At this point in mid-September, the summer we felt in August has transitioned into a hello/goodbye. I am not convinced of the argument that September belongs to autumn. Sure, meteorologically speaking fall began September 1st, and in accordance with the tilt of the earth, our fall equinox begins the 23rd.
But the days still have the type of beautiful warmth we were craving during those dog days of July and August. In my view, September days belong to the joys of an endless summer. A lasting farewell. A grabbing of a hand to say “stay a little longer.”
However, it will be inconsiderate not to notice the cool evenings. The dry cold air is descending from the north. September is a dance after all. It is one of those months where the fullness of life can be celebrated.
Haiku
A day spent in warmth,
The light sweater was unnoticed
for the walk was felt.
I find we don’t give enough nuance to this month in the calendar. We jump immediately to the aesthetics of fall that have been marketed to us year after year. If we linger on what a goodbye of summer can look like, I think we can find a new type of beauty in transition.
September is elegance. There’s a draw to be back in a routine. The cooling of the summer heat gives us a chance to dress up and feel at our best. We don’t want summer to leave us fully, so we keep the yellows, the blues, and the greens with us just a little longer.
Summer will fade even more into the background in just a couple more weeks, but let’s be present with what the days are like now. Let’s notice the world and create a temporary mood for this small moment of transition.
Materials of September:
Linen - A lovely material to feel those light breezes and sunny days.
Cashmere-Cotton - A blend I am seeing lately. It is a great transitionary fabric and perfect for an clean elevated look.
Wool Flannel - Hold off on the plaid patterns, I know it’s tempting, but September deserves its own subtleness.
Reeded Glass - Perfect for a world of changing daylight, I love how light floats off this surface.
Stainless Steel - This has beauty in any month, but maybe let’s add more of this in September to reflect back to us our changing environment.
Routines of September:
Morning walks - take in that dazzling light and the fog that skims the surface of the grass
Evenings on the water - there’s something about the orange light of sunsets getting earlier that hits the water differently than previous months
Saturated flower bouquets - marigolds, chrysanthemums, and sunflowers
Endless fruits - this is the time when all of the summer’s fruits are the ripest, savor the fleeting tastes