My favorite time of the year is the start of the official boot season which begins during the transitional period between summer and fall. What's most exciting about the sudden drop in temperatures is stepping back into those sleek pair of boots for the first time in months. Whether zipping up oldies but goodies or investing in a new fall boot trend, this year is all about the calf boot. Specifically, this is the best option when easing your summer clothes into the appropriate fall looks.
During this time, I'm gravitating toward more mini and maxi skirts, dresses, and even leather shorts as I prance into a range of summer to fall-like temperatures that vary from day to day in LA. What I love most about the calf boot is the range of looks you can complete with limitless options of colors and prints for every preference.
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Living in Los Angeles, there are more sunny days than most regions, but we do our best when it comes to getting in our fall and winter outfits. Within these particular months of the year, it's anyone's guess what the weather will be like on any given day, so it's always best to plan accordingly.
It doesn't matter if I'm on a daytime brunch with my girls or dressing up for a dinner date night, pairing a tall boot with a super chic look gives nothing less than a fashion-forward look.
Keep scrolling for my go-to fall boots that will be in steady rotation.
The Best Boots To Wear On Date Night
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Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
Replace a strappy heel with a super sleek calf boot and see how many compliments you'll get in one night. That was my experience when pairing this multi-panel boot from N.Y.A.S, a brand catering to women with larger than average shoe sizes, and a strapless satin corset dress paired with an oversized cream blazer. Dining outside, I wanted to remain comfortable and warm, so I decided a boot was the perfect option when planning the night's look.
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Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
What To Wear When Brunching With The Girls
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
One thing about people in LA, we take brunch very seriously. Opting for a purple cut-out blazer dress, I decided to go for my favorite white boots from the brand Smash Shoes. Wearing a size 12 in shoes, it's always difficult to find boots in my size. When shopping with this brand, in particular, I'm always confident in a hassle-free experience to find a proper fit and stylish options. Adding texture to this bright weekend look, I paired a printed chain-strapped bag to complete a fun fashion moment.
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Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
How To Style Fall Boots For The Everyday Slay
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
Loving the latest release from N.Y.A.S, I couldn't wait to wear my new black faux leather boots with this abstract print satin maxi for a fun color combination complete with a pop of an orange mini bag. Obsessed with dresses as of late, I wanted to pair this look with my square-toe boots for a chic, modern, yet western vibe. Day or night, this is the fall look I've been waiting for.
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
To get your fashion fix and to stay up to date with the latest trends, check out the xoNecole Style section here.
Featured image by Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
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One alternative medicine option known as microdosing, offers small doses of psychedelics to spark changes in the brain to alter the way they think and create tangible, psychological improvements.
What is Microdosing?
Microdosing refers to the practice of taking a very small, sub-perceptual dose of a psychedelic substance, such as LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) or psilocybin mushrooms, typically on a regular schedule. The aim is to experience subtle cognitive and emotional benefits without the full-blown psychedelic effects associated with a standard or recreational dose.
Taking this subthreshold dose of psychedelics (typically within the 10 to 20 mcg range) allows one to operate within their daily lives without being restricted or slowed down by the normal effects of psychedelics or hallucinogens.
In some traditional indigenous healing communities, microdosing is often the preferred approach for individuals seeking healing, rather than macrodosing.
Microdosing vs. Macrodosing
“There is a long-standing history of different kinds of dosing of ‘master plants,’ as I call them, in traditional communities, where shamanic doses (or very high doses), were only taken by the maestro,” Maya Shetreat, MD, author of The Master Plant Experience tells xoNecole. “In fact, they would only offer a microdose to the people participating in the ceremony or to the person they're doing the healing on.”
While macrodosing might be more common among visitors of what Shetreat calls, “the global north,” the traditional method can vary among different communities, and in some cases, macrodosing may not be a part of their healing practices at all.
Due to the legality of psychedelics in most places, Dr. Shetreat shares that The Institutional Review Board (IRB) mandates that individuals taking psychedelics, even in microdoses, must be closely monitored in clinical or hospital settings, which can be “impractical” and often inconvenient as early research develops.
Unlike full-dose experiences, which are planned with preparation and integration sessions, microdosing doesn't make sense for such intensive monitoring. This is because microdosing involves taking sub-psychedelic doses that don't significantly alter one's state, and individuals usually take these doses every few days, making constant clinical supervision impractical for most people's daily lives.
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The Benefits of Microdosing for Mental Health and Well-Being:
While research is still limited on the full range of benefits from microdosing, Dr. Shetreat shares that while subtle, there are “benefits with neuroplasticity,” meaning that neurons in the brain make new connections, even with microdoses over a period of time.
Additionally, microdosing has been shown to be beneficial for individuals who are not able, for any number of reasons, to experience large doses of psychedelics as they can be disorienting. “Some people are medically contraindicated due to their mental health or medications that they're taking, and are very sensitive to having really large psychedelic experiences,” she explains.
However, individuals with anxiety, depression, OCD, and also medical conditions, like chronic pain, autoimmunity, asthma, ADHD, and autism, have been shown to benefit from microdosing.
Is Microdosing the Best Option for You?
In terms of whether microdosing is a suitable option for you, clinical papers based on self-reported experiences suggest its potential benefits as being a safer and less intense approach to mental health issues.
“People tend to feel happier, lighter, more social, and more inclined to take good care of themselves like exercise and eat better,” Dr. Shetreat explains.
“They tend to avoid other altering substances like alcohol and feel less depressed; many people have gotten off of antidepressants using microdosing.” However, some may have concerns about microdosing due to its legality.
What To Expect From Your Microdosing Experience
Although the initial day of ingestion may not be the most potent day in terms of physical or mental experience, Dr. Shetreat shares that some individuals report having a particularly euphoric day following ingestion. “Many people experience benefits on the day that they take the microdose, but there are also people who describe the next day as being what we would call ‘The Best Day' where they feel a sense of euphoria,” she says.
In order to make the most of your microdosing experience, she suggests keeping an open mind, self-reflection, and clear intentions, which in turn, holds significant value in maximizing its benefits.
“Treat this experience with a master plant or psychedelic as being just as meaningful and sacred as a large experience can be,” she says, “Engaging in the meaning-making and thinking of it in a ceremonial way makes a difference. Coming in with a sense of preparation for the experience itself — during and afterward — has really great value.”
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