Sharing another favorite look from fashion week with this drool-worthy Self Portrait lace midi skirt. The detailing on this—and all—Self Portrait pieces is really spectacular, and I’m swooning over the color combination of pale lavender and pale aqua, foiled by the stark black. If you’re a fan of the style but not ready for the splurge, feast your eyes on this beauty that’s much more reasonably priced—and is an extra 40% off right now! I also love the similar dress version here.
I’ve been wearing bodysuits for years and am so thrilled that they’re super on trend right now. Especially for working girls, there’s nothing worse than constantly worrying about the front and/or back of your shirt popping out of your pants or pencil skirt at the office. Bodysuits ensure that you’re always perfectly polished and tucked in, without the fussing everytime you stand up or sit down at your desk. A few favorite bodysuits below:
This knit midi dress was another favorite from Fashion Week, and served as a super comfy, easy ensemble for running around the city. Sweater dresses make for wonderful fall transitional pieces, and this one in particular is a fantastic option especially if you live in warmer climates. The mock neck and rib knit makes it read very Fall-ish, but the dress’s light weight and sleeveless silhouette keeps you nice and cool. I look forward to pairing it with tights and booties and layering a long-sleeve turtleneck underneath as temperatures drop.
While I’m always up for a seasonal refresh of bags and shoes, the accessories I’m most excited about this fall are actually in the hair department. In the last several months I’ve been spotting loads of awesome barrettes, headbands and hair clips springing up across retailers, and guys, I am straight-up jazzed about ’em. While there are some 80s and 90s hair accessory trends that I’m not quite ready to bring back yet (my most terrifying nightmare prominently features a yellow scrunchie), beauties like this sleek leather barrette, this circle hair clip, or this chain link ponytail holder are the kind of hair accessories I can definitely get behind. I wore this favorite thin gold barrette during fashion week in NYC as pictured today, but I’ve got a shopping cart (or two) full of the below favorites that you’ve gotta check out. I promise there are no hair jewels or bun cages. You know I wouldn’t do that to you.
While San Francisco holds a very special place in our hearts, Rich and I are so excited to announce that we are moving back to NYC! Sheesh it’s crazy to put that down in writing, and so wonderful to finally share it with all of you!
There’s LOTS to discuss today, including info on some hiring we’re doing at Trove (scroll down to the bottom of this post if you’re interested!) but let me first tell you a little bit about how this all came to fruition. (That was a Big Apple joke. Get it? Fruit? Apple? Maybe not.) If you’re new-ish to this blog, you may not know that my husband Rich and I actually met when we were both living in NYC right after college six years ago. After dating in NYC for two years, Rich had to move to San Francisco for a new job, but I stayed in NYC and we did the good ol’ bicoastal long distance thing for the next two years.
After two years of long distance, (sheesh, it’s like we only do things in two-year increments…) I left my job in finance in New York to launch Trove with Rich. He was also just starting an MBA program at Stanford, so six months after leaving my job in NYC, I moved myself and the new business from New York to San Francisco about a year and a half ago. (There! Broke the two-year trend! Bold moves!) Since Trove is a mobile app, the Silicon Valley tech scene was a fantastic place to launch the business, and while I was heartbroken to leave NYC and my best friends, I quickly fell in love with San Francisco. It’s such a special city, made all the sweeter by Rich’s family being nearby and my aunt and uncle living just a few blocks away from our apartment.
However, after Rich’s graduation from Stanford this spring and the public launch of Trove, all fingers seemed to be pointing us back in the NYC direction. With two fashion-centric businesses (Memorandum and Trove) the Big Apple offers unparalleled opportunities and is really the best place for us to run our businesses at this point in our lives. There’s no city we love more, and no place we find more inspiring both personally and professionally, so we are absolutely ecstatic to head back to our beloved NYC! We just wish we could bring all of our west coast family and friends along with us…
So, while we’re devastated to move away from family and friends here in the bay area, we are thrilled about the opportunities and adventures that lie ahead in New York. We’ll always be coming back to visit San Francisco for holidays and other vacations throughout the year, so the departure is made much easier knowing that we’ll be back often!
Rich and I are just starting to look for apartments in NYC, so if you know of any spacious two-bedroom apartments for rent in Tribeca, shoot me a message at mary@memorandum.com, and I promise we will name our first child after you. Even if your name is Matilda and our first child is a boy.
ALSO, if you live in NYC and you’re awesome or you know someone awesome and either or both of you are looking for a job, Trove is hiring! We are particularly on the hunt for some more talented developers to join our ever-growing team of engineers, but are filling several other positions as well. Click here for more info!
I can’t get enough of sailor-inspired bottoms lately, and had lots of fun wearing these ivory culottes during fashion week. I’ve currently got my eye on this very fall-friendly denim pencil skirt which I can see paired with booties and a chunky sweater throughout the season. Take a spin through lots of other sailor-inspired beauties below…
Thanks everyone for your sweet comments about our big news yesterday! Rich and I are super excited for the move, and can’t wait to get back to the Big Apple. We’re going to be spending lots of time cleaning our apartment and purging our my closets this weekend in anticipation of the move which will be no easy task. Yikes! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!
Picking up on a couple of my very favorite fall trends, I wore this bell-sleeved off-the-shoulder top and mini skirt on the last day of New York Fashion Week. While there’s a high trend factor with this look (as is often the case with fashion week street style), I love the classic elements that keep it grounded like the delicate black piping on the sleeves of my white top or the double breasted buttons on the skirt.
I’m so excited to be wearing bell sleeves and mini skirts this season, especially as temperatures drop and we start getting more creative with layers. With our impending move back to New York, this will be my first real winter in over a year, and I’m excited to get some use out of my cold-weather wardrobe that’s been neglected here in California. Cozy looks featuring over-the-knee boots, thick tights and chunky knits paired with cute mini skirts like the ones below have me ready and raring for fall and winter. And as far as mini skirts go, this one and this one are currently in my shopping cart. Can. Not. Resist.
The distinctive bell sleeves on this off-the-shoulder top made it one of my very favorite pieces from fashion week and I’m swooning over all of the bell-sleeved options out there right now. I mean, take a flip through my favorite bell-sleeved dresses, tops and sweaters below and tell me you’re not on board. This dress? Forget about it.
Whenever I’m cold and sitting on my couch at home, I have this extremely odd habit of cocooning myself with the knit throw that adorns our couch (or a patch of floor in its immediate vicinity), always at the ready for just this momentous nightly occasion. I’m not saying that I just wrap myself in a blanket like a normal human, I’m saying that I legitimately mummify myself by spinning into the blanket as Rich holds one end. While it does create the ultimate cozy human burrito, I have to admit that it poses significant challenges to limb mobility, making it less than ideal for… well basically everything other than lying horizontally.
As temperatures drop, and all offices turn into veritable human freezers, it’s always extremely tempting to bring a blanket to the office and find a way to replicate the nightly mummification ritual at my desk. However, I have a feeling that aside from being less than professionally appropriate, it might signal a marked decline in my productivity, you know, given the inability to move my arms (and legs for that matter). So what’s a girl to do when she finds herself in this all-consuming workwear predicament?
It’s basically like wearing a blanket to the office except—plot twist—you can move your arms and you won’t get fired. So many wins.
Ok, ok so the sweater dress itself is not necessarily the most novel article of clothing. Maybe you already have a stockpile of these beauties from seasons past that you can’t wait to bust out of your closet. However, the cozy/warmth factor of this particular dress goes far beyond just that of a normal sweater dress, because as the title of today’s post suggests, this number has a hidden trick up it’s sleeve—or up it’s neck rather. The cowl neck that you see above can be converted to be worn off-the-shoulder making it the ULTIMATE fall and winter day-to-night dress. Mmmk, but how does this amplify the aforementioned cozy/warmth factor? Well drinking makes you warm and this dress faciliates après-work drinks, ipso facto, this dress is the actual bomb.
If you check it out here on Nordstrom’s website, you’ll see that it’s billed as a simple off-the-shoulder sweater dress. I loved the dark charcoal hue and thought it would be a perfect dress for fall and winter date nights and dinners. It wasn’t until I tried it on and started playing around with styling options (belted? un-belted? booties? pumps?) that I realized the neck can be worn beautifully as a cowl-neck for a bit more coverage during the work day. Then, when you’re ready to leave the office in the dust, you can easily pull down the collar for a beautiful off-the-shoulder look.
If you watch my snapchats today (they will expire at roughly 5pm PST, so check before then!), you’ll see that there’s one more way you can actually wear the neckline (spoiler alert: it’s my favorite of the three) so check out @maryorton on snapchat for the details. I actually didn’t really think about it until after these pictures were taken yesterday, so hit up snapchat to hear all about it and get the full trifecta.
DRESS: Cupcakes and Cashmere | BELT: Linea Pelle (old, similar HERE and HERE) | PUMPS: Ralph Lauren (old, similar HERE and more below) | NECKLACE: c/o Baublebar | BAG: J.W. Anderson (similar HERE) | SUNGLASSES: Wonderland Sun (similar HERE and HERE) | LIP: Nars (Damned)
While velvet and satin are two of my very favorite trends for fall, they are two trends that can be particularly tough to pull off at work. However, the classic silhouette and rich navy hue of this velvet fit-and-flare midi skirt makes it feel entirely office-worthy, especially when paired with this navy satin top and simple accessories for a sleek monochromatic look.
If you’re as big a fan of the velvet trend as I am, peruse some velvet favorites from Neiman Marcus below, and take note that today and tomorrow there’s a pretty awesome sale happening there. Until tomorrow at midnight, you can get an additional 10% off two sale items and 20% off three or more sale items. This means 65% off regular prices, and a huge leg up when populating your fall wardrobe!
After several seasons of minimalism, it’s been really fun to see explosions of color on recent runways. While I’m not entirely ready to abandon neutral palettes, there was something about these fuchsia pants that grabbed my attention—which is saying something because I very rarely wear pink. Fall and winter typically means a gravitation towards dark colors, so these cuffed wool trousers present a particularly refreshing alternative to the typical hues of the season.
PANTS: J. Crew | SHIRT: Rag & Bone (similar HERE and HERE) | SHOES: Saint Laurent (similar HERE) | BAG: c/o Moyi Moyi (similar HERE and HERE) | NECKLACE: similar HERE | BRACELET: Monica Vinader
I recently added a new tab to my shop section here on the blog where you can shop all of my instagrams! You can find it by hovering over the SHOP tab at the top of this page and clicking on INSTAGRAM. If you follow me on instagram (@maryorton) you can reference this new instagram shop page here on memorandum.com whenever you’re looking for product details for one of my instagrams. Of course, you can always find product details for my blog posts here on the blog, but for day-to-day snapshots that aren’t always associated with a full Memorandum blog post, you can find shoppable links there!
Today I’m excited to partner with Ann Taylor, one of my long-time favorites, on some of their beautiful new fall pieces. The rich burgundies, mustards, and olives in their fall line-up has me ready to dive head-first into fall weather, and today I’m sporting a few of my favorites, including these leopard print pumps—modern classics I know I’ll be wearing from fall to forever.
This chunky knit mustard yellow cardigan is one of my very favorite pieces for fall, and also comes in a really beautiful grey version if mustard isn’t your color. The chunky rib knit makes it very on-trend, while the cropped, tailored, v-neck silhouette makes it feel timeless and office-ready at the same time. I can definitely see it worn buttoned up with a high-waisted pencil skirt or pair of trousers for a more business-formal setting; and alternatively, it can also be that perfect staple sweater you keep at your desk for days when you’re in need of an extra layer of warmth at the office.
This burgundy coat is easily my favorite fall topper because it offers that extra layer of warmth, but is still lightweight so you don’t feel overheated while temperatures are still somewhat mild. I’ve also learned that burgundy is one of those colors that goes with everything—navy, black, brown, grey—you name it, this coat has you covered (literally and figuratively). Like lots of Ann Taylor pieces, it also comes in petite and tall options, which for me is a godsend when it comes to getting the sleeve-length right.
While we’re on the subject of burgundy, I also bought these pumps and have my eye on some of the following ruby-hued beauties below:
As a perpetual hoarder of white button-downs, I have to say that the shirt I have layered beneath my mustard cardigan is definitely in the running for favorite in my closet. It’s got just the right amount of stretch, isn’t see-through (which is kind of a plus at work ;), and is the perfect length, especially if you’re going for the untucked, layered look. Like the coat, this shirt also comes in petite and tall options, along with multiple other colors.
As you all know from my segment on Style Code Live and this previous post, I’m loving the leopard print comeback this fall. I’ve gotten asked many times in the past whether this trend can work at the office, and to start, I have to say that of course it always depends on the type of office you work in. However, I think the most sure-fire way to make leopard work in even the most conservative offices is to incorporate it more discreetly in the accessories. Whether that’s a sleek pump, a classic flat or even a belt—it adds that extra oomph to any look without being too “in your face” in a business environment. I think Ann Taylor has the best selection of these professional-approved leopard accessories right now as you can see below. They’ve got everything from perfect flats, kitten heels, block heels, classic pumps and several great belt options as well.
Several months ago I shared my complete beauty routine in this post. However, I’ve discovered some new favorites, so thought I’d republish this post with all of my updates! I’ve tried a ton of products over the years, so I’m excited to share my best beauty finds and the products I truly use every day.
For future reference, you can always find this post by clicking LIFESTYLE>>BEAUTY via the top navigation bar on here on memorandum.com. If you’ve seen this post in the past, I’ve highlighted the new favorites in red as you scroll through the post, so you can check out the newbies quickly that way!
For a little context, I’m not a person who is willing to spend a ton of time on my makeup. Mostly because ten times out of ten, I will decide at 7:00 am that I love my bed more than I love my face. There’s an arguable misalignment of priorities there, but it is what it is. If the whole thing takes more than ten minutes, I’m outta here. For special occasions where I’m really doing the whole shebang (i.e. actually wearing eye shadow, eye liner, and/or lipstick—things that I don’t always wear on a daily basis) I’m willing to spend an extra five to ten minutes. But really, that’s all you got.
Today’s post is focused on my makeup routine and I’m going to do a separate post on my skincare regimen that details all of the more serious moisturizers, serums and magic potions I use, so stay tuned for more details on that. However, there are a few skincare products that are integrated into my makeup routine, so that’s where we’ll start today—with the underlying products that really get this party started…
I literally just ran out of this stuff, so didn’t have it on hand to photograph, but after cleansing my face in the morning (FYI, I’ve been using this First Aid Beauty face cleanser lately and l-o-v-e it), I apply a thin coat of this serum all over my face and neck. It’s anti-aging, super lightweight and has SPF 30 in it to ward off all the bad guys.
I’ve tried a ton of other daily moisturizers and I always come back to this cult favorite. It’s super lightweight, dries really quickly, and really does a great job of keeping my skin hydrated throughout the day.
My skin isn’t particularly sensitive, but I do have a tendency to get preeeeetty damn oily. Because of this, I’ve tried SO many different primers—especially those that purport to help with oil control. Nevertheless, I always come back to this one because it really keeps my foundation in lock step.
I still love the Laura Mercier primer, but for periods of time when it seems my skin is particularly oily, this is a more serious oil combatant. It has worked wonders for me in keeping shine at bay and makeup in place. If you have combination skin, I recommend using your regular primer all over your face, and just dabbing this one in the areas that produce the excess oil (typically the t-zone, chin, and around the nose).
Let me try to understate it: this is unequivocally the best ever foundation on the planet ever in history EVER. Given my tendency to oil up after a few hours, many foundations can start to look pretty funky halfway through the day. This foundation is super lightweight, looks truly invisible (yet still hides everything you need it to hide), has the best, most natural finish, and literally doesn’t budge all day. I’ve been using it for about 18 months now and might name my first child after it, the love is that deep.
Waterproof undereye concealer and eye makeup is a top priority for me because I HAVE SO MANY EMOTIONS ALL OF THE TIME. Kidding. I actually just have super light-colored eyes which makes them a bit more sensitive to light, so on a random bright day without sunglasses, odds are my eyes will be watering. It’s awesome. This concealer stays perfect all day, absolutely never creases, and doesn’t move a muscle if your eyes water. Hands down the best concealer out there.
My color: I’m using the black “pro” applicator, but they’re all the same, they just come in different colors.
I give you a full line up of all my favorite makeup brushes below, but I’ve included the BeautyBlender here because I love using this to applying foundation primer, but I also sometimes use it to apply foundation and for general blending needs—foundation, concealer, contouring—you name it. It’s really great for applying foundation products (whether that’s a BB cream, CC cream, tinted moisturizer, foundation, etc.) when you just want a thin coat—perhaps for day time when you’re going for a more natural look. My favorite foundation above is super buildable—i.e. it can be layered to reach the desired coverage you’re looking for while still looking really natural, so I apply it with the BeautyBlender instead of my foundation brush below when I want a lighter look. Bottom line: it’s safe to say that the hype is legit on this one. It’s crazy good.
In the past, I’ve used the Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Contouring Duet (in color Intense 1), and still HIGHLY recommend it. However, on a daily basis, for some reason, I just don’t love cream products. I find them impossible to keep clean, and when trying to achieve a natural look, I don’t find them nearly as easy to apply lightly as powder compact products. Enter my new contouring routine: this Laura Mercier Radiance Compact for highlighting and the Make Up For Ever Foundation Stick (which I discuss below!) for contouring. If I have a special night-time occasion, I’ll sometimes still use the Tom Ford Contouring Duet, but for day to day when I just want a dusting of highlight on my cheekbones, I absolutely love this Laura Mercier highlighter. It comes in a few shades depending on your skin tone, and blends so beautifully and completely invisibly. Personally, I’ve had a hard time finding highlighter that isn’t either (1) a weird tan, peach, and/or white shade or (2) too sparkly/shimmery. I don’t want to look like I’m going to a middle school dance, I just want a little extra cheek bone definition, mmk?
This is technically a foundation stick, and its formula is quite similar to my favorite liquid foundation discussed above, so it comes in all of the same great Make Up For Ever foundation shades. However, if you use it as a contouring stick like me, they recommend choosing a color that’s two shades darker than your regular foundation color. They have a nice little video on Sephora’s site here that gives a brief overview on how to use it for contouring (you can skip to about 1:20 in the video). I apply it directly onto the areas of my face that I want to contour (forehead, temples, underneath cheekbones, and very lightly on sides of nose and jawline), and then blend with this Marc Jacobs contour brush. I absolutely love this stick for contouring because it’s easy to apply, blends beautifully stays completely invisible to the naked eye and is just all-around the the actual bomb.
I’ve been using this blush since high school. I just love it. Some people complain that powder blushes fade quickly—welp, not this stuff. I apply it once in the morning and never touch it again. I also love this line because (in my opinion) it has the best shade selection. For my coloring, a blue-undertoned, almost plum-colored blush works best, and from my experience, those are very tough to find.
I’ve also been using this stuff since high school and there’s no question that NARS wins the bronzer game. I use this on my face and even dust some on my chest and shoulders in the summer. It has subtle shimmer, but looks totally natural and never orange which is the danger with most bronzers. Also, their Laguna shade somehow magically works on absolutely every skin tone.
This magic little pen is not a concealer, yet not a highlighter either. Soooo pointless, right? Wrong. I absolutely love it for brightening up areas that you don’t necessarily need to coat with concealer, but that you don’t want to brush with a true highlighter either. Whether it’s my t-zone, or the corners of my mouth, nose, or eyes, it’s the perfect in-betweener. Honestly, when covering a blemish, I actually use this stuff more than I use my concealer. Just kidding! I totally don’t ever get blemishes!! *flips hair* But for real, it’s super easy to use and covers anything without looking too heavy or shimmery. I actually keep one of these in my purse at all times too because it’s such a great multi-tasker on the go.
It’s 2016. I simply should not have to SHARPEN anything ever again. While I list one product above (the Make Up For Ever Eye Liner) and two products below in the lip category that are a more traditional style pencil that require sharpening, I tolerate them only because the products are so dope they’re worth it and I haven’t found anything better. But to be clear, I’m not happy about it and personally see it as a societal failure. But back to business… I have two eyeliners listed here, because they produce slightly different results, and I use them in different capacities depending on the look I’m going for. The first one, the Makeup Forever Eye Liner, is a more traditional cream pencil liner that’s super long lasting and can draw a clean line or be smudged to perfection. It’s waterproof and absolutely fantastic in terms of staying power for lining the inner rims of your eye. By contrast, the second eyeliner listed above, the Stila liquid eyeliner pen, doesn’t coat the inner rims well, but is super long lasting, waterproof, and is better for creating a sleek, super precise line (for a cat-eye look, for example).
When you’re going for a more natural look and want to brighten up your eyes, just swipe this across the inner rim of your lower lid and I promise you will magically turn into Candice Swanepoel mid Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. This stuff also really stays put, so the eye brightening effects will stay strong all day. I’m obsessed.
My colors: I have both Taupe and Brown in the Shimmer Finish
These waterproof eyeshadow/liner sticks are my favorite for creating that smudged eyeshadow look above and below your lashes. The stick makes it super easy to swipe along your lash lines, and since they’re a cream product, they don’t fade or fall like regular dry eyeshadow can. To get the best smudge effect, I recommend using a smudge brush like this one to blend the product above and below the eye after applying with the stick.
I love this eyebrow pencil because it’s one of the few brands that makes one light enough for natural blondes (or dirty ashe blonde in my case) with lighter eyebrows. It’s completely smear-proof and the super fine tip allows you to mimic actual hair when you’re filling in gaps which yields super natural results. Even my darker-haired friends are obsessed with this eyebrow pencil (in a darker color, obviously). I guess there’s a reason it’s got 260,000 “loves” on Sephora. Crazy.
Previously, I had the Dior Diorshow Waterproof Mascara in Catwalk Brown here, which I’ve used for years and still recommend. However, for me, the Dior has a tendency to smudge after a while, which has always kept me on the look out for something better. This Lancôme Mascara is something I’ve tried in the past, and wasn’t crazy about, but I always hear people reference it as the gold standard mascara so I gave it another try a couple months ago. This time around, I really fell in love and realized what my hang up was: It seems that when the mascara is brand new, they almost have put too much product in the tube. So for the first couple weeks, it goes on a little too thick/globby. However, if you wait it out or just rub a little off the application brush at the start, it’s absolutely amazing. It lengthens, curls, thickens, errythang. Highly recommend.
My color: I have the original “Naked” palette pictured above, but I honestly have used and love all of their palettes.
The Urban Decay Naked palettes are cult classics for a reason. They’re universally flattering, they apply easily, they stay perfect forever and they never crease. I have the original Naked palette pictured above, but I also own several other palettes as well including their Basics palettes which offer matte versions of many of their most popular shadows. Especially for everyday use, I prefer a matte shadow to something with a lot of shimmer.
I’ve used the Naked palettes above for years and love them, but this Stila “Mind” palette has now inched out the Naked palette for my favorite eyeshadow palette ever. Lately, and especially during the day, I’ve been preferring matte eye shadow to shimmery or glittery eye shadow. This entire palette is matte (which is tough to find) and the colors are absolutely amazing. I often find that in an eyeshadow palette, you really end up using only a couple of your favorite colors. For this one, I actually use all twelve (not all at once of course) depending on the occasion and what I’m wearing. It simply doesn’t have any of those “clunker” colors that you hate. They absolutely nailed it on this one!
After applying all of my makeup, I finish it off with this awesome finishing powder. It helps to set the makeup, keep everything in place for the whole day, and also keep that oil situation under control. Works like a charm!
This spray is awesome. It’s packed with electrolytes that help keep skin moisturized throughout the day. Although it has “primer” in the name, you can use it interchangeably as a primer, a finishing spray to set your makeup, or even as a misting spray throughout the day to freshen up your skin. I use it most often as a finishing spray after I’ve brushed the above powder over my face to set my makeup. The powder is necessary because it really helps me control the oil and also just creates a perfect velvet finish, but to make sure I don’t look powdery, I love spritzing this primer water as the finishing touch to make sure everything looks natural.
This is my favorite all-purpose straight-up lip balm which works wonders to revitalize my lips if they’re ever looking a little haggard. I also really love the tinted versions of this stuff (Plum is my favorite color) but the translucent “advanced therapy” version is what I consistently use every night after brushing my teeth. About a year ago, I was telling a makeup artist about that my lips seemed to be perpetually dry, and she said that it was most likely caused by my toothpaste which really wreaks havoc on your lips if you don’t thoroughly rinse your lips and apply a lip balm after brushing your teeth every night. I started rinsing and using this balm religiously that very night and voila! No more dryness. I also keep an extra one in my purse and use it periodically throughout the average day when I’m not wearing any lip color.
Similar to many of my favorite lip products, I have this guy in several colors, and switch them up depending on what lip color I’m putting over it. This natural hue, however, is definitely the most heavily used of the group because it’s the natural color of my lips and therefore blends under just about every lip color that I wear. This liner is waterproof, long-lasting, non-feathering, and non-fading, and it helps make your lips look fuller while keeping your lipstick locked in place.
My favorite colors: Brooklyn and San Francisco (how apropros!),
This stuff does it all. It lasts a super long time, defines lips like a liner, colors lips like a creamy lipstick, and is packed with vitamins to moisturize and care for your lips. It also has a slightly tingly, lip-plumping effect, which produces subtle yet noticeable volumizing.
My favorite colors: Rikugien, Bansar and Hyde Park
You may notice this from maaaaany of my posts lately. I’ve been wearing it like it’s my job. This lip pencil is similar to the drug store favorite below, but comes in richer, more fashion-forward shades and is also longer-lasting.
My favorite colors: Plum Perfect, Almond Nude, and Warm Caramel
The Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Stick is a favorite drugstore find that does exactly what its name suggests—moisturizes your lips and makes them silky smooth. Above, I actually have the Soft Raspberry shade pictured, but my very favorite shade is called Plum Perfect. I love several of their shades and have amassed a fairly obscene collection of this stuff, but I haven’t found any lip color ANYWHERE that has a more perfect plum pink than their Plum Perfect. I have about 10 sticks of this stuff stashed throughout my house, my purses, and my office and I use them constantly throughout the week.
This is my very favorite lipstick. It comes in a satin finish and a matte finish, stays put forever, doesn’t smear or feather and doesn’t dry out your lips. Both finishes come in all of my favorite colors, so this is pretty much my one-stop-shop as far as lipstick goes.
Over the years, I’ve tried (almost literally) a million different makeup brushes and always end up feeling disappointed because (1) they’re often not easy to use, (2) they start shedding bristles right away despite fastidious care, and/or (3) they simply don’t apply makeup evenly. Enter the Artis brush set. These crazy looking part toothbrush, part Star Trek brushes caught my eye a couple months ago when I was desperate to end my seemingly-hopeless hunt for better makeup brushes. To be honest, there was major sticker shock for me on this brush set when I first took a look. However, I then started tallying up all of the crappy over-priced makeup brushes I had bought and tried over the past many years and… ouch. After reading all of the crazy good reviews, I took the plunge, and could. not. be. happier. The non-traditional shape and style of these brushes takes a second to get used to, but holy moly, they apply everything from foundation to concealer to eye shadow to blush to lip color like no other brush. And, it makes sense! Why have other makeup brushes not evolved beyond the watercolor paintbrush concept? In addition to a more natural, ergonomic design, each brush contains three to ten times as many fibers as other makeup brushes which results in makeup application that’s super even and product that isn’t absorbed into the brush (so you use less product, saving even more money). The bristles are synthetic and legitimately softer than a kitten, so even the most sensitive skin types will love these babies. I can’t say enough good things.
UPDATE: I’ve received so many additional questions about these brushes, I thought I’d answer them in one fell swoop here! So here are the FAQs:
Do they apply makeup too heavily?
Absolutely not. In fact, because they don’t absorb much product, I find it SO easy to control how much product I use. I’ll use the foundation brush to apply a BB Cream, tinted moisturizer or foundation super lightly on days when I just want a thin layer of coverage. Conversely, on days when I need/want more, it allows you to evenly apply product more heavily without a hitch.
Is the weird curved shape hard to use?
The ergonomic, curved brush handle makes using these brushes actually much easier and more intuitive than any other makeup brushes I’ve tried. For me, application is way faster, easier and more comfortable. And, for a girl who doesn’t loooove the makeup process to begin with, I’ve actually started to enjoy my morning beauty routine because the brushes are so comfortable and the application is so perfect.
I can’t afford the whole set, so if I could only buy one, which would you recommend?
I would recommend the “Oval 8” foundation brush hands down. I’m convinced there’s absolutely nothing else out there that applies foundation like this brush (not even the beauty blender!) and this is arguably the most important/hardest part of your makeup routine to get even. Aside from the foundation brush, I’d put the “Oval 3” brush as a close second for applying under-eye concealer or covering blemishes.
Literally nothing, just different handles. I chose the set with the thinner, black handle simply because (a) I thought the white might get dirty looking more easily and (b) I like to keep my makeup brushes standing up in a jar-like container, and the wider handles wouldn’t allow them to fit. However, I the brush itself is identical.
Aren’t they just another makeup brush with a cooler/weirder-looking handle?
Nope. If I could explain these makeup brushes in terms of other application tools out there, I would say that it’s almost like a cross between an airbrush tool and a traditional makeup brush. That may not make sense until you try them, but it’s really true, the application is that flawless and that superior. Easily the best beauty investment I’ve made in years… possibly ever.
*NEW QUESTION* I’ve seen a bunch of knock-offs pop up that are way more affordable. Is there any reason to pay full price for these anymore?
Like you, I’ve also seen the knock offs pop up on social media and online, and a I actually ordered two different kinds to try out and compare to the Artis brushes. I bought this one and this one and despite high hopes, I can say unequivocally that the knock offs don’t even come close. The bristle quality and density (most of all) along with the strength, stability and curvature of the handle are what make the Artis brushes so exceptional in applying makeup and what positions them head and shoulders above the rest. Overall, the knock off brushes did a really poor job of applying makeup, so if you don’t want to splurge for the real thing, I’d recommend sticking with a beauty blender or a regular make up brush.
OK, that’s a wrap! My completely updated front-to-back beauty routine and every last makeup product that I swear by. Have I missed anything? Do you have any favorites that I should try?? Please let me know in the comments!
This green suede moto jacket has been a favorite addition to my fall wardrobe, although part of me is wondering whether I should’ve gone for the grey—how beautiful is that color?! I wore this late last week for a casual workday here in San Francisco when it was really starting to feel like fall.
I’ve had these flares for over a year, and they still reign supreme in my closet as hands-down the most comfortable pair of jeans I’ve ever (yes, EVER!) owned. I don’t know what kind of black magic was done to create these beauties, but somehow they’re super soft, super flattering and basically make you feel like you’re in sweats. Also, for those of you who are weary of having to shorten designer jeans, they’re now available in this “tailorless” 32-inch inseam. Big wins all-around.
You can’t really see them well beneath my flare leg jeans in today’s photos, but I do want to mention that these Everlane Modern Loafers have probably been my most heavily-worn flat for the past year as well. They’re the perfect staple flats for work because they look great with everything—skirts or pants—and come in a bajillion colors. They take a wear or two to break in, but man are they worth it. I think I might need to add the camel to my collection for fall…
As you know from my last Triple Threat post, the bomber jacket is one of my favorite pieces of the season, and despite the trend’s casual, athletic beginnings, there are lots of great ways to incorporate it into your work wardrobe. While this post showed how great it can look at work when paired with a sleek pair of cropped pants, today I paired this bomber with a classic pencil skirt and pumps.
The exact bomber jacket I’m wearing today is sold out, but I think I actually may like this one by the same designer even more! Both make for a perfect fall office staple, because the trend factor is tempered by the classic brass buttons and glen plaid (or amazing rope jacquard in this case). Whenever I want to infuse my work wardrobe with a little extra style, I use this balancing rule: If you want to have fun with print or color, find a piece with a classic, conservative silhouette. Conversely, if you want to sport a trendy silhouette to the office, balance that trendy silhouette by finding it in a classic print or color. Exhibit A: today’s trendy bomber style, with a classic plaid/button combo. You with me?
I get a lot of questions about favorite workwear staples, and I have to say that this St. John pencil skirt is definitely my all-time favorite. The knit fabric makes it super comfortable and wrinkle free, while the quality of the wool makes it look brand new no matter how many millions of times I wear it. If you work in an environment where pencil skirts are on constant rotation, I can’t recommend an investment in a St. John piece or two highly enough.
JACKET: Phillip Lim | SKIRT: St. John | BLOUSE: Frame | SHOES: Saint Laurent (similar HERE) | SUNGLASSES: Smoke x Mirrors (last worn HERE) | HOOP EARRINGS: old, similar HERE | LIP: Nars (Het Loo)
Get your game face on because one of the biggest sales of the year is on now and only here for a short three days. SO many amazing shoes, bags, dresses—you name it. The collection of denim on sale alone is worth writing home about. If you need a good excuse to finally kickstart your fall and winter wardrobe, this is it. And, dare I say, prices on amazing holiday gifts like these adorable champagne flutes or this amazing travel jewelry case will not be beat all season. I know, I’m sorry, way too soon for the H word. Don’t forget to use code ‘MAINEVENT16‘ at checkout when you score these siiiiick velvet pumps. HAPPY SHOPPING!
First off, if you missed yesterday’s post you should high-tail it over THERE to read up on the killer sale that’s happening right now because things are selling out left and right and friends don’t let friends miss out on 30% off full-priced perfect designer jeans like these. MMK?
And now to the subject at hand, which incidentally also includes a dress that’s on major sale: this perfect fit-and-flare turtleneck dress that I bought in black last year and wore so dang much that I audibly gasped when seeing it was back in stock this season and immediately bought it in red. I also may or may not currently have the blue version in my shopping cart right now. SOMEBODY HOLD ME BACK.
This dress is my ultimate cold-weather workwear (slash everywhere) staple. I can get away with bare legs in San Francisco still, but I can say from experience that it looks great with tights and boots when the winter really sets in. It’s flattering on absolutely every body type, and is so so SO comfortable that once you spend a day in this cozy deliciousness you’ll be buying it in every color too. Consider yourself warned.
I’m happy to report that despite being worn more than any other winter dress in my closet, my black version still looks brand new. So, I can confidently say that the quality is impeccable, and this is exactly the kind of timeless investment that’s worth every penny.
Speaking of investment pieces that pay off, this leather vest is a casual 50% off right now and after purchasing it about two months ago (somewhat hesitantly I have to admit), I have worn it CONSTANTLY. It is such an easy layer to throw on when you want a little extra warmth (but nothing too cumbersome, you know?) and seems to just make every outfit a million times better. Can’t recommend it highly enough.
One last thing before I leave you to your morning coffee and listless ruminations over the dire state of the U.S. political system:
If you follow me on instagram (@maryorton) and are ever interested in something I’m wearing over there, you can now find links to everything under the Shop tab on the top navigation bar here on memorandum.com. If you hover over Shop, you’ll see Instagram show up as the first drop-down menu item where you can find all the product info from my instagram posts, including this amazing cableknit cold-shoulder sweater I wore yesterday that’s somehow inexplicably only $28. Bonkers.
Apologies that things have been a bit quiet around here! The moving process has us totally overwhelmed, so between never-ending chats with NYC brokers, coordinating moving companies, starting to pack up our house and staying on top of work, it’s been a nutty couple weeks.
I had to go down to LA for a quick business trip last week, and wore this casual ensemble on the plane. I’m a HUGE fan of cold-shoulder sweaters like this one for fall and winter, because they’re super versatile for day or night. You know those chilly evenings when you just want to wear your favorite chunky oversized sweater to dinner or drinks but feel like you’ll look too frumpy? Story of my life y’all. Well, who knew taking a small bite out of your shoulders would turn a piece otherwise reserved for casual daytime activities into a chic winter topper worthy of your local water hole?
Case in point: I was headed to LA for a mere 24 hours and with everything going on right now (read: I’m Moving To NYC In Two Weeks, Can Everyone Just Give Me A Minute?), packing more than two outfits seemed like an insurmountable challenge. Thus, for look numero uno, I needed an outfit comfy enough for the plane, yet cool enough for casual dinner and drinks in LA once we landed. Enter, this trusty cold-shoulder sweater.
I’ve included a ton of other cold-shoulder sweaters that I’m eyeing up below, but speaking of day-to-night versatility, how easy would it be to throw a blazer over this one for the office, then whip it off for dinner or drinks at night?
SWEATER: Asos (also similar HERE and HERE) | JEANS: J. Brand | BOOTIES: c/o Guess | EARRINGS: Zara (similar HERE and HERE)
We all know that the velvet trend is in it to win it this season, and judging by the fact that I just ordered these velvet pumps, these velvet pumps, this velvet blazer and this velvet dress… I think you can safely say that I’m on board. To make matters worse, I also just discovered this beauty and am struggling to fathom a life without a perfect navy velvet boyfriend blazer.
Note to self: Online shopping after more than 48 hours of no sleep quickly results in breached credit card limits followed by the arrival of obscene quantities of velvet paraphernalia.
In my defense (and as evidenced on snapchat), we were given less than 24 hours notice by our moving company that we had to be ready to move yesterday. (Not joking. Long story.) So after pulling an all-nighter, canceling my entire workday, packing up our entire place and then watching a six-foot-five gentleman with hands the size of my head casually throw a box containing all of my wedding china over his shoulder and careen out of my apartment, a little R&R in the form of retail therapy was in order. Quite frankly, I think the use of my remaining faculties to focus on velvet frippery instead of the crystal stemware that is likely shattered into a million pieces at the bottom of a moving truck somewhere in rural Nebraska is an excellent—nay—highly evolved use of dwindling faculties. Kind of.
While our belongings are already eastbound, Rich and I don’t actually move back to NYC until November 1st. Ipso facto, I have a solid two weeks to distract myself from contemplating the sorry state of our most fragile valuables. So what better way to commence Operation Distraction than to begin planning out the infinite ways in which I can wear my new burgundy velvet pumps?
As discussed in this post featuring my favorite velvet midi skirt, the trend can be worn in a million different ways—even in the office! True to Triple Threat fashion, below I’ve sketched out three of my favorite ways to sport these burgundy velvet pumps from workweek to weekend. Lemme know what you think!
Click directly on the images above for more details or click the links below:
P.S. If you’re ever interested in taking a look back at the Triple Threat series, hover over the SHOP tab on the top navigation bar and click on TRIPLE THREAT! xx
Ending the week with this easy business casual look that I wore recently in Los Angeles. You may recognize this classic black and white boucle jacket as a staple that I’ve worn for years. It’s long sold out, but I’ve found several similar versions below and can’t recommend investing in one highly enough. It’s a timeless piece that never goes out of style, can easily be dressed up for a business formal look with a black pencil skirt or suit pant, and can make the simplest of outfits (like today’s!) effortlessly put-together.
JACKET: St. John (old, similar HERE, HERE and more in the widget above!) | SHIRT: St. John (old, similar HERE) | JEANS: Asos (old, similar HERE and HERE) | SHOES: Chanel (similar HERE and HERE) | BAGS: M2Malletier | EARRINGS: Juliet & Co. | NECKLACE: c/o Baublebar
Special occasion dresses can be so hard to find, but with the formal events we’ve had this fall and several more on the docket once we get to NYC, Modcloth has been my go-to. I discovered them a couple years ago and have been majorly raiding their collection of special occasion dresses lately. They have such a beautiful collection of dresses that are so unique. A friend of mine even ordered her bridesmaids’ dresses from Modcloth last summer and they were absolutely breathtaking. To make it all sweeter, their price point is really affordable, which is a godsend especially if it’s a dress that you may realistically only wear once or twice.
I snagged these amazing block heeled sandals from Modcloth as well, and was really impressed overall with their selection of accessories. In addition to amazing shoes, they have the prettiest collection of jewelry, scarves, bags, you name it. As a pianist, I have to say that I fell pretty hard for this clutch in particular. Also, if you’re in the market for really cute, unique belts—for formalwear or not—you’ve gotta check out their selection. So so many great ones!
SKIRT: Self Portrait (also HERE and HERE) | BODYSUIT: Torn by Ronny Kobo (similar HERE, HERE and HERE) | SHOES: Steven | BAG: M2Mallettier | SUNGLASSES: Smoke X Mirrors | BRACELET: Monica Vinader | LIPS: Buxom (Brooklyn)
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