The skies have turned a softer grey, the mornings feel crisper, and suddenly every Nairobian is reaching for that one hoodie or sweater tucked away in the wardrobe. Sweater weather has arrived.
While the phrase first gained global fame through music and memes — thanks to The Neighbourhood’s 2012 hit song Sweater Weather — Kenyans have made it their own. For us, sweater weather isn’t about American autumns or European winters. It’s about chilly mornings, misty evenings, Jacaranda blossoms, and the universal joy of holding a steaming cup of chai masala in your hands.
Sweater weather in Kenya is as much about fashion as it is about mood, food, music, and culture. It’s the season where style meets coziness, where Nairobi’s nightlife takes on a softer glow, and where memes about “cuffing season” flood Kenyan X
When sweater weather hits, Nairobi becomes a runway of layered creativity. Forget high fashion houses in Milan — the real action is in Gikomba and Toi Market, where thrifted sweaters, oversized knits, and branded hoodies fly off the racks.
Young Kenyans have mastered the art of layering: baggy jeans paired with chunky sweaters, oversized hoodies with sneakers, or thrifted knits accessorized with bucket hats and chains. Influencers on Instagram and TikTok turn chilly mornings into photo ops, showcasing Nairobi’s unique blend of streetwear and cozy fits.
Sweater weather is also hoodie season. From university campuses to downtown streets, hoodies have become a unisex staple. Many rock branded merch — from Kenyan collectives like 2 Many Siblings, PAWA 254, or event-inspired hoodies from Blankets & Wine. For couples, sharing one oversized hoodie is not a far fetched thought.
Every season needs its music, and Kenyan artists deliver the perfect sweater weather soundtrack. While the global vibe leans on indie and lo-fi, here the mood is driven by R&B, Afrosoul, and mellow Afropop.
Artists like Xenia Manasseh, Nikita Kering, and Bien have become synonymous with soulful tracks that feel tailor-made for rainy evenings. Songs from Sauti Sol’s softer catalogue — like Midnight Train or Suzanna — hit differently when you’re wrapped in a sweater, watching the rain slide down your window.
Nairobi’s café and lounge culture feeds this vibe too. Places like acoustic bars host unplugged sessions, where stripped-down performances echo the intimacy of the season. It’s music you don’t just hear — you feel.
Kenyan sweater weather pairs perfectly with film. Internationally, people rewatch rom-coms and moody thrillers, and Kenyans are no different.Netflix and chill binge sessions dominate every household. It’s the perfect excuse for couples to lean in close, popcorn in hand, as the rain patters outside.
Sweater weather makes staying in cool. Movie nights with friends, soft lighting, cozy blankets, and shared laughs turn a simple Netflix scroll into an event.
The undisputed king is chai masala. Steaming hot, sweet, and spiced, it’s the one drink that defines chilly mornings and late nights. Whether it’s from a street kiosk, a posh café in Lavington, or your mother’s kitchen, chai becomes the anchor of the season.
But what’s chai without the perfect snack?Mandazi, samosas, and viazi karai and of course, maindi choma by the roadside,sprinkled with chili and salt, remains the ultimate Kenyan sweater weather snack.
Globally, sweater weather has become synonymous with “cuffing season” — that time when people seek relationships to get through the chill. Kenyans, of course, have added humor to it.
On Twitter (X), memes fly about boyfriends “disappearing” with their girlfriends’ hoodies and vice versa, or how Nairobi’s sudden drop in temperatures increases the demand for warm hugs. TikTok couples post skits about surviving evenings without a partner, while others jokingly recruit “temporary baes” for the season.
Beyond fashion and dating jokes, sweater weather also shifts how Kenyans live. The cooler months encourage slowing down. People lean into self-care. Lighting a candle, journaling, or simply taking a rainy-day walk under Jacarandas becomes part of wellness routines.
In Limuru, Tigoni, and Ngong, retreats and cottages market sweater weather escapes, inviting Kenyans to experience cozy weekends away. Whether it’s a wellness getaway or a quiet evening indoors, the season fosters a softer, reflective energy.
Sweater weather in Kenya is here. It’s a lifestyle, a culture, and a story we get to write in chai-stained cups, thrifted knits, and laughter under Jacaranda trees.
