While fall technically starts at the end of September it often doesn’t actually feel like it until we’re well into October.
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we → start → October
Here at NBC Selected, the true signs of fall are easy to spot, not just by a breeze in the air or the crunch of leaves, but by how many seasonal sales take place.
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sales → spot → place
Earlier this month, we wrote about hundreds of deals during fall Prime Day, and even shopped a bunch of them ourselves.
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we → write → them
Over the course of several sale events — including Target Circle Deal Days and Walmart’s major fall sale — we wrote about, bought and tested products from categories like footwear, beauty, apparel, skin care, appliances and more.
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we → include → footwear
Below, my colleagues and I recommend the products we tested and truly believe are worth sharing.
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we → recommend → products
Some of the brands we loved this month include Adidas, Jellycat, Anyday and Bombas.
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we → love → Adidas
The best products we tried in October 2026
All of the products below were either sent courtesy of the brand for testing or items that we bought ourselves.
Cory Fernandez, commerce editor
These shoes have been the ultimate casual sneaker for a few years now and every once in a while I’m inspired to shop for a new color.
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I → try → color
I recently bought a pair in a brown and white shade that would be perfect to pair with fall fits, including dark-wash jeans and jewel-toned sweaters.
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that → buy → jeans
They’re comfortable and provide a small amount of arch support, though they’re definitely better suited for weekday commutes rather than long-distance walks.
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they → ’re → walks
I love that they come with an extra pair of shoe laces and that the laces are long, which makes them easy to double knot.
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them → love → laces
Plus, I enjoy the suede appearance over the leather — something about it feels more cozy and appropriate for this season.
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something → enjoy → season
Ahead of the holidays and fall hosting season, this brand sent me its marvelous gift basket, which I think is the ultimate gift for a host or anyone you want to say thank you to.
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you → send → you
It’s filled with tons of salty and sweet snacks, including honey-roasted peanuts, olives, hummus, sesame treats, spreadable cheese and a bunch of international sweets, like mini cakes made in Spain and fruit jellies from Italy.
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It → fill → Italy
Everything that comes in it would pair well with a rich fall-friendly red wine like a Rioja or Beaujolais, and the brand sells many wine gift baskets as well.
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brand → come → baskets
Marilyn La Jeunesse, freelance newsletter editor
It’s cardigan season, and this Merino wool number from Abercrombie is the perfect amount of plush and chic.
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number → ’ → plush
While the exact one I received from the brand is now out of stock, this wool-blend option is a comparable alternative — the notable differences are the roll neck and tiny white buttons.
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differences → receive → stock
Either way, the bright cherry red option is absolutely gorgeous — and an unexpected choice for fall that feels trendy.
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that → feel → fall
I’d recommend sizing down if you don’t want an oversized fit.
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you → recommend → fit
I absolutely hate jean shopping.
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I → hate → shopping
As someone with an hourglass figure, most jeans leave a massive waist gap, which happens when denim cuts don’t match a higher hip-to-waist ratio.
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cuts → leave → ratio
I took a chance on a pair of Gap’s Curvy High Rise Barrel Jeans, ordering them in a 29 petite.
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I → take → petite
I didn’t have high hopes, but I was genuinely shocked when the jeans fit perfectly (and looked good on my body).
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jeans → have → body
I love them so much, I bought them in two other colors and will be wearing them on rotation throughout the fall and winter.
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I → love → fall
As my cats age, I’m trying to find them supplements that they’ll actually consume.
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they → age → that
They’re notoriously picky eaters, which makes it hard to invest in high-end oils without feeling like I’m wasting money.
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I → ’re → money
When Open Farm offered to send me a few samples, I knew I wanted to test out their Icelandic fish oil (which they make for both cats and dogs).
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they → offer → cats
I started mixing it into their wet food in the mornings and, to my surprise, they’ve actually been eating it.
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they → start → it
The oil (which doesn’t have any fishy odor) is packed with omegas, which helps joint mobility, skin and coat health and brain function.
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which → have → mobility
I feel better knowing that they’re getting a little extra nourishment in every meal.
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they → feel → meal
When Jellycat invites you to a Halloween party, you go.
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you → invite → party
Dressed as a tired New Yorker (I definitely forgot a real costume), I loved the fully immersive event, complete with donut decorating, a Dylan’s Candy Bar buffet and a massive amount of — you guessed it — Jellycats.
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you → dress → Jellycats
This year’s Halloween collection included adorable stuffed bats, gargoyles, peanuts dressed as black cats and so much more.
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collection → include → cats
At the end of the night, I was gifted a Rufferty Puppy ‘Wizard’ and an Amuseables Vampop Drink, both of which now sit on my bookshelf and are a welcome addition to my ever-expanding collection of Halloween decor.
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both → gift → decor
Shalwah Evans, senior editor
At this point, Adidas needs to make me an ambassador because it seems they can’t make a shoe that I don’t like.
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I → need → that
NBC Selected reporter Zoe Malin gifted these to me and the second I stepped out of my apartment the first time I wore them, someone said they were “cool-looking” shoes and asked me if they were comfy.
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they → select → me
And the answer is yes — they’re so comfortable, the break-in was about two hours and that’s only because the leather is a little stiff on the first wear.
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leather → ’re → wear
They’re the ideal commuter shoe for someone who lives in a city like NYC where you ride the train to work, refuse to do it in your heels, but still want to look good.
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you → ’re → heels
These will probably become my main travel shoes since they’re soft, cozy and come off and back on easily.
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they → become → ?
I got this face cream more than a year ago when it first launched, directly from founders Cynthia Bailey (yep, that Cynthia Bailey) and Dana Hill-Robinson to try it out and I instantly fell in love.
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I → get → love
It’s a very rich cream but it doesn’t leave my face oily or clog my very large pores.
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it → ’ → pores
…and 140 more, not listed.
The Aporia
