Amanda | The Womens Room

Fashion & BeautyNovember 8, 2014

Weekend Woman, Wendy Dagworthy

By Amanda

Both Jane and I and anyone else who has ever come across her, loves Wendy Dagworthy. Head of the RCA MA fashion course from 1998 until this year, her blend of future-vision and up-beat optimism never fails to inspire any… Read More

Health & HappinessNovember 6, 2014

The John Lewis Christmas Ad, Monty The Penguin, my fav so far

By Amanda

And then there’s the John Lewis Christmas ad, which has made me tear up and sob quietly into my hanky, for all the right reasons I think. Many thanks to our reader Sarah for pointing this out to me just… Read More

Art, Culture & Craft, We Are ReadingNovember 6, 2014

Giftwrapped by Jane Means

By Amanda

As an experienced gift wrapper and stationery geek, I feel well qualified to talk on this subject. Despite dedication to the cause, I am never quite happy with my wrapping creations, always falling short of what Martha (Stewart, my all… Read More

Art & CultureNovember 6, 2014

Gap, Sofia Coppola and the Christmas ad

By Amanda

I’m running slightly behind this week, so until I get my act together later today and while we’re on the subject of brand festive marketing, take a look at this new Christmas Gap advert, directed by Sofia Coppola. Do you… Read More

Fashion, We Are ReadingNovember 5, 2014

Lanvin: I Love You by Alber Elbaz

By Amanda

I’ve spent more of my adult life looking at windows than is good for a girl. It’s actually something I get paid for. And before you say ‘cushy number that’, I have to look at all windows and there are… Read More

Art & CultureNovember 4, 2014

Women Fashion Power, Not A Multiple Choice

By Amanda

There’s a great deal to see at the Women, Fashion, Power exhibition, just opened at the Design Museum in London, so much so that despite an excellent tour by co curator Donna Loveday (Colin McDowell is the other curator) I… Read More

Fashion & BeautyNovember 2, 2014

Weekend Woman, Camila Batmanghelidjh

By Amanda

Camila is the patron saint of troubled children and our all round favourite inspiring person. Ever. She’s not just a Weekend Woman, she’s a lifetime woman of substance. Jane and I have met her on a number of occasions and… Read More

Things We LoveOctober 31, 2014

Ormonde Jayne Solid Perfume Compact

By Amanda

It’s not too early to be making Christmas lists for ourselves, is it? Because this elegant little perfume compact from Ormonde Jayne would make a fabulous addition to anyone’s stocking. Firstly it is glamourous, with a heavy, solid feel to… Read More

Fashion & BeautyOctober 31, 2014

Dear Rose, perfume with grown-up French chic

By Amanda

I love it when I get an opportunity to meet successful older women with TWR. I am curious to understand what it takes to get to the top and then stay there, particularly when it’s in a very male dominated… Read More

Fashion & BeautyOctober 29, 2014

Personalised shoe buying at VIAJIYU

By Amanda

Last week I was invited along to an evening of shoe buying with the personalised footwear brand VIAJIYU. I know, tough gig. VIAJIYU aims to fill a gap for (admittedly affluent, prices start at around £230) working women who need… Read More

Art & CultureOctober 27, 2014

The importance of clutter: The Collector at Frieze Masters

By Amanda

The art at Frieze in London this year was as good as ever, no sign of any downturn/recession/holding back amongst the super rich, who bought in abundance according to our inside sources. So far so normal. But there was something… Read More

Things We LoveOctober 27, 2014

Skyn Iceland at Marks & Spencer

By Amanda

[show_shopthepost_widget id=”345690″] Fessing up, I’ve had this pack of Hydra Cool Firming Eye gels in my ‘to try’ drawer for over a year. I got them at an M&S beauty press day, when I met the brand founder Sarah Kugelman,… Read More

Fashion & BeautyOctober 26, 2014

Weekend Woman (ish): Grayson Perry’s Claire

By Amanda

OK, I appreciate I’m on controversial ground here…Grayson is of course a man. But I’m squeezing him in as his transvestite alter ego Claire, because I want to mention the terrific Who are You? series he’s done for Channel 4.… Read More

Fashion & BeautyOctober 23, 2014

Frieze Fashion, it’s all about the bright trainer

By Amanda

Last week, due to day job commitments, I went to Frieze art fair on the last day – Saturday- rather than the first and there was a different vibe in the air. On the first day the place is always… Read More

Fashion & BeautyOctober 21, 2014

Jigsaw, The National Portrait Gallery and William Morris

By Amanda

I’m watching Jigsaw with more attention than usual because one has opened up on my doorstep in Barnes. Which is fine by me as the brand has upped its game of late (you may remember the lovely Duke Street Emporium)… Read More

Fashion & BeautyOctober 19, 2014

Weekend Woman: Patti Smith

By Amanda

Just because it’s Patti, really. She’s one of my all time life heros and her book Just Kids was an amazing read. I first started to really love Patti when she played at a Benetton press gig in Paris I… Read More

Things We LoveOctober 18, 2014

The Vodka Zinger

By Amanda

So, this is rather fab, despite its daft name. I have been trialling this gadget to improve my cocktails and I can vouch for its effectiveness. The zinger consists of a perspex bottom section of slicing blades, which allows you… Read More

Things We LoveOctober 17, 2014

Scented candles by Merchant Fox

By Amanda

A lovely present for grown up men who appreciate a good candle but aren’t mad on a floral overload, this is Merchant Fox’s Fox Flannel candle. Fox Brothers (founders of The Merchant Fox brand) are a British company founded in… Read More

Fashion & BeautyOctober 17, 2014

Talking perfume with Oxana Polyakova at Bloom Perfumery

By Amanda

I went to catch up with the terrific Oxana Polyakova, founder of the Bloom perfume boutique in Shoreditch. When Oxana describes a perfume to me I want to try it immediately. She has a magical way with words when it… Read More

Health & HappinessOctober 15, 2014

‘It’s a Book Book’- Ikea’s 2015 catalogue video

By Amanda

Another quick video find here from Ikea. If you’re a bit fed up of the digital world and long for simpler times, this might make you smile. Grab a cup of tea and watch it.… Read More

Fashion & BeautyOctober 15, 2014

Change is a Beautiful Thing, by Kathryn Ferguson

By Amanda

We’ve written previously on what the beauty industry needs to do to adjust its views on age and beauty, but while researching something for the day job, I came across this great film by Kathryn Ferguson, done for the Selfridges… Read More

Fashion & BeautyOctober 13, 2014

& Other Stories V COS (with a bit of Iris Apfel thrown in)

By Amanda

Listen up people, we have a new favourite shop, & Other Stories. I know we’ve written about it before, but recently it’s absolutely nailed it in terms of very wearable clothes for grown ups and we’ve had some interesting feedback… Read More

Art & CultureOctober 11, 2014

Weekend Woman: Tracey Emin

By Amanda

Tracey Emin has been declared the most important British artist of her generation by Jonathan Jones, art critic for The Guardian. He writes raves about her just opened exhibition, The Last Great Adventure is You here. He gave the show,… Read More

Fashion & BeautyOctober 9, 2014

Give away! Subscription to The Perfume Society

By Amanda

Exciting news perfume peeps, we have a small competition today whereby we are giving away FIVE glorious subscriptions to the Perfume Society, FIVE! And all you have to do is a little admin. How nice is that eh? You are… Read More

Out & AboutOctober 9, 2014

More stores we could move into: Aesop Richmond

By Amanda

Last week I went to the opening of the latest Aesop store, just down the road from me in Richmond. The brand has taken over a spot that used to be the most wonderful children’s bookshop, The Lion & Unicorn.… Read More

Fashion, We Are ReadingOctober 9, 2014

Artisan Drinks by Lindy Wildsmith

By Amanda

This lovely new book on artisan drinks by Lindy Wildsmith will appeal to anyone who (like me) has a jug of damson gin on the go in the garage or see’s an elderflower tree in full bloom and thinks ‘hmm,… Read More

Art, Culture & Craft, We Are ReadingOctober 7, 2014

Haute Couture Ateliers by Hélène Farnault

By Amanda

This is a gorgeous book for fashion lovers, particularly those that make things and appreciate the art and craft of sewing. Writer Hélène Farnault has gone into the ateliers of the French haute couture houses to interview some of… Read More

Fashion & BeautyOctober 7, 2014

Dressing like Barbara (Hepworth)

By Amanda

Yep, I’m still enamoured with Barbara and I’ve been browsing the internet to see if I can Dress Like Barbara…well, dress a bit like Barbara, she was keen on a wrapped and belted jacket being whip thin, but I’m going… Read More

Fashion & BeautyOctober 4, 2014

Weekend Woman: Diane Keaton

By Amanda

Often on TWR we are asked what the ‘rules’ are for dressing once you get older. When we first started the blog (six years ago next week) we wanted to be helpful, so we’d suggest a few pointers; perhaps watching … Read More

Things We LoveOctober 3, 2014

Perfume review: Nevermore by P Frapin & Co

By Amanda

This new release Nevermore, from the heritage fragrance brand P Frapin & Co (the company was founded in 1270), is one of those smells that people seek you out to ask what it is. I have been trialling it and… Read More