Fall Fatshion Bucket List

With numerous new trends and a plethora of tried and true classics in stores this Autumn, what's a fatshionista to do? Start a Fall Fashion Bucket List, of course! Check out mine below, and let me know what's on yours.

1. Duster cardigans. Last week, while I was blissfully floating in a pool in the Florida sunshine, I looked up and noticed a woman in short shorts and a cozy cardigan that fell below her knee. All I could think was, "damn, that's chic!", followed by "I'll be wearing my duster cardigans 24/7 when I get back to Toronto!". I love that this piece is versatile and can be layered for any season.

2. Lariat necklaces. I've only recently begun to appreciate this style, and I'm glad I'm on the bandwagon now. Lariat necklaces are so elegant!

3. Striped sweaters. The rule stating that "fat girls aren't supposed to wear horizontal stripes" is total bullshit. Accentuate those curves, baby-- and stay cozy at the same time!

4. Loafers. When I was in high school, my mom gifted me a pair of chocolate brown leather loafers. I was amazed by how comfy they were! I dubbed them my "man shoes" (I'm a fan of menswear as fashion-for-any-and-all-genders so I thought that name was hilarious) and wore them 'til they fell apart. So I'm glad loafers will be in stores this Autumn... I'll be picking up a couple pairs!

5. Ankle booties. More from the footwear department... Ankle booties will keep your feet warmer than loafers will, but they can still be dressed up or down and found quite affordably. This pair from Eloquii is on my wishlist.

6. Houndstooth. This classic pattern works on coats, capes and even shoes! I love how College Fashion styled these houndstooth skirts.

What's on your Fall Fatshion Bucket List?

The easiest way to dress up your outfit this autumn

Cute, cozy scarves make a casual outfit chic. Here are my top picks for this autumn (product info here):

What's your favourite way to accessorize with a scarf?

10 Fun Things To Do This Fall (Whether You Have Fibro or Not!)

My pain has been really bad for the past few weeks, so I've been down in the dumps (hence my not writing as often as usual). Fortunately, Autumn is here; the new season is an excellent opportunity to renew enthusiasm for the little things in life. Goodness knows that in coping with chronic illness, a little positivity goes a long way.

So this Fall, why don't you...

1 Take a hike. Tread on crisp, crunchy leaves and admire the foliage's breathtaking colour.

2 If your body can't take a 10k, just get outside. A leisurely nature walk or sitting in a park may be more your speed (I know it's mine-- at least for now!).

3 Head to an apple orchard. Few things say Fall like hot apple pie and picking your very own Granny Smiths.

4 Make nature-inspired crafts. Try leaf rubbings, carving pumpkins or painting with fall colours.

5 Flaunt Fall nail art. Head to your favourite manicurist, or try a DIY mani. Ideas: Oxblood polish, black cats or cozy plaid.

6 Exercise outside. Since I have fibromyalgia, my doctor recommends I do stretches daily. I plan to take advantage of crisp Autumn mornings by taking my workout outside.

7 Upgrade your fall wardrobe with chunky knits, tall boots and fuzzy socks.

8 Donate non-perishables to a local food bank. Sometimes when your own pain is bad, helping a stranger can help you feel better. And since Thanksgiving is coming, food banks need all the help they can get.

9 Embrace an Autumn beauty trend, like the smoky eye (a classic), or black lipstick (for the daring).

10 Bake cookies. Bonus if they're shaped like cats, leaves or pumpkins!

Do you have anything exciting planned this Fall?

My Fall Beauty Bag

Mid-way through this Fall, I've noticed that many of my go-to beauty products have changed with the seasons, while some old standbys have remained in my glittery makeup bag year-round:

-Mascara. I love Julep's mascara. It lengthens beautifully and comes in a cute bottle.

-Lip balm with SPF. Just because there's less sun in Fall doesn't mean your lips don't need protection from UV rays. I like Maybelline's Baby Lips. To moisturize my lips, I prefer EOS in sweet mint.

-Moisturizer with SPF. See above. Plus, my skin feels hydrated and healthy. I usually don't even put foundation on top. I love Yves Rocher's hydrating moisturizer.

-Lip stain. Dark, statement-making lips are en vogue, and I love how a berry lip looks on me. Stain means I don't have to touch it up often, which is great for a busy girl.

-Lip gloss. I use gloss every season! Right now I'm really enjoying Cake's (and you can buy a tube from my store).

-Nail polish: Revlon's polish is fabulous! Lately I've been alternating between "Minted" and "Cherries in the Snow" manicures.

What's in your fall beauty bag? How are you going to update it for winter?

Comfy, Cozy, Stylish Sweaters

A great sweater can take you from day to night and from Autumn to Winter. Here are some of my top choices:

Lace trim cardigan. Lace detailing adds to the elegance of a cardigan. This one would look amazing with jeans and a top, or over a dress.

Striped sweater: Three words: classic, casual & fashionable.

Open front. I have a striped open front like this in black and blue. I bought it last year (at Zellers, not Torrid) and still adore it.

Feminine: Sweet, girly details like ribbon and lace in pastel shades make this style to die for!

Boyfriend button down: A comfy top to borrow from your bf! Wear it with skinny pants or a short skirt for a really cute look.

Colour blocking: The colour blocking trend lives on! I like this option from Old Navy.

All-over print cardigan. This star print cardi is cute and casual. I like the v-neck, and would pair it with some ballet flats, leggings and a lace trim camisole.

For more sweaters, click through to my Polyvore by clicking the picture at the top of this post. My picks range from $11 to $169 and are made in a variety of colours, sizes and fabrics to suit every budget, body shape and taste.

Which sweater is your favourite?

Fall Beauty Wishlist

We've already talked about Fall Beauty Trends to Try, but what about the new (or new to us) products we can't resist? Here are my top 6:

1 Butter London's Fall Collection looks amazing, but I'm especially gobsmacked about the aptly named Gobsmacked nail polish!

2 Teal is one of my favourite colours, and a perfect way to update the classic smokey eye. After lining your eyes with sultry smudged black or dark brown, add a flick of teal.

3 Show-stopping brows are big this Autumn. Shape (but don't thin) yours with an all in one brow kit for the best results. Wet n Wild's brow kit is the best value I've ever seen, and I intend to buy it again.

4 Rosy cheeks were all over NYFW's runways, so embrace the natural look and swipe on some blush. I'd love to try Nars'.

5 Flawless skin is always in, and BB cream can't seem to stay on drugstore shelves. I'd love to try Maybelline's.

6 A rich red lipstick, like this one from L'Oreal, will bring out the vamp in you.

What Fall beauty products and trends are you most excited to try?

4 Fall Beauty Trends to Try

As summer lazily draws to a close, I'm itching to enjoy Fall's chilly mornings, hot cinnamon lattes and chic cosmetics. When you get a taste of the luscious looks below, I'm sure you'll be excited, too.


1 Rosy Cheeks. Natural shades of pink that make you look like you just walked in from the cool Autumn air are right on-trend. Libby at The Style Dossier has some great tips.


2 Berry or Burgundy Lips. At Marc Jacobs, Shiseido's Dick Page painted models' lips rich shades and left the rest of their faces bare, save for neutral eyeshadow. Page explained, "sometimes what you leave off is just as important as what you put on".


3 Bold Brows. Elle Canada called them "spring's key feature", and it looks like we still haven't had enough of them. Smooth and sculptured or large and bushy, bigger is better.


4 Smokey Eyes. As if they ever went out of style! This season, try a glossy eye shadow or turquoise liner.

Which look is your favourite?

Image Sources:
1 2 3 4