: 
DRESS: 
DRESS: 
CULOTTES: Milly (similar 
