September marks the start of fall, even if it might not feel like it. With the start of the golden season, comes new pop culture trends exposed to the younger generations via social media, which affects how many live their lives. Some call this the “Gilmore Girls Effect;” if you don’t know what that is, just imagine a cozy town, a local coffee shop, and sipping on a warm latte with the people closest to you. Others believe this seasonal attitude shift is the result of strategic marketing techniques designed to increase consumerism so that everyone can “prepare for fall.” The third culprit to blame for this dramatic mood shift from summer to fall is your average influencer. People online share videos of themselves doing fall-inspired activities, which create a desire in the younger generation to replicate these hobbies to achieve the autumnal vibe for themselves.
The Netflix TV series Gilmore Girls has had a much bigger effect on the fall vibe than most people would expect. Released in 2000, the show contains the perfect amount of fall inspired outfits, interesting characters, small town charm, and drama to have made an impact. Lots of people use the audio “Where You Lead,” the show’s theme song by Carole King, in their social media posts during the fall months. Some even find academic motivation from one of the main characters, Rory Gilmore. She is very intelligent and cares a lot about school, so it is often seen online that people will try to embody Rory’s academic persona during fall to romanticize going to school.
Another trend during the fall months is found in consumerism. Things like boo-baskets (a collection of fall related gifts in a basket), fall candles, fall decor, and cozy blankets, shoes, and clothes are all things that come to teenage girls’ minds when fall comes around. Girls see these things being purchased by people on social media or their friends and immediately want to have them too. The consumerist economy of the US promotes such desires, making these items fall staples, especially since fashion and being aesthetic are becoming increasingly more important to the younger generations.
Influencers also have an effect on fall trends. The title “POV it’s September 1st” has gained major popularity in the last few years. Influencers post fall themed videos doing activities like baking, decorating their houses, carving pumpkins, watching nostalgic seasonal movies, and reading autumnal books. There are also videos of people picking out “aesthetic” outfits for fall.
Whether or not people realize it, everyone is influenced by the aesthetic of fall–whether directly or indirectly–through social media. And while this article might have made that effect sound negative, it isn’t. Even though everyone having and/or wanting the same thing can be a bit boring, it can also create shared interests and friendships. If being “aesthetic” for fall is a motivation for students to work hard in school, then why shouldn’t it be encouraged? If buying new clothes in autumn colors will make the younger generations happy, then they should do it. And if spending a hundred dollars on a boo-basket for a best friend is what someone wants to do, then let them. These fall trends bring the somewhat nonexistent season to life in Florida, and they serve as a cozy transition to the harsher winter months.
