And on that note, lets crack on with what’s happening fashion wise – post summer. Here’s a quick heads up – the colours for Autumn 2026 are BROWN & TURQUOISE with a hint of RED!

Get to Zara asap for everything in these seasonal colours.

A good Autumn Jacket doesn’t just shield you from winter’s lingering chill; it’s armour against the world at large. And if it gives you the aura of an aloof, mysterious It Girl on top of that? You’ve stumbled upon something quite special. Enter: FUNNEL NECK JACKETS—the transitional seasonal jacket that helps me project as much “don’t eff with me” energy as possible as well as looking deliciously cool.

With a stiff stand collar that reaches the chin, the Funnel allows you to keep your neck safely tucked away, ticking off form and function in one go. Plus, there’s a certain chicness to a woman wearing a garment that blocks her slightly from view. You don’t know her story, but you can tell she has impeccable style and a secret to keep.

And onto stripes.. from the parasols littered along the coastline of the Côte d’Azur to the perennially chic Breton tops that serve as a cornerstone of a French woman’s wardrobe, stripes are synonymous with summer dressing for the most discerning tastemakers amongst us. (Think: Jackie Kennedy on a yacht moored in Martha’s Vineyard or, Brigitte Bardot on the set of a beautiful French movie).

Stripes have often been regarded as a dated print trend. However, there appears to be a shift in the sartorial landscape, with stripes swiftly usurping spotty motifs as the style to relish this season. As long as you wear vertical and not horizontal stripes for dresses and trousers and Horizontal for tops – the print is even better in multi-coloured hues.

And the accessory of the season? It’s all about the DOCTOR’S BAG.

The doctor’s bag—also known as the bowling bag or structured top-handle—is a major “It-bag” trend for 2026, offering a blend of vintage-inspired geometry and practical, quiet luxury. What is the Doctor’s Bag Trend?

• Shape: Defined by a structured, boxy or arched frame, a wide-opening hinged or zipped top, and sturdy double top handles.
• Vibe: It moves away from slouchy oversized totes toward an intentional, polished, and pre-loved professional aesthetic.
• Textures & Tones: Look for fine-grain leathers, rich suedes, and embossed croc finishes in earthy neutrals or deep gemstone colors like burgundy. 

Key Designers & Brands

• Luxury Houses: Miu Miu (with the leather Beau bag), Chanel, Balenciaga (Bolero bowler), The Row (Astra tote), and Bottega Veneta.
• Mid-Range Favorites: Zara & Mango

How to Style It

• Play with Contrast: Pair the sharp, rigid structure of the doctor’s bag with soft, fluid clothing like silk skirts, wide-leg trousers, or cozy cashmere.
• Off-Duty Edge: Mix the vintage professional shape with casual outerwear like a Funnel Neck jacket and Ballerina pumps.

Few trends have made a comeback quite as spectacularly as ballet pumps. A shoe that was previously widely embraced in the early 2000s has, in recent years, enjoyed what is perhaps its most powerful resurgence yet. Having emerged on the catwalks several seasons ago, the ballet pump subsequently trickled down into the mainstream via highs street brands and independent labels, all of which have since released an abundance of iterations.

Comfort remains central to the ballet flat’s appeal. Whether paired with relaxed tailoring, slouchy denim, slinky slip skirts or capri pants  (a style enjoying a renaissance of its own), they bring simplicity to everyday dressing that’s hard to say no to when getting ready in the morning.

From classic leather pairs to delicate satin styles to mesh designs, Mary Janes and embellished versions, the ballet pump continues to prove its unmatched adaptability. Scroll on to discover the best style to shop now.

Crimped hair is having another moment, but the 2026 version does not have to look like a full throwback to the 1980s.

Modern crimped hair is usually softer, looser, and more wearable. Instead of tiny, rigid zigzags from root to tip, you can create wider texture, leave the roots smoother, loosen the pattern through the lengths, or combine crimped sections with softer waves.

And if you do want the dramatic 80s version? That works too.

First step – get a CRIMPER Hair Tool – I found this one at TYMOBEAUTY.COM

Start With Completely Dry Hair

Heat styling should be done on dry hair unless your specific styling tool is explicitly designed for damp hair.

Detangle your hair first so the styling tool can make even contact with each section.

Before styling, apply a lightweight heat protectant such as TYMO Heat Protectant Spray according to the product instructions.

Modern crimped hair usually keeps the texture of traditional crimping while making the overall finish softer and more natural.

Think:

• Wider, more relaxed bends
• Smoother roots 
• More movement through the lengths
•  Less stiffness
• Selected textured sections instead of crimping every strand
• A softer finish after the hair has cooled

Classic crimped hair is still a great option if you want a stronger retro look, but today’s styling gives you much more room to choose how defined the pattern should be.

A modern crimp can sit somewhere between the two.

If you use wider sections and loosen the texture after it cools, traditional crimping starts to look softer and closer to a wave. If you keep the pattern defined and work in smaller sections, the finished look feels more obviously crimped.

This is probably the easiest version to wear every day.

Instead of creating very tight crimps, work with slightly larger sections and focus the texture through the mid-lengths and ends.

Keep the root area smoother, let the hair cool completely, then gently separate the texture with your fingers.

Can You Crimp Hair Without a Crimper?

Yes. There are several ways to create crimp-like texture without a traditional crimping iron.

One method is to braid the hair, then release the braids once the pattern has set. This creates a more irregular texture rather than the uniform pattern of a heated crimper.

You can also create small bends with a flat iron by working carefully through sections, although this takes more time and usually produces a less consistent result.

If your goal is a uniform crimp or wave pattern, using a dedicated crimper or waver is generally the more straightforward approach.

Welcome to the July instalment of Amanda Zips It Up.

We’re slap bang in the middle of summer and it’s a hot one here in Spain. We’re all celebrating Spain winning the World Cup 2026 and through bleary eyes, I write this blog, as we were dancing on the streets of Mallorca until the early hours of this morning.

Let’s crack straight on with your fashion and lifestyle and you’ll never believe the very latest in handbag accessories sweeping the globe right now. We all know bag charms have been super popular… but now check this out… you must Google this to see the actual video, because seeing is believing!

This little fella is Mirumi – a furry, interactive bag charm robot designed by Tokyo-based Yukai Engineering. Priced around £100, it uses touch sensors, microphones, and lifelike servos to mimic the curious, shy behavior of a baby or pet. It features little arms to cling onto bags and spontaneously tilts its head or glances around when it hears sounds or is petted. 

Unlike traditional consumer robotics aimed at productivity and/or home-help, Mirumi focuses on “emotional tech”. It has no accompanying app, screen, or verbal features. Instead, it uses a randomizing algorithm to act lifelike. When it hears a sudden noise, it may flinch or hide its face shyly, while gentle head pats will cause it to look up with curiosity.

• Available in three pastel shades: Pink, Grey, and Ivory.
• Equipped with a USB-C charging port on its rear, offering about 7 to 8 hours of battery life. 
• Initially funded on Kickstarter, it is available for pre-order and purchase through the official Mirumi online store

Catch me on WAVE MALLORCA RADIO Tuesday 21st July at 11am with Jo discussing all things fashion.

When you think of Balearic fashion – one word (and one item) sums up the entire vibe and feel of the Boho islands: KAFTAN.

It’s the most versatile, striking and comfortable piece in your holiday wardrobe, guaranteed to serve you from the beach to the restaurant to the market to the festival.

We’re not talking about ‘simple’ kaftans here… this is a collection that has elevated them to sensational high-end designer status.

Introducing The Devil Wears Kaftans – a collection of truly beautiful pieces, seen everywhere from Coachella to Ibiza. I managed to get an exclusive interview with the designer.

Founded by Jane Mason, The Devil Wears Kaftans is inspired by her lifelong passion for fashion, influenced by creativity, music, and the effortless glamour of the 1960s and 1970s. 

A trip to Morocco at the age of nineteen ignited a deep connection to the country’s vibrant colours, craftsmanship, and unique atmosphere—elements that would become fundamental to the brand.  Each piece is handcrafted in Marrakech in small quantities, and produced in collaboration with skilled artisans who share a commitment to quality and detail.  The designs draw inspiration from vintage muses and are named after icons and the most significant people in Jane’s life -her friends and family. Every silhouette is thoughtfully created with shape and fit in mind, designed to flatter and enhance. Nothing is mass-produced.

Jane comments: “I’ve worked in fashion all of my life. My uncle Leigh had a large manufacturing business in clothing on Little Portland Street and he was the reason I went into fashion. I actually knew by 12 that this was the path I wanted to follow. I work full time running a fashion recruitment agency representing some of the world’s biggest brands and hopefully finding people their dream jobs. Product is my passion – I’m hugely inspired by vintage, mainly from the 60s and 70s. Whenever I travel, you’ll always find me hunting down the best vintage pieces I can find”.

“After years travelling extensively to Hong Kong for work, I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue in 2010. It taught me life is precious and to follow your passion. In 2012 I started making bags and belts and selling them on Facebook”.

“In 2013 I had a stall in East Dulwich. My mum travelled with me to Marrakech, helping me source leathers, while everything was made in my friend Ahmed’s garage, which soon became a workshop. In 2014 I resigned from my full-time job in fashion after 14 years and set up my fashion recruitment agency from my dining room table in Peckham. That same year I spent 6 weeks solo in Marrakech, with friends joining me along the way. It was a life-changing trip and where the idea for the brand really began”.

“I wanted to make kaftans feel sexier and more fashion-forward. I met a tailor by chance on my 6-week trip to Marrakesh, started creating, and sold those first pieces through my stall and Facebook. My former assistant and best friend Kirsten supported me. Kirsten is also the reason the brand is called The Devil Wears Kaftans. I was getting my hair done, had a couple of coffees (which I never drink) and was talking non-stop. She looked at me and said… ‘Oh my gosh… the devil really does wear kaftans.’ And the name stuck.”

“All my pieces are named after icons and special people in my life, and the real Sam, Mimi, Kirsten, have all put in the graft in helping me on my trips and every step of the way on this journey”.

Check out the collection online, Instagram and Facebook @thedevilwearskaftans

www.thedevilwearskaftans.com

The popular fashion items that are putting you at risk

Everyone is familiar with the expression “beauty is pain”, but what about the pain factor of fashion? It turns out that there may be a slew of hidden dangers lurking in your clothes.

Over the years, various trends have come into style that were actually quite harmful to people’s health. Most recently, a pair of pants from Zara garnered immense attention online after wearers claimed the clothing item left them with bruises, cuts and broken bones. 

Because the loose pants have an extremely wide leg, many women claimed on social media to have tripped and fallen, resulting in an array of A&E visits – earning the item the nickname ‘Zara death pants.’

One British woman, documented on Instagram, has become the latest self-described victim after she described a trip to the hospital following an accident in the pants. While she didn’t reveal the extent of her injuries, her video quickly struck a nerve, racking up thousands of likes and prompting dozens of women to admit they’d suffered eerily similar accidents.

And it turns out, Zara’s pants aren’t the only fashion item that could put you in harm’s way. Wearing flip flops can cause infection and long-term foot problems

While flip flops are go-to shoes to wear in hot summer conditions, they can result in injury if worn for too long or over long distances. In fact, according to podiatrists, flip flops may do more harm than good.

It appears that those who wear thin, floppy flip flops for the whole summer can end up with heel pain, tight calves and inflammation of the band along the bottom of the foot that supports the arch. Over thousands of steps, strains develop to tissues like the plantar fascia, the achilles tendon, and the small muscles that control the toes.

Continuing our roll-call – skinny jeans can result in compartment syndrome by restricting circulation – a ‘painful buildup of pressure around your muscles.  The symptoms include numbness, tightness, ankle weakness, and muscle pain. If compartment syndrome is left untreated, it can result in permanent muscle damage, paralysis or even death, according to a specialist clinic.

We move on. Your activewear could pose a danger to your health The materials in this type of clothing sometimes contain dangerous chemicals, polyfluoroalkyl substances or “PFAS”, known as ‘forever chemicals,’ often used in products to resist heat, oil, and water.The chemicals may harm the reproductive system, resulting in decreased fertility.

Currently, activewear company LULULEMON is being investigated for in its clothing. Some materials can come with an increased risk of some cancers, interfere with the body’s natural hormones, and even increase cholesterol levels.

Well, that’s reinvented my clothing shopping list!

Skeletal Re-Modelling – Brits get leg lengthening surgery abroad

We live in an age where cosmetic procedures have become as normal as getting your hair cut or your nails done. But the following new trend seems to be the next big thing – and it scares the life out of me. 

Ever wished you were a little bit taller? Well, now you can. Welcome to ‘Skeletal Re-Modelling’.

British surgeons are warning of potential horror complications, as people travel abroad for this controversial surgery to make them taller. And yes, we’re talking about Turkey. It’s not just your Teeth you can fix there – you can now gain up to six inches at certain clinics.

Social media has fuelled a “desire to become taller” leading to soaring demand for the procedure. The surgery usually costs about £100,000 at clinics in the UK, but in Turkey clinics typically offer the procedure for £25,000.

Limb lengthening is among the riskiest types of cosmetic surgery. It involves breaking the leg bone in two during an operation, then fitting a metal rod inside which is attached to screws.

Over several weeks, the metal rods are gradually extended by turning the screws, meaning new leg bone grows in the gap and legs become longer. Legs can be lengthened by several inches this way.

The operation is extremely high risk, and can cause nerve damage, disability, blood clots and infections, while some patients end up with one leg longer than the other. 

All patients require physiotherapy and some need extensive follow-up care. However, sorting out complications can cost in the region of £36,000. Indeed some patients require major surgery for complications, including knee surgery and removal of broken nails holding bone together with re-nailing to address poor bone regeneration.

The issue of leg-lengthening surgery was portrayed last year in the Materialists, a film starring Pedro Pascal and Dakota Johnson. Pascal’s character, Harry, had the surgery to become six inches taller so that he would be more successful at dating. However, the reality can be much more harrowing.

Would you ever contemplate this?

It’s flaming June and full on summer in the Balearics… raining in London but definitely warming up.

June is my favourite month of the year, mainly because everything is in full bloom, the days are long and warm and it’s my birthday on the 21st. Midsummers Day, Summer Solstice and the longest day of the year.

In this month’s instalment we check out Mango’s summer collection as modelled by Harley Bieber, Flit Flop’s new Keith Haring collection, Mallorca’s Love Island contestants set a new accessory trend and there’s a new protective form of beachwear making waves on all the beaches of Ibiza and Mallorca.

Catch me LIVE on WAVE MALLORCA RADIO with Jo on Tuesday 16th June at 11am.

Enjoy.

Thanks To Love Island, Personalised Accessories Are On The Rise

Another year, another season of Love Island to contend with, and another set of trends for fans to obsess over. 

Last year it was all about Ebay. This year?  The cast’s accessories. Whenever a new series starts, web searches for everything from their sunnies to their jewellery skyrocket, and this year is no different.

After years of covering Love Island fashion, one thing remains true – there’s always a standout accessory in any season, and it’s normally a necklace.

This year, the humble initial necklace seems to be leading the charge. According to Google Trends data analysed by jewellery brand, PRYA, searches for ‘small initial necklace’ have increased by 50%, while searches for ‘birthstone and initial necklace’ have risen by 40%.

Contestant Jasmine Müller has been spotted wearing a diamond-encrusted ‘J’ pendant layered with a beaded necklace, while Robyn Langton has been seen wearing a gold ‘R’ necklace.

Commenting on the trend, the co-founder and style director at PRYA, said: ‘Love Island has a long history of influencing jewellery trends, but we’re already seeing three clear frontrunners emerge this season. Initial necklaces have become a way for contestants to create a signature look. They’re personal, recognisable and easy to wear, which is why they continue to resonate with younger consumers.

If you’re a fan of the personalised necklace trend, I’ve found the best initial necklaces to shop below.

1. 

Monica Vinader, Initial Chain Necklace

Price: £100

www.monicavinader.com

2. Price: £75

www.abbottlyon.com

Abbott Lyon, Pearl Clover & Initial Necklace (Gold)

3. 

Daisy Personalised Initial Pendant Necklace

Price: £100

www.daisyjewellery.com

4. 

Missoma, Curly Molten Initial Pendant Necklace

Price: £80

www.missoma.com

5. 

Mejuri, Organic Dôme Liquid Letter Pendant Necklace

Price£150

mejuri.com

6. 

Otiumberg, Initial Tag Pendant

Price: £50

otiumberg.com

7. 

PRYA, Kayla Initial Necklace

Price: £20

PRYA

8. 

Oak And Luna, Inez Initial Necklace – Gold Plated

Price: £65

www.oakandluna.com