#MVFall19: London + Fall Must Haves

Ah, Fall. My favourite season of the year. Perhaps it’s because it includes all of my favourite things: PSL (I’m basic), cozy blankets, apple-picking, and the smell of looming holiday seasons. And we are right in the midst of it my friends. Not only did I collect all of the Fall things, I packed them up into a suitcase, and headed to a brand new spot in the world I’ve never been before…

And let me tell you, Fall in London truly felt like the best way to experience the season. 

By now, you might have seen the plethora of trips I’ve taken every season with my best friends – Dave, Vic, and Peter (otherwise known as the DVP in #MDVP). But for Fall, Vic and I use the season as an excuse to get away on a little girl’s trip to celebrate the cozy, layering season. In previous years, we’ve gone to Paris for our annual Fall pilgrimage, but this year, we chose London. And to be honest, I had some reservations about the city at first. I thought it would be boring, uneventful, and basically North America in Europe… with cute accents. I was sorely mistaken. 

As with our other seasonal editorials, I’m rounding up, not only my favourite places and most Instagrammable spots to check out in London, but also some of my Fall favourites I’ve picked up recently and have been loving. And the English would say, Cheers to that!

Traveling certainly makes you think twice about what bags in your closet are the ones worth keeping for years. I always think about what’s going to be the most practical and what’s going to match with the most outfits when I pack bags and purses for my trips. Last summer, I got introduced to the Canadian brand called Pixie Mood and fell in love with, not only their practical and goes-with-everything designs, but also the mission and brand philosophy behind their bags. 

All of Pixie Mood’s bags are vegan and made with cruelty-free materials. Despite this, their bags still feel so luxe… without a luxe price. I always find that their designs are minimal enough to be super versatile with so many different outfits, but also work in outfits from day to night. I picked up 2 must-have bags from their Fall collection, inspired by vintage-feels with a twist, and never felt like I needed anything else. 

The Leila Backpack

This cognac-coloured, seemingly compact backpack was the true MVP of my Fall adventures in London. Because it’s got really sleek lines, it gives off an almost sophisticate athleisure look. The colour is originally what drew me in – nothing screams Fall more than this burnt orange colour. It also goes with pretty much everything and is the perfect subtle pop of colour for any neutral outfit. In terms of practicality, the Leila Backpack blew me out of the Thames River. It fits SO much more than I thought when I originally saw it online. It not only fits a 15-inch Macbook Pro (with its very own laptop compartment), but it also includes so many different zippered compartments, a sleeve on the back to secure your backpack to your luggage (clutch!), AND also comes with a detachable lined wristlet, so that you can check your backpack in at coatcheck and still have a purse with you. I can’t rave about this backpack enough, and you’ll 100% see it in tons of outfits to come. 

The Diana Bag

This small, but mighty, gorgeously embellished pouch is the bag that gets you noticed. It’s made with this beautifully durable satin, adorned with a gone toned shoulder chain and an elastic cinched opening. Because of the way its made, it looks small, but let me tell you, fits EVERYTHING. I fit my TWO phones, wallet, keys, and small vlogging camera into this baby. I hate when evening bags are so small, they barely fit a lipstick, so the Diana bag is a welcomed addition to my evening wardrobe. It comes in black and navy, but I thought that the Olive colour was so unique and really made the jewel embellishments shine. You can use it as a cross-body or as a clutch, and it’s legit my new go-to evening bag. 

If this sounds like dèja vu… it might just be. Skincare is always top of mind with every seasonal change. As the weather drastically shifts, so does your skin and its needs. The one thing that truly hasn’t changed in my skincare is Estee Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair Serum. I’ve used it for 4 years, talk about it at just about every occasion I’m given, and will likely buy it ever 2-3 months (how long it takes me to finish a bottle) until the day I can no longer stand haha 

If you want the nitty gritties, it has this technology full of anti-oxidants and Hyaluronic Acid that locks in moisture (without clogging pores – for those that know my acne struggles) and instantly makes your skin smoother, brighter, and brighter. Test it at night and I PROMISE you’ll wake up with nicer skin that you went to sleep in. It’s won 150 different worldwide awards and is by far the best overall, good-for-everyone serum on the market (in my humble opinion). 

New Kid On The Block: Advanced Night Repair Concentrate

But this year, Estee Lauder through a curve ball my way and launched a new product called the Advanced Night Repair Concentrate: an overnight treatment that works to reset the skin faster and really amp up your skin’s natural repairing qualities. Naturally, given how much I love its sister product, I had to give it a try. And London was the best test for it. My skin was jet-lagged, dehydrated from poor airplane air, and irritated by all of the change I was putting it through by traveling so much. I used it at night after the Advanced Night Repair Serum and the extra boost was incredible. I was worried that the “concentrated” formula would make me break out, but the formula is lightweight and doesn’t clog my pores. I use it when my skin is really acting up or when I’m traveling for that extra boost, and it looks like my skincare regime officially has a new addition!

Let’s get into Fall fashion – arguably, most people’s favourite season. I love my girly summer dresses, but something about layering for the Fall makes my heart skip a beat. If you’ve visited my Youtube channel before, you’ll know I obsess over pleated skirts. They are by far one of my multi-seasonal essentials. They instantly make your outfit look feminine and refined, but can be transitioned to just about any style. 

If you’re looking to pick up some Fall pleated skirts, H&M has an incredible selection. And if you’re shopping at H&M, don’t forget to get their cash back from Rakuten. They’re always my first stop when online shopping (because getting paid to shop is bomb.com in my books). 

Here were some of my favourite Fall skirt looks from my trip to London:

Just like a good pleated skirt, a power suit is another one of my Fall (but really, every season, essentials). Whenever I wear a suit, I always have people complimenting my style, but TBH, it’s legit the easiest outfit you could put together. It’s already matched for you, it instantly looks put-together, and each piece of the suit can really go the extra mile. 

Here were some of my favourite Fall suits from my trip to London: 

And if you’re looking to head to London soon yourself, well, girl I gotchu. I’ve been really loving living life “off the gram” recently and caring less about getting the “perfect Instagram” picture, but these spots we put on our itinerary aren’t just great for the ‘gram lens, they’re just incredible to see. Here’s a round up of our favourite places (and tips for visiting each of them) that we visited in London: 

With that, I hope you all have an inspiring rest of your day, remember that kindness doesn’t cost a thing, and I hope your Fall has been filled with great skin, cute outfits, and all of the cozy Fall vibes!

*** This post was made in generous partnership with my friends at Pixie Mood, Estee Lauder Canada, and Rakuten Canada. All thoughts, opinions, and recommendations are exclusively my own. 

What’s your go-to Fall must-have? Comment below!