Autumn is here and it’s my favorite season of the year! Bringing cooler weather, cozy sweaters, and pumpkin spiced flavors, autumn has a comforting and nostalgic presence.
When you think about it, so many pivotal moments happen during the ‘ber months. Distinct memories such as football games, the beginning of a new school year, and Thanksgiving are all during this time; often as drama-filled as Gossip Girl. With the rise of Y2K within Gen Z, teen shows from the 2000s have encapsulated and mesmerized younger generations, including myself, of what our ideal autumn could look like. Shows like The Vampire Diaries and Pretty Little Liars all have a dark and mysterious, but intriguing ambience.
As we live in an age with advanced technology and a fast-paced society, it can be hard to imagine what past decades may have felt like. Although we can’t time travel, there are still a few basics we can achieve to fulfill your 2000s autumn girl dream including outfits, romanticizing school life, engaging in classic autumn activities, and lastly taking pictures.
Romanticizing School Life
Many of our favorite 2000s show characters were dedicated to their academics, such as Rory Gilmore and Spencer Hastings. In Gossip Girl, Blair Waldorf’s dream college was Yale University, a prestigious university with a 4.5 percent acceptance rate. In season 2 episode 6, Blair and Serena Van Der Woodsen are seen fighting over Brown University and Yale, stressing the importance of school. Although you could say they only went for the name attached behind these colleges, being seen as educated was still upheld.
The greatest academic weapon of the 2000s, Rory Gilmore, takes the cake. She was valedictorian, would freak out over test scores, and got into universities such as Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. Not saying you should strive to the same degree or schools as these characters, but use them as inspiration when you’re feeling unmotivated about school. Make cute notes with little drawings on them, study with friends or a nice autumn scenery, and listen to music. Getting a good education was widely expressed in these 2000s shows and romanticizing school can create healthy study habits.
Clothes
My favorite and the most exciting part of the 2000s: clothes. Through the iconic 2000s shows, each character has their own unique flare; my favorites being Jenny Humphrey and Rory Gilmore.
There is an overall base of style for a 2000s autumn girl. Starting out with colors, stick to the classic fall colors such as red, brown, orange, and yellow. This is the time for people with an autumn color pallet to shine!
In all of the classic 2000s coded series low rise jeans seem to be the main clothing piece for the lower body along with mini skirts. In The Vampire Diaries, Elena Gilbert was known for her low rise bootcut jeans and button up tops with a lace Cami underneath. Think about also wearing tights underneath your mini skirts. It’s autumn, so the weather is getting colder and it’s time to layer up! Knitted sweaters and jackets are also a common theme for a 2000s autumn. Sweaters are an autumn classic and it’s never a bad idea to keep a few tucked away for the cooler seasons.
As for shoes, high knee boots were a Serena Van Der Woodsen staple, and worn over her jeans or with skirts. Socks paired with these boots add for the perfect embellishment. A shoe that can be worn throughout every season and is worth the investment is Converse. Converse are worn frequently throughout The Vampire Diaries, Gilmore Girls, and even the movie Twilight.
Some finishing pieces include scarves, peacoats, zip up jackets, chunky purses, headbands, and wired headphones. All of the items mentioned can be found in Hollister, American Eagle, Aeropostale, and thrift stores for authentic 2000s made pieces if you get lucky!
Engaging in Classic Autumn Activities
What makes autumn so fun and snug besides it being sweater weather? The classic autumn activities! Although this may not strictly apply to 2000s TV shows, what’s the point of dressing the part without creating the memories and the adventures? You’re the main character in your life, so you create your own plot each day.
You can go apple picking, ride hay rides, and try pumpkin spiced snacks. Autumn also brings in so many warm and sweet treats such as apple pie, apple cider donuts, and cinnamon rolls. Scrolling on TikTok, I’ve saved so many unique baked goods, I don’t think I’ll get to all of them!
When autumn starts, the spooky season is right around the corner as well. Start planning a Halloween costume, carve pumpkins, watch a Disney marathon of Halloween episodes. These are some of my favorite activities that I love to do every year and it brings me so much joy. Engaging in such activities is what brings the autumn spirit and actually makes us look forward to the upcoming season every year.
Take Pictures, but Live in the Moment
Scrolling on TikTok… once again, I’ve watched plenty of videos of younger people who didn’t grow up in the 2000s aspire to be like some of these iconic 2000s characters. Teens are dreaming of living in Manhattan, Mystic Falls, and Stars Hollow. One particular comment I found to be helpful is that people who grew up in the 2000s weren’t on their phones as much.
Enjoying life and actually existing, rather than living through influencers on a screen, makes the adventures much more immersive. Take pictures and document pumpkin patch dates, social media trends, and apple picking photoshoots, but remember, from time to time, to pause and breathe in the fresh autumn air we love so much.
Here we have it! Your guide to a 2000s girl autumn. There are so many fun activities to do and so many vampire brothers to choose from. The most important factor is to have fun and live in the moment the best you can. As time never moves backwards and only forwards, it can also feel stressful romanticizing school, social life, and our own free time, but even Elena Gilbert left her show for a season. Take your 2000s girl autumn day by day, and before you know it, you’ll be reminiscing and ready for autumn 2026!