Before you grab a rake and go full-on autumn cleaning, just take a sec to appreciate those crunchy orange, yellow, and red leaves. They’re not “mess”, they feed the soil, keep plants happy, and make cozy winter homes for insects and birds. Leaves protect the ground, lock in moisture, stop weeds, and basically let the whole ecosystem do its thing. And beyond that, they’re just inspiring.
As far as we’re concerned, it stirred the creative juices of Pollock, Schiele and Deborah Turbeville, and it does the same for us. We walk around and notice colours; the crunch of leaves underfoot sounds almost like a seasonal experimental song when combined with the ambient noises of the city. Maybe we’re overexcited, but finally, the most interesting part of the year is just beginning!
HOW THE ART WORLD PERCEIVES AUTUMN AND GIVES IT BACK TO US AS A “BACK-LOAN”
What do we mean by that? It’s exciting how artists perceive the world we all collectively inhabit, yet what they see is not always what everyone else notices. Maybe not everyone who experiences the world differently becomes a painter or a filmmaker — but those are the examples we happen to have.
It’s funny how we might all sit on the same park bench and enjoy a crisp autumn morning, yet some people distinguish 76 subtle variations of the same colour, analysing its meaning, deconstructing it, reconstructing it and offering it back to us through their own vision. Isn’t that the beauty of culture? It allows us to see more.
AUTUMN IN FASHION
There’s something undeniably cinematic about autumn—the way sunlight slants through the trees, the quiet melancholy of falling leaves, and the cozy elegance of layered fashion. This season has long been a muse for photographers, inspiring images that are as much about mood as they are about style.
From the hauntingly poetic work of Deborah Turbeville to the whimsical, theatrical visions of Tim Walker, autumn offers a palette of color, texture, and emotion that transforms every frame into a story. Here’s a look at how different lenses capture autumn’s textures, colors, and quiet drama.
Peter Lindbergh – Known for raw, moody portraiture; while more black-and-white, his work many times evokes the melancholy and elegance of autumn.
THE SEASON THAT MAKES EVEN PAVEMENTS BEAUTIFUL
For this section (so it doesn’t end up looking like a Pinterest board called “Parks in Autumn”), we asked a few of our closest friends to send us some of their recently captured autumn nature shots from the places they’ve been this past month. And of course, they understood the assignment. We mixed those with a few of our own favourites, like movie moments, iconic places, little snapshots that just feel like autumn. You know when something makes you want to drink hot cocoa and overthink life a bit? Yeah, that.
Obviously, we’re starting with the classic: autumn in New York. It’s the blueprint. J. Harold Murray sang about it, Winona Ryder and Richard Gere starred in it, and frankly, the city still lives up to the hype. The leaves turn golden, orange, everyone suddenly has a hot coffee in hand (even though New Yorkers will die for their iced), and Central Park turns into this giant runway for trench coats and deep conversations. It’s the season when walking feels like therapy — you talk, you think, you breathe in that crisp air (a very When Harry Met Sally air).
(*QUICK STYLING TIP, BETWEEN THE LINES)
Speaking of trench coats and all those brownish, muted tones, we have to talk about Faye Dunaway in Network (1976). Some of it was filmed in New York, which already sets the tone. Her looks in that movie basically made us chestnut-pilled and fully convinced that this is the colour of the season, officially.
And for us, the “Ogilvie of Airlie” blouse with the “Heather Isle” trousers, compose the ideal ensemble for strolling through leaf-covered streets, with a coffee and a newspaper in hand, pretending you’re late for something important (or maybe you actually are).
(*BACK TO THE PARKS)
Richmond Park, one of London’s 8 Royal Parks, captured by Dunia @of.arc
Villages in Switzerland, captured by Georgia @geovalsami
Of course, we couldn’t leave out the all-time iconic Easter Park and lake from Twin Peaks - the spot forever stuck in our minds and hearts.
One more magnificent park we’ve yet to explore….
And wrapping up this little nature journey with a perfect autumn Polaroid from the legend, Andrei Tarkovsky.
BAKE THESE INSTEAD OF GOING TO THERAPY
It’s finally time for our favourite recipe! The brown sugar maple pumpkin butter cookies from Tieghan Gerard (aka Half Baked Harvest, see more here). Soft, chewy, maple-y perfection. Brown butter, spiced pumpkin butter, chocolate chips, all the best fall things in one bite. Tastes like emotional stability.
Let’s go through the steps
Ingredients
For the Cookies
salted butter
brown sugar
pumpkin butter (here’s how to do it in 6 simple steps)
an egg
vanilla extract
flour
baking soda
cinnamon
dark chocolate chips
toasted pecans
maple syrup
Steps
Step 1: Brown the butter
First things first, brown the butter. Add the butter to a skillet and melt over medium heat. Let it bubble and foam, then cook until it turns a light golden brown and smells nutty, about 3–4 minutes. This gives the cookies incredible flavor.
Step 2: Make the cookie batter
Beat the browned butter with the brown sugar, pumpkin butter, egg, and vanilla until smooth and glossy. Add the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and sea salt. Mix just until combined — don’t overmix.
Step 3: Add the chocolate
Stir in the chocolate chips (we love dark, but milky works too). If you like, toss in some toasted pecans for extra crunch and nuttiness.
Step 4: Roll the cookies
Scoop the dough into tablespoon-size balls. Drizzle or roll each ball lightly in maple syrup — it’s an unusual step, but it gives these cookies extra flavour and a pretty, subtle sparkle once baked.
Step 5: Bake
Arrange the cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake until the edges are set but the centers are still a bit soft.