Silhouettes of trees without leaves at sunset
Autumn is here, but the weather has been quite pleasant for the first few days. The weekend of September 24-25 was glorious – highs of about 18 C (just under 70 F). On Saturday the 24th, a group of eight women gathered to celebrate a milestone birthday with one of our friends. An intrepid few sat on the balcony well into the evening, when the scarlet-orange sunset easing gently behind the darkened horizon urged us them inside. Good weather, good food, good people – we enjoyed ourselves and the birthday lady was heart-warmed and soul-blessed.
Sunday was almost but not quite as nice – more clouds, less sun, stronger breeze. Still, a nice treat for late September. The weather network predicted cooler weather for the next few days and, pragmatist that I am, I dressed in layers. After all, offices, my condo and transit vehicles were still air-conditioned.
What should I wear today?
Changing seasons tend to heighten the ambivalence of people when choosing their wardrobe. My daily commute this week has vividly illustrated this conundrum. Here are some of the outfits I have seen people wearing:
- A few women in sleeveless top and dress pants and pumps, no hosiery
- Four men in shorts and t-shirts, one in sandals, one in flip flops, two in sneakers
- Several men in shirts and pants, no jacket
- Lots of men in business suits – too many wearing tan shoes with black, navy or gray suits
- A woman in jeans, a tank top, sweater and Ugg boots
- Two women in summery dresses, no hose, and sandals
- Three women in lightweight dresses/skirts topped with cardigans
- Several women wearing thong sandals – the outfits varied but they all looked quite odd when coupled with exposed feet
- One woman in a summery dress and a thick nubby black sweater
- A man (probably a courier) in bike shorts, tank top and a windbreaker
- Three young women (art students, most likely) wearing jeggings and layered of t-shirts and vests; one had a chiffon scarf around her neck, one had purple, teal and yellow streaks in her hair, and the third had a tattoo of a snake that started on her cheek next to her left ear and trailed down below her top
- An elderly lady wearing capris, sneakers and socks, a sun hat and a fleece jacket
- Several people of both genders wearing jeans, t-shirts and sneakers – some wore windbreakers, one wore a leather jacket, a couple wore trench coats
- One woman in a sleeveless dress, bare legs, ballet flats, and a woolen poncho
- One older gent wearing jeans, sandals and socks and a fleece-lined windbreaker
- A cluster of Catholic high school girls wearing their uniform – one with high leather boots and tights; one with sneakers and socks, two with knee-socks and penny-loafers and one with Birkenstocks
- Two young women in turtlenecks and jeans, one with a scarf, sweater and sneakers; the other with a fleece cardi and sandals
This was proof that some people are living in denial and stubbornly clinging to the remnants of summery weather via their wardrobe, whereas others are embracing the transitional season of autumn, mindful that winter will be here soon.
The Farmer’s Almanac is predicting a long cold winter. I hope that, by then, people have learned to make appropriate wardrobe choices. Let’s not allow doctors and cold-and-flu medication manufacturers don’t make more money than they already do.
For those of you living in more temperate climates – enjoy!
To all of you – Happy Autumn!
verawrites 
When I was growing up, we dressed very specifically for four distinct seasons. I would never have worn short sleeves any time but summer, i.e., between June 21 and September 20. Now I see it all, white shoes and pants in November, cotton in January, wool in July. It’s all mixed up.
Southern California, as opposed to New York/New Jersey where I am from, has two seasons: warm and hot. There is a brief “warm” period in Dec, Jan and Feb, and maybe March, then back to hot and hotter. Even so, I never wear cotton or white any time but the summer.
And no one in their right mind would wear sweaters here in July, August and September, not unless they are trying to sweat off the fat or something, LOL.
So glad you brought this up Vera. It’s in the 90s F here right now and how I wish I could count on a long, cold winter!!
LikeLike
When I was growing up, we dressed seasonally and appropriately too. Nowadays, the seasons are kind of skewed – the way you describe. Here, you can count on hot humidity for at least part of the summer, and snowy coldness for part of the winter. The rest can vary tremendously. I don’t envy your 90F – but I will, in January 🙂
LikeLike
LOL, wacky weather everywhere and no more guidelines or rules. People here wear sandals in February. Sigh!!
LikeLike