It’s OXBLOOD season. God, I love this color. Is there anything better than a fresh bordeaux or oxblood manicure? Or the color on a rich patent leather bag? (This woven suede one is a close second…)
Switch up your reading. I’ll have fresh fall reads together soon, but my letter “22 seasonally perfect fall reads” has aged well and is worth a visit…
Take your book to a park bench. That’s it! I think there is something so blissful about reading outside at a comfortable temperature. Maybe you bring a thermos with a bit of tea, cider, or— if you’re really a genius— a PSL.
Steal this teenager’s Autumn Bucket List. It’s so pure!!
Plan something utterly new: get tickets to see a new show, go catch an old movie screening for one-night only at the theater, rally a group of friends to hit the Ren Faire. Make a memory that is entirely singular and novel.
Cook something that smells good. I hope it’s pumpkin pancakes, but maybe it involves apple cider and cinnamon sugar?
Candle season is so back. For me, it will always be Snif’s Half-Baked Pumpkin candle, which I don’t find too sweet or cloying. If that’s not your thing but you’re still ready to rock with an earthy or fall scent, it’s gotta be the Ranger Season Anti-Pumpkin Candle (always sells out, so I gotta keep an eagle eye on it!) or Flamingo Estate’s Leather Appointment or Muscatel Sage.
Wear the things that will soon be impractical: shorts and a sweater. Shorts and a rainboot! Vests!
Watch something on this handy autumn film list by Natalie Catalina.
Snail mail. I think you should write some! Maybe this is your time to indulge in stunning stationery, or maybe you pick up a few vintage post cards on a little Sunday day trip to a new-to-you locale.
Time for a thicker moisturizer, hallelujah. No more sweating off your skincare…
Chocolate, chestnut or olive suede. Exhibit A: these woven suede clogs. Exhibit B: the perfect, easy work tote in woven leather & suede.
Treat yourself to one— just one!— new mug.
This one’s simple, but sometimes so hard: find a pair of jeans that fits you (you right now) and is comfy enough to be your second skin as the temperatures drop. Maybe this is your sweatpant jean, maybe this is a sumptuous Japanese denim… but find the pair that makes getting dressed each day a no brainer.
All Too Well 10 Minute Version. Just a reminder.
Mark some time on your calendar for a changing of the guards, so you can fold and carefully preserve your summer clothes and break out your sweaters and coats. Do a little closet audit, while you’re at it, and send anything that isn’t fitting or feeling right to ThredUp or TRR!
Make a simmer pot that perfumes your whole home: cinnamon sticks, cloves, maybe some cardamom pods…
Ask a friend to join you for a stroll, a little friend walking date! Maybe you start by picking up scones at a local bakery and take a nice walk together, basking in the breeze and the crunching of the leaves.
What are you looking forward to this fall? A few that didn’t make my list but I’m excited about: indulging in pumpkin spice everything, trick-or-treaters, a steaming mug of tea on an early morning, walks on a colder but still tolerable East Coast beach…
If you liked this one and you’re new around here, I hope you’ll join 8K+ readers and stick around for books, all things fall, weekend diversions, and much more.
Oxblood manicure booked. The rest of fall can proceed!!
I'm reading the perfect fall book, Bret Easton Ellis's The Shards, which is a million times better than the tv show. Fans of The Secret History would love this. It's another atmospheric campus thriller and feels very autumnal, even though it's set in LA. I'm trying to get into The Gilmore Girls for its famously cozy, fall vibes, but I might be too old for a first-time viewer. I'm more into the Danish/Nordic mysteries (so much amazing knitwear).