September: Summer’s Closing Credits
The kids are back at school and the shops are full of seasonal decor. It’s official, September has arrived!
But before you buy your pumpkin cushions, let’s take a look at 5 moods and mindsets that you can embrace to enjoy the very best of what September has to offer.
September is my favourite month of the year. Now, that’s a bold statement coming from a Leo with an August birthday! There’s more gold however to be found in September sunshine than there is in August.
There’s a Swedish metaphor that captures this perfectly, morgonstund har guld i mun, which translates to mean “morning time has gold in its mouth.” I feel this is especially true for September. You don’t have to chase a 4am sunrise — just sleep with your blinds partially open and at dawn your bedroom will be painted gold. It’s hard to resist the beauty of the day when it’s pouring in through the window.
Now I’ll admit, I did buy a hello autumn mug in the last week of August (it’s big, it’s dark red and has a maple leaf on so there was literally no point in even trying to resist). I am however tired of seeing pumpkins, ghosts and gonks at every corner! If we dive into October’s moment now, then we are skipping out on what September could be. At its core, September is the end of summer and life should feel like the closing credits of your favourite summer film.
So before you jump into late autumn and Halloween aesthetics, here’s my list of 5 moods and mindsets that you can explore to have the best September yet.
Cottage Core: Living Life Like the Brambly Hedge Mice
Yes, these little mice in the world of Jill Barklem have got it absolutely right. Life should be lived out of doors and in the cosiest way possible. We’re talking delicious seasonal recipes, early morning walks and time spent with close friends and family.
I recently went to Whitby and there were so many little gift shops tucked away selling thick homemade quilted throws. Each one was decorated with delicate flowers — I really can’t stop thinking about them, I’m going to have to go back and buy one! Perfect for snuggling up with a good book and a pot of tea when the weather turns cold. Another nice idea is to make a homemade wreath for your front and back door. You could host a wreath making party and use dried plants and flowers such as hydrangea heads, wheat stalks, daisies and eucalyptus.
Whether you are knitting mittens, baking fruit pies, painting landscapes or sewing pockets, a Brambly Hedge September is for seasonal living, being creative and spending quality time without technology. Wake up with the birds, grab a flask of hot coffee and enjoy the crisp air and golden sunshine.
New Beginnings and Back to School Energy
I thought I was the only one who viewed the 1st of September as a secret New Year’s Day but according to my TikTok algorithm (which apparently knows me so well) there’s a whole community of us who like to romanticise this. It’s the fresh start I’m always craving - like a Sunday reset but on a bigger scale. Here’s how to embrace this mood.
Declutter and reorganise the spaces in your home which have been craving your attention. For me, it was the storage spaces for my shoes, coats, books and coffee mugs. Then, do a deep clean of your entire house with your headphones on, listening to your favourite album or podcast. Once you’re in the cleaning flow, it’s hard to stop (which is why I like to avoid starting in the first place, but just pretend I didn’t tell you that).
Now that the house is clean and tidy, you can fill it with more seasonal items — yay. Take the time to invest in quality pieces that you truly love. A few things here and there that mark the change of the season is all that you need to give your home, and wardrobe, a September glow-up.
It wouldn’t be new year energy without doing some goal planning. Personally, I love to use Google Slides to keep my life in order. It’s much better for me as I can always check it using my phone. I have a slide dedicated for everything and anything — finances, appointments, birthdays and events. You didn’t think I was going to write in my new notebook now did you?
September truly is the perfect time to tidy up those to-do lists, start new routines and reassess the direction we wish to go in. A new notebook + a new haircut = a new life. It’s girl math.
Light Academia: A Literary Daydream
Having studied English Literature at university, my go-to September style is probably light academia. You have probably heard of dark academia (which to me is better suited to November). Light academia is its softer sister; less candle-lit and more of a golden hour glow. Think study days in sunlit libraries, Dark Sky stargazing trips, photography walks amongst old architecture, daytime journalling and reading lists to be devoured on park benches and in secret gardens. Hermione Granger would be so pleased.
It’s usually this time of year that I go through my annual dilemma of, “Do I reread the entire Harry Potter series or start something new?” Hmmm. I’m currently reading ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ series by Jenny Han while watching the show on Amazon Prime. After this, I’m going to study Virgina Woolf’s entire body of work. Reading her work is like breathing fresh air — she just gets me (poetic sigh). On another literary note, be on the look out for literature based events such as The Jane Austen festival in Bath.
Coastal Coffee-Core
If you’re lucky enough to live within walking or driving distance to the coast, then September is the perfect month to make the most of it. There’s something about cute coastal coffee shops and the salty sea air on a fresh morning or mid afternoon. The very best way to catch up with friends is to go for a walk along the bay and grab a bite of something tasty to eat. The sun may linger long enough for you to take off your autumn jacket or it might turn cold and make you crave your first hot chocolate of the season. Whatever the weather, the coast is the place to be.
September Escapes
If nostalgia is setting in and you’ve got a case of the end of summer blues, then it’s completely understandable if you book yourself a little trip away somewhere nice. You know, something small and low-key like Paris or the Maldives… it’s practically medicine! Even Victorian doctors recommended a holiday to cure a bout of sadness. Say no more and book that flight.
