the february review
just a girl who saw wuthering heights on her birthday
My birthday month is over — I kept it low key this year and organised a few different hangouts with friends and controversially I preferred it to the big party I had last year. Getting one-on-one time with friends is unmatched. Highlights include: Din Tai Fung with Jack, seeing Wuthering Heights with Jam and Amara and eating the largest Persian meal of my life at Kish with Aviva and Farzam. Squeezed in a few coffees and lunches too, altogether a dreamy week.
A little update from me — I’m going to be making the listening section of this newsletter more brief as I am trying out a new series on Studio168 that goes into more detail about my monthly listening. Keep your eyes peeled for the first letter 💌
wearing —
My closet has felt dry this month — I have worn the same three pairs of trousers and two pairs of shoes for four weeks other than on Jack’s birthday, when I got dressed up for dinner. I popped on this old bag that scratches my 90s silhouette itch, a new denim skirt and jacket set from Stories and some boucle flats from Jonak. I also picked up some fresh glasses from Jimmy Fairly; my old pair were pinching and loosening them didn’t seem to help, so I guess the thin arms were the problem. I switched to this acetate frame and I love it.
listening —
Firstly, I can’t talk about music without mentioning that Chrome came out last week!! So proud of this little song, put it on when you’re on the move and it’s dark outside for the full experience. If you’re curious about how a song like this comes to life, I wrote about the process and included demos from each stage here. To everyone who’s listening, saving and sharing, thank you! ♥️
There’s one stand out album for me this month and it’s Croak Dream. I’m so inspired by Puma Blue’s experimentation, how every song is so different but lives in the same world. It has grain running through it, like someone’s ashing onto the songs. Love the trip hop, love the writing, love the sense of space. Reminds me of Burial, Massive Attack and sitting at the back of a jazz bar at midnight. Favourite project of the year so far, no contest.
I update my Honey playlist with everything I’ve been listening to recently — save it for when you want to discover something new.
watching —
I actually enjoyed Wuthering Heights, but in my defence I haven’t read the book. When my friends told me what really happens my mouth was hanging open. Taking the film for what it was, I really liked it as a standalone — it felt somewhat tongue in cheek to me. The place I think fell down was the casting, I didn’t believe Margot and Jacob as lovers or Yorkshire locals. I did think the way they shot the Moors was breathtaking, it’s given me a boost of national pride. Ultimately to me this was a story about class and I wish Emerald Fennell had leant even harder into that side of the plot.
After Wuthering Heights, I was inspired to watch another vibes-only film for the first time and went for Marie Antoinette. It was… a little dull but very beautiful! The countryside house montage was particularly beautiful, every shot a painting.
I’d love to watch more woman-directed films — if you have any recommendations please leave them in the comments. I’ll also create a chat thread!
visiting —
Last week I was invited to preview Tracey Emin’s new exhibition, A Second Life, at the Tate. I first saw her work at the Hayward when I was fifteen and found it hugely inspiring — I loved approaching it a second time around many years later and seeing how these curators chose to exhibit some of the same works alongside her new pieces. The bronzes were a highlight for me, particularly Ascension. I love the confessional nature of her work, how she embodies true vulnerability in sharing things that don’t always garner praise and are so rarely palatable. There’s a lot of work packed into the exhibition space, it would have benefitted from being staged across more rooms. This is a really beautiful exploration of evolving personal identity, sex, trauma and survival, I’d book early and try and visit off-peak as I think this one will be really popular.
I also went to see Lucian Freud at the National Portrait Gallery — there’s some amazing observed portraits in the final room, particularly the nudes. I love how the NPG stage their exhibitions, they’re always stunning and the wall paint colour is perfectly chosen. I checked the credits and they work with a paint company called Myland, who I will be buying samples from next time I’m decorating. This exhibition was really interesting, I love portraiture so was more drawn in by those than the early still life sketches; I also loved the etchings he made in his later life, particularly the one of Bella.
Anatomy of a Fall has been such a highlight of the past few years imo, highly recommend
If you haven't watched them already I think Celine Song's films might be right up your alley, particularly Past Lives!