Amanda | The Womens Room

Out & AboutJune 15, 2018

Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up at the V&A

By Amanda

Oh womenfolk, this is GLORIOUS. Among us fashion folk, Frida has superstar status due to her artful style, use of colour and accessories and empowering feminist views on life. She was also a magnificent artist and her work sells for… Read More

Fashion & BeautyJune 14, 2018

Mary Quant At The V&A: Coming Soon And Your Help Needed

By Amanda

Womenfolk, we are all in demand currently, it seems. Not only are we wanted for modelling campaigns (we will be disappointed if some of you don’t apply, let us know how you get on if you do), the V&A needs… Read More

We Are ReadingJune 6, 2018

The Accidental Botanist by Robbie Honey

By Amanda

Robbie Honey is one of my favourite florists, not only is he super-talented, but he’s also utterly lovely. We interviewed him for We Wear Perfume and I’ve been a fan of his entertaining and artful instagram feed ever since. Also… Read More

Fashion & BeautyJune 5, 2018

Grown Up Models: Your Chance To Shine

By Amanda

I’ve lost count of the number of ‘poor-us’ conversations I’ve had with brands recently on the decline in fashion retail sales. Things really are pretty bleak for retailers, yet in all cases the brands seem to think the answer is… Read More

Fashion & BeautyJune 1, 2018

Elena Bowes interviews Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui, Directors Of McQueen, The Documentary

By Amanda

McQueen, the documentary based on designer Lee Alexander McQueen, is a searingly honest, funny, sad and thought-provoking film airing on British screens next week (June 8th). Don’t miss it. The life story of this East End boy makes way beyond… Read More

Home & GardenMay 22, 2018

Non Digital Pleasures: Flower Pressing with Jam Jar Flowers

By Amanda

Who’d have thought that pressing flowers, something that carried the stigma of being beyond uncool when I was a teenager, would come back and be a thing in 2018? Jam Jar flowers, that’s who, run by the inspiring grown up… Read More

Home & GardenMay 18, 2018

Podcasts At The BBC – What’s Coming Next

By Amanda

My current obsession with podcasts took an exciting turn last week, when the BBC invited me to meet its first ever commissioning editor of Podcasts, Jason Phipps and discover what the future holds with podcasts. How fabulously W1A! I’m pleased… Read More

Out & About, UncategorizedMay 14, 2018

London Craft Week 2018: Our Highlights

By Amanda

Our regular craft correspondent Julia Little toured London Craft Week for us again this year, searching out the best of the HUGE selection of what was on offer. It was the thoughtful presentations and workshops put on by the smaller… Read More

Art & Culture, Out & About, UncategorizedMay 11, 2018

Guest Blogger Elena Bowes goes to Surface Work at Victoria Miro

By Amanda

There are easily a dozen paintings in Victoria Miro’s latest sensational show Surface Work that I wanted to smuggle home. Over 50 female abstract artists from across the globe over the past century are shown in this stunning, historical glimpse… Read More

Fashion & BeautyMay 10, 2018

Accidental Icon: Musings Of A Geriatric Starlet, by Iris Apfel

By Amanda

Iris has written a book! Iris has written a book! I don’t really need to say any more, other than these few extracts indicate it’ll be a cracking read. I know Iris is everywhere now and even my kids know… Read More

Fashion & BeautyMay 1, 2018

How To Wear A Bit More Colour This Season.

By Amanda

It’s hard to visit India and NOT want to wear colour. After returning from my recent trip I wanted to empty out all the black, navy and beige from my wardrobe and fill it with hot pink, red, orange and… Read More

Out & AboutApril 25, 2018

Travels To India: Delhi And Jaipur Shopping Tips

By Amanda

I’ve been away in India visiting middleson, as anyone who follows us on Insta will know as I’ve rather clogged the feed up with pictures. This is my third trip to India, and I’m getting the hang of it. I… Read More

Home & GardenApril 4, 2018

Who Remembers The Hornsey Stool? More Olderpreneurial Women On TWR

By Amanda

Following on from Jane’s recent post on women olderpreneurs, I was tipped of by a reader (thanks Tracy) about the revival of the Hornsey Stool, by budding female brand builder Juliet Munroe. Who remembers this cute little stool from their… Read More

Fashion & BeautyApril 1, 2018

Spring Skincare: Good Stuff We’ve Tried And Loved

By Amanda

Is it safe to assume there’s no more snow coming our way? Let’s hope so. I get very lazy with my skincare when it’s cold, wanting to dash from fully dressed to under-the-duvet in as fast a time as possible.… Read More

Art & CultureMarch 29, 2018

Guest Blogger Elena Bowes Interviews Novelist Elise Valmorbida

By Amanda

Anyone who’s walked passed Liberty recently will have seen its excellent tribute to the Suffragette Movement’s Smashing Windows campaign from March 1912, where many of the store’s windows were broken. Nine modern women are celebrated, including Florence Welsh, Anya Hindmarch,… Read More

Art & CultureMarch 23, 2018

I Got Life!: A Film With Menopausal Women At Its Heart

By Amanda

Womenfolk, this will cheer up your Friday no end, it’s a stylish and funny French film about menopausal women. I know, hallelujah! I was tipped off about this by one of our lovely readers (thanks Tracy!) and although I’ve only… Read More

Fashion & BeautyMarch 22, 2018

Patternity at John Lewis: One For The Yogis.

By Amanda

I’m still hunting for good yoga gear. If I see another grim abstract print in grey and fuchsia on sticky thin jersey my well-balanced chakras may well unhinge themselves. Even Nike, whose performance fabrics are much admired, has done a… Read More

Things We LoveMarch 21, 2018

Fierce Botanics: For A Better Gin and Tonic

By Amanda

We’re thrilled with this new development from our friend Amanda Saurin at A.S. Apothecary, who is using her immense knowledge of natural herbs, seeds and flowers to create a decent non-alcoholic drink, Apothecary Tonic No 1. Regular readers will know… Read More

Fashion, We Are ReadingMarch 19, 2018

Catwalking: Photographs by Chris Moore

By Amanda

This is a must for any fashion fan. I can’t believe we haven’t popped this wonderful book on the reading list before now, it came out in November 2017 and is a glorious documentation of the last 60 years of… Read More

Out & AboutMarch 15, 2018

Suffragette City: what it was really like to be a stone-throwing Suffragette

By Amanda

It feels like there was a sea-change for International Women’s Day this year, the noise coming from women was louder and stronger. I was slightly taken aback when my sons said they were ‘looking forward to IWD” and youngestson, currently… Read More

Fashion & BeautyMarch 7, 2018

Perfume Inspiration For Mother’s Day

By Amanda

Not only is it National Fragrance Week -hope you’re all double-dosing yourselves with your favourite scents in celebration- but it’s Mother’s Day on Sunday too, so I’m living in a very perfume orientated world this week, as it’s a busy… Read More

Out & AboutFebruary 27, 2018

Guest Blogger Elena Bowes Spends A Weekend In Austin, Texas

By Amanda

Booked your summer holiday yet? Well how about Austin USA. Austin is steeped in the type of cool vibe you expect more from Brooklyn than the state of Texas and art lovers and creatives flock here in droves to experience… Read More

Things We LoveFebruary 21, 2018

Beauty Buys To Fix Flu-ish February Skin

By Amanda

While in bed with flu I’ve tried to make myself feel better through the application of nice beauty creams. It kind of worked, when your skin is hurting, dry and going a strange shade of yellow, a soothing balm can… Read More

Home & GardenFebruary 21, 2018

Conversational Podcasts, My New Friendship Group

By Amanda

Yes, sorry, I’m writing about podcasts AGAIN, but only because this darn flu has meant I’ve not been out much recently and when I have ventured out of the front door on a short spree, I’ve needed to lie down… Read More

Fashion & BeautyFebruary 15, 2018

What’s All The Hype About Heist Tights?

By Amanda

As an avid opaque tight wearing person, I was curious to discover what all the hype was over the new Heist tights. First those adverts of leaping topless women caused a bit of a stir on the underground (the company… Read More

Fashion & BeautyFebruary 13, 2018

A Shot Of Sunshine From The Jaipur Literary Festival 2018

By Amanda

It’s always lovely to receive Abhimanyu Rathore’s images from Jaipur Literary Festival at this time of the year. In the darkest, shortest days of February, these colourful and joyous pictures really brighten my day. Helping Abhimanyu spot the trends was… Read More

Health & HappinessFebruary 7, 2018

How To Survive The Flu

By Amanda

I’ve been felled this week by killer flu, a really nasty bug with aches, sweats and shivers that had me horizontal and weepy for seven days. I really hope you don’t get it, but if you do, in between the… Read More

Fashion & BeautyJanuary 31, 2018

The Maker’s Atelier, Sewing With Style

By Amanda

Having rediscovered my love for sewing last year, I was thrilled when one of our TWR readers tipped me off about The Maker’s Atelier, a new magazine for sewers that promised to be stylish. I don’t know what it is… Read More

Out & AboutJanuary 25, 2018

Guest Blogger Elena Bowes: Top India Shopping Tips from An Exhausted Textile Traveller

By Amanda

Our intrepid guest blogger and traveler Elena Bowes has just come back from a glorious trip to India, so just in case you are planning a trip of a lifetime or just need some visual cheer to help you get… Read More

Fashion & BeautyJanuary 18, 2018

A Year Of Buying Better Starts With Careful Sale Shopping

By Amanda

So, after such a drought of purchasing, you may be wondering what it felt like to buy after a year of abstaining. And WHAT I bought on my first shopping spree. Or not, sorry if I’m boring you on this… Read More