ETHAN'S EIGHT: October Mood Board Edition
The leaves are yellow, my spiced cider candle is burning...it's fall yall
I’ve had this weird arc in my relationship with pumpkin spice that maybe you’ll find relatable or at least humourous. When I was probably 12 years old I went through a major Yankee Candle-obsessed phase. Ah, the purveyor of the most bougie parfumed candles in the world to this small town tween. I’ve obviously learned and grown since then but it was all I knew at the time. I couldn’t step foot in the Pensacola mall without begging my grandma to take me inside Yankee Candle. I still remember exactly where it was, just two or three stores down on the left from the main entrance, not too far from Hollister and Abercrombie. So in the fall of 2009, I bought every single item they sold in pumpkin spice. We’re talking the mini candle, jar candle, car diffuser, and those electric plug-in wall diffusers (turned to the highest setting bien sûr). As you can imagine on the gulf coast of Florida, we didn’t get much fall weather so this was probably me overcompensating for it.
And I loved it. My twin brother filled his room with the same. Everything was pumpkin and pumpkin was everything to us.
But then, one week in October I got sick and tested positive for the swine flu. I felt horrible and had no appetite. Luckily, I got better after a week or two; however, from then on, every time I smelled anything even remotely pumpkin-scented I remembered being sick. That olfactory system of scent-brain-memory association is real! And it stayed with me for over a decade. It wasn’t until a year or two ago when I opened myself back up to pumpkin spice and started enjoying it again, especially since I live in New York where we get a real change of seasons. Now I’m sitting at the desk of ECF with my favorite fall candle (don’t worry its not Yankee Candle…keep reading for deets), and an ICED pumpkin spice latte (from a local cafe…not Starbs), writing this note and staring at the yellow leaves along the Hudson.
It’s definitely fall yall, and not just in New York…
I texted my friend Felipe, who is in Berlin for the week, to check in on the vibes elsewhere. “Yes, major fall vibes. Sunny, 50s, lots of leather jackets over sweaters,” he replied.
Wherever you’re reading from, I hope you’ll comment down below and tell me about the fall vibes there. Or feel free to send me a postcard!
Read on for ETHAN’S EIGHT: October Mood Board edition, because while everyone is trend-scrolling on TikTok, I’m still over on Pinterest @ethancarsonfloyd curating les vibes and making mood boards. Here are eight things I’ve saved recently:
A navy wool peacoat - I want to venture on over to Church Street Surplus in lower Manhattan and go treasure hunting for a new-to-me version of something like this. My goal is to invest in a great transition coat to take me through October and November layering for years to come.
A Gentleman in Moscow series on Paramount+ - this was one of the best books I read during the pandemic, telling the story of a Count who was confined to house arrest in a grand Moscow hotel for the rest of his life in post-Revolutionary Russia. The novel is now a drama television series starring Ewan McGregor. I flew through the first three episodes on the plane last week.
This pic of Lucas Bravo…mon dieu, Chez Gabriel! Let’s go on a fall walk together to look at leaves, sip cider, paint some abstract art, and then bake an apple crisp, PLEASE!
A heavy cotton weight, oversized, long-sleeve tee - like the Benny Tee from Officine Generale in black, of course.
Some fall candles, indeed! Okay, my trusted go-to not-so-well-kept secret because I make EVERYONE smell it when they come over to my apartment, favorite fall candle is “Spiced Cider” by Capri Blue. I will probably never stop buying or burning this every year. One time I bought the gigantic three-wick version and it lasted for 2.5 years, which is saying a lot considering how many times I burned it. I also love “Ambre” by Diptyque this time of year and again in January/February.
Karolis Inokatis and Aurimas Ski - ya know, just a couple milano models au cafe during fashion week. I love the aesthetics, outfits, and Karolis’ hair here. Major vibes.
Marc Forgione - I recently dined at this bold farm-to-table restaurant in Tribeca when family friends were visiting. I’d absolutely recommend it to any young professional foodie looking for a place to take parents or friends next time they come to visit you in the city. It’s a treat and it will not disappoint. 30 Hudson Street.
This beautiful olive green trench coat - I stopped in Nili Lotan’s new men’s store also in Tribeca last month and had to try on this stunning coat. 183 Duane Street.
For more mood boards, follow my Pinterest linked here.
For more moods on the ‘gram, follow my Instagram linked here.
And to add some fall songs to your playlist, read an old desk note from last year, linked down below.
