By: Julia Nijjar, SFU Student
Amid the humidity of the last evenings of August lingers a whisper of wistful wind — a reminder of the nearing autumn. As the days get shorter, and the nights get longer, we graciously welcome back sweater weather. There is something promising about reaching out for the old cardigan in the closet or under the bed and feeling the warmth of the knit brush up against your fingertips.
Many dread, even despise, the long days of autumn — the absence of persisting daylight. Though they are entitled to do so, it is crucial to consider the reasons to feel blissful. Bundled up in our warm sweaters, we can enjoy the crisp and cold mornings on Lhuḵw’lhuḵw’áyten (Burnaby mountain). Autumn-attire sets a kind of harmonious precedent among students. Pumpkin spice drinks, silky scarfs, and fluffy earmuffs all become part of an unofficial uniform. As a student heavily immersed in Greek and classic literature, I feel I very much belong to the genre of dark academia. When I have my favourite black cable-knit sweater on, my connection to dark academia strengthens.
Sweater weather is not merely a fun rhyme but a mindset. Magic must be woven into the wool because sweaters give you the motivation and comfort needed to focus on any task at hand. Perhaps it is the burnt orange leaves littering the ground or the scent of hot chocolate lurking through the corridors from Renaissance Coffee promoting the mind to work hard. Whatever it is, a soft sweater is the antidote to the sadly striking temperature of the outdoors.
If you’ve ever felt melancholic on the mornings of autumn, I suggest you embrace sweater weather. Romanticizing the glacial state of the upcoming season brings no harm, only the coziest clothes.
