The Women's Room | Daily Life and Style Inspiration

Art, Culture & Craft, We Are ReadingNovember 12, 2014

Knit Your Own Farm, by Sally Muir and Joanna Osbourne

By Amanda

One of our favourite knitting duets, Sally Muir and Joanna Osbourne have produced another of their Best In Show books, this time you can knit your own farm, including the cutest ducklings, piggies, lambs, and cows. Llamas and donkeys make… Read More

Fashion & BeautyNovember 11, 2014

John Lewis Penguins get their knit on with Wool & The Gang

By Jane

I’m sure by now everyone has seen the heart warming John Lewis advert Amanda posted about last week – it’s definitely our favourite so far. If you have also visited the John Lewis on Oxford St you will have come… Read More

Middle Aged MumNovember 10, 2014

Middleagemum.com: Serial

By Amanda

This weekend was the first weekend youngestson came home from University since he started back in September. We’ve all missed him and were really looking forward to his return. He phoned earlier in the week to request a proper Sunday… Read More

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

Art & CultureNovember 7, 2014

Quote of the day

By Jane

“Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained”. Marie… 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

Art & CultureNovember 5, 2014

Christmas ads: What do we think?

By Jane

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the annual slew of festive adverts, as every year they get increasingly more lavish, sentimental and even controversatial. Does this ad by Debenhams titled “Found it” sum up the value of Christmas – the season… 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

Home & GardenNovember 3, 2014

Botany E5

By Jane

Remember way back in 2013 I posted about the house plant revival – now everywhere you look there are cheese and rubber plants, catus’s and succulents. Well in London there are for sure and last week in New York 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

Art & CultureOctober 30, 2014

Ray Kappe’s dream home

By Jane

// Like almost everyone else I know, I have a dream that involves living in a mid century house by the sea or in the woods. The clean lines and open spaces are inspiring for their simplicity and light and… 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 28, 2014

Books for the Christmas List

By Jane

I know it seems like Christmas is ages away which it is – as we haven’t even had Halloween yet – but if you are anything like me you will already have started writing a list of books you would… 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 24, 2014

Must have winter coat: Faux fur

By Jane

At last it feels like Autumn may be on its way and its time to buy some winter clothes. Up until now I have managed to get away with bare legs and a cardi, but this week my thoughts have… 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 22, 2014

How to go Grey: Stage 1

By Jane

Walking around the streets of Dalston I’m surrounded by beautiful grey hair and mostly on young girls. This ever growing trend was started by uber hip hair salon Bleach, who initially set up in the back of cult nail salon… 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

Art & CultureOctober 20, 2014

See this: Transparent

By Jane

If you have Amazon Prime (it used to be Love Film and I had no idea I had it till I logged on!!) you simply must check out Transparent, a new show specially created for Amazon. It’s interesting that these… 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