Every fall, the smell of pumpkin spice lattes lingers in the air. Everywhere you go, glimpses of orange seem to catch the eye. Sweaters and plaid skirts make their return to fashion. Coffee in one hand, a book in the other, and you are ready for the perfect autumn day. Only one thing is missing: Gilmore Girls.
Pinterest boards are filled with Rory-and-Lorelai-inspired outfit ideas and music playlists that remind of the show can be found on Spotify and YouTube. Celebrating almost 25 years since the release of Gilmore Girls, and with a new documentary in the making, it is worth going over what makes the early-2000s dramedy the ultimate fall comfort show.
Autumn is often associated with change –as with trees, leaves fall and pages turn. It is the time when new challenges begin, like the start of an academic year. With that, we often find ourselves setting up lists of intellectual pursuits, such as wanting to read more, be more productive and procrastinate less or simply reinvent ourselves. Gilmore Girls is built on those vibes, especially through Rory’s academic focus and Lorelai’s emotional growth. The show sets the introspective mood through back-to-school scenes and constant dialogues that many people can relate to as summer ends. But not only is it time for reflection, it is also a time of nostalgia. We reconnect with friends after not seeing them during the summer. Just like Rory, Paris, and Lane, we see how we’ve changed, grown, and learned, and we cannot wait to share these experiences with our long-time friends.
Without a doubt, for chit-chatting or long talks, every group of friends needs their Luke’s Diner. A safe space to hold easy and not-so-easy conversations. A place where coffee is warm and light music is playing which is not too loud and not too quiet. The kind of place you feel like going when you need to get out of the house on a cool day. And when you don’t feel like getting out of the house, and want to spend a cozy day at home, you can always find comfort in Gilmore Girls. It is the emotional heart of the show –family, friendship, and finding one’s place– mirrors the introspective vibe of autumn. Just like that, seasonal episodes treat holidays like Thanksgiving and Halloween with community spirit and quirky warmth that remind us of home (think, for example, of “A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving,” Season 3, Ep.9.)
But let us not forget about the trendy clothes. Main characters wear outfits layered with chunky sweaters, scarves, and skirts. Their early-2000’s signature style is still as iconic as ever, with Pinterest boards and Instagram accounts full of “Gilmore Girls outfit ideas” or “Gilmore Girls outfit inspiration.” Social media has turned the “Gilmore Girls Fall” aesthetic into a trend – it comes back every year as the ultimate fall starter pack. Watching our Stars Hollow characters wear their cozy sweaters makes you want to put on your best fall clothes even before the temperature drops enough.
All things considered; Gilmore Girls doesn’t just take place in fall – it feels like fall. And every September, fans return not just for the story, but for the sense of warmth, comfort, and familiarity the show brings, like coming home to a place where the leaves are always turning and the coffee is always brewing. If you are still debating whether to watch it or not, go ahead. Now it is your time to experience the show for the first time, and come back next fall. With the upcoming documentary Searching for Stars Hollow –a fan-funded celebration of the show’s 25th anniversary– there’s no better moment to dive in. Packed with behind-the-scenes stories and exclusive interviews with cast and crew, the documentary promises to deepen the nostalgia for longtime fans, and give new viewers even more reasons to return to Stars Hollow year after year. While the exact release date hasn’t been confirmed, all signs point to a debut sometime this fall –just in time to cozy up with a cup of coffee and get lost in that familiar small-town charm!
