13 People from Fashion, Beauty, Food, and Entertainment on What Got Them Through 2020

What makes a year unlike any other in modern history endurable?

After 12 months of ceaseless TikTok dance challenges, Tiger King memes, dalgona coffee recipes, focaccia bread Instagram Stories, celebrity Zoom reunions, and god-awful soundbites from presidential debates, the finish line is now finally in sight. And though troubles may surely still follow us into 2021 (I'm talking about you, virulent strain of COVID-19 that has now penetrated U.S. borders), may we at least enter another historic year more prepared than we were in the last.

To guide us, BAZAAR.com presented a simple question to some of our favorite people from the realms of fashion, beauty, food, and entertainment: What got you through 2020? From binge-worthy TV shows to unputdownable books, here are their answers.

CELEBRITY STYLIST AND COFOUNDER OF JSN STUDIO

Black Is Beautiful by Kwame Brathwaite has been my constant throughout the last year. It consistently reminds me of the rich history and beauty of Black culture, and is a beautiful reminder of why we must continue to fight and push for equality! Oh, and gummy bears have been the extra bonus.

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FASHION DESIGNER AND FOUNDER OF TOMO KOIZUMI

I want to introduce Eiko Ishioka, the legendary Japanese art director. There is an Eiko Ishioka exhibition in Tokyo now, and I already visited twice. I'm really amazed by her works especially costume designs. With my background in costume design, it makes me want to try to work in Hollywood sometime soon.

See the Eiko Ishioka Exhibit

FASHION AND BUYING DIRECTOR FOR MODA OPERANDI

The Glo Yoga app helped me through 2020. I am new to yoga; with all the travel I do, I have never been able to be consistent with classes and workout routines, but the pandemic provided the time. I was looking for something that calmed the mind as well as strengthened the body. I aimed to practice every other day, even just a few minutes before bed, and they have short classes that are focused purely on improving sleep.

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JEWELRY DESIGNER AND FOUNDER OF JENNIFER FISHER JEWELRY

My Peloton was key to relieving stress in 2020. To be able to jump on my Peloton at 5 a.m. or 10 p.m. was the best tool to recharge and be able to go back to work and care for my family. The 30 to 45 minutes of me-time allows you to give back to others.

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MAKEUP ARTIST AND FOUNDER OF FORVR MOOD CANDLES

I watch more TV now than I ever have before. I've been obsessed and addicted to Insecure and The Real Housewives franchise, because it reminds me of how life was pre-pandemic. I get to live vicariously through them going out and getting dressed and going places–which I can't do now.

Stream Insecure

Stream The Real Housewives

MODEL AND COFOUNDER OF IZÉ SKINCARE

I watched every episode of Chef’s Table on Netflix! I used to travel every other day for work, and being home has really given me the opportunity to do what I really love: cooking. I get so much inspiration watching every episode, and it always feels like a little escape. One of my favorite episodes highlighted the Buddhist nun and chef Jeong Kwan. When traveling is safe again, I hope to visit her one day in Korea and learn her cuisine.

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COMEDIAN AND WRITER FOR NETFLIX'S HUMAN RESOURCES

The Chicks' Gaslighter album. In a disastrous year where the people who were supposed to take care of us did not, The Chicks gave us an album about the same. From the righteous fury of "Gaslighter" to the exhausted plea of "Set Me Free," it's the album of the year. And you can tell the girl who left her tights on Natalie's boat to drop a location pin. I'd like to chat.

Listen to Gaslighter

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ACTOR, COMEDIAN, WRITER, AND STAR OF INDIE FILM SHIVA BABY AND ABC'S CALL YOUR MOTHER

One of the things that got me through quarantine was using the Instagram app to find out which groups of models are friends with each other. Every night from March to July, I would down a full bottle of wine on my parents’ front porch and wonder if any of the neighbors knew I had been in an indie film. Then, I would retreat to the basement, open the Instagram Explore page, and my research would begin. All you have to do is find one model, look for her last birthday post, then see which other models made the cut of any of the pics on the swipe through. Doing this not only killed three to four hours of the day, it helped me gain a ton of information that I will never be able to use.

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CHEF, FOOD52 RESIDENT, AND NYT COOKING CONTRIBUTOR

When I couldn't afford cable or Internet, I bought DVDs of The Office. I watched them on repeat, including all the commentaries and deleted scenes, and it got me through the worst times. Finding the Office Ladies podcast was just what I needed to perk up in the darkest 2020 days. Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey became my BFFs, giving me all the behind-the-scenes tea on my favorite show. They interview past directors, writers, and cast members, and go deep on stuff I didn't even know I needed to know, like the evolution of Kelly Kapoor's hair.

Listen to Office Ladies

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CHEF, WELLNESS ADVOCATE, AND HOST/PRODUCER OF VICE TV's COUNTER SPACE

Jessica Pratt is a melancholy word genius in every single way a person can be. Every single record she has so perfectly personifies my feelings about 2020. I’ve been listening to her for years, but this year, she really helped me cope.

Listen to Jessica Pratt

CO-OWNER AND EXECUTIVE CHEF OF THE BEATRICE INN

When I first moved to New York, I couldn't afford the subway, let alone dinner. But late-night visits to my favorite street cart for a plate of chicken and rice with their addicting white sauce and lethally spicy hot sauce were always welcome. Back then, it cost only five dollars a plate. During quarantine, I was working like a maniac, trying to keep my restaurant afloat. It was a really fabulous treat to go back there every week for a hot meal—and to eat food not cooked by me.

Nosh on Halal Guys

GRAMMY-WINNING SINGER, SONGWRITER, AND JUDGE ON TBS'S GO-BIG SHOW

City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert was the salvation of escape for me the entire time it lasted (which wasn’t long, because I dove into it like a holy ocean!). As someone who loves the theater and New York City and all the glamour and romance of the 1940s, I fell in love with this story and all the women who came alive within it.

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NEW YORK CITY BALLET PRINCIPAL DANCER

I literally could not have gotten through this pandemic without my portable Harlequin Dance Mat. Dancing in a living room or kitchen is already hard enough, but as a ballerina, I also need to keep up my pointe work! I'm thankful to Harlequin for providing a floor that allowed this ballerina to dance daily in her pointe shoes so that when the New York City Ballets reopen, I’ll be as ready as I can be.

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