Summer is behind, and if you are an inhabitant of the Northern Hemisphere, odds are that the temperature has dropped in your city already and people have started to take their coats out of the closet again. Multicolored foliage in golden and crimson shades can be seen everywhere; early sunsets and shorter days are upon us, as well as the appearance of pumpkins decorating window displays and supermarkets. It is Autumn in all its glory now!
Autumn is my favorite season of the year, and to celebrate its unfolding, I decided to make a list of my Autumn Essentials – those things that I absolutely crave and enjoy having during this time of the year, and maybe you would too!
Odds are that you don’t actually need any of these things, but I find that they surely make for a much more pleasant and uplifting experience; they add to the beauty and comfort that surrounds you, helping to set the mood for the day. Besides, having small luxuries in everyday life is part of my personal philosophy, so listen to Agent Cooper's advice and give yourself a gift every day!
So, here is the list,
A Wonderfully Cozy, Chunky Knit Sweater.
Probably the coolest, comfiest-looking knit dress I've seen so far.
Definitely number one on this list, since it will be my trusty companion throughout the season, either as an outer layer over some comfy leggings or tights, or under a jacket when the temperatures drop further. In any case, they are the perfect way to stay warm and toasty!
My favorites are the chunky, wooly cable knit ones, but any nicely textured, thick and good quality style –i.e. not those flimsy H&M ones!– is a great pick for a balance between sophistication and warmth.
All Saints has some of the best, most luxurious and edgy looking jumpers for the season. Last winter I got my hands on the Hercinia Jumper by All Saints, and it has been my favorite since then!
The beautiful Hercinia jumper, that practically became my second skin last Winter.
Also, I guess it is time for my Twin Peaks-esque pink angora sweater to make a reappearance…
Seriously Cool and Coloful Headphones.
One can always dream, right?
One curious thing to witness when one lives in a cold weather country like Germany, is that once the Summer time wanes, people lose their motivation to be chatty and chirpy and start retreating into their own personal bubble. A key element for achieving the “do not disturb” while you listen to your musical selection is a good set of headphones; you can choose ones that complement your outfit and add some subtle edge of cool to it.
Wonderful color selection of Headphones by Urban Ears.
Coffee Thermal Mug.
We all know the restoring power boost provided by a quality hot beverage at the right time of the day. However, sometimes either time or convenience make it hard to get something nicer than a soggy tea bag submerged in nuclear-blasted microwaved water, or horrible vending machine coffee with its characteristic bitter burnt taste. Would you settle for that? Any self-respecting coffee or tea snob knows that the answer to this is a resounding NEVER! Here is when the thermal mug comes to the rescue, allowing you to carry your hot beverage of choice with you while keeping it warm for the moment when it’s needed – the perfect accessory for busy people on the go. You can either store your own homemade drink of choice, or take with you the wonderful flavor of the perfect coffee cup prepared by your favorite barista. And while you are at it, you can do it in style, of course – I know I will! I am currently on the lookout for the perfect thermal mug; I would like it to be something along these lines:
A cute way to carry with me my home-made Matcha lattes or Earl Grey with a drop of milk – a habit I adopted during my recent visit to the UK.
These absolutely beautiful hand painted termal coffee mugs can be found at Yevgenia's Etsy Store.
This brings us to the next point in the list,
A Selection of Robustly Fragrant, Comforting Teas and Tisanes.
While in Spring and Summer I am all about lightly scented teas, delicate flavors and soft floral and fruit notes, as the Autumnal temperatures kick in I start craving bolder, spicier flavors. Chai tea and Earl Grey are popular examples, but if you want some more interesting ideas, you can take a look at the seasonal selection of Tee Gschwendner – which is my all-time favorite tea brand and ultimate source of high quality blends – and start making your wishlist!
Tea Heaven.
Warm and Comfy Tigh High Stockings.
(You would have to dress more warmly, though)
They are perfect for layering over tights to keep your legs warm and toasty on those days where the temperature drops but you still want to wear a dress or a mini skirt. My favorite source for them is the wonderful Sock Dreams. They have the best selection of amazing styles in all sorts of lenghts, colors and designs for every taste. Some examples:
I am partial to stripes, and particularly striped stockings in unusual color combinations. I own this exact pair and I can attest they are as cute and comfy as one can wish.
Luxurious, Rich Body Lotion or Body Butter.
Date bouquet hand cream, smells of pure bliss! I swear.
Stylish Fingerless Gloves and Armwarmers.
Fingerless gloves are one of my all time favorite accessories, so one of the reasons why I am welcoming the arrival of autumn is that I can finally wear them! Not only do they add a stylish note to any outfit, but they are comfortable and warm, while still allowing you work with your hands. Once again, Sock Dreams has a great selection of them. Just be careful: you can lose hours (and lots of money) while browsing their website – you have been warned!
Small, Truly Portable Books.
Sometimes I think editorial houses are just being ironic; I don’t know whose pockets are being taken as a reference, but a 500 page book with dimensions bigger than those of a DVD is definitely not my idea of a “pocket edition”. There are, however, truly portable little books that genuinely fit in a bag without much hassle, and can help you rescue those dead times while you are stuck in public transportation, a traffic jam, a medical office, or a really long queue.
During my last visit to The Fruit Market Gallery, I discovered a series called Wooden Books that are absolutely perfect for this: they are small, compact, beautifully illustrated, and cover a variety of really fascinating subjects; also, they are divided in short chapters that you could easily portion along your free time slots.
Enjoying an enlightening read while waiting for the bus.
A Selection of Amazingly Tasty, Healthy Pumpkin Recipes.
Because you need to nourish not only your spirit, but also your body! And pumpkins are the icon of the autumnal season. I was not a big fan of pumpkins until very recently, when I first tried this Roasted Pumpkin, Feta and Quinoa Salad recipe that I found in the Cool and Healthy blog. It is amazing; I’ve been having that for lunch repeatedly since then! I just can’t get enough of the roasted vegetables plus aromatic herbs combo, and I love baking during this season…
Roasted pumpkin with rosemary and garlic, delicious!
What about this Peanut butter and Pumpkin French Toast? Sounds like the right way to start a crisp but sunny Sunday morning…
You can find the recipe here.
And did you know that you can make your own pumpkin based gnocchi? Not only tasty, but also a healty, clean and low-calorie replacement for regular gnocchi:
Pumpkin Gnocchi recipe from The Skinny Fork.
I hope you got some inspiration for incorporating some delightful additions to your own Autumnal experience. What are your must haves? Let me hear about them in the comments section!Thanks for Reading,
