I love fall fashion! Living in Montreal means four seasons to dress for and Fall is the coziest and most fun. From knit sweaters, boots, coats, scarves, and darker lip and nail colours; we trade in our pastels and bright colours for neutrals, warm tones, plums, and bordeaux.
The Knit Sweater
It’s not Fall without knit sweaters. These are a no brainer when the weather gets cooler. I’ve accumulated quite a few knit tops over the years and they are all neutral colours. I usually gravitate towards neutrals and accessorise with bolder colours or patterns.
I got this beige knit top from H&M last year and I literally wear it every week, not just in Fall, but also in Winter and Spring. It‘s baggy on the arms, tighter at the cuffs, and slighting longer at the back. I love that this top is long enough to wear with tights, but also allows for that cute tuck at the front with a cute pair of jeans.
This black top is also from H&M and yes, I wear this top every week too. I mean, you can’t go wrong with black, it goes with everything. It’s great with a cute skirt, or jeans.
I usually shop for knits at H&M and Simons because they have a huge variety at affordable prices. H&M actually has a really great selection of knits this season if you’re looking to from some comfortable knits.
The Turtle Neck
I wasn’t always a fan of turtle necks, but they grew up on me. They’re chic and simple, and let’s not forget they’re very convenient when you forget to wear a scarf…
They’re also really cute paired with a thick pair of black leggings and black flats, à la Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face. If you haven’t seen it, watch it, it’s a great.
The Skinny Jean
This one is kind of a cheat, my go to jeans for every season are skinny jeans, but they’re especially great for tucking into boots.
I’m really picky with jeans since they aren’t all made the same way, some are tighter on the hips and bigger on the waist or vice versa… so I usually buy jeans from Top Shop (shout out to the petite section!!!), American Eagle, or the stretch jeggings from Banana Republic.
I love these high-waisted Jamie skinny jeans from Top Shop. If you want the perfect jean to tuck your top and boots into, then these are it!
The Ankle Boot
BOOTS! BOOTS! BOOTS!
I love boots and I wear them until they’re torn and I should be embarrassed to go out in public with them. Combat boots used to be my go to during my college and university years (my last pair lasted 8 years and 2 years past their life span) but now that I am working in a professional setting, a clean pair of ankle boots are a sleeker option that provide edge to my outfits.
I have been looking for a pair of ankle boots for years, but I could never find a pair that I liked, or my size was always sold out. I finally found these at Little Burgundy, the Marnie boot. They have a pointed toe, a chunky heel, and are made of leather.
Outerwear
Outerwear is a great way to spruce up your wardrobe if you’re sticking to basics and neutrals. I find it kind of tricky to pick out outerwear in the fall since the weather is temperamental. No pun intended. That’s why I have accumulated a few different pieces over the years, and I’m lucky my mom “shares” some of hers with me.
The Leather Jacket
A leather jacket will make any outfit look good, whether you are wearing loungewear, activewear, jeans and a T-Shirt, or a dress and heels. It’s chic, edgy, and timeless. If you want to invest in a staple piece, be aware of the hefty price tag when paying for real leather, but there are faux leather options that are really great and won’t break the bank.
The Trendy Trench
A trench is a classy and timeless piece and is an absolute must have for the season! And it’s also great for Spring too.
I LOVE THIS COAT! I bought it at Zara last year while shopping with my mom. It was love at first sight. This red makes quite the statement and red is great for colour blocking, but I do stick to neutrals. Great for dressing up a casual outfit or adding a flirtatious quality to T-Shirt and jeans.
The Knit Cardigan/Blazer Jacket
This one is great for early fall when it’s not too chilly, but chilly enough. I love this option for work because they are clean and dressy, but can also work with jeans and a t-shirt or leggings.
I have a gray heather blazer jacket from Dynamite, I think I bought it last year or the year before that, and it’s great for those chilly mornings and warmer afternoons. I usually wear it with casual work clothes and jeans and a regular T-Shirt, it’s too restricting if I were to wear it with a chunky knit. I also wear a black knit cardigan from LOFT, which actually belongs to my mom but she “shares” it with me… This one is thicker than the gray one and I can wear it through mid-November when it’s mild out.
Foulards, Scarves, and Pashmina Shawls
These are the ultimate accessory for fall, and a necessity in Montreal. We have two drawers full of these in a variety of colours, shades, and thickness. I remember one of the party favours at bridal and baby showers was the pashmina shawl for a couple of years, so that’s where we got most of those, or we received them as gifts. Tip: They’re also a clever and eco-friendly way of wrapping a gift.
I have a few favourites that I wear throughout the season, and I carry them over into Winter and Spring seasons.
This one is my favourite and my warmest scarf from Simons. It’s quite large and provides a chunky look to an outfit. Did I mention the warmth? Don’t shop with this on because you will sweat!
I bought this scarf a few years ago and I have received so many compliments whenever I wear it. The colours are beautiful, the tartan is a classic for fall, and I wear this scarf with all my casual outfits. It really is one of my main staples.
I usually wear neutral shades, which are present in the scarf, so pairing this with my outfits is really easy.
Purses
If you haven’t gotten the message by now, I’m a neutrals girl. When it comes to purses, I like pieces that will work for me all year round, so they’re usually black, brown/tan, and navy.
This Kate Spade purse is the Lise Mulberry Street bag and was a birthday present from my boyfriend. I spotted it while we were shopping in New York and was unsure if I should purchase it or not, and then he made the decision for me. I was really happy.
The Lise Mulberry comes with a strap so it can be worn as a cross body, which is usually how I wear it. It has a main zipper with pocket compartments on each side. It is spacious enough to carry my wallet, phone, keys, and my hand sanitiser, and lip balm.
I love bucket purses. I was eyeing the Mansur Gavriel bags when I first saw them on Pinterest, but then reality smacked me in the face with the price tag so I looked for other options. I was browsing on the Hudson’s Bay sale section one night and found this beauty.
This leather Medium Debby Drawstring bag from Lauren by Ralph Lauren was available in black and red, and they were gorgeous, but I was missing this caramel/tan colour in my collection so I went with this one.
This bag comes with a shoulder strap and a cross body strap, and can carry a lot of items aside from my wallet, phone, keys, hand sanitiser, and the occasional lip balm. I can add my toiletries for that time of the month, a makeup case, a water bottle. It’s really spacious and I always have trouble finding my keys… It’s still available on the Hudson’s Bay website in navy and black, and a mini size is also available.
Beauty
Plums, berries, bordeaux, and nudes, oh my! These colours are rich and lovely fall staples to have fun with. The rich berries and reds offer a chic sophistication to any outfit.
Nail Polish
I have a few nail colours that I usually gravitate to and they are Lincoln Park After Dark by O.P.I. and Bordeaux by Essie. I’ve recently bought a few more; Cinna-Snap by Sally Hansen, Breaking the Bold dry quick polish by Essie, and Amore at the Grand Canal and Good Girls Gone Plaid by O.P.I.
Lip Colour
Ah, the good old wine-kissed pout. It’s a shame wearing anything on my lips other than chapstick will get smeared by my mask, but there are really beautiful lip colours sitting in my drawers. So these are the ones I would love to wear: Damned and Cruella matte velvet lip colours by NARS, The Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Berry by Fresh, and this lip liner in #245 Burgundy by Annabelle.
Eyeshadow
This eyeshadow palette, Textured Neutrals Vol. 1 by Tati Beauty is a great palette for any seasonal transition, from mattes to glitters, these colours are insanely beautiful.
I prefer warm and bronzed tones in the Fall and this palette doesn’t disappoint.
Since a full face of makeup isn’t exactly ideal when wearing a mask all day, playing up the eyes is the perfect compromise.
And there you have it, my Fall fashion essentials!