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Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers, Joe McKendry Two impactful events happened this fall: I started going to the gym in the morning, and I participated in the mass exodus from Pinterest (the influx of AI images and incessant ads have deterred me from the site). Now, I thrift magazines and do some old-school collaging after work to get inspired — I can’t recommend this enough for anyone looking for an affordable, screen-free hobby. I’ve also been putting my HIM (from Powerpuff Girls) Halloween costume together with pink boas, lobster claws, and lots of hot glue. In short, it’s been a very crafty October. Saved View Want to be emailed when products you’ve saved are over 20% off? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale. Yes New! You can now save this product for later. $10 When I first jumped into collaging, I just whipped out my old sketchbook and a tiny box cutter I had lying around. This set is much more efficient. The board is a bit small for my larger cutouts, but it’s still a saving grace for my glass desk. Saved View Want to be emailed when products you’ve saved are over 20% off? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale. Yes New! You can now save this product for later. Lots of my Pinterest boards focused on ’70s fashion, so I’ve been hunting for vintage Black culture magazines featuring oversize collars, tailored suits, and elements of disco (and lots of powdery eye shadow). It’s also nice to incorporate quotes around the page from the articles to enhance the mood. Saved View Want to be emailed when products you’ve saved are over 20% off? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale. Yes New! You can now save this product for later. $14 Villains always outdress the heroes. Therefore, they’re the most fun to dress up as. HIM’s most prominent features are the lobster claws, so I’ll be clutching beverages and adjusting my pink-feather boa with these crustacean gloves all night long on Friday. Saved View Want to be emailed when products you’ve saved are over 20% off? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale. Yes New! You can now save this product for later. Princess Polly Velvet Mini Dress - Red $9 $58 now 84% off $9 I achieved one of my best deal hunts to date while curating this costume: a minidress for 84 percent off. And I’ll just say that $9 is the exact price this dress deserves. Saved View Want to be emailed when products you’ve saved are over 20% off? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale. Yes New! You can now save this product for later. I also grabbed a pair of boots that will work with my costume and with plenty of outfits after Halloween. These are under $100 but very well made. The heel is sturdy, my feet don’t get crunched by the pointed toe, and the faux leather has a nice sheen, not a tacky glare. Here’s everything else I’ve seen recently … Saved View Want to be emailed when products you’ve saved are over 20% off? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale. Yes New! You can now save this product for later. I sift through sales every day, so I’ve been capitalizing on lots of fall fashion deals. My favorite buy this fall is this pair of cropped wool trousers, purchased during Cos’s Friends and Family sale. I’m already wearing them nonstop with knee-high boots and turtlenecks galore. They were 30 percent off, but they’re definitely worth their full price — especially if, like me, you’re not too keen on long skirts but yearn for loose and flowy comfort. Saved View Want to be emailed when products you’ve saved are over 20% off? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale. Yes New! You can now save this product for later. Photo: Retailer As to not succumb to the “Gen-Z Uniform” (light-wash denim and a leather jacket), I also picked up these black jeans for 40 percent off. They’re sturdy but insanely soft and hang nicely on the hips. Saved View Want to be emailed when products you’ve saved are over 20% off? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale. Yes New! You can now save this product for later. My fall turtleneck of choice. I bought three different colors at Everlane’s fall sale. Saved View Want to be emailed when products you’ve saved are over 20% off? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale. Yes New! You can now save this product for later. $126 People hyperfixate on black and white shoes, but I’m team brown through and through. My new favorite fall shoe — last year I rocked these SpongeBob-y shoes until the lug soles started coming off — is the Nike Tech Hera. The dark-cocoa suede goes with everything, and the fun wavy midsole is so comfortable. They’re compliment magnets. Saved View Want to be emailed when products you’ve saved are over 20% off? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale. Yes New! You can now save this product for later. Zami: A New Spelling of My Name by Audre Lorde $14 $18 now 22% off $14 And finally, I fell off my reading goal this summer, so I picked up this book that I knew would get me back into the habit. It’s so easy to get immersed in Audre Lorde’s introspective prose. More From The Strategist I’ve Been Sleeping So Well Since I Started Spraying Magnesium on My Feet The Best Clean Anti-Aging Skin-care Routine, According to Experts An Advent Calendar for Every Kind of Person The Best in Class Hall of Fame See All The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. On My Mind: Rib Turtlenecks and Lobster Claws
