A Day With Lauren

Oh, Autumn. What a beautiful time of year: the leaves are changing, the air is crisp and the colours of the season can't be beat. Depending on which city you live in, this season can be short lived and the prequel to the looming winter months that may mean endless snow shovelling and below zero temperatures. In Vancouver, September and October are some of my favourite months and can almost feel like an extended summer. Autumn also kind of reminds me of that awkward stage when you're growing your hair out from short to long and you don't really know what to do with it. Same goes for this season: you can't wear your winter wools but t-shirts aren't warm enough. You want to wear flats but it's a bit too cold and you can't be bothered to pull out the knee high boots just yet. As I mentioned from my summer style post, accessorizing for the season is a great way to stay on trend, transition pieces in your wardrobe from season to season (white after labour day IS ok, everyone!), and not necessarily break the bank. See what looks I'm falling for... (see what I did there?):

Chokers: They stayed around! This trend has been consistent since spring and it seems to be gaining only more momentum and people are getting more creative with these necklaces. I'm not saying that I will go full bling but I am enjoying experimenting with different lengths and tying looks. I found this one at The Latest Scoop.

The Cape: This article of clothing is probably the one I get the most flack for, and it's not new flack. It dates back to high school when I rocked a knitted poncho look while everyone else was wearing sweat pants to school. Maybe I was just ahead of my time? I am an old soul after all. The cape is a great layering piece and an easy alternative to a trench or raincoat for a brisk fall day. Since a cape is a lot of fabric, I'd suggest pairing with more fitted pieces for the most flattering look. I paired it with jeans and a t-shirt, it worked well for my afternoon of leaf tossing. You can find this cape at Nordstrom.

The Bold Lip: The lip is such a game changer in the world of make up. Recently I was heading out for the evening and had no time to put any effort into my makeup but I opted for this dark plum lip shade. It's the easiest way to update a look from day to night and really makes your lips the statement. No need to go heavy on the rest of the face, either! I love easy makeup routines. I'd definitely suggest a lip liner first and to colour in the lip. It helps the lipstick not bleed and it will stay on longer. I saw this great youtube video as well. This lipstick is one of of my favourites and it's from Ana V Beauty!

Hats: Some will be surprised to hear that as much as I love to dress up I LOVE to wear baseball hats just as much. You never know which version of me will be showing up to dinner. My parents bought me this hat for my birthday and I'm happily expanding my baseball hat collection to this wide brimmed hat. I've tried the floppy hat before but I find myself just jerking my neck around trying to see all day - in a not-so-graceful manner. This hat stays out of my eyes and can be a life saver on a bad hair day. Another find from Nordstrom, here.

Mixing Patterns: Every time I invest in a new article of clothing I try to think of at least 5 things I can wear it with and how it can transition from season to season - this helps in justifying purchases (especially those with a hefty price tag). I'm so happy that the "no white after labour day" rule is long gone (exhibit A below). I think white is such a crisp colour that can be a perfect way to update an outfit and a fresh change from the black, gray, navy, brown neutral. This skirt paired well with this buffalo plaid print and complemented the black panelling on the skirt. I'm a big fan of mixing prints; some tips to keep in mind when pairing pieces are:
- Pair pieces in the same colour family
- Play around with scales of prints (think large and small polka dots)
- Mix the SAME prints (example: floral on floral)
- When in doubt, neutrals are always the perfect pair

So these are some of my favourite fall looks this year (also! you can't forget the blanket scarf that makes for the ideal array of clothing while watching the rain or snow fall down outside...) I hope I've inspired you to shop your closet and re-evaluate that summer wardrobe before you forget it. But also don't shy away from jumping on a new trend or lip shade.

Enjoy this beautiful season! I feel like old man winter while be knocking on the door before we know it...

All photos taken by the lovely and talented, Jess! Check out her Instagram @thehappyjess!