AUTUMN AESTHETICS

A guide to the most divisive season of them all

Matt Shipley (he/him) - Contributor

Anais Bayle - Illustrator

Whether you hate it for the rain or love it for the colours, autumn hits us every year — nearly. This anomalous October saw the temperature drop by a full twenty degrees within two days, plunging our unprepared souls into the gloominess of what was more pre-winter than autumn. Nevertheless, the leaves are still dropping, the canopies above us are still flaring into gorgeous explosions of colour, and Halloween is (boo!) still on its way. No matter how you deal with this year’s unique pre-winter dinginess, you’ll find a fitting aesthetic within these words.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

Autumn is, famously, an adventurer’s least favourite season. Summer is biking season; winter is ski season; spring brings temperatures warm enough in which to ride, yet there is still enough snow to ski; and autumn is cold and snow-free, meaning we can do neither. You’ll find a typical ski bum inside right about now, watching endless ski films in their basement in an A-for-effort attempt to get stoked for the winter as rain pummels the dirt outside their window.

Books: relaxing reads to delete a few hours before the snow starts to fly.

A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow, by Laura Taylor

Namey: The quickest of these reads, this book follows a Cuban girl as her summer is blown to smithereens by an impromptu trip to cold, rainy Wales. As her life there unfolds, however, she realizes she might not despise it after all — and someone there might make it very difficult to go back home…

The Lucky List, by Rachael Lippincott: A social pariah and her childhood best friend set off on a race to complete a series of challenges inspired by a similar quest completed by her now-dead mother. Don’t miss this wonderful, character-driven read!

Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything, by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland: A Latina girl in boldly racist South Arizona discovers clues that lead to her mother, who disappeared without a trace years prior. The more she uncovers, the more there is to find, and it’s only a matter of time before she finds her way to forces she doesn’t understand.

Playlist: for all those who use autumn as an opportunity to relax before winter sets in.

Mac Ayres - Calvin’s Joint

Jack Johnson - Banana Pancakes

Novo Amor - State Lines

Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley - Autumn Leaves

The Rose - She’s In The Rain

Movies & shows: when she doesn’t want to watch Drop In 3… again.

Age of Adaline (2015): This one is a guaranteed hit - especially if you’re exhausted. A rare romance movie that is anything but tacky and overdramatic.

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984): What more could I say about Studio Ghibli that hasn’t already been said? It’s cozy, it’s beautifully written, and the visuals are stunning. Nobody short of the firmest anime-hater will turn away from this one.

Weathering With You (2020): A bustling city deep in a twomonth-long rainstorm discovers a girl who can bring back the sunshine. What could go wrong (and why can’t we have one in Vancouver?)