The Quiet In Between: Style, Stillness, and Recalibration
- Kim Chilton Griffith
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
There’s a certain grace that lingers in this in-between season — after the fullness of summer, before the rush of the holidays — when the sunlight fades a little earlier, the air turns crisp, and life quietly asks us to recalibrate.
It’s the time of year when the noise softens and the rhythm shifts. In that stillness — if you’re paying attention — you begin to hear yourself again.
The days feel shorter now, and in that brief glow between afternoon and evening, time seems to slow — softer, more deliberate, almost tender. Even the city feels different, breathing at a gentler tempo. It’s what I call the quiet in between — a pause between momentum and meaning, where reflection becomes its own form of luxury.
We talk a lot about “the fourth quarter” as the season to push — to meet goals, to finish strong — but there’s also power in slowing down long enough to see what’s truly worth carrying forward. Because sometimes what looks like stillness is really alignment — that subtle shift when clarity catches up to motion.
Here are a few ways to do that with both intention and style.
Curate Your Calm
Go beyond decluttering. Edit your environment the way a designer edits a room — by considering how each element contributes to how you feel in the space.
What’s on your desk, your nightstand, your digital home screen? If it doesn’t spark calm or creativity, it’s taking up space that could be used for clarity.
Edit your closet, your workspace, or even your to-do list — not out of pressure, but to make room for what reflects who you are right now. This is the perfect moment to release what no longer fits your rhythm. Sometimes the most sophisticated luxury is visual quiet.
Reclaim Your Mornings
Morning sets the architecture of your day. Before the emails and headlines, create a small ritual that feels like design for your senses — soft light, signature scent, intentional sound.
Brew your coffee slowly. Open a window, even briefly, to let the day in. Take a few moments for meditation, prayer, or simple stillness — whatever grounds your spirit before the world begins to move.
The goal isn’t productivity; it’s presence. How you start determines how deeply you move through everything that follows.
Dress With Intention
As the air cools and the days shorten, dress for how you want to feel — composed, effortless, and attuned to the season. Choose pieces that move easily but still hold shape: a soft knit beneath a tailored jacket, wide-leg pants that drape just right, and finish with a classic trench that adds instant structure and polish. A look that feels confident, refined, and quietly intentional.
Lean into the richness of fall — wine, camel, espresso, slate, ivory — tones that echo the shift in the earth and pair beautifully with supple leather, structured wool, or the ease of cotton.
Today's style feels quieter — thoughtful, refined, and intentional. It’s less about standing out and more about showing up with ease and authenticity.
Design for Mood, Not Perfection
Think less about decorating and more about atmosphere. Layer scent, light, and texture in ways that speak to your senses — a favorite floral arrangement, a candle burning softly nearby, a lamp that glows rather than glares.
Your home should feel like an exhale, a reflection of what brings you peace. The goal isn’t to create perfection; it’s to design a feeling — one that lets you slow down and simply be.
So, savor this stretch of stillness. Whether it’s an early morning walk, a relaxed dinner with friends, or catching your favorite football game on a Sunday afternoon, notice how ordinary moments align your energy.
The rhythm will pick up soon enough. But for now, let the air be a little cooler, the days a little slower, and your presence a little deeper.
Because the quiet in between isn’t empty — it’s where transformation begins.
Here’s to slowing down, editing gently, and moving into the next season with intention.
Editor’s Note: For a beautiful way to ease into your evenings, explore The Grown Up Wind Down — a mindful audio-visual experience that pairs perfectly with moments of stillness and calm.
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