This post originally appeared in my newsletter, The Sophisticate.
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Something to Try
Thanks to the rising popularity of September and October weddings, some of the most gorgeous floral arrangements I’ve seen over the past few years have been distinctly autumnal. Featuring pale pink roses, rich burgundy tones, mums, and more, I think fall florals have a dramatic beauty to them that is unlike any other season.
If you want to build a beautiful fall arrangement, consider mixing and matching from the following, focusing on warm, saturated tones like deep red, burgundy, burnt orange, and yellow:
- Chrysanthemums (mums): You see them on front porches everywhere, but mums are an inexpensive and incredibly long-lasting cut flower for your arrangements as well.
- Sunflowers: A classic fall harvest flower! Add height and a pop of color with a couple of sunflowers. Be sure to include plenty of dense, strong stems around the sunflowers as they can have a tendency to flop over from their heavy faces.
- Dahlias: These bold, layered blooms pop up in the most beautiful reds, purples, and burgundies. I think an all-dahlia arrangement looks stunning, but they also serve as gorgeous accent flowers in a varied arrangement.
- Marigolds: Mostly found in bright orange or yellow tones, they are hardy and grow like weeds so they’re inexpensive to add as filler in your arrangements.
- Panicle Hydrangeas: These cone-shaped hydrangeas turn from creamy white to dusty pink as the temperatures cool off. Big, voluminous bunches (as seen above) are the most simple and stunning fall arrangement in my opinion. They can be dried and kept for months!
Something to Know
Among the most planted and most famous wine grapes in the world is Cabernet Sauvignon, a French varietal that is actually the child of the Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc grapes. It produces wines that are full-bodied with rich tannins, ranging from fruity to savory depending on the location where it’s grown.
Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were first planted in California in the 1850s by Jean-Louis Vignes after he brought clippings from the Bordeaux region of France. For more than 100 years, the grape thrived in California, especially in the North Coast, which includes Sonoma and Napa.
The old guard of the wine world scoffed at the idea of US wines until the fateful 1976 Judgement of Paris. This was a wine competition in Paris to commemorate the Bicentennial of the United States. Wine experts participated in a blind tasting of Chardonnays and red wines (Bordeaux blends from France and Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley). Much to everyone’s surprise, wines from Napa Valley took first place in both categories.
This event completely changed the perception of California wines, and to this day, California Cabs are some of the most prized, age-worthy, and valuable wines in the world. The most covetable bottles come from Napa and Sonoma, but you can find great value options from Paso Robles and the Central Coast. Enjoy them with rich, full foods like grilled steak, lamb, burgers, aged cheddar, or dark chocolate.
Three Good Things
First and foremost, The Sophisticate is not in the business of trying to sell you things you don’t want or need. This section is meant to share three things that have improved my life, and a little bit about why you might like them too.
These will occasionally contain affiliate links. If you click one and ultimately decide to make a purchase, I may earn a small commission of roughly 5-10%. If you want to shop using my links, great! Easy for you, teeny tiny paycheck for me.
However, it’s very important to me that you trust that I’m not just pushing links to make money, so if you’d rather purchase outside of my affiliate link, I completely get it! To do so, just be sure to shop from an incognito browser and type the product name into search rather than copy and paste my link.
That said, I hope you’ll find that some of these recommendations may be the solution to a problem you’ve been having, or are simply a fun little luxury to add to your daily life.
Wine Decanter
Impress your guests or simply upgrade your evening glass of wine with an elegant decanter. The idea behind decanting your red wine is to expose a larger surface area to oxygen, which helps to open up the tannins in the wine. It’s easier to use and to clean than it looks!
Vintage Copper Floral Compote
In the spirit of fall florals, I recommend adding a vintage floral compote to your vase collection. These are a florist’s staple – a bit of floral foam is all you need to support a gorgeous, wedding centerpiece-worthy arrangement right at home. Here’s one I found on Etsy from a highly-rated seller!
Chanel Rouge Coco Flash Lipstick
I’m a huge proponent of keeping your makeup collection small but luxurious. I rotate through just a handful of lipsticks that I know work for me, but because I buy very few, I allow myself to really splurge on something that will both look great on and feel elegant to carry. This moisturizing Chanel lipstick is one of those that I love!
Recipe of the Day
If you’re looking for an easy fall appetizer that’s guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser, try baked brie! The rich, creamy cheese melts slightly in the oven and is delicious with some honey or maple syrup. I like this recipe that has pecans for some crunch, and it scores the brie for easier dipping. It’s absolutely foolproof and the hit of any party where it’s served!
Baked Brie
Tasteful Living, As Told by You
One of the things that inspired me to create The Sophisticate was reading what other women online had to say about taste, style, and living well. This section is dedicated to tips and advice submitted by you, The Sophisticate subscribers!
Send us a message on Instagram @sophisticate.newsletter to share your favorite little luxuries, healthy habits, or other tasteful tips with us and we may include you in a future newsletter.
“My New Year’s resolution for 2026 was to rely way less on food delivery. Oh my gosh, how rewarding it has been! I’m saving so much money and have become a way better cook. I’ve learned how to perfect my favorite comfort dishes that I used to order. I recommend everyone tries this for 2027.”
Kayla, 29, Atlanta
Letter from the Editor
I have been so enjoying hearing from you all about ways that you eat, drink, shop, dress, and live well. If you have ideas to share or suggestions for this newsletter to improve, please do reach out!
I’ve been rewatching the Gossip Girl fall/Thanksgiving episodes over the weekend (why not!) and while there’s plenty going on in the show that nobody would find admirable, I always find there are many elements to aspire to. The women in the show are fabulous and exorbitantly wealthy, but ambitious, intelligent, worldly, and cultured at the same time. They know their designers, luxury hotels, and fashion shows just as well as they know how to navigate state dinners, Ivy League admissions, ballet openings, and conversations in French. This newsletter is all about embracing the glamorous aspects of womanhood (the clothes, the jewelry, the lipstick) as well as the skills, knowledge, and ambitions that any sophisticated woman should have. Another reason to rewatch!
Abbie Leonardi
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