The holiday season is upon us, and with that comes some time to reflect on our favorites of the past year! So, without further ado, here’s HC Pitt’s 2025 favorites.
Movie/tv show
Without a question, my favorite TV watches of this past year were Severance and Twin Peaks, both of which are shows with lots of twists and turns that truly redefine their genres. I cannot recommend them enough! As for movies, my top five releases so far this year are Sorry Baby, One Battle After Another, Sinners, Materialists and Superman.
Other Favorites:
- The Summer I Turned Pretty– Julia
- Wicked: For Good– Amanda
- Better Call Saul– Sophia C
song/album/artist
For me, 2025 has been the year of three artists: Lizzy McAlpine, Olivia Dean and ROLE MODEL. Lizzy has been my favorite artist for a long time, but her latest release, Older, has become one of my all-time favorite albums. Olivia Dean, who has quickly been climbing the charts, was an artist I started listening to last summer but have fallen absolutely in love with this year; her jazzy, whimsical music is everything I could ask for. And of course, Kansas Anymore (The Longest Goodbye) by ROLE MODEL is one of my favorites of the year.
Other Favorites:
- Nobody’s Girl by Tate McRae- Kelly
- Forever is a Feeling by Lucy Dacus- Emma
read
I spent a big chunk of this year reading X-Men comics for an ongoing research project on Jean Grey, so, while I definitely didn’t love all of them, there were some really great ones. For my research, I also read The Dark Fantastic by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas, which I definitely recommend if you’re interested in the study of fantasy/sci-fi and race!
Other Favorites:
- Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn– Julia
- Voice Like a Hyacinth by Mallory Pearson- Emma
PITTSBURGH THING
This summer was the first summer I spent in Pittsburgh, and as a result, Page’s ice cream, which is often only open for a few weeks of the school year, became one of my favorite places. They offer dairy-free soft serve, which is incredibly hard to find and also so delicious, and they have so many amazing flavors! The Pittsburgh Neighborhood Fleas, which normally take place in the late spring/summer, were also a frequent stop for me, and I got so many cute clothes!
Other Favorites:
- Picklesburgh, College Gameday- Amanda
- Music festivals in Schenley Park- Sophia C
SNACK/food/drink
As someone who is both dairy-free and loves cheese, I have struggled for a long time to find a good dairy-free alternative to cheese sticks. However, the brand Daiya now makes dairy-free mozzarella cheese sticks, and I highly recommend them! Additionally, Cocojune makes great dairy-free protein yogurt!
Other Favorites:
- Baking with chai spices- Amanda
- Iced mocha- Kelly
clothing/accessory
Mini skirts! They are so easy to dress up or dress down, and honestly, if you can find ones with built-in shorts, super comfortable and low effort. Every time I wear one, I get so many compliments!
Other Favorites:
- Doc Martens 1461- Emma
- My sentimental necklace- Sophia C
SKIN CARE/BEAUTY
Trader Joe’s is the holy grail for so many skincare and beauty products! I highly recommend their Shower Hair Mask, Honey Hydration Face Mask, and their Vanilla Lip Mask. All of them are super moisturizing and make my hair, skin and lips feel so soft!
Other Favorites:
- Paula’s Choice Three Step Skincare Routine- Julia
- Guasha- Kelly
misc.
Naps! That’s all.
Other Favorites:
- Cats- Sophia C
- Ashley Tisdale Frenshe Spray- Kelly
That’s it for our 2025 favorites, see you next year!