Cozy Fall Inspiration

I was scrolling back through some of my older posts and realized something – every fall, like clockwork, I get the urge to toss up a little seasonal inspiration. Here’s my post from 2021 and here’s one from 2023 too. As soon as there’s a chill in the air, I want to dig through my closet, mix things up, and find fresh ways to welcome autumn.

So, in keeping with tradition, here are a few images that are giving me all the cozy, pumpkin spice, crunchy-leaf vibes this year.

When it comes to accessories:

Sources: Amazon, my closet, Warby Parker

I’m obsessed with this dark olive green nail polish shade for my toenails right now. Its OPI in “Suzi the First Lady of Nails” and I love it! Also on my ‘feeling for fall’ list is the cowboy boots I thrifted in Arizona (I added these fluffy insoles inside and now they are cute AND comfortable) and my platform low-top Chucks (also thrifted). I’ve been wearing both with all the skirts lately and will be adding tights to the look soon.

I found this chunky two-tone necklace at a consignment shop and can’t wait to layer it along with other chains with all my fall looks. As for those gorgeous wine-berry colored glasses, they are the Dasia glasses from Warby Parker. I tried them on while helping my husband pick out his new glasses and they might be my new pair once I get my prescription updated next month. They reminded me that I own a similar colored pair of readers, so I switched them out with my heavily used pair to give me a little variety.

Clothing inspo:

Sources: my closet, Pendelton and Lucky Brand

I thrifted the Everlane striped sweater in the spring and I’m still obsessed with it. I can’t wait to wear it a billion times this fall with jeans and joggers. The plaid/velvet/embroidered Johnny Was top was bought secondhand in Florida in August, so I’m patiently waiting until the weather allows me to throw it on as a kooky fun layer!

I love Pendelton designs SO MUCH, even though they are mostly out of my comfort price range. I have picked up two of their cotton cardigans secondhand over the past year or so and I love throwing them on over a simple v-neck t-shirt or graphic tee (here’s my orange version). They will be appearing a bunch this fall. As for the jeans, I’m excited that boot cut/baby boot cut are back around! I’ve been gravitating towards a darker wash and recently ordered a couple pairs (including this pair) from Lucky Brand to try.

As you notice, most of my fall inspiration comes from items I’ve collected secondhand and I’m shopping my own closet for my inspo. I don’t feel like I need to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe each season. And really, who can do that anyways?! Instead, I like to collect a few new pieces that I love throughout the year and pack them away until the right season comes around and I can fully enjoy them.

Disclaimer: This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. This means that clicking on a link may help me earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Lululemon Align Joggers: Thoughts on the Amazon Dupe

A couple years ago, I stumbled across a pair of Lululemon Align joggers at a consignment shop. They were a size 8, and I typically wear a 12-ish, but I decided to take a chance because… Lululemon. And you know what? SO GOOD.

I am obsessed with these joggers. The fabric is buttery soft, stretchy in all the right ways, and super flattering on my booty. Because they are a size or two smaller than my normal size, they fit like a hybrid of a legging/jogger, which I really like. Even after a couple years of wearing and washing, they still look brand new.

I’m about to retire a pair of my Athleta joggers that have been in heavy rotation since 2020 and thought maybe I’d grab another pair of the Lululemon’s, since I like them so much. But when I saw the price tag on the Lululemon website ($118 for joggers?!). I had to pause. I mean, I love them… but do I love them $118 worth?

So, I did what any thrifty person would do and went on a mission for a dupe. My googling research led me to a highly rated pair on Amazon from The Gym People. They looked really similar in photos, cost $29.99 and were rated 4.3 out of over 26,000 ratings, so I figured it was worth a try.

I ordered my usual size, a large, and waited for magic.

Spoiler alert: there was no magic.

The fabric was fine, but not that same second-skin softness that makes the Lululemon pair so special. The fit was terrible. The waistband wasn’t snug enough to do that nice tummy smoothing thing, but weirdly, the top elastic strip dug in whenever I’d sit down. So, it was somehow loose, but tight and uncomfortable? Impressive in a bad way.

So yeah… I’m calling this dupe a hard pass.

Very disappointing. So now I’m left with finding a pair of Align joggers on Poshmark, waiting for a Lululemon sale/promo code that takes the price a bit lower, or sucking it up and paying full price for a new pair. Unless you all know of an actual good dupe for them? If you do, let me know!

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My Fall Book List for All the Cozy Reading (2025 Version)

Rather than just leave it to updating my yearly book list as I finish each book, I like to give you all smaller recommendation lists as we go through the year. So, if you’re looking for some of my favorite books of 2025 to add to your TBR pile this fall, you’re in the right place!

You can read my mini synopsis and thoughts if you click through to my 2025 Book List, or you can just take my word for it that these are the best of the best, and start reading!

  • The Chestnut Springs series by Elsie Silver: Flawless, Heartless, Powerless, Reckless, Hopeless. This author is amazing with her connected series across family and friends, which allows you to get to know each character through a kaleidoscope lens. The Chestnut Springs series is certainly a romance/romcom series where everyone is going to end coupled up and happy in the end, however, it has a ton of heart too and you fall in love with each group of characters. In fact, its sad when the series ends and you have to say goodbye! If you enjoy a swoony book with a bit of spice, you can’t go wrong with Elsie Silver and this series is great.

  • Part of Your World, Just for the Summer and Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez: This three-book series should be read in order – so don’t do what I did and read the second one first because you get peeks at the other characters. Abby Jimenez can basically do nothing that isn’t fantastic. These are romcoms that stay away from the overly sweet and sappy, but still somehow kick you right in the feelings.

  • Story of My Life by Lucy Score: I LOVE Lucy Score and this book was described as “a Gilmore Girls meets Schitt’s Creek redemption romcom” so yeah, obviously a winner. I enjoyed this book so much and was kinda mad that the second in the series isn’t coming out until March 2026. That’s more of a ‘me’ problem though.

Happy Reading!

Disclaimer: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. This means that clicking on a link may help me earn a small commission at no cost to you.