There are two types of people in September: those who switch to peak Autumn mode the moment August ends, and those who cling to the warm days of summer for as long as possible (can you tell I’m the latter? You can take the girl out of Australia…). Autumn officially arrives next week, and I’ve been trying to savour every single moment of this beautiful Indian summer we’ve been having here in England before the seasons change.
So before the stores fill with pumpkins and the trees blanket the pavements with their golden leaves, here are a few or my favourite ways to celebrate the last days of summer and send the season off with a hurrah:
1. Reflect on all your favourite memories and treasured moments from the summer // Soon, tans will fade and summer will feel like a distant memory. Take some time to think about the highs and lows of the season, and feel gratitude for all the wonderful things that happened. For me, that meant: starting the summer in Paris with my French twin Meghan, finishing it sailing around the Greek islands with one of my oldest and dearest friends from Australia, our beloved little Coco finally getting better (the news we had been hoping and wishing for all year), time spent with family visiting from Australia, and many happy picnics, Cambridge balls, and days spent with loved ones in between.
2. Wear your favourite summer pieces one more time before packing them away // The changing of the seasons is the perfect reminder to stop saving things for best, and instead to make the most of our favourite things while we can. Give your favourite dresses another outing before packing them away for the winter. I’ll be wearing this exact outfit (which definitely sparks joy) for a day in the park this weekend.
3. Have one more ice cream date or dinner al fresco // Because ice cream just isn’t as fun in October.
4. Savour the souvenirs of summer // Print + frame some of your favourite summer snapshots, put those shells you collected from that day at the beach in a little dish somewhere you’ll see them each day, make a playlist of songs that capture all your favourite moments of the season, and head to the market to buy the largest haul of fresh summer peaches, berries, and watermelon you can find to make pie, jam, or to chop and freeze to enjoy on those cold winter days when nothing fun is in season.
5. Send summer off with a weekend filled with your favourite things // My friend Brenda is coming to visit next weekend for our now-annual end of summer celebration (we had so much fun last year that we’re making it our September tradition). We’re going to ride bikes, have a picnic by the river, eat ice cream, and hopefully squeeze in a game of Croquet in the King’s College fellow’s garden, too!
Wearing: Sleeper dress (more styles here + here) // Next bag c/- (similar style here) // Castaner espadrilles (also in black) // Celine sunglasses (inexpensive style here) // Astley Clarke necklace c/- (mini version here) // J.Crew earrings (past season but mini version here + similar style here) // Charlotte Tilbury lipstick // Chantecaille blush // Essie ‘Muchi Muchi’ nail polish.
I hope you all have the most wonderful end of summer!
Love, Briony xx
Photos by ANNA LEBEDEVA
I loved this Briony, I hate the end of Summer so definitely going to be doing all your lovely suggestions 🌸😘
So glad our summer plans overlapped! Take us back to Paris!
Lovely ideas!
We have about a month+ left of summer in San Francisco, then in November I head to Australia, then back to San Francisco, and then to Connecticut and NYC for the holidays. Not only will I follow your tip of really enjoying my summer pieces before packing them away (for longer than usual this year!), but I’m also going to follow your ice cream suggestion (and not feel guilty!). I feel incredibly lucky. 🙂