There are only fifty more days left to buy a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks, 49 days until Halloween and seventy more days of fall. With the approach of fall, festivities seem to be in full gear. Halloween candy lines the walls of Giant, and everyday at school there seems to be another person wearing Ugg slippers. Fall is arguably the season most defined by the media. The clothes, movies and music associated with Fall are looked forward to all year around.
But perhaps the most exciting part of fall is the idea of cozying up on the couch in front of the TV, grabbing a bowl of popcorn and watching a seasonal movie. Ali Badler ’26 says, “It isn’t fall until I have rewatched at least one season of Gilmore GirlsSimply seeing the characters sipping tea and walking through the small New England town surrounded by orange leaves sets the mood for the season. Additionally, Anna Schmittdiel ’26 commented on her own seasonal movie pick, “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is a family classic and my family and I always watch it on All Hallows Eve.” A childhood staple, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is watched by many when autumn comes around once again, and is constantly associated with fall. Seasonally themed films and shows such as these set the heartwarming, nostalgic tone associated with fall and shift away from the light and breezy summer mood.
The shift in media does not end with movies and shows. With the approach of fall, there comes an influx of autumn themed music on the radio. This means slower songs, richer tones, and deeper lyrics. Artists like The Smiths, The La’s, Hozier and Phoebe Bridgers become the staple, with their rich tones and a raw, emotional core; these replace artists like Sabrina Carpenter, Charli XCX, and Chappell Roan whose music carries a lighter atmosphere. The fall music vibe may not be as upbeat compared to the ones in the summer, but it is typically more meaningful. It comes with lyrics that are more moving, which suits the slower and colder fall season. Although this may be disappointing to some, the slower beat often prevalent in fall hits is a staple for the season.
The clothing style shift from summer to fall is significant. Not only does the weather change invite warmer clothes, but also influences the general color schemes. Summer is met with light pastels and fun pops of color. Although lighter, vibrant colors are still worn in the fall, there is often an increase in darker and muted colors like brown, navy and dark red. For example, the local Brandy Melville sees a shift from light blues and whites in their store to heavier, darker colors during the summer to fall shift. Additionally, the local Urban Outfitters begins to increase its stock of iconic crewnecks and flannels. Shoewear, not to be overlooked, also experiences similar shifts. Flip flops are replaced with Birkenstock clogs and the brightly colored Hokas that frequent a foot in summer are replaced by fuzzy Ugg Tasmans. These changes are influenced not only by the weather but also by the current micro-trends and seasonal color theme.
Autumn is defined by the media around it and the ongoing trends. Fall is filled with influential festivities such as Halloween, which enables media creators to capitalize on the popularity of the spirit and aesthetic of the time. Though the fall aesthetic is constantly changing from year to year, the idea of preparing for the colder weather and putting a damper on the energy from summer when the school and work seasons arrive always prevails.
