The Women's Room | Daily Life and Style Inspiration

Things We LoveJuly 24, 2013

Forever Light Creator Serum by Yves Saint Laurent

By Amanda

YvesSaintLaurent is really working hard on its skin care ranges, you may remember we mentioned the Forever Youth Liberator serum and cream here, and now we have a magic lotion that will smooth the skin tone and help you glow… Read More

Middle Aged MumJuly 24, 2013

Middleagedmum.com: talk to the face

By Jane

Back in the day, office were noisy places, where phones rang and people talked – to each other – all the time, as weirdly this was the best way to get things done. If you had a problem, you either… Read More

Home & GardenJuly 23, 2013

Smartening up your outside living at Gudrun Sjödén

By Amanda

The weather is making me look at areas of my house and home that I’ve been able to cheerfully neglect over the last few dismal summers. I’ve got garden chairs on the brink of collapse and plastic plates bought at… Read More

Art & CultureJuly 22, 2013

Style Icon: The Venus Bushfires

By Jane

Continuing my obesession with African style, The Venus Bushfires is my current girl crush. Helen Parker-Jayne Isibor, is a singer, songwriter, composer and musician and is also known as The Venus Bushfires. As well as singing, Helen plays variety of… Read More

Things We LoveJuly 19, 2013

Velvet Rope: The perfect Red lipstick

By Jane

If you are a regular reader you will be familiar with my life long quest for the perfect red lipstick. I was recently disappointed when I tried Tom Ford‘s Cherry Lush, which has been heralded as an iconic red.The colour… Read More

Art & CultureJuly 19, 2013

We love: Lucille Lewin, ceramicist

By Amanda

For those of you older than 30, you may remember that the original Whistles was founded by Lucille and Richard Lewin and for most of the 80s and 90s it was the go-to place for great clothes. Lucille designed her… Read More

Fashion & BeautyJuly 18, 2013

The Buckitt Bag: one bag everyday

By Jane

We have to admit to being a little bit biased about the launch of the new Buckitt Bag, as the designer Rae Jones is a mate of ours – remember her great footwear range – and having recently moved into… Read More

Things We LoveJuly 17, 2013

Perfume Review: Vaara by Penhaligon’s

By Amanda

Another week, another perfume launch….it’s getting very crowded on the perfume shelf! This is Vaara from Penhaligon’s, a perfume inspired by the birth of the Maharajah Gaj Sing II of Jodhpur’s grand daughter, who is called Vaara. His Highness the… Read More

Novels & Biogs, We Are ReadingJuly 17, 2013

Giving Up The Ghost by Hilary Mantel

By Amanda

If you are in need of a Hilary fix and have read both Wolf Hall and Bringing Up The Bodies, then try this. Giving Up The Ghost is Hilary’s memoir and it’s a terrific read, the writing just glows with… Read More

Fashion & BeautyJuly 17, 2013

A few things to buy from Jaggy Nettle

By Amanda

I’ve been meaning to write about Scottish designers and online retailers Jaggy Nettle for ages. It all started with my fabulous orange Harris Tweed Hi-tops, which I bought last year and absolutely adore. The awesomely named company concentrates on making… Read More

Art & CultureJuly 16, 2013

Things to see in London this Summer: Club to Catwalk

By Jane

The 80’s was an exciting time to be creative, as the explosion of the London club scene and offered opportunities for dressing up in the company of a like-minded crowd. Stevie Stewart of BodyMap said “each group of people, whether… Read More

Novels & Biogs, We Are ReadingJuly 15, 2013

The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith

By Amanda

We’re guessing you’ve all heard the news about how this is really JK Rowlings in disguise. Good for her. More excitingly, reviewers gave this terrific write ups before anyone knew who really wrote it and it’s been likened to an… Read More

Things We LoveJuly 15, 2013

Sennheiser Momentum On Ear headphones

By Amanda

Round our way, it’s perfectly acceptable to see grown ups and teens wearing the most ridiculously giant headphones on their heads as they do their shopping or walk the dog. They are mostly Beats by Dr Dre. I don’t quite… Read More

Fashion & BeautyJuly 15, 2013

Street Style: Fatigue Florals at Hampton Court Flower Show

By Amanda

I shot this fabulously stylish woman at Hampton Court Flower Show last week, as we both queued up to get in to my favourite floral event of the year -it’s much better than Chelsea as you can buy the plants,… Read More

Art & Culture, Out & AboutJuly 12, 2013

Things to see in London this Summer: Dalston House

By Jane

Honestly, sometimes I wonder why anyone would live anywhere other than Hackney – every day I hear of anther interesting bar, shop or event, happening in the borough and last week it was all about the opening of Dalston House.… Read More

Things We LoveJuly 11, 2013

Perfume review: Saffron from Jo Malone

By Amanda

It seems to be saffron’s turn to be ‘spice of the moment’ for fragrance, last year it was pink peppercorns. Saffron is an interesting oddball addition to the heftier Cologne Intense collection from Jo Malone, where prices are a wee… Read More

Health & HappinessJuly 11, 2013

The Women’s Business Council’s report and older women in the workplace: signs of hope?

By Amanda

It’s been another interesting week for older women’s issues, and indeed issues that affect all women (how come John Inverdale is still in his job?). On Monday we were invited by Women In Journalism to listen to James Harding, ex… Read More

Health & HappinessJuly 10, 2013

Simple Pleasures: the joy of a pedicure

By Jane

As you get older you start to appreciate the need to take care of yourself. Whether its regular yoga class, a bike ride to work, or a monthly massage. Looking after your mind and body is front of mind, as… Read More

Novels & Biogs, We Are ReadingJuly 9, 2013

Indiscretion by Charles Dubow

By Amanda

I loved/hated this book…I found I couldn’t put it down, but got quite cross with the slightly unbelievable way characters were written, loved the pace of it and the setting in The Hamptons, but found the slightly formulaic descriptions (women… Read More

Things We LoveJuly 9, 2013

Perfume review: Oriental Collection by Yves Saint Laurent

By Amanda

I’m excited by this new Yves Saint Laurent perfume range because not only does it smell good, but it lists the fragrance accords on the bottle. Is this a first? I am always forgetting the floral make-up of perfumes, I… Read More

Art & CultureJuly 9, 2013

Save skateboarding at the Southbank!

By Amanda

Eldestson is a skateboarder. When he was young, Middleagedad and I spent many weekends escorting him to skateparks so he could practice his grinds and kick flips. We went to some memorably urban spaces, the skatepark below the Westway in… Read More

Art & CultureJuly 8, 2013

Colour Inspiration: Erwin Blumenfeld and Miles Aldridge

By Jane

Somerset House is the place to visit this summer if you are a lover of photography and wonderful colour combinations. Blumenfeld Studio is on until September the 1st and features the work of Berlin-born photographer Erwin Blumenfeld (1897–1969) who was… Read More

Out & AboutJuly 5, 2013

See this: The Powell-Cotton Museum in Birchington, Kent

By Amanda

As the long summer holidays approach, can we recommend anyone with small boys, a love of taxidermy and/or Africa plans a trip to the Powell-Cotton Museum in Birchington? It’s a gem. The current thinking is that Margate (which is three… Read More

Health & HappinessJuly 4, 2013

How to be a powerful woman: Be yourself

By Jane

The BBC have made a series of films called How To Be a Powerful Woman, featuring 15 of the Woman’s Hour Power List. Women such as artist Tracey Emin, athlete Tanni Grey Thompson and Alexandra Shulman share their experiences, advice… Read More

Things We LoveJuly 3, 2013

A nice summer vest from Hanro

By Amanda

So far, it’s been the type of summer that would benefit from a nice vest. Temperatures have hardly risen to blistering and on a number of evenings this year when I’ve been wearing a summer shirt, I’ve really wished for… Read More

UncategorizedJuly 3, 2013

Christmas in July, blended with Johnnie Walker

By Amanda

Believe it or not, behind the scenes at The Women’s Room this week it’s all about Christmas, as retailers entice us in to see their festive ranges. Usually, on the hottest day of the year I’m scoffing Christmas pudding at… Read More

Fashion & BeautyJuly 2, 2013

Fake tanning and Liberation Day

By Jane

I have to admit to being a little bit dubious when I went to meet Alyson Hogg, the founder of Irish tanning company Vita Liberata. Not because I have anything against fake tan, Hell no, I’m Scottish and ginger and… Read More

Out & AboutJuly 1, 2013

Gilbert’s Gin Garden for grown up girls

By Amanda

What is it with gin? We thought it was just us, but everyone’s loving it now. if you want a very nice place to go and chill with girlfriends while appreciating lovely artisan gins, many made locally, can we suggest… Read More

Fashion & BeautyJune 28, 2013

Style Icons: Solange and Stella Jane

By Jane

Ever since I saw Solange’s video for Losing You, I have had a huge girl crush on both her music and her style. I love the way she mixes print and colour and has her own unique style – or… Read More

Things We LoveJune 27, 2013

Martha Stewart at Staples

By Amanda

A quick update on the Martha Stewart with Avery at Staples range. A new duck egg blue ipad case has been launched which is not just pretty (trust Martha to do duck egg) but practical. It has a thick elastic… Read More