5 Handbag Trends To Embrace This Fall

These Old Navy cardigans have taken the internet by storm, and for good reason. They come in multiple colors, they're ultra flattering, and they're super soft. The 53 percent cotton x 24 percent recycled polyester is like wrapping yourself up in a blanket, but it's not thick enough that you'll sweat through it. And to top it off, while writing this story, the Old Navy site is telling me 3,839other usersviewed this item today. Grab one while you can!

Target Cozy Knit Button-Front Red Cardigan

Target is always one of my favorite places to hop on a trend while staying within my budget, and its red cardigans are no different. This pick had midweight fabric (made with polyester, acrylic, and spandex) and I'm obsessed with the dimension the ribbed cuffs and tortoiseshell buttons add!

Prefer thinner fabric? This red cardigan has the same classy neckline but features faux pearl buttons that Blair Waldorf would be all over. The cropped hemline is perfect for all your high-rise denim, and considering this sweater comes to just $24, you might as well grab another color or the perfect pair of fall shoes.

I love a crew neckline, but if you're more a V-neck fan, Banana Republic has you covered. The split cuffs and rib knit is ultra modern, and the slim fit means it's perfect for layering. But my favorite part is BR's Responsible Wool Standard that makes sure the sheep themselves are protected.

I'm obsessed with this Zara single-button cardigan just for how unexpected it is. This is great for days you want extra color and dimension but you don't need the warmth of a sweater. The silhouette and square button are classy, but the asymmetrical look gives it a new age look.

If you're looking for a super bright red cardigan, definitely check out this Urban Outfitters piece. If you look closely, you can see it features just a bit of white or gray alongside the red, which makes the whole thing even more eye-catching! Pair with an LBD or my favorite combo: white tee, jeans, and sneakers.

Speaking of LBDs, if you need a red cardigan to dress up an outfit, this cozy sweater is great for any occasion. Despite the fact the cardigan is all one color, the different designs along the hem, collar, and buttons provide plenty of contrast. I'm a firm believer in "the devil's in the details," and these jewel effect buttons prove it!

If you'd describe your style as kitsch, this pointelle sweater will add the perfect dose of creativity to your fall outfits.The design (and four pockets) give it a super cute vintage look, but the cropped hemline and fitted silhouette make it modern enough to go with all the latest trends.

In need of a football game outfit? Something to dress up your grocery store look while staying comfy? This cardigan is what you're looking for. The 100 percent Grade-A cashmere just might make you feel like you're wearing pajamas, and the midweight fabric will keep you warm without leaving you overheated. And once it really gets cold, you can layer it with your favorite turtleneck!

If you're still in desperate need of warm-weather options, this short sleeve piece will give the illusion that you're wearing a cardigan without committing to a thick, fuzzy sweater. The cap sleeves and flayer hem are totally reminding me of all the peplum silhouettes I saw on red carpets this fall. The deep cherry color is also great for anyone who prefers toned-down shades.

Every time I see a piece from French Connection, it stops me in my tracks, and this red cardigan is no exception. It's relaxed, it's bold, it's adorable. I love the way the color of the buttons blend into the sweater, while the shiny material still stands out against the fabric. Wear it buttoned with just a bralette or overtop of a bodysuit! It goes good with everything.

Burgundy Lips

Sophie Vongkhamsao, Beauty and Content Specialist, let us know that burgundy is already becoming a fall fashion staple, but she also predicts the color will quickly become part of the everyday makeup look! Gone are the neutral shades of summer — this look exudes mystery and moodiness, which is just what we're going for! Vongkhamsao says, "Whether it’s a deep merlot or a plummy wine shade, this lipstick will offer some warmth to your skin — but make sure to pick a shade according to your skin tone. Concentrate on having a steady hand when applying your lipstick as darker shades can get messy."

To top it all off, Vongkhamsao says to add a deep lip liner to solidify the look and a little bit of lip oil to moisturize the lips. While I love a burgundy lip for day-to-day makeup, this color gets bonus points for fitting a vampy Halloween or cozy Christmas party look, so we expect it to only grow in popularity over the next few months!

Subdued Smokey Eye 

A smokey eye is a classic and timeless staple — and the dramatic look was especially on-trend for Bratsummer. However, Vongkhamsao says a more subdued version of the look will continue to be trendy throughout the colder months!

This fall, more demure smokey eyes will replace the darker, full glam. In order to achieve this, you'll wanna opt for lighter palettes, leaving the cut crease behind and using lighter grey eyeliner and eyeshadow to highlight your eyes. Vongkhamsao recommends avoiding bright eyeshadows and dark eyeliner, and instead using clear mascara to effortlessly flatter your natural look and lashes!

Grungey Girl Fall Eyes

If you're wanting to take more of a risk and opt for a grungey look, then try the espresso eyeshadow trend. Think tumblr-era-goth vibes, but in a more modern way — the la indie sleeze aesthetic really is back with a veangance. Beauty guru, Victoria Lyn, says that you can achieve this look using an eyeliner or liquid shadow to create an effortless smokey eye in black, brown, or even midnight blues.

This is the perfect makeup trend to end your Brat summer and transition into grungy girl fall. Victoria says that warm spices and jewel tones are the most flattering color palettes for the autumn season. Pumpkin tones, black cherry, and espresso shades are gorgeous not only on the lips but also eyes!

I will definitely be testing this look out myself!

Charcoal-Rimmed Eyes

We're seeing charcoal-rimmed eyes more and more of this fall! This look is such an easy way to flatter any eye color, but especially those with blue and brown eyes.

Wanna try the trend yourself? Simply, use a charcoal eye pencil to line the eyes on the top and bottom lid from your inner corner, and flick it out to elongate the shape. This will leave you looking wide-eyed and stunning all fall and winter long!

Dewy Skin

The dewey skin trend was extremely popular in the summer — we're looking at you, Nicola Coughlan — but guess what? It's not going anywhere according to makeup artist Randall Intrabartola. Fashion week after fashion week this year, it's clear this dewy look is sticking around and turning into a trend for fall and winter as well.

I could totally see this trend transforming into somewhat of a "winter-ice-princess" type of look for the colder months ahead! So hold onto your dewy foundations and liquid highlighters, because this is the look for 2024!

Rosy Cheeks

This is yet another summer trend that has definitely trickled its way into fall thanks to Hailey Bieber! She's brought back the rosy cheeks aesthetic in a way we can't escape. And honestly, I'm not mad about it — when cold weather starts to hit, my cheeks get rosy anyway, so why not make it a look?

I think we'll especially start seeing this light pink, iridescent shade like shown above. It's the ideal shade to take you from summer into fall and winter, eventually pairing with darker lipsticks to give a sugar plum kind of look.

French Red Lip

Lastly, my favorite trend has to be the classic, and oh-so-timeless French red lip. This is bright red lip is perfect, because bright red happens to be a fall color that's trending this season in fashion! So, it's the perfect way to top off a cute, red look by wearing a matching lipstick as well.

When's the best time to do holiday shopping?

The best time to do holiday shopping really all depends on your personal shopping goals. Do you want to get a jump on items you know will sell out soon? Do you want to save the most money possible? Do you want to focus on handmade, personalized gifts? These factors will undoubtedly influence your holiday shopping schedule.

Shopping early can be advantageous for all of the aforementioned goals. A lot of retailers start promoting their holiday products early on, giving you ample time to snatch up that limited-time lip kit or fancy water bottle you’ve been eyeing way before the holidays.

Plus, some of the best deals for holiday shopping happen ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday – in 2023, Experian observed a surge in early spending in October, thanks to early discounts, a trend likely to continue in 2024.

Finally, shopping early can be especially helpful if your plan is to focus on handmade or personalized gifts, giving the artisan you buy from (or yourself, if you’re DIY-ing your gifts) plenty of time to craft the item with love and care.

Gallup reported in 2023 that one in four shoppers start shopping as early as September, a trend likely to continue in 2024 – so you might already be embarking on your shopping spree!

If right now is just still too darn early for you to start holiday shopping, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are some of the best times to shop since so many retailers offer their largest discounts of the entire year. Plus, the late November-early December timeline can feel a bit more appropriate for the gifting season opposed to late October-early November, when everyone’s still recovering from Halloween.

The only thing to consider during this time is the shipping timelines for the items you purchase – but most retailers will typically advise their specific shipping schedules, so you don’t risk your goodies arriving late.

Where should I shop for gifts?

You have three main options when it comes to where to shop for holiday gifts: online, in-store, and via our amazing gift guides. Of course, each method has its advantages and disadvantages.

Shopping in-store offers a tangible experience: the opportunity to hold specific items in your hands and gauge exactly what they’ll be like when you give them as a gift. The pitfall with shopping in-person is that it typically requires a commute and journeys through potentially very busy malls and shopping strips, which can add to the already-stressful holiday experience.

In-store shopping can be more physically exhausting, but it’s all about preference! Sometimes strolling through the stores that get all dolled up for Christmas is the best part of the season.

Per Google, 65% of those planning to shop for the holidays say they will shop online more. Shopping for gifts online can be super helpful since you can centralize your findings in your browser’s bookmark tab or via virtual cart(s). Plus, shopping online can pose more opportunities for saving some money: lots of retailers typically offer discount codes for online users, especially if you sign up for their digital marketing channels (like email and text) and make a purchase.

Shopping online isn’t just shopping, either. The internet can be a stellar research tool to help you vet whether certain products are worth it, where they can be bought, and when they’ll be available. In fact, Google reported that more than half of U.S. holiday shoppers who went into a store last year say they looked up product reviews online and/or located an item in-store by checking it online.

Last but not least, scrolling gift guides has to be our favorite place to shop for gifts – and not just because we write and publish them.

At their very core, gift guides help streamline the holiday shopping process, alleviating the stress that bubbles up when you’re wondering what the heck to shop for in the first place. Our gift guides are backed by real people, real experiences, and real opinions from our editorial team. We only promote products that we really love and believe in, oftentimes ones we’ve tested and reviewed ourselves.

We have gift guides for just about everyone on your list, with more on the way! Check ‘em out:

• Gifts for Him
• Gifts for Her
• Gifts for Foodies
• DIY + Handmade Gifts
• White Elephant Gifts
• Gift Sets

What are the best kinds of gifts to give?

The best kinds of gifts to give are thoughtful gifts that consider the giftee’s interests, wants, and needs. These gifts can be sentimental, practical, or both simultaneously. What matters most in a gift is that it’ll be meaningful to them past just the holiday season, whether it’s helping them get through daily tasks, reminding them of a memorable trip or event, or giving them small doses of joy.

“Shoppers are increasingly looking for personalized and unique gifts that reflect the recipient's personality and interests,” says Mia Anderson, Owner of ChicSew. “With the rise of online shopping, many consumers are opting for curated gift boxes or experiences that add a special touch.”

Gift boxes, personalized items, books of interest, self-care goodies, and even gift cards can all be thoughtful gifts depending on the recipient. If you have no clue what your giftee is into, it’s not a bad idea to ask them what they want the most!

“My idea of a great gift is something that is in tandem with the recipient's interest and offers something new to the person, be it learning a new skill, enjoying a calming activity, or simply spending quality time with the family,” says Alfred Christ, Sales Manager & Marketer at Robotime. “This season, we encourage shoppers to shift their focus on quality and the memories their gifts will create and not just merely material aspects.”

When is Black Friday?

Black Friday is always the Friday after Thanksgiving. This year, Black Friday lands on November 29.

When is Cyber Monday?

Cyber Monday is typcally the Monday after Thanksgiving. This year, Cyber Monday will land on December 2. Oftentimes, retailers and brands extend their online offers through the week (coined Cyber Week) after the event. Salesforce reported that 67% of shoppers in 2024 plan on shopping during Cyber Week!