Welcome to Amanda Zips It Up – Easter style!

For me, Easter’s about spending time with family and making that roast on Sunday, buying the kids chocolate eggs and getting two bank holidays off work. But it’s also my key trigger date for ‘Summer is Coming’ – reminder that it’s time to get in shape for the upcoming holiday season.

So, what’s trending in the exercise department this Easter? The Gym? No. Padel? Nope. Spinning? Not this year… because in 2025 it’s all about Vibration Plates

Research into vibration plates is still in its early stages. And they may decrease osteoarthritis with only 10 minutes of exposure time. A study found that during an eight-week intervention, when used on middle-aged people, the vibration plate treatment improved balance and pain levels.

If you’re interested in trying vibration plates, consider them a complement to (rather than a replacement for) strength training. The vibrations of these devices make your whole body work overtime to stay stable and may also strengthen your core. However, just standing on one can’t replace your daily dose of movement.

Vibration plates require frequency and this refers to the number of times per second that the plate vibrates or oscillates. Higher frequency values mean that the plate is vibrating at a faster rate, while lower frequency values mean the plate is vibrating at a slower rate

What’s the Amplitude? This refers to the intensity of these vibrations. Higher amplitude values generally mean that the plate is moving a greater distance, while lower amplitude values mean the plate is moving a smaller distance. By adjusting the frequency and the amplitude of the oscillation, you adjust the intensity of the vibration. So frequency and amplitude are important factors that determine the intensity of the vibration.

If you’re stumped about how to start using a vibration plate, you’re in luck: There are a lot of video tutorials that will show you how to adapt your favourite moves so that they’re vibration plate-friendly. It’s also sensible to consult a certified personal trainer to learn the ins and outs of vibration plates.

Vibration Plates at Amazon around £100

Onto this week’s blog and we discuss Coachella Cowboy Core Fashion, Space Suits and Alternative Easter Gifts. Happy Easter to you all.

Katy Perry looked ready for lunar action on Sunday, as she posed alongside Lauren Sánchez in bodycon space outfits ahead of their Blue Origin space mission on Monday, as the singer declared: ‘We’re putting the ‘ass’ in astronaut!’

Katy was part of a history-making 11-minute flight, alongside Jeff Bezos‘ fiancée Lauren, journalist Gayle King and three other women, AKA the first all-female trip to space since 1963.

The launch is part of Blue Origin’s New Shepherd program – and took place in west Texas on April 14, with the new space suits designed by Lauren herself.

Katy shared snaps from the launch on Sunday to her Instagram and penned: ‘Happy International Day of Human Space Flight. Forever in awe of the Universe and its alignment.’ She looked confident in the blue jumpsuit which was emblazoned with ‘Perry’ with ‘Blue Origin’ adorning the the arm.

This week, Lauren Sánchez told the New York Times about designing the blue suits: ‘Let’s reimagine the flight suit. Usually, you know, these suits are made for a man’ She added: ‘I think my suits are elegant but they also bring a little spice to space.’

Five months ago, Lauren got in touch with Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim, the co-founders of the brand Monse, who are also creative directors of Oscar de la Renta, which made her 2024 Met Gala outfit. They agreed to help her with the space suit designs.

Fernando said during the interview: ‘We even had a conversation regarding what underwear Lauren is going to wear… to which she responded: ‘Skims!’

As the end of the interview Lauren then quoted something she said Katy had told her: ‘We’re putting the ‘ass’ in astronaut!’

Earlier this week, Katy revealed how she was ‘psychologically’ preparing for her all-female Blue Origin space mission. The 40-year-old singer has been motivating herself by telling herself that she will inspire others, reading the work of astrophysicists, and channeling her ‘feminine divine’ ahead of her space tourism stunt.

Coachella Festival Looks 2025 and its all about Cowboy-Core this Summer

From on-stage performances to festival attendees, it seems the “western” trend will dominate festival season for us here in the UK. Coachella is the first big festie each year (I can’t believe it’s come around a gain so quickly), with Cowboy hats and boots dominating its fields in 2025. 

Coachella unfolds its Californian-sun bleached festivities over two consecutive weekends, the first having just taken place. Aside from a shopping list of performers, there’s a dependable A-list presence attending festival every year. From loyal Coachella attendees including Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber, to newer Palm Springs frequenters like Julia Fox, these are the best fashion moments from both artists and visitors across Coachella weekend one.

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga had multiple outfit changes on show as she headlined the festival on Friday night. One such ensemble included a black lingerie-inspired mini dress custom designed by Samuel Lewis and Seth Pratt, which she styled with a lace head veil and flat over-the-knee leather boots by Steve Madden.

Charli XCX & Julia Fox

Ahead of her performance on Saturday night, Britpop darling Charli XCX was spotted with Julia Fox. Charli opted for a Noughties-inspired look with a brown maxi skirt, low-slung belt and floral lace cami top, accessorised with a black quilted Chanel 25 shoulder bag and chunky oval sunglasses.

Fox took her signature daring approach to festival dressing, wearing a nude corset by KNWLS layered over a sheer bodysuit, gold tights, suspenders, and square-toe boots with purple-tinted shield sunglasses.

Tyla

Tyla’s Coachella look consisted of a black and gold rhinestone bra with a ripped white vest knotted over the top, velvet flocked fringed hot pants and ripped fishnet tights. She accessorised the look with Pandora jewellery, including a stack of bangles and hoop earrings with a mini shark tooth charm.

Kendall Jenner

Kendall Jenner attended a pop-up for her brand 818 Tequila wearing a butter yellow Proenza Schouler dress with flat thong sandals.

Cardi B

And here’s the best of the rest, so you get get your Festie Inspo going for this summer 2025. 

Last minute Alternative Easter gifts

Easter isn’t just for the kids or all about chocolate. BUT – If you’re dreading Easter and how many calories you’ll consume eating those choccy eggs, let’s leave that to the kids and change the Easter tradition, with gifts for loved ones that are sure to please without expanding the waistline. And there’s still time to buy these chic fashion and beauty buys.

From suits-all skincare and from special wine to luxury knitwear and cute pyjamas, there’s something for everyone – and every budget – in my pick of pretty pastel gifts that are guaranteed to delight, whether you are indeed shopping for alternative Easter gifts, or simply want to treat yourself to something nice this week.

Cupiolo Prosecco DOC rosé wine

£10.50 from Tesco

The perfect spring tipple

Sunshine and lighter evenings means rosé season, and this makes a lovely Easter drink that feels a little bit more special than your average bottle of wine,

Chelsea Peers pyjama set

£48 from Chelsea Peers

Comfy and cooling

Tie-front tops are a huge fashion trend at the moment, and these cute PJs from Chelsea Peers let you try the style at night, too. Made from 100% cotton with a subtle starfish print, they;ll keep you feeling cool and comfortable at night, with shoppers saying they fit true to size.

You can also buy them from Marks & Spencer and ASOS.

Laneige Bouncy & Firm Serum

£39 from Space NK

Delivering lightweight hydration

TikTok-viral beauty brand Laneige – best known for its Lip Sleeping Masks – also makes some equally impressive skincare products, and the latest to launch is this super-hydrating, ‘youth-preserving’ serum that promises a plumper, juicier, more radiant complexion.

This lightweight formula claims to result in skin that is, according to Laneige, ‘visibly plumper, firmer and smoother’, while also tackling ‘early line formation’.

Strappy square toe sandals

£39.50 from Marks & Spencer

In this season’s trending shade, butter yellow

If you’re looking for a pair of shoes for upcoming weddings, garden parties or holidays, we love these mid-height heels from M&S, which tick several key SS25 fashion trends: butter yellow, square toe, 90s minimalism. Shoppers are praising their “nice style, heel height and shape”.

Dior Addict Lip Glow

£33 from Sephora

A gorgeous suits-all beauty treat

This colour-adapting lip balm, now something of a beauty cult classic, makes a lovely luxury beauty treat without committing to the rich pigment of a lipstick. It adapts to individual wearers’ own lips to create a custom subtle pink shade, and has all the nourishing properties of an intensive lip balm.

Habulous cotton candy vases

£18-£56 from Veo

Stunning on their own or filled with flowers

If you’re buying someone flowers this Easter, why not also give them something pretty to put them in? These handmade ceramic bud vases will each hold a few statement stems, and they look just as good as decorative items when empty, too.

Bvlgari Allegra Insieme Eau De Parfum

£149 for 50ml from Flannels

A woody, floral fragrance ‘inspired by the timeless beauty of meaningful relationships’

Got someone you really want to treat this spring? This new scent from Bvlgari is certain to wow them. Inspired by friendships, it’s a wearable woody, floral fragrance with pretty notes of peonies, musk, Sicilian mandarin and patchouli.

River Island pink sunglasses

£16 from River Island

If you don’t like spending a lot of money on sunglasses (perhaps you always break them or lose them), this fun pink pair from River Island are just the thing. With their chunky frame, gold-trimmed arms and lightly tinted lenses, they’re an excellent way to add an interesting accessory to a simple spring outfit.

Chinti & Parker wool-cashmere cardigan

Currently £85.50 from John Lewis

A pastel cardigan is a wardrobe must-have in spring, when it’s warm enough to ditch the thick jumpers, yet still a bit too chilly to go bare-armed. We love this cool pastel yellow-green colour, and the wool-cashmere blend makes it super high quality.

Welcome to Amanda Zips It Up  as we give you House of Happy Threads – The Disco Leggings

What an incredible run of beautiful weather we’ve been having in the UK – there’s absolutely no need to hop down to the Med for some blue skies and sunshine, as it’s all here.  How motivating it’s been, to get up and out early, and get my daily exercise in for the day!

I have been loving and wearing these Disco gym leggings by

House of Happy Threads 

Meet self-taught genius seamstress and fashion designer Lucy Hawkins from West Wickham in Kent, the founder of HOHT. Home of Disco leggings, unique designs for babies, kids and adults, bringing fun and funky vibes to your wardrobe and all handmade by Lucy herself.

Initially making kids-wear, Lucy moved on to adult leisurewear (these Disco Ball Leggings in particular), selling them directly to the public at Greenwich Market.

Then the pandemic hit and the market came to halt, but Lucy was determined to carry on in some way, so set up the website.

Lucy works with independent UK based printers, who bring her designs to life on jersey and athletic fabric. She is also making clothing – both for adults and kids. Check her out at www.hoht.co.uk and for an exclusive 15% discount for Amanda Zips It Up readers and Mi-Soul listeners just quote code Amanda15

Onto other news, and Selfridges are in trouble after selling a T-Shirt with a slogan mocking the jobless.

Some of you may be familiar with the famous (and controversial) 2009 quote from Kate Moss – “Nothing Tastes As Good As Skinny Feels’.

US fashion brand PRAYING (hailed by Vogue as the most perverse viral hit) have created a T-Shirt featuring the slogan – “Nothing Pays as Good as Unemployment Feels”.

The T-Shirts were selling for £55 – more than half of some people’s weekly wage and it’s no surprise the British public and government were furious. Selfridges has since withdrawn them from sale.

And very quickly – here’s what I will be wearing to the MASSIVE Mi-Soul GRAND WEEKENDER THIS SUNDAY. This beautiful hand made violet and silver sun-dress by STARLOVER OFFICIAL. Check designer DONNA GANELY out on Instagram. Her collection oozes rock-chick vibes with Debbie Harry meets Kate Moss meets Courtney Love meets Sienna Miller feels. Wait until you see the shades I have to match it too. www.starlover.co.uk

Onto this week and, we discuss the Classic White Shirt Dress, this year’s quirkiest CLUTCH bags and the rise in Elevated Shoes for MEN.

It’s the timeless classic that never goes out of style, being both stylish and sexy.

A simple crisp white oversized shirt worn as a dress is back for Summer 2025 and you can find yours at Mango, Zara, H&M and ASOS. But they are now designed as dresses, with varying lengths, sleeves and belted or loose.

The great thing about the shirt dress isn’t simply that they flatter every shape and size but they are versatile, can be worn in winter over boots and tights with a blazer, or summer over bare tanned legs and flip flops, they’re also super cheap. 

Don’t expect to pay more than £15 – £30.

The obvious look in the winter would be to pair the shirt dress with black tights and black knee-length boots but my personal favourite hack would be to style it with RED tights and RED knee-length boots. A classic black tuxedo blazer and you’re complete.

If you have killer legs then sass it up with the sexiest of heels.

In the summer go boho by wearing a bikini underneath with either, boho ankle cowboy boots, gladiator sandals or even bare feet.

So, what do you accessorise the Classic White Dress with? A ‘quirky’ clutch bag, of course.

And there are some corkers out there right now – especially the copies of everyday groceries. All at somewhat crazy prices.

Gigi Hadid recently stepped out with a Moschino leather handbag that looks like a carton of orange juice, and then there’s the celery sticks and coffee cups by Balenciaga. Have fashion house clutches completely lost the plot?

Moschino is also selling a £3,730 bag shaped like celery sticks.

The accessory is part of the brand’s collection that includes a £3,730 bag shaped like celery sticks and a £995 tote that looks like a baguette.

JW Anderson

Anya Taylor-Joy was pictured cradling a JW Anderson clutch shaped like a canary

The tiny clutch will set you back £600. Actress Anya Taylor-Joy was pictured cradling the tiny JW Anderson clutch at Wimbledon in the summer.

CHANEL

IT might look like a child’s lunchbox, but Chanel’s £5,370 Lego handbag was tucked under the arms of all the most stylish people, including singer Rita Ora, who was spotted out with hers several times.

Anya Hindmarch

The MASTER of quirky clutches Anya Hindmarch sold this Corn Flakes bag for £450. 

Balenciaga

Balenciaga’s £1,600 ‘Ikea’ bag. SEVENTY pence or £1,600? One is the cost of Ikea’s flimsy blue bag and the other is for Balenciaga’s new version.

Balenciaga also launched a £1,350 leather bag that looked like a bag of crisps.

Vasari

This brown paper bag by Jill Sander cost £185.

AT £185, it is the world’s most expensive brown paper bag.

But this Vasari design – made from coated paper –  is completely sold-out.

Not all men are tall. And it really doesn’t matter, but in the modern age of fashion, heels aren’t just for women. Although we’re not talking platforms and stilettos as worn by Sam Smith or Prince.

In 2025 there are plenty of hidden heels available in men’s footwear –known as ‘ELEVATOR SHOES’. They discreetly add just a couple of inches, which can make all the difference on a night out.

Whilst many celebrities appear larger than life on screen, some get a little help from their footwear. If you’re skeptical, here are five famous celebrities thast I bet you probably didn’t know wear elevator shoes to boost their height.

1. Tom Cruise 

You’ve seen him scaling the world’s tallest building in “Mission: Impossible” and jumping on Oprah’s couch, but what I find fascinating is that many have not noticed Tom Cruise’s carefully curated footwear collection. Standing at 5’7″, Cruise has mastered the art of appearing taller on screen through specially designed elevator shoes. He’s often spotted wearing custom-made boots with hidden lifts that can add up to 2-3 inches to his height. During the filming of “Top Gun: Maverick,” he reportedly wore custom pilot boots to maintain his commanding presence alongside taller co-stars.

2. Robert Downey Jr.

Iron Man wears elevator shoes. He might fly high in his suit, but Robert Downey Jr. gets some extra lift from his shoes. The charismatic actor, who stands at 5’8″, doesn’t shy away from wearing height-increasing footwear, especially during red carpet events. I’ve noticed his signature look often includes specially designed Italian leather shoes with cleverly concealed lifts. During the filming of the Marvel movies, he wore custom-made Iron Man boots that added nearly 3 inches to his height, helping him maintain Tony Stark’s imposing presence…especially alongside Chris Hemsworth and Chris Evans.

3. Simon Cowell

We all know Si get’s some help from his shoes. Cowell, who’s around 5’9″, has been photographed wearing Cuban-heeled boots and custom-made elevator shoes that add up to 2 inches to his height. His preference for black, chunky-soled shoes isn’t just about style; it’s a carefully planned choice to enhance his stature.

4. Vin Diesel

The “Fast & Furious” star might be larger than life on screen, but Vin Diesel’s been known to get some help from his footwear. Standing at 5’11”, he’s not particularly short, but when acting alongside taller co-stars like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (6’5″), Diesel often opts for custom-made boots with hidden lifts. I particularly admire how his trademark combat boots in the “Fast & Furious” franchise aren’t just for show—they’re specially designed to give him extra height during action sequences.

5. Mark Wahlberg

From his Marky Mark days to his current status as a Hollywood staple, Mark Wahlberg has worn elevator shoes throughout his career. The actor, who stands at 5’8″, frequently wears custom-made sneakers and dress shoes with built-in lifts, especially during public appearances. 

These celebrities have found a practical solution through elevator shoes, proving that a little lift can go a long way in Hollywood. But we can’t all afford custom made Elevator shoes – or can we?

Here are the best on the market right now, which are affordable, reachable and most importantly, fashionable. First stop www.masaltos.com for the best in smart and casual Elevator shoes.

And Amazon is the next stop of course!

Hands up who LOVES a pair of PJs?

Me, for one.

M&S is ON FIRE right now in the collaborations department, with sell-out collections under its belt with fashionistas like Sienna Miller, Alexa Chung and Bella Freud. For its next collab, the high street giant is turning its attention to a section of your wardrobe that might be a bit neglected and hidden under your pillow. Well, that’s where I put my PJs.

I’ve always thought M&S had nailed nightwear but with their new popularity amongst the cool crowd, fashion snobs and Gen Z, they’ve collaborated with one of London’s finest Nightwear designers, Olivia von Halle.

Dropping in 20 selected stores and this week (8 April) M&S x Olivia Von Halle marks the store’s first nightwear collab; a 10-piece capsule that delivers ’empowered feminine glamour’ at an accessible price (£45 for a nightshirt; £55 for a pyjama set). Von Halle reworked three of her signature (and best-selling) prints for the collection – a floral, a stripe and a feline – which, combined with the tried-and-tested silhouettes from M&S, make for one special pair of PJs, as well as robes and printed eye masks. The attention to detail is what you’d expect from both parties, from the contrast piping and branded buttons to the elegantly wide cuffs.

For von Halle, it was an opportunity to collaborate with a brand that’s close to her heart (she got her first bra-fitting, like so many teenagers, at M&S). ‘When I was a child, my mother hated shopping – with the exception of M&S,’ she says. ‘They are an icon of the British high street, and I feel so privileged to be able to play a small part in that ever-evolving legacy.’

See: The M&S X Olivia Von Halle Collaboration

Welcome to Amanda Zips It Up where we’re just over a week away from the huge Mi-Soul Grand Weekender in Brighton. If the weather carries on like this, bring your bucket and spade plus swimming cozzies because it’s currently beach weather – and I just LOVE dancing on the beach.

If you are going, you might want to consider taking some snacks for the journey. And when I say ‘snacks’ – we’re talking ‘SEXY SNACKS’.

Introducing the ‘AROUSE DRINK – THE G-SPOT’ which literally hits the G-spot. It is a more palatable version of Oysters, thanks to actress Gillian Anderson, containing Clitoria Ternatea, while Emily Crisps new sriracha seaweed snack have capsaicin in, to help ‘lift’ certain regions.

In other news, I was surprised (and relieved) to read this week that ‘TURKEY TEETH’ (i.e. Simon Cowell style) are OUT and imperfect teeth are IN. All thanks to actress Aimee Lou Wood, who is bucking the trend for straight gnashers. The White Lotus star was once told she was too ugly for Hollywood because of her buck teeth, but people love it. That’s excellent news in such an Instagram obsessed world.

Onto this week’s instalment and we discuss Men In Pink, the backless and see-through skirt trend, plus the ‘Cresent T-shirt’ and ‘black headband’ style that the cool crowd are loving.