November Begins: Darker Evenings, Festive Plans & That ‘New Chapter’ Feeling

November always sneaks up on me. One minute it’s all autumn leaves and oat lattes, the next I’m Googling “best Christmas markets in Europe” and pretending I haven’t already started mentally curating my holiday outfits. It’s giving transition energy in every sense. The air is cooler, the mornings slower, and London has shifted into that soft-focus, pre-festive glow that makes everything feel like it’s waiting to happen.

There’s a softness to the city in November that’s hard to articulate. It’s in the way people start holding their coffee cups with two hands. It’s in the sudden craving for comfort films and vintage knitwear. It’s in the quiet magic of overhearing conversations about holiday plans while walking past twinkling window displays. The energy isn’t frantic yet. It’s reflective. There’s still space to breathe.

Something about this month feels different. The air is crisp, the nights are longer, and there’s this subtle shift in energy—like we’re all slowing down but also preparing for something. It’s the in-between of seasons and states of mind. Not quite holiday season, not quite still autumn. A liminal little pocket of time. And honestly? I’m leaning into it. I’m craving more time offline, more good red wine, more one-on-one dinners with people who know me well.

I’m not just watching the leaves fall anymore. I’m letting things drop that I no longer need—silly grudges, unrealistic expectations, outfit combinations that never quite worked. This is the season of shedding.

And the season of rebuilding, too.

The Social Scene: A Softer Kind of Season

November in London is criminally underrated. It’s the quiet before December's glitter bomb. A moment where the city breathes in and pauses—just briefly—before it all explodes into carols and chaos.

Recent highlights:

• Bonfire Night at Chiswick House – Fireworks, mulled wine, and the realisation that I might be one knit headband away from becoming a countryside girlie. Might be time to invest in a Barbour, just saying.

• Cosy dinner at 22B – First time there, and I’m already planning my return. Soft lighting, slow service (in a good way), and steak that made me forget my own name.

• Late-night drinks at The Connaught Bar with Amelia – Still undefeated. We flirted with the martini trolley, over-shared, and left feeling deliciously unbothered.

• Sunday reset at Petersham Nurseries – A foggy morning walk in Richmond Park followed by lunch, a glass of wine, and an accidental candle purchase I’ve already justified.

Also: the Christmas lights on Regent Street are up. Too soon? Probably. But I gasped anyway.

Did I Travel? A Quick Copenhagen Escape

Yes, Copenhagen happened. And yes, I’m now considering becoming a minimalist who wears only grey and burns incense.

There’s something about Scandinavian autumn that rewires your brain. Everyone looks effortless, like they just left a Vogue shoot but somehow also had time to make sourdough.

Favourite moments:

• Breakfast at Apotek 57 – Danish pastries, oat cappuccinos, and furniture that makes you reconsider every Ikea purchase you’ve ever made.

• A slow afternoon at Louisiana Museum of Modern Art – The kind of place that makes you want to whisper and buy sketchbooks you’ll never use.

• Wine and conversation at Ved Stranden 10 – Dimly lit, intimate, and full of quiet charisma. We talked about everything and nothing. It was perfect.

• Shopping at Ganni & Samsøe Samsøe – Obviously. Left with an oversized knit, a new pair of trousers, and a tote bag I absolutely didn’t need.

• Cinnamon rolls at Juno the Bakery – If happiness had a scent, it would be this.

I came back glowing. Possibly from the pastries. Possibly from the hygge.

Style: The Subtle Shift Into Winter Dressing

November is where layering becomes both an art and a survival strategy. We’re past “cute autumnal vibes” and into the realm of practical elegance.

Current staples:

• Oversized wool coats & structured blazers – We are leaning all the way into quiet luxury. If it looks like I could be cast in Succession, I’m wearing it.

• Knee-high boots & chunky loafers – Sturdy, chic, and very much made for stomping from brunch to wine bar.

• Deep jewel tones & warm neutrals – Burgundy, camel, forest green, and the occasional flirtation with navy.

• Turtlenecks under everything – They say “I’ve read the Sunday papers” even if I’ve only skimmed Instagram.

Also: scarf season is in full swing. I’m rotating between Totême, Acne Studios, and one questionable one I picked up in Copenhagen that I now insist is “textural.”

Beauty & Wellness: The Full Winter Reset

November is the month I go full wellness warrior. The skincare gets thicker, the treatments get weirder, and suddenly I’m watching YouTube videos on hot stone massage techniques like it's a TED Talk.

Essentials in rotation:

• La Mer ‘The Concentrate’ – Yes, she’s pricey. Yes, she works.

• Westman Atelier ‘Petal’ Blush – Creamy, blendable, and gives just enough flush to pretend I’ve been out in the cold when I’ve actually been in pyjamas since 4pm.

• Chanel ‘Le Lion’ fragrance – Warm, confident, a little mysterious. If a cashmere jumper could wear perfume, it would be this.

• Infrared saunas & lymphatic drainage massages – I used to laugh. Now I book religiously. Catch me wrapped in a towel talking about energy flow like a woman reborn.

Also: currently testing silk pillowcases and magnesium baths. Early verdict? Divinely extra.

Mindset: The ‘Slower but More Intentional’ Era

This month I’ve been craving simplicity. Less digital noise. More depth. I've deleted and redownloaded Instagram twice. Classic.

What’s sticking:

• Saying no more often – Guilt-free. Powerful. Necessary.

• Romanticising the little things – Candles, playlists, perfectly buttered toast.

• Choosing quality over quantity – In clothes, plans, people.

• Finishing ‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’ – I get it now. I cried. Then I immediately texted three friends to say “you HAVE to read this.”

Also: I’ve reintroduced the handwritten to-do list. There’s power in crossing things off with an actual pen.

Pop Culture, Trends & What’s Happening Right Now

• Saltburn hype is real – Barry Keoghan is unsettling in the best way.

• TikTok is fully in its ‘Coquette Winter’ era – Bows, lace, pearls, and the return of the romantic heroine. I’m not mad at it.

• Christmas shopping panic is beginning to rise – No one has a clue what they’re buying. Everyone has a Pinterest board.

• Lana Del Rey is trending again – Because of course she is. It’s overcast, it’s cold, and we’re all in our feels.

Also: red velvet is making a comeback, both as cake and as fashion. Iconic.

The Month Ahead: What’s Coming?

• A weekend in the Cotswolds – Fireplaces, muddy boots, and me trying to live out a Nancy Meyers fantasy.

• London Christmas markets & festive nights – I will be the one holding a mulled wine in each hand.

• An end-of-year reset – Because if I don’t start sorting my 2023 vision board now, I’ll be doing it tipsy on New Year’s Eve.

November, you’ve been quietly magical. Here’s to the calm before the December sparkle.

Sophie x