Autumn’s Allure: Why We’re Obsessed With Autumn (Even When It Usually Sucks)
“So, what’s the verdict?”… “I am an autumn” – Gilmore Girls.
It is now well and truly Autumn, which means shorter days, chillier mornings, and an endless parade of cosy jumpers, fluffy socks, and seemingly pumpkin-spiced everything. But realistically – alongside the aesthetic delights of autumn, comes the creeping sense of gloominess. For many, myself included, this time of year often brings a dose of seasonal depression, making those crisp mornings feel more miserable than refreshing. I used to think I was one of those people who loved autumn and maybe I still am. Whenever anyone asked about my favourite season, I would always say ‘Autumn’ – I used to love the changing colour of the leaves, my big knit jumpers, and the routine of painting my nails dark red. But lately, I’ve found myself questioning the season more. Maybe autumn isn’t as great as I always convinced myself it was, yet, regardless of the rain, early darkness and constant battle against getting a cold, everyone seems obsessed with it. So why do we still rave about this season, despite its clear downsides?
Despite the impending seasonal sadness, there is an undeniable charm in autumn that captures our hearts. The season tends to be intrinsically linked to the perfect playlist on Spotify, filled with the slow, soulful tunes of nostalgia, yearning or introspectiveness. It’s about the initial guitar strum in the Cranberries’ ‘Linger’. The harmonies in Taylor Swift and Bon Iver’s ‘Exile’. The poetic lyricism in ‘Lover, You Should’ve Come Over’ by the iconic Jeff Buckley. As the leaves fall, so do our emotional walls, and it is within these gentle and haunting songs that autumn finds its perfect soundtrack – becoming a backdrop to cups of hot tea, or walks in the city bundled up. I feel the same about books. While I am the type who loves to read all year round, when October hits and the rush of the beginning of the academic year starts to end, I find myself diving into literature more so than usual. Whether on the tube, in coffee shops, or curled up in bed, the experience of reading becomes increasingly comforting as the temperatures drop. There’s something about holding a book in one hand and a steaming cup of tea, coffee or hot chocolate in the other that transforms even the dreariest weather into a cosy retreat. In all honesty, I can say that I had never felt more autumnal when I was reading Donna Tart’s beloved dark academia novel ‘The Secret History’ last year, whilst wrapped up in various knitwear.
Autumn can bring dismal weather to the UK, and we begin to witness the beginning flurries of Christmas crowds, but one of the season’s undeniable perks is the revival of autumn fashion and the new wave of trends. As it gradually begins to get colder - this year seemingly sooner than expected - it’s time to refresh our wardrobes with warm layers, rich textures, and far too many knitted jumpers. Autumn feels like a time when fashion can become more versatile, without the worry of the heat in summer or the biting wind in winter, individuals can mix and match pieces, and layer to their heart's content. For me, some of the best fashion moments happen in autumn: oversized leather jackets, soft cardigans, and dark denim staples all make their annual comeback. It seems like a routine now for me to adorn dark red nails, as though iconography for autumn’s arrival. However, the allure of autumn’s style has its ‘dark’ side, especially for those of us who are unable to resist a little shopping spree. I’ll admit it – my current wish list is long, filled with all the recent trendy ‘must-haves’ like red ballet flats, knee-high black boots, an oversized brown leather jacket, and a funky scarf. Unfortunately, my bank account isn’t quite as enthusiastic about this autumn indulgence. While I’m dreaming of all the fashionable pieces to add to my wardrobe, what I need is a pair of thermal tights! After braving Strand campus in a mini denim skirt and sheer black tights last week, I quickly learned the hard way that warmth should come before aesthetics as the chill sets in.
Although Autumn seems to hold such an allure, it is hard to ignore that beneath all the seasonal aesthetic perfection, the truth is Autumn often isn’t the best season for a lot of people. As sunlight decreases and we tend to lean more towards hibernating in bed, a large proportion of the population’s mood does so as well. Seasonal Affective Disorder (also commonly referred to as Seasonal Depression) is an all-too-real and often overlooked affliction that affects roughly 1 in 20 people in the UK. Instead of enjoying all the things Autumn has to offer, many of us find ourselves longing for the brightness and relaxing warmth of summer, as we battle fatigue, low mood, and an unshakeable productivity block. I have often found that although autumn and its aesthetic may look beautiful on the outside, yet for many it can feel anything but ‘cosy’ on the inside. This emotional weight often goes unrecognised, by our peers and institutions such as universities. Social media often promotes the glamorisation of seasonal periods, leading to feelings of isolation and guilt for not making the most of it. Rather than being a time of joy, autumn can become a period of quiet struggle.
On top of this, we have the classic ‘October Event’ - an occurrence often joked about on social media, but for some, it is all too real. It is almost a source of anxiety, as I brace myself for something in my life to inevitably go wrong. In my past, that has come in the form of getting heartbroken, dropping out of my first university, and facing challenges at my job. Either way, these events have always seemed to strike hard during the colder months. It is almost like comical clockwork – the weather turns almost symbolically dreary to match our moods, as we are left with the emotional fallout following these ‘canonical’ events. Now that does not go to say that the rest of my year is always happy-go-lucky - far from it. There are plenty of ups and downs throughout, but there is something about autumn that seems to amplify these negative events, casting a shadow over what is supposed to be a time of enjoyment especially as the Christmas season nears. It can feel as if the universe has decided that this particular season is the perfect atmosphere for our personal dramas, when in truth, all we want is to curl up in bed and watch Greta Gerwig’s ‘Little Women’ or walk through Hyde Park drinking hot chocolate.
In recent years, social media has added a layer of pressure to how we experience and ‘live’ autumn, creating an unrealistic expectation of what the season should look and feel like. Popular platforms like Instagram and Pinterest get flooded with carefully curated moodboards of the perfect latte, the perfect autumn outfit, the perfect autumn hair, autumn nails, autumn activities - it feels endless and overwhelming. While those images may be inspiring and foster a feel-good aesthetic, they very easily can make everyday life seem inadequate; as though we are somehow failing to ‘do autumn’ unless we go to a pumpkin patch or sport a trench coat. Seeing the season through a social media lens demands not just enjoyment, but also performance. Instead of enjoying the season for what it is, we can feel a subtle pressure to make it picture-perfect for social media – so maybe it is worth asking: when did living in the moment stop feeling enough?
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