How to Frenchify Your Fall

How to Frenchify Your Fall

The first signs of Fall have made it to Chicago. The leaves are starting to change color and crunch underneath my boots and the once warm evenings of Summer are turning cool and crisp. It is time to embrace Fall and all the changes that come with the season. I am teaming up with my Francophile friend Meghan of Wit and Whimsy to bring you ideas to Frenchify Your Fall.

Meghan and I were both very lucky to spend last Fall in Paris and we even had the opportunity to meet up for a sunset stroll on the Seine and a cocktail at Saint James Paris. We hope these ideas help transport you safely to Paris from the comfort and safety of your own home.

Meghan’s Picks to Frenchify Your Fall:

• Master the art of an apple galette. A galette is a rustic tart filled with fruit and apple is one of my very favorite renditions of it. Make an apple galette to change up your seasonal baking and of course, don’t forget to top it with a boule de glace (ice cream).

• Treat yourself to a versatile sweater from Sezane. The Gaspard sweater by Sezane is one of my very favorites as it can be worn both backward and forwards. I own it in both black and the new camel color that’s perfect for Fall. I size down to a Size Small.

• Learn how to make classic French sauces. Rebecca’s and my favorite cooking school in Paris, La Cuisine Paris, recently started offering some of their classes virtually and the Classic French Sauces course sounds perfect for Fall. Master the sauces now and then use them for comforting meals all Fall & Winter long.

• Get a new pair of French kicks. Sneaker brand Veja hails from France and I just picked up this new pair of sneakers perfect for Fall and for pairing with all my ivory knits. Join the brigade of French girls sporting these sneakers this season.

• Read The New Parisienne. Give yourself a dose of French female empowerment reading The New Parisienne by Lindsey Tramuta. I bought it over the summer and have been really enjoying the profiles included in the book!

• Get a skincare consultation from Caudalie. One of my favorite French brands, Caudalie, has been offering virtual skincare consultations for free this year! I did one over the summer and learned so much. Now is the perfect time to reassess your skincare regimen as the seasons change and as the air gets drier. There’s no commitment to purchase required but you will score a discount on any products you’re keen to buy!

• Buy a bottle of Calvados to sip on cool evenings. Calvados is a variety of brandy made from apples grown and made in Normandy in northern France. It’s the perfect taste of Fall.

• Indulge in a new Fall-inspired fragrance. I love the perfumes by French brand Bastide and their Figue Amour Eau de Toilette will transport you to that delicious time of year as summer turns to Fall.

• Transport yourself to the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris. This video shows off Fall’s colors in one of my favorite parks in Paris.

• Make French hot chocolate. If you know, you know. The French do hot chocolate right. Super thick and creamy and oh-so-indulgent. Here’s a recipe you can use to make it at home.

• Buy a candle to transport you to France in the Fall. Homesick’s France candle will give you Fall in France feels thanks to its hints of warm café au lait and croissants with a touch of tobacco and lavender.

• Enjoy a Fall inspired French dinner. Pork and apples is such a delicious combo and this apple glazed Pork Tenderloin dish sounds perfectly comforting for the Fall season. Try it with a side of Gratin Dauphinois, too!

• Listen to a Parisian-inspired playlist. Transport yourself to Paris with my Spotify playlist Paris is Always a Good Idea. I particularly love listening to it while baking or cooking.

Rebecca’s Picks to Frenchify Your Fall:

• Master the Paris flâneur. Walk with no purpose and get lost. Take a long walk in a new neighborhood. The French are wearing stylish sneakers like these from Sézane or Madewell perfect for a walk.

• Burn a candle at home. Feu de Bois and Pomander are favorites for a Fall scent from Diptyque. I also love the newest Diptyque Paris scent which smells woodsy and very Fall.

• Listen to Jazz. Stream TSF Jazz at home or enjoy my Spotify Jazz playlist.

• Drink a glass of French red wine. Now that you have your French jazz and a candle. It is time to open a bottle of French red. Sommelier delivers French wine right to your door. There are also great affordable wines at Trader Joes.

• Read “The Lost Vintage”. While you have wine on your mind. My friend Ann Mah wrote, “The Lost Vintage” which will transport you to a vineyard in Burgundy.

• Curl up with a soft throw/blanket. As the weather changes, get warm under a blanket while you read and enjoy your glass of wine on a crisp Fall evening. Perfect for a weekend nap too. Henri and I love this one from Boll and Branch and this one is on my bed.

• Escape to Paris virtually. Explore this blog post for the best places to see Paris in the Fall. 

• Make French Onion Soup. The first cold evening of the Fall calls for French Onion Soup. I love this recipe from La Cuisine. 

• Decorate with Dried Flowers. Put a vase on your fireplace mantel or end table with dried hydrangea from your local market or flower shop.

• Tea Time. When I am in Paris I always stock up on my favorite teas from Mariage Frères, Palais de Thès, and Dammann Frères. When you work from home, this is a perfect afternoon break, and don’t forget a madeleine.

• Dress for the season. Invest in a few key pieces for Fall that will carry over for the next few years. Meghan and I both own this Sézane Johnson coat. (We are both wearing it in this post!) This Gaspard sweater from Sézane is also a Fall wardrobe staple.

• Indulge in self-care. Try an online yoga class and hydrate your dry skin with a beauty face mask. I swear by this Sisley Paris Sleep Mask. 

This post includes affiliate links. I make a small commission off of items purchased through my links. Merci!

We hope this post inspires ideas to Frenchify Your Fall this year. For more from Meghan, you can check out her blog Wit and Whimsy.

And if you do end up doing any of our recommendations we’d love you to tag us @meghandono and @everydayparisian on Instagram so we can share!

P.S. 10 Places to See Paris in the Fall and Paris Fall Fashion Trends