Hey guys, we all knew I’d be super late writing this post but I do enjoy looking back on my favourites even if it’s just for me to remember years later. Some years I focus just on film, music and Tv, last year I focused only on film (read here) but this year it’s just a chaotic mix of those things I love in 2020 aka the things that got me through lockdown after lockdown.
Normally we go to the cinema once every two months at least, last years look back on my favourite films (see my favourite films of 2019 here) was made up entirely of films we saw in the cinema but this year was a different story. In January, a lifetime ago BC (before Covid) we went to see Jojo Rabit in the cinema which I adored. A film about children in Nazi Germany could have been a disaster but this had me laughing and crying throughout, Taika Waiti is a genius. A lot of films went straight to digital download but at about £20 a view so I don’t have many other stands out films – other than rewatching both Paddingtons numerous times because its the ultimate comfort film.
I watch a recond breaking amount of TV anyway so during a global pandemic my addiction to TV grew. I always have the tv on its good background noise so I watch a weird mix of high brow pieces and my trash background TV. I think 2020 was an outstanding year for TV with shows such as Small Axe, Normal People and You may destroy me to name a few (all on the BBC). I mentioned in an earlier post our first lockdown binge was Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes which was a BBC drama from 2006 that we watched for the first time and I genuinely think it is one of the best TV shows ever made and I wish I could watch it over again not knowing what will happen.
Schitt’s Creek – was one of those shows so many people discovered and watched within about two weeks during a lockdown and we were the same. It was the perfect escapism TV a show full of laughter but I can’t remember the last show that makes you really fall in love with the characters so quickly. If you haven’t seen it by now its made by father and son due Eugine and Dan Levy. About a wealthy family who lose everything and have to move to a tiny village called Schitts creek.
The Crown – Season 4 of the crown dropped on Netflix in November and what a week that was, hands down the best season of The Crown yet – following the show into the 80s with Thatcher as Prime Minister and Princess Diana’s journey into the royal family. The whole season was a joy to watch from start to finish, a bittersweet joy at moments.
We also enjoyed a lot of terrestrial TV shows like Grayson perry’s art club, The great pottery throw down and I’m not afraid to say my love for Corrie hasn’t gone anywhere. If we are being totally honest here another show that got me through lockdown but I can’t believe I’m saying it – the real housewives franchise. I exasperated rewatching the classic girlie comfort shows like Gossip girl, desperate housewives and Sex and the city as Netflix add the first two seasons – I became hooked. I used to hate the idea of watching scripted catfights but honestly, I totally get it now. So far I am up to date with both real housewives of Beverly Hills and New York.
2020 really was a good year for me and books. For the first year ever I actually completed my GoodReads reading challenge (albeit still a tiny number compared to many) I thoroughly enjoyed each book I read but those that stayed with me are… I started the year determined to get back into reading so picked up a few easy to read contemporaries. First, we have Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I adored were Daisy and the Jones. In some ways, I felt I bit underwhelmed by how much hype it got – the writing style didn’t click with me but I loved the characters, the California seventies sets. It follows a rock band in the seventies through interviews looking back on the prime, the band is inspired by Fleetwood Mac, so what’s not to love. I know it will translate so well to the screen. I also read Queenie by Candice Carty – Williams, this book was a perfect tonic to read around the BLM movement its a light easy to read a book about a newly single woman working in London. It isn’t about race yet I still learnt a lot and realised it may have been the first book I read with a POC protagonist which is just shocking. As usual, I adored the main character and the journey she went on was lovely to see unfold.
Girl, Woman, other by Beridanie Evaristo – Was a wonderful story like nothing I’ve ever read before. It’s split into sections with mini-stories and different protagonists but as the book goes on you see how each character knows each other. It’s full of numerous empowering stories of women overcoming different issues some around sex, race and more. Highly recommend this one.
The last book I read was Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier, this is one I’ve been meaning to read for years as its one of my mum’s favourite films, it took me a long time to read it but once those plot twists started to unravel I finished it pretty quickly. In summary, I totally understand why it’s such a classic, a beautiful story with lots of twists. Even the Alfred Hitchcock film dare I say wasn’t as good a the book.
I don’t often include music because even though I adore music I hardly listen to new music but this year there were a few new releases I fell in love with. Like every other basic gal on this planet, we are talking about Taylor swift’s Folklore (and Evermore although I think I much prefer Folklore as a whole). I am embarrassingly a Taylor Swift stan although it doesn’t seem to be as embarrassing to say anymore. This album showcases her songwriting skills in all the best ways. I feel she has come full circle from the country songs on the self-titled debut album. Next, up let’s discuss Miley Cyrus’s Plastic hearts – what a gift this album was to us all. I have always adored Miley’s covers more than anything and spend hours watching her cover Paul Simon, Billy Joel etc on Youtube so when her cover of Heart of glass blew up it was about time. She then announced a rock album I was in heaven and don’t get me wrong I am obsessed but another part of me thinks its a bit anticlimactic if you took off the Zombie cover and duets with Joan Jett and Billy Idol you would never think its a rock album. However, it is still the most me Miley album and its on repeat but I still want all those other covers from random concerts over the years released on the record too Miley.
This year I have well and truly become obsessed with skincare partly due to working from home which gave my lazy ass extra time in the mornings for self-care. Over the last few years I became more interested in skincare (thanks to Caroline Hirons) but this year I got myself a full skincare routine and spent all this extra time looking after myself. A few of my favourite products are the UpCirlcle serum and the Bloomtown cleansing bar. After a few dodgy lockdown home hair dyes, I have also enjoyed Olaplex treatments for my damaged locks.
Finally (if you are still reading, congratulations) I thought it would be fun to end this look back with someone my favourite outfits from the year. Aside from the ‘loungewear’ looks I still managed to have some fun with my style this year. I think I’ve finally found a clear colour palette – that purple leather jacket I adore from ASOS leading the way for all future purple purchases. I also had a bit of a fling with flares this year although it may have been unrequited as they are all impossibly long.
I hope you enjoyed this very lengthy look back on my favourites from last year – love Charlotte xxx