Romanticizing Fall in the Middle of Summer

It’s July, the forecast is 94° every single day, the air feels like soup, and yet—my heart is in the “-ber” months. I’m scrolling Pinterest for fall decor. I’m checking Michaels to see if Halloween stock is out. I’m sipping a pumpkin spice latte, unbothered by the sweat on my upper lip.

And I know I’m not alone.

Why I Romanticize Fall in July

I’ve always loved fall. The changing leaves. The chilly mornings. The coziness of it all. But since moving from Pennsylvania to Florida, my love for the season has grown into something more like longing. Down here, the seasons barely shift.

Fall, to me, represents more than a change in weather. It’s a feeling. A nostalgic, familiar, pumpkin-scented warmth that hits you in the chest. When I think of fall, I think of school supplies and Halloween parties. I think of the orange glow of mid-October evenings and the way Thanksgiving leftovers taste better the next day. I think of youth, and a simpler time.

The Rise of Nostalgia Core

It turns out, I’m not the only one who feels this way. The internet has birthed a new wave of aesthetic obsession, Nostalgia Core—a term that perfectly captures what so many of us are craving: the emotional safety of childhood memories.

On TikTok, you’ll find people curating videos that feel like fall through the lens of a 2007 digital camera. Blurry flash photography. Orange garlands. School hallway parties. Costume parades. Cartoons and seasonal specials playing on a chunky TV screen. These posts hit with an ache that’s hard to describe and impossible to shake, as all the commenters agree.

And if you wander into FallTok or ChristmasTok during the summer? You’ll find thousands of us already counting down, already decorating, already dreaming.

It’s not just about aesthetics. It’s about the magic of anticipation. The reminder that we once felt cozy and safe and excited and crave that feeling again.

The Things We Do to Bring Fall Closer

Even if the temperature doesn’t budge, we find ways to feel the season anyway. Here's how:

• Scrolling on FallTok, ChristmasTok, or Pinterest

• Halloween hunting in July
  Stores like Michaels, At Home, HomeGoods, and Hobby Lobby already have spooky season decor out—and we are not mad about it.

• Pumpkin spice lattes... in summer
  Whole Foods offers them year-round. Some indie coffee shops keep pumpkin or maple syrups on hand, and Starbucks always has a peppermint mocha tucked away if you ask nicely. It’s a small rebellion. It’s also a small delight.

• Browsing Etsy or vintage shops
  For cozy sweaters, hand-poured candles, or antique holiday decorations that look like the ones your mom used to pull from the attic.

• Planning everything early
  The events you’ll host. The food you’ll make. The gifts you’ll give. We’re romanticizing the idea of fall before it even arrives, because the anticipation is half the magic.

Why Nostalgia Hits So Hard

Nostalgia is a powerful emotion. It’s comforting, but also mournful. We grieve the childhood versions of ourselves who once counted down to Halloween and Christmas or when we watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in footie pajamas.

So, in a world that’s loud, fast, and hot—romanticizing fall is our way of slowing down and remembering what joy used to feel like.

Final Thoughts

Nostalgia will be the death and comfort of us all.

If you're someone romanticizing fall in the middle of summer, you’re not alone. There are thousands of us lighting cinnamon candles in July, browsing chunky knits we won’t wear for months, and counting down the days until the leaves start to fall.

So go ahead. Crank the A/C. Pour a pumpkin-flavored drink. Watch You’ve Got Mail for the 20th time. There’s no rule that says you can’t feel the seasons before they arrive.