The Women's Room | Daily Life and Style Inspiration

Home & GardenMay 27, 2012

The Chelsea Fringe: A new festival of flowers, gardens and gardening

By Jane

After being inspired by Amanda’s gorgeous posts on Chelsea windows this week, I decided to check out some of the events happening around The Chelsea Fringe. This brand new initiative is entirely volunteer-run and features a mix of public gardens,… Read More

Middle Aged MumMay 26, 2012

Middleagemum.com: things I can live without -needy electronics

By Amanda

I am about to destroy the fridge in my kitchen. I am seconds away from grabbing a giant size hammer from the shed and smashing it into tiny, silent pieces. The reason for my rage is the constant, whinny beep… Read More

Things We LoveMay 26, 2012

Velvet Rose & Oud (and Blackberry & Bay) from Jo Malone London

By Amanda

We were a bit slow mentioning the last limited edition London Blooms Jo Malone perfume launch and by the time we did, some of the good ones had sold out…so we’re just letting you know that the next one is… Read More

Fashion & BeautyMay 25, 2012

What to wear in hot weather – when you’re over 40

By Jane

The arrival of the warm weather this week prompted an email from WR reader Sarah. Titled ‘Serious question’ she asked “What can women over 40 wear in summer without looking ridiculous”? Good question Sarah and its one that puzzles us… Read More

Home & GardenMay 24, 2012

Jubilee cake inspiration

By Jane

If you are planning a cake for the Jubilee weekend, here are a few ideas to get you in the mood. Best buy your food colouring now in case there’s a shortage! You can get ready rolled icing in red… Read More

Fashion, We Are ReadingMay 23, 2012

What the Nose Knows by Avery Gilbert

By Amanda

Perfume nerd essential book alert. Tipped off by the lovely Katie Puckrick and her blog’s book division, I have wolfed down this fabulous science-y adventure in understanding a bit more about how our noses work. The science of smell is… Read More

Things We LoveMay 23, 2012

StriVectin-SD for emergency hand and feet help

By Amanda

So, the sun has at last come out in London and so I thought I’d swap my trusty brogues for sandals….bad move. As soon as I looked at my feet I realised I’d forgotten to go anywhere near them with… Read More

Out & AboutMay 23, 2012

Chelsea in Bloom, more inspiration for your Jubilee Party

By Amanda

Chelsea in Bloom, where the stores around Chelsea Flower Show put on a ‘bit of a show’ to support the fact that the RHS floral extravaganza is based in Chelsea, is a lovely event, with some really gorgeous floral windows… Read More

Fashion & BeautyMay 22, 2012

Style icons: Peter Jones Ladies

By Amanda

It’s definitely Chelsea’s week this week, what with Chelsea Flower Show and Chelsea in Bloom, so it might be a good moment to mention Peter Jones Ladies….(Peter Jones is a branch of John Lewis). Where New York has Advanced… Read More

Home & GardenMay 21, 2012

Some Royal inspiration

By Jane

I’m not normally one for anything Royal or overly patriotic. If I’m honest. Anarchy in the UK is the nearest I’ve ever got to singing God Save the Queen, but never one to pass up the opportunity to dress up,… Read More

Things We LoveMay 20, 2012

Precious One, award winning perfume from Precious London

By Amanda

Congrats to Kate Evans, who won best new independent perfume at the Fragrance Foundation last Thursday for her first perfume Precious One. It was launched last year (we mentioned it here ) and was created by Angela Flanders for her… Read More

Fashion & BeautyMay 20, 2012

We love: Aubrey handbags

By Amanda

We’ve taken something of a fancy to a new handbag range Aubrey, by Isla Simpson. This is Isla’s first collection and it’s very assured, being good quality with an attention to detail and classic-but-interesting designs. Isla is a Saint Martin’s… Read More

Middle Aged MumMay 19, 2012

Middleagedmum.com: Exam time

By Jane

We are in full on exam mode here at middleaged Towers, with one teen doing GCSE’s and the other doing A Levels. When I say full on, what I actually mean is, working really hard in some subjects and pretending… Read More

Health & Happiness, We Are ReadingMay 18, 2012

A Dog Walker’s Guide to Surrey, by Benson (a dog)

By Amanda

We are fortunate today to have as our guest blogger Benson, a handsome golden retriever who has just written a useful guide to dog walking around Surrey. He was helped by his human owner, Jane Eyles. ” It’s a tough… Read More

Health & HappinessMay 18, 2012

Women in radio: Beryl, Betty and Sound Women

By Amanda

So it’s a great week for older women on the radio, what with the wonderful Beryl Renwick and Betty Smith winning a Sony Gold for their best entertainment programme on Radio Humberside (Saturday evenings, 6.00pm til 7.00pm if you want… Read More

Health & Happiness, We Are ReadingMay 17, 2012

The School of Life: book series

By Jane

The School of Life think we need self-help books like never before, so in conjunction with Pan Macmillan, they have launched a series of six guides for everyday living: intelligent, rigorous, well-written self-help books, put together by some of the… Read More

Home & GardenMay 17, 2012

Secondhand Rose: Suzanne Lipschutz

By Jane

I’m not sure what I love most about this film from the inspirational daily blog from LVMH, Nowness – the beautiful antique wallpaper, the fascinating stories about New York celebrities, or the wonderfully gravelly voice of Suzanne Lipschutz (what a… Read More

Things We LoveMay 16, 2012

Post Poo Drops by Aesop

By Amanda

These little drops are a stroke of genius by the team at Aesop, particularly if you have a house where there are 4 men regularly smelling the place up, as I do. The Aesop website delicately describes this product as… Read More

Novels & Biogs, We Are ReadingMay 16, 2012

Bring Up The Bodies by Hilary Mantel

By Amanda

It’s here. The long awaited sequel to Wolf Hall, possibly my favourite book of the last few years. I have started it and so far, so fabulous. I hope Hilary has started writing the next one (there must be a… Read More

Art & CultureMay 16, 2012

Carnaby Street Book Exchange: a story-swap-shop

By Amanda

Here’s a neat idea we saw last week at Kingly Court, just off Carnaby Street. The Carnaby Street Book Exchange is a small oasis of bookish calm in an area packed out with noisy stores and in-your-face product (have any… Read More

Art & CultureMay 15, 2012

Style icon: Dr Julia Hoffman

By Jane

Dark Shadows is a tounge in cheek re-make of a 1960’s TV drama and stars Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins, a vampire who comes back from the dead and wakes up in 1972. Made by Tim Burton (obvs) Helena Bonham… Read More

Fashion & BeautyMay 14, 2012

Hats and how to wear them with Vivien Sheriff and Peter Jones

By Amanda

I am out of my depth when it comes to hats. proper hats that is, not your weekend beanie or sun hat, I’m talking buckram stiffening, birdcage veils and trails of twisted quill and peacock plumage. I never go anywhere… Read More

Fashion & BeautyMay 13, 2012

Anna Dello Russo for H & M

By Jane

You know how we (I) feel about “celebrities” designing clothing or accessory ranges and I have to admit I was a little sceptical about the latest H&M collaboratiion. Anna Dello Russo may well be the fashion editor of Japanese Vogue,… Read More

Out & AboutMay 12, 2012

Go see this: Hermès Leather Forever

By Amanda

The Leather Forever exhibition by Hermès is on at The Burlington Garden’s exhibition space in London until the 27th May, GO SEE IT. Whatever your feelings are for (up-themselves) luxury brands, Hermès is good at making leather stuff and this… Read More

Fashion & BeautyMay 11, 2012

Hairspiration: Messy plaited updos

By Jane

A new “hairstyle” is one of those things that can fill you with absolute horror or have you chomping at the bit with a heated roller. I am a big fan of an updo and love nothing more than trying… Read More

Out & AboutMay 10, 2012

We love: John Lewis’s new beauty hall

By Amanda

John Lewis Oxford Street has just opened a revamped beauty hall, Jane and I were invited along to the opening party and it was fabulous. We love John Lewis anyway, as you all know but it’s unusual for the company… Read More

Art & CultureMay 9, 2012

Life through a sepia tinted lens: Instagram

By Jane

While we are wary of encouraging any more social networking habits, we felt compelled to share our love of Instagram with you! Like Twitter but with pictures, it’s a great way of sharing images of the things you love with… Read More

Art, Culture & Craft, We Are ReadingMay 8, 2012

Patti Smith 1969-1976 by Judy Linn

By Amanda

For Patti fans everywhere. Middleagedad brought this back from New York for me as a present and it is brilliant. Pictures of Patti looking her sonically cool self with her unique sense of style. She has an image presence that… Read More

Home & GardenMay 8, 2012

Things to do with excess marmalade: marmalade martinis

By Amanda

You remember I said I had to get reading glasses? And what fun it was going to be to buy new eyewear? Well turns out it was fun, while it lasted. I bought beautiful new Tom Davies glasses, which I… Read More

Out & AboutMay 7, 2012

I ♥ Hackney: L’Entrepot and The Russet

By Jane

When I tell people where I live, I get two reactions, the first is a kind of guarded horror, quickly followed by a concerned question about where my kids go to school (the really good local ones, FYI!) and the… Read More