Fall favorites: Essentials for the perfect season

I’ve compiled a list of clothing, food and scented products essential to a good autumn. I found most of these items through my friends and social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat. When choosing these items, I considered these criteria: looks, comfort, price, taste and smell. I’ve also compiled a list of songs into this playlist to match the fall vibe. Feel free to listen to it while reading and looking through this piece. Now, here are the essentials you need for fall.
I had always struggled with finding a good sweater/cardigan to keep me warm, as most of them only focused on looks and not comfort. I heard about H&M through my friends, who said their clothes had the best of both worlds. Although this sweater fits slightly cropped, it keeps you warm, without being too heavy, for the colder weather with its mix of wool/polyester material. It’s also extremely versatile, and can be paired with leggings, jeans, and many other pants! I wear this around once a week and it never gets old. Cute and warm, this sweater can be found in stores at H&M or online. I would rate this a 9/10, and I think it would’ve been a solid 10/10 if it was available in more colors.
I never really liked flared leggings, especially ones from high-end brands like Lululemon or Athleta. I always thought the price never matched the quality, until I tried these on in-store. The leggings, made from nylon and elastane, are paired well with a cute, oversized sweater or hoodie, especially during the fall. They give off the perfect autumn vibe. As a bonus, the various colors and patterns that they come in make them easy to style for the cool weather. These can be found in stores at Aerie, or online. Overall, these trendy leggings are a must-have, with a solid rating of 8.5/10. They would’ve been a full 10/10 if these leggings were more accessible and in stock, but that may be a testament to their superior quality.
When I was looking for shoes for the fall, comfort and looks were the top priorities. After searching for a long time, I finally found the UGG Scuffettes. They’re extremely easy to put on, especially on early, hectic mornings, making them perfect for the get-go. Made from recycled materials and sheepskin lining, they keep your feet warm in the cold weather and look good at the same time. They are extremely durable; I have had mine for over a year. You can find them online at ugg.com, or in-store at UGG. Overall, I highly recommend the Scuffettes and give them a rating of 9/10, taking away one point for their priciness.
The Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte has always been a fall seasonal favorite for many. With its signature espresso roast, pumpkin sauce and pumpkin spice topping, it has also grown to be mine. It has a reasonable price, which is only a bonus to the warm, cozy vibe it gives during the fall. I always get it on my way to school, because it is the perfect latte for a quick on-the-go breakfast. Not only does it keep me awake in the mornings, it has a sweet pumpkin flavor with a hint of cinnamon and spices. Available online and in-store at Starbucks, I highly recommend this to all and give it a rating of 9.5/10. I think it would’ve been a perfect 10/10 if it was a tiny bit less sweet, but that’s a personal preference.
The Starbucks Baked Apple Croissant has also been a popular bakery item from their seasonal fall menu. I found out about it through my friends begging me to try it, and I’m glad I did. The pastry is a soft, flaky, and buttery croissant with a hint of cinnamon and apple added to it. The inside holds a sweet apple mixture with small chunks of apple, while the outside has a soft, baked golden brown finish. The contrast of the soft inside and the flaky outside make it perfect for a quick and easy breakfast in the mornings, or a snack on the chilly autumn nights. Its price is $3.95 and is available online and in-store at Starbucks. Overall, I would recommend this fall treat, but personally, the filling was a tad too sweet; therefore I give it a rating of 9.5/10.
The seasonal ice cream flavor “Hot Honey Cinnamon” from Clementine’s is one of my favorites out of their seven seasonal options. It tastes like honey with a slight bit of cinnamon infused into it, creating the perfect mix of sweet and savory. The hint of spice pairs well with the honey, and that’s my favorite part about it. I originally found this through one of my friend’s recommendations, and I’m glad I looked into it. This is an ideal option for a fall ice cream and matches the autumn vibe perfectly. I would highly recommend this, and give it a rating of 9/10. It would’ve been a solid 10 if it was a little less expensive because $4 would be more reasonable for a single scoop of ice cream. You can find this in-store at Clementine’s Naughty & Nice Ice Cream.
Fall is often associated with sweet scents like apple and pumpkin spice to more earth notes of musk and pine needles. When looking for fall fragrances, I was looking for something warm and comforting that would last me through the school day and preferably smelled like vanilla. After years of searching for the scent that checked every box, I came across the Warm Vanilla Sugar perfume from Bath & Body Works. After sampling it in-store, I knew it was great for me. The scent is reminiscent of eating freshly baked chocolate chip cookies on a chilly autumn night while snuggled up in your blanket. Anyone looking for the perfect autumn vanilla scent should get this perfume. Its price is $16.95, and it is available online and in stores at Bath & Body Works. Overall, I give this a solid 9.5/10, taking away half a point for being a couple of dollars overpriced.
The Victoria’s Secret Bare Vanilla body lotion is one of my favorites because it keeps me moisturized and makes sure that I smell good. The scent is a sweet vanilla cashmere, making it very popular, especially in the fall. I originally found this lotion because I was looking into buying something that would be perfect for the fall vibe, and I came across this in-store. The moment I put a little bit of it on my hand and blended it out, I knew it was the perfect choice. It immediately absorbs into your skin and the scent lasts for hours, which is uncommon for most body lotions. Bare Vanilla is a go-to for people who are looking for a lotion that keeps them moisturized and smelling good 24/7.Bare Vanilla, priced at $19.95, is found in stores and online at Victoria’s Secret. I give it an overall rating of 8.5/10, but I think this would’ve been a solid 10 if the packaging was a little better, as it tends to leak sometimes.
The Bath & Body Works Pumpkin Spice 3-Wick Candle is one of my favorites to light up while studying or before I go to bed. It’s infused with a rich pumpkin smell, and a hint of spice and cinnamon, which is perfect for the fall. This candle provides comfort and has just the right scent, which isn’t too overbearing for my nose. It can last up to hours, and the packaging is easy to handle, as well as durable, meaning it’s hard to make a mess. The longevity of this candle is one of the main reasons I like it so much because I can never find a candle that lasts long while smelling good. Although it has many good qualities, I think that the price is too high and fairly unreasonable, it should be worth around $20. I still highly recommend this candle to people who are looking for the perfect fall scent or maybe just a cute candle for decor; I rate it a 9.5/10.
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