I planned on writing this article a few weeks prior, however I had no inspiration. The annoyingly green leaves and the weather pushing 90℉ made it pretty hard to romanticize school. But with it now being October and me feeling a certain autumnal breeze in the air, I figured it was time.
Let me rewind to the start of school. To put it simply, there’s a lot I dislike about it. Sure, there are some things I enjoy, but none of them make up for having to be in a classroom by 7:30 AM. So, I’ve found that the best way to cope is to push those feelings aside and pretend I’m having fun.
Revolutionary? I know.
If you’re like me, you might think of this time as your ‘Rory Gilmore Era’—and honestly, I’m all for it. There’s something motivating about pretending you’re living in a TV show or movie. It’s like how parents turn eating broccoli into a game to get their kids to finish it. With Rory’s obsession with studying and perfect grades, she makes the ideal role model. Plus, there’s something undeniably appealing about trying to live and look like her. Bringing a comfort show to life during this time especially helps ease the rough patch of adjusting to the start of the school year.
This appeal also ties into the Downtown Girl aesthetic. Famous for its studious vibe and most relevant in fall and winter, it’s the perfect way to navigate the beginning of the year. This aesthetic romanticizes life in a downtown city—New York is a popular choice on TikTok—but when combined with autumn and the Gilmore Girls vibe, I find Fairfield an excellent backdrop to carry it out.
Regardless of my usual style, I always find myself gravitating back to the Downtown, Rory Gilmore-esque aesthetic that accompanies the start of school, the return to studying, and the embrace of colder weather while hanging out with friends. It’s the atmosphere that draws me in. No matter what, I can’t help but revert to that style and maintain an academic mindset.
For me, the weather and this time of year make me want to study and tackle my homework. I enjoy going downtown with friends, dressing in grandpa sweaters and baggy jeans, or wearing my Doc Martens while sipping coffee from a local café. It makes this period of change fun.
Honestly, I believe the best way to get through school is to romanticize it. Whether you embrace specific aesthetics or simply glamorize the experience in your own way, it almost always leads to the desired effect. School days seem to speed up, ambition increases, and the world around you becomes more attractive. The results and how it feels make romanticizing classes worthwhile.
I’m not exactly sure what it is about this aesthetic that makes it work, but it certainly helps with the back-to-school transition. Usually, I return to my normal style by mid to late winter, but this era still leaves its mark. I try to carry this mindset throughout the year in hopes of staying motivated and efficient (though that often falls short). While they may not go hand-in-hand, combining romanticizing school with the Downtown Girl aesthetic is quite helpful. Personally, I appreciate the comfort and clarity it brings each year as I figure out how to handle the new school year. Others, I’ve found, simply think it looks good in pictures (and it does).
The best advice I can offer is to do whatever works for you. If your way of coping with and adjusting to the back-to-school season involves oversized sweaters and tote bags, that’s fantastic! If not, that’s perfectly fine too! Whatever method you choose to romanticize this era, I think we can all agree that finding a way to enjoy it is essential for charm, fulfillment, and—most importantly—Rory Gilmore grades.