How to Have a Nancy Meyers Fall

I want to give credit where credit is due! This idea hit me while I was watching Something’s Gotta Give, I was inspired by this piece on having an Emily Henry summer by Alexia of Little Sparkles.

I was recently watching Something’s Gotta Give (at 6am after the baby woke me up at 5 because when else does a mom have time to watch a chick flick?) and it really got me thinking about the icon, Nancy Meyers and more importantly, the female characters she writes.

Nancy Meyers heroines are complex, caring, successful, whip-smart and they usually take no shit from anyone. They frequently have multiple men vying for their attention, children who adore them and the most beautiful homes.

And it should be noted, many of Nancy Meyers heroines are over the age of 35! Can you believe it? Interesting female characters past their twenties. It’s no wonder we all love her so much.

So I decided that I’m having a Nancy Meyers fall. My summer was rough but if I learned anything from Nancy Meyers it’s that I can be a boss (Jules from the Intern and J.C. from Baby Boom), a creative (Erica from Something’s Gotta Give), an amazing mom (Jane from It’s Complicated and the Elizabeth James from The Parent Trap) and do it all looking chic and living in a charming home.

So if you too want to have a Nancy Meyers fall, here are some rules to follow.

Invest in elevating one room of your house.

Nancy Meyers sets are iconic and, yes, this is the second time I’m using that word but we’re talking about Nancy Meyers here! And as someone who has studied Nancy Meyers movies, I can tell you that getting that perfectly chic but cozy look is all about the details. Add in colorful throw pillows, buy a unique piece of artwork, put the candles in glass vases, re-organize the books on your bookshelves. Just focus on the details of one space in your home this fall and I swear you’ll feel like like the leading lady you are meant to be.

Wear adorable pajama sets.

Is there anything more leading lady-like than unwinding from a long day in a cute matching pajama set? Don’t forget the robe and a good set of slippers!

Pepper your home with fresh flowers.

Ok this could have been under the first point but flowers are practically a secondary character in Nancy Meyers films! They are always scattered all over the place. And let’s be real, fresh flowers make everything a little sweet. Plant pansies or mums in containers for your front porch, buy fresh bouquets of dahlias and marigolds every week for your office or your kitchen.

Wear white.

I know the rules around white after Labor Day but have you seen The Holiday? Cameron Diaz rocks a white sweater in December! I have little kids so I tend to stay away from white but there’s something about wearing white that screams “I have my life together and even if I don’t, I’m leading lady material.”

Deck yourself out in button-downs.

Nancy Meyers heroines are classy ladies. They rock a casual button-down thrown over a tank top with jeans. They pull it together with a blazer. These ladies have classic wardrobes that stand the test of time and the TikTok trends.

Use your creativity to create.

I love that Nancy Meyers characters are not just smart and successful, they are creative. They are putting their art and passions into the world. Elizabeth James from the Parent Trap designed wedding gowns. Erica from Something’s Gotta Give was a playwright. Jane from It’s Complicated was a chef. They were creating something. We’re all Substackers, right? Let’s create.

Treat meals like they’re something special.

Nancy Meyers heroines make meal times an event. They light the candles, open the bottle of wine, use the good plates and the fancy tablecloths. And you know what? We should all channel that energy. Look, my dinners are at 6pm with a toddler and a baby who are both actively crashing from long daycare days. I’m lucky if I get to eat sitting down. But that’s not going to stop me from serving dinner with the fancy salad bowl or buying some extra cute placemats to really drive home the point.

Drink good wine.

Or good coffee or tea if you don’t drink alcohol. Or buy the fancy herbs. Make the pancakes from scratch. But elevate the normal. Because Nancy Meyers leading ladies are always getting a little extra and why not? When life is full of charming men, festive dinner parties, funny children and closets of chic outfits, you might as well sprinkle it with some indulgent extras. And you know what? Even if your life isn’t teeming with charming men, festive dinner parties or a chic wardrobe, you might as well elevate the little details, just because you can.

Above all else

The main thing every Nancy Meyers heroine has that we should all try to channel? Leading lady energy. You are not a side character. Invest in your daily life like the leading lady that you are. You are worth the attention to detail. Do things for the plot. Know you are worth it.

And yes, I did create an entire Pinterest board dedicated to a Nancy Meyers fall while writing this and I am obsessed with it. Next up: a Nancy Meyers playlist!

If you love Nancy Meyers too, please give this one a share and let’s spread the energy!

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About the Author:

Hi, I’m Maura. I’m a mom of two adorable kids & one sweet Goldendoodle. In my day job, I’m a marketing director in tech and I side hustle as a marketing consultant + social media manager. My days are full and chaotic but after a season of grief, I realized the importance of recognizing the little glimmers and daily delights that surround us every day. I write about finding your joy, having fun, appreciating what you have and chasing your dreams while you still can. Fueled by iced coffee, unchecked optimism and just a hint of chaos.