Winter is coming

There's a chill in the air and talk of Christmas and the Black Friday sales is on the way [View in browser]( [IndyBest]( [IndyBest]( [Emma Rossiter]( [Emma Rossiter, Freelance Senior Production Journalist]( September 23, 2022 Well, it’s been quite an interesting week, hasn’t it? And while the sun has deigned to make a few fleeting appearances, there’s certainly been a more autumnal chill in the air. So much so, that here at IndyBest, we’ve already started preparing for winter. That means not only putting away our [summer dresses]( and [sandals]( in favour of digging out our [boots]( and [winter woollies](, but also ensuring we can keep as warm as possible on cooler nights. It’s goodbye to lightweight [summer quilts](, hello [winter duvets]( and [electric blankets](. Clearly, we’re not the only ones gearing up for the new season though, as this week we’ve seen [M&S drop a dupe of the infamous Ugg boots]( – the epitome of winter footwear. It’s not alone though, as Asda also released a [budget-friendly version]( of Ganni’s knee-high Chelsea boots – perfect for tackling wetter weather in. And we’ve also reviewed two [beauty advent calendars]( from [Espa]( and [Diptyque]( which are due to hit shelves in October. If, however, the change of temperature makes you want to hibernate, we don’t blame you. Surely there’s nothing better than curling up with a good [book]( by the glow of a [log burner](? Or perhaps the news that [Fifa 23]( will be released on 30 September is enough to make you want to stay home. Whatever winter has to throw at us, be it rain, gale-force winds or a smattering of snow, take comfort in the fact that we're more reliable than the weather, so you can trust our round-up of the [best autumn jackets]( and [waterproofs](. Stay warm out there folks!   An Apple a day... Last week we told you all about Apple’s latest iPhone release – the [14]( and [14 pro and 14 pro max]( – well, this week it’s all about AirPods. And once again, our technology critic, [David Phelan](, has given his verdict on whether or not the newest earpods are worth your cash. Spoiler alert: they totally are! [Apple AirPods Pro 2nd generation]( It’s been about three years since Apple released its original AirPods pro, and the enhancements made are clearly noticeable. In [his review](, David praised the second gen buds as a “significant improvement over the already-splendid first-generation model” in spite of the price. He also said that they are packed full of features, are comfortable to wear and, most importantly, offer sensational audio. If you can't quite justify the £250 price tag, we've also rounded-up the [cheapest deals on AirPods]( for this month. Alternatively, [Aldi's dupe]( of the original Apple AirPods are also back in stock – costing just £25. [Read more](   Countdown to Christmas It feels somewhat criminal to talk about Christmas in September, but we're sure the festive season will be here again before we know it. And in the spirit of helping us prepare, [Aldi's wine advent calendar]( will once again be making an appearance. Last year, it featured in our review of the [best wine advent calendars]( where our writer praised it for being a “great way to discover the supermarket’s range of [red](, [white]( and [sparkling wines]( on a smaller scale, without committing to a full bottle”. [Aldi wine advent calendar]( While it doesn't go on sale until 30 October, it was a sell-out last year. So we thought we'd better spread the word quickly so that you're prepared well ahead of schedule. Aldi isn't the only big name to have advent calendar's on sale though. Many beauty calendars are already on sale from the likes of [Asos](, [The Body Shop](, [The White Company]( and [LookFantastic](. Even Lego has had its [Star Wars and Harry Potter calendars]( on sale since 1 September. [Read more](   Oktoberfest everyday According to Brits – and our writer, [Jonathan Hatchman]( – when it comes to beer, lager is the undisputed King. And in our round-up of the [best European lagers](, the Stiegl goldbräu was named the top tipple. "It is less readily available than some of the other [beers]( on the list," explained Jonathan, "but it's a million miles away from the unexciting mass-produced lagers which dominate the market and is absolutely worth ordering a few bottles to taste at home." [European lager]( If you'd rather stick to a home-grown brew, Jonathan has also reviewed the [best British lagers](. And while it was hard for him to pick a favourite, Lost and Grounded’s running with sceptres ultimately won-out for its complex flavour profile and dry bitterness. Cheers to that! [Read more](   Remembering Her Majesty Of course, we couldn't bring you this week's newsletter without mentioning the Queen. While the nation came together on Monday 19 September to celebrate Her Majesty's life and reign, many of us still wish we could know more about her. While re-watching episodes of Netflix's The Crown will get you so far, our guide to the [best books about Queen Elizabeth II]( might give you a deeper insight into her 70 years on the throne. Our favourite was Angela Kelly’s The Other Side of the Coin as it makes for entertaining and now slightly sombre reading of the Queen’s life and schedule. [Books about the Queen]( Many stories have been shared since her passing on 8 September, and we're sure there are many more to come which can now span her life and service in its entirety. Thank you Ma'am. [Read more](     Deals of the week The Independent’s journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our newsletter, we may earn commission. [Black Friday]( The biggest sale of the year, Black Friday, is fast approaching. Our guide has everything you need to know about [when the sale is and the deals to expect](... [Get deal](   [Electric blanket deals]( The original rosé was one of the most-talked about tipples for 2021, but [Aldi's version]( will set you back less than £8. [Get deal](   Don't miss a thing Keep up to date with all the latest IndyBest news over on social... [Twitter]( [Instagram](   Thank you for reading. P.S. If you can spare two minutes we'd love to hear your [feedback]( on our newsletters.   [Alternate text] Join the conversation or follow us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( Please do not reply directly to this email. You are currently registered to receive The Independent's IndyBest email. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent's IndyBest email, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Indy_Best_CDP). 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