Welcome to this week’s round-up of fashion and lifestyle – and the end of August. Boo hiss. That seemed like the quickest summer ever!

Now, I know very few people will admit to this, but whose guilty pleasure is the middle aisle at Lidl?

But nobody would put “designer fashion handbag” and Lidl in the same sentence, right? Well – you’re wrong. 

Lidl have just collaborated with the high-end Handbag designer Nik Bentel and created ‘Lidl’s £50 croissant bag’. It’s on sale from TODAY and all proceeds donated to children’s charity the NSPCC.

But is it the height of chic or just flaky fashion?

The purse takes the form of a roll-top bakery bag – and comes with a croissant-shaped wallet inside. Nik Bentel, who believes ‘design should take the mundane and make it memorable’, is known for his collection of ‘Pasta Bags’ – which imitate boxes of spaghetti, penne and farfalle. Given that (the croissant) is based on a classic symbol of France, its creator must have assumed that the end result could only be fashionable.

This is not the first time the supermarket has crossed into the world of fashion. Lidl launched its first collection of clothes in 2021, including T-shirts emblazoned with the company’s blue and yellow logo.

Joanna Gomer, marketing director at Lidl, said she hoped Mr Bentel’s creation would ‘take the world of luxury fashion by storm’.

Would I…? In a word, no. 

Onto this issue of Zips It Up, and we check out the collab between Fearn Cotton and Nobodys Child, Primark and Beetlejuice plus the true science behind which shirts go with which sneakers.

Enjoy.

Beetlejuice 2 is back on the big screen, and to coincide with its release this summer, Primark has launched a brand-new Beetlejuice collection in stores, featuring all the cult iconic 80s merchandise.

MICHAEL Keaton is back to cause more trouble in the long-awaited Beetlejuice sequel. The star, 72, returns as the mischief-making demon, more than 35 years on from the original. Winona Ryder returns as Lydia Deetz and Catherine O’Hara is reprising her role as her mother Delia.

The Deetz family has also grown since the ’80s, as newcomer Jenna Ortega, 21, joins the cast as Lydia’s daughter, Astrid Deetz.

And to get fans excited for the horror comedy flick, again directed by Tim Burton, Primark has launched an epic collection of branded pyjamas and loungewear.

It’s the latest nostalgic comeback to be marked by the high street giant. Primark bosses said: “Say ‘Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice!’ and get cosy in our Beetlejuice [range]. It’s perfect for the chilly season or whenever you want to feel snug, while the embroidered Beetlejuice text on the front adds an extra ghostly touch.

“Ideal for movie nights, chilling with friends, or staying warm on a cold day – just add popcorn and your favourite Tim Burton flick! Whether you’re haunting the house or just hanging out, it is the ultimate comfy companion.”

My faves are the Victoria’s Secret-esque pyjamas in the iconic Beetlejuice black and white stripe for £22, adult T-shirts for a tenner, and cute monochrome chequered kid’s jumper for £12.

There are also hoodies, oversized ‘snuddies’, £8 slippers and £4 hats up for grabs.

Fans of the cult movie can even pick up branded cups, water bottles, mugs, makeup bags, hairbrushes and makeup sponges.

Fearne Cotton collection with Nobody’s Child

Recently, rock chick turned lifestyle guru FEARNE COTTON joined forces with one of my fave labels Nobody’s Child and there are a few bits left from the collection for the end of this summer.

The last of the collection is available to buy online, and I predict that the gorgeous pieces will sell-out fast. Check it out online at Nobody’s Child and at M&S stores. PLUS IT IS ALL ON SALE WITH 70% OFF!

Happy Place, Fearne’s lifestyle brand, partnered with the eco-conscious fashion label to create a colourful, retro capsule collection. The stated aim of the range was (quite simply) to bring its wearers “happiness”.

Inspired by escapism and wanderlust, the collection gives a nod to Fearne’s eclectic style and rockstar aesthetic. The pieces consist of pretty floral midi dresses, sexy slip dresses, and fun and bright separates plus jumpsuits.

Nobody’s Child prides itself on its eco-conscious credentials, with items in the collaboration made from eco-friendly and sustainable materials.

Speaking about the collection, the 40-year-old presenter said: “For me, fashion is as much about clothes that make you feel good as ones that make you look good. That’s why I’m proud to have partnered with Nobody’s Child – a brand that shares my views on responsible fashion. Together, we’ve created a collection that is all about having fun with your clothes and dressing in a way that makes you feel empowered.”

My faves from Fearne Cotton x Nobody’s Child collection

Guys – with about a month left to bust out those shorts – you could follow every summer trend out there, or you could just settle for shorts and sneakers and be done with it. 

Whether you’re walking the streets of London or partying your way through Ibiza, every guy needs some solid shorts and sneakers in their wardrobe. From Chino shorts to combat shorts, I’ve scoured the www for the best ones about. I’ve also paired them with some iconic trainers, from Adidas to New Balance, combining the colours and shapes so you can double-down on a foolproof combo.

Just steer away from hi-tops. They’ll cut you off and generally make you look short, and nobody wants to look shorter than they actually are.

Bode + New Balance

Bode shorts, for example, are inspired by a French kitchen towel from the 20th century. So, pair them with some trainers that give off the same old school aura. While the 993 was introduced in 2008, it looks cosy in a vintage way, but without the second-hand smell.

Bottega Veneta + Adidas

These bleached denim shorts are cut for a relaxed fit to hit at the knee. Rock ’em with the SL-72 RS, slightly sleeker and slightly comfier – the colours work together without being an obvious match-up.

 Brunello Cucinelli + Nike

Pleated shorts are some of the fanciest shorts that you’ll ever own in your entire life. They’re usually crafted by heavyweight makers and while they look like something that you’d wear with some boat shoes or loafers, try the Cortez 23 Premium instead. It’s essentially like the “normal” Cortez, but slightly chunkier (and with the power to update some very old school shorts).

Cherry Los Angeles + Off-White

If an Arizona gas station sold luxury merch, it’d probably look a lot like Cherry Los Angeles – I love this label.  An American sportswear that’s scored fans like Justin Bieber. Its sweat shorts are very much in the haute trucker vein, so try amping up the volume with Off-White’s brand new (and slightly experimental) Be Right Back sneakers so you’ve got old school and new school mixed together in one cohesive combo.

Hanro + Stepney Workers Club

Hanro is mostly a comfy undies and cosy PJs brand. That gives you a pretty good idea of what to expect with their Natural Living shorts. Made for nothing but vibing, you should combine these with the brand new Osier S-Strike sneakers by Stepney Workers Club in the matching ‘Desert’ colour.

Jacquemus + Nike

 Designer Jacquemus is a big fan of the Air Force 1, to the point that, in 2023, he released his own version which was very appropriately-named the J FORCE 1. These have since sold out everywhere, but the classic ‘Triple White’ works well with Jacquemus’ shorts creating a sexy southern French city vibe.

Polo Ralph Lauren + Autry

Polo Ralph Lauren went head first into its archives to bring back one of its old school short designs. Because it rocked in the ’90s and it rocks now. They come with corduroy construction, but they’ve now been updated with an elasticated drawstring waistband. The Autry sneaker is from the same period (it was, for a time, the biggest sneaker in America and based out of Texas), and does old school beach vibeswithout trying too hard.

Stone Island + Asics

These are the cult-STONEY shorts. They’re made from the brand’s signature Nylon Metal material and they’re also water and wind resistant. So counter the hype with these low-key Oakley Asics kicks instead.

The Row + Adidas

The Row’s Gerhardt shorts aren’t cheap. But over the years, the ultra-luxury label has gained itself a bit of a cult following, and every single time they come back in stock, they sell out pretty quickly afterwards. These would go well with just your “regular” Adidas Sambas.

Welcome to this week’s instalment of Amanda Zips It Up.

Summer is deeply embedded, with a heatwave sweeping across Britain and most of Europe, so it’s time to bare some flesh. This can either be an exciting or a concerning prospect. Especially as one gets older. Not everyone wants to be letting it all hang out in shorts or bikinis.

It got me thinking, does the sight of bare skin instantly attract the opposite (or same) sex?

According to a survey, it doesn’t. EYES are the sexiest feature by far, followed by bums, boobs, legs and lips. Yes, more than a third of the survey said that eyes were the biggest turn-on. This was followed by mouth and lips and then legs. Only 6% of people think that breasts or muscular chests are the most desirable. And 2% loved feet above all else. Yuck.

Eye lovers mostly opt for blue irises – with 39% finding them the most attractive. 17% preferred brown whilst 13% go for green. I have green eyes, and did you know that only 5% of the world’s population have greenies? I’ll take that all day.

Whatever the colour, more than 9 in 10 said eye contact was the most important interaction and claimed it can create a deep and meaningful bond.

Out of 2,000 people who participated in the survey (conducted by Optical Express), 81% said they fell in love with someone’s eyes before anything else.

So, don’t worry if you don’t fancy getting the shorts or bikini out – your eyes are the window to your soul.

Also, in this week’s instalment, we have that exclusive 15% discount code for DREAMWEAVERS UK – the beautiful home furnishing brand by CAFÉ 432. Just add the code AMANDA15 to your order.

Simply head to Arkin’s website www.dreamweaversuk.com and just add the code AMANDA15 to your order.

In this edition, I reveal what your favourite chocolate bar says about YOU, Rihanna, A$AP Rocky and baby RZA and The McQueen Horse Hoof Boot.

I have to hand it to TikTok’s “horse girl” fashion phenomenon. As August wears on, the “rodeo girl” and the jodhpur-clad Sloane Ranger 2.0 continue to enjoy their moment in the sun.

But there’s more for all horse girls. Alexander McQueen’s Hoof Boot has landed for W/W24, and is perfect for trotting about the town if you love the Horse Girl trend. Talk about unleashing the animal from within.

McQueen are flogging the bizarre clothing item for a whacking £2,190.

Known for its individual and distinctive designs, celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Lady Gaga, Michelle Obama and Naomi Campbell have often strutted their stuff wearing McQueen pieces. But this latest design may send the stars galloping.

Listed as “Women’s Hoof Boot in Brown”, the unique pair of  shoes are covered in fur, with accompanying hooves attached on the bottom. “Margarita brown calf hair  boot featuring a hoof inspired round toe with horseshoe  sole silhouette and silver-finished nail studs” to be precise (so the description reads).

Made in Italy, and with a heel height of 14.5cm, it’s perfect for horse lovers – or those with a fancy-dress party to attend.

Plucked straight off the runway from their highly anticipated debut for McQueen, the Hoof Boots were a stomping success at hisA/W 24 show in Paris. 

 Meticulously crafted to mimic the form of hooves, the equine-inspired boots are complete with studded horseshoe detailed on its sole and thin heels. The boots are available in black or brown leather or furry calf hair, with another buckled option featuring a sleek horsehair ponytail at the back.

Lately, it seems as though we are constantly searching for the next uniquely weird piece –and the Hoof Boots are no exception. I can picture it now: London’s East End Fash Pack strutting down the street clad in high hooves. You’ll hear them before you see them.

Do you want to know how kind, decisive or passionate someone is? Well, according to a recent poll and behavioural psychologist Jo Hemmings your all-time favourite retro chocolate bar can determine your personality traits.

My all-time favourite choccy growing up was a Turkish Delight bar. But it seems the majority of the UK population HATE the Turkish Delight, which makes it a bar of extreme opinions. If you like it, you love it, if you don’t like it, you hate it.

This (apparently) means that I’m DETERMINED, STRONG WILLED, and very much a LEADER rather than a follower. I’m CURIOUS and sometimes get into TROUBLE but I’m a lot of FUN to be around.

Here’s what your favourite sweet treats say about you…

BOUNTY

Even if you hate those bits of shredded coconut getting stuck in teeth, if you’re a Bounty boy or girl you’re an independent thinker, have a sense of adventure, a loyal and dependable friend and sociable and entertaining.

TWIX

Two words: Relaxed and Chilled.

Can eat one or two fingers.

CRUNCHIE

You’re all about energy and high speed. Very sporty and you love dancing – but you get restless and bored too quickly

DAIRY MILK FRUIT & NUT

You’re a traditionalist. Smart, wise and confident. Brilliant in a pub quiz.

MARS BAR

Old school. Focused on life, competitive, courageous, a clear thinker with a generous heart, willing to share your successes.

DOUBLE DECKER

You love a debate. You’re interesting but indecisive. A lover, not a fighter.

PICNIC

An absolute party animal. You crave variety and love socialising. Your friend group is huge and varied. You have a serious side but only share it with family.

Rihanna oozes sex appeal, as she strikes a pose in skimpy brown lingerie from her new Savage X Fenty collection

The singer, 36, looked incredible in the nude toned two-piece, part of a selection of sultry images which appeared on her Instagram as the items went on sale.

She was her own best advert as she showcased her figure in the skimpy underwear, which she modelled alongside a brown suede biker jacket. Smouldering into the camera, Ri Ri was full of confidence as she struck a pose with her jacket on her head.

Her blonde locks were worn in loose waves that cascaded over her shoulders, while she highlighted her features with a chic but subtle make-up palette. Almost certainly by her make-up range FENTY.

Rihanna, born Robyn Rihanna Fenty, also wore a white bathrobe and green bra from her lace lingerie collection in a video. Her dark blonde hair had been styled into a bob as she steps into her bathroom

The performer’s new bra is part of Savage X Fenty’s Signature Script collection, which made its debut this past Monday. Rihanna initially launched her company in 2018, and it became an instant hit with consumers.

The new collection of items primarily comprises various lace bras and panties, as well as slip dresses and other pieces of women’s clothing. The collection also includes several offerings for men, including undergarments and shirts.

Her partner A$AP ROCKY and their son RZA are the stars of a new campaign too. Last week, photos of the “Fashion Killa” rapper and RZA were released by the brand for the launch of Savage X Classics.

In one sweet image, RZA sits atop A$AP Rocky’s shoulders and wears a matching outfit with his dad, of black tank top and briefs with Savage X Fenty displayed on the waistband.

Another image shows A$AP Rocky modelling white briefs with Savage X Fenty on the waistband.

Welcome to a balmy August edition of Amanda Zips It Up.

I had an amazing time at the Margate Soul Weekend last Saturday. I decided to drive there and back, which caused two things. Firstly, a touch of so-called ‘Range Anxiety’, as I’m now part of the ‘EV crew’ (that’s electric vehicle, for the benefit of petrolheads). Would I make it there and back with my available battery power, without a recharging stop? Plus, the journey needed to be made with an over-reliance on my Sat Nav, as I haven’t been to Margate since I was 10 years old – with my Mum and Dad (and a bucket & spade as props).

So, do you have a male or a female voice guiding you on your Sat-Nav? Why should that matter, I bet you’re thinking. Well, get this… male drivers take more risks whilst being guided by a ‘sexy sounding’ female Sat-Nav voice, a study has found.

Women with higher-pitched voices – which men find attractive – and are associated with youth, good looks and fertility (apparently) – can turn men into risk-takers, say researchers, in findings published in the Personality and Individual Differences journal.

When given driving instructions by such voices, men were much more likely to gamble and run through amber traffic lights. Hearing celebrity voices had a similar effect.

This suggests that male risk-taking behaviours influenced by female voices can be DANGEROUS when driving, raising questions about the propriety of voice packs in navigation products.

This made me laugh – they comment: “It is advisable to reduce the femininity of voices in car voice interaction designs to enhance driving safety.” 

The study, which is the first to investigate links between women’s voices and risk-taking in men, involved two experiments. In the first, men in a driving simulator were given instructions by low or high-pitched female voices.

As they approached a junction, the traffic light would change to amber, giving the driver the option of going through or stopping. The results showed that when receiving instructions from the higher-pitched (female) voice, the men were around 40% more likely to run the amber light.

In a second experiment, two groups of men crossed a plank bridge in a virtual-reality setting.

Those given instructions by a high-pitched female voice crossed faster than those instructed by a low-pitched voice, encouraged to take more risks.

So, there you go guys… don’t set your Sat Nav or Waze app to Margot Robbie or Emma Stone if you’re in the driving seat any time soon. Stick to Barry White.

In this instalment we revisit Fish Sperm Facials as I attend my second session today, the return of the puffball skirt and James Bond as you’ve NEVER seen him before.

Here’s James Bond as you’ve NEVER seen him before. Yes – Daniel Craig doing everything possible not to “look all 007” in an unexpected new photo shoot for fashion giant LOEWE.

FYI – LOEWE is a Spanish brand established in Madrid although the founder – Enrique Loewe Roessberg – is originally from Germany, which is why the ‘w’ is pronounced as a ‘v’ – “Loo- Ev -Ay” – is the correct pronunciation.

The 56-year-old actor has played Bond in five films, from Casino Royale in 2006 to No Time To Die in 2021.  Everyone knows Daniel, whether he likes it or not, as 007. Until now that is – possibly.

In a twist that no-one saw coming, LOEWE have well and truly reinvented Daniel in a photoshoot for their fall/winter campaign. And I’m not sure which is the best or the most disturbing picture.

In one, Daniel poses with his hands behind his head in a granny jumper while peering into the distance behind some yellow-tinted glasses.

The picture where he sports a very straightened fringe that’s giving high school indie kid circa 2010, is certainly up there, as he also wears a grandfather sweater fashioned from the depths of Christmas jumper hell.

The least obviously horrifying picture – but one that lingers in the mind long after you look away – comes in the form of art-professor-Daniel, which sees him perching on a stool in a crisp shirt meaning business, but with some relaxed colourful trousers that scream help.

Daniel also poses in a leather jacket with an oversized collar exposing his bare chest, reminiscent of that uncle who has joined a band in later life and made it their personality.

Of course, I suspect Daniel is in on the joke and poking fun at himself through the shots – I hope – as the campaign is all about ‘reinventing’ himself and his personality through clothes.

The LOEWE campaign website reads: ‘Reinventing himself before the camera through a collage of personalities, Daniel Craig brings to life the work of artist Richard Hawkins, who inspired the collection.’

Sincere or not, this incredible photoshoot has made a lot of people smile.

The collection is a collaboration between Loeve X David SIMS and features a range of clothing and accessories for men and women.