FASHION

All items Tu @ Sainsbury's

H&M £34.99

By Cindy LGH @CindyLGH

Wear Your Greens

The first signs of spring are in, and in almost every store is the season’s new IT colour: green. From Kelly to khaki, lime to sage, green is the thing to be seen in now - whether you choose a single standout accessory (a la the looks at Bottega Vaneta), play with contrast (case study in point: Tom Ford), or commit to one shocking shade, exclusively (like the neon lime looks seen at David Koma). At H&M and Zara, there are calf-skimming dresses and prints to show off; at George and Tu, jumpers and cardis to layer up in; while at John Lewis, there’s a punchy cashmere sweater in garden pea green you’ll keep for years. The key is to find a shade that suits you, then prettify with pinks, soften with white, or make bolder by adding black. But however you channel your best Kermit (buying a new emerald piece, or pulling old gems out from your wardrobe), this is the colour to see you leap into spring, style miles ahead of the rest. Just be prepared to be copied, as others turn green with envy.

John Lewis > £79

F&F @ Tesco £29 H&M > £69.99

Zara £22.99 H&M £34.99

Zara > £49.99

H&M > £99.99

George @ Asda £16.99

River Island £37 Zara £27.99

(Coming soon)

Zara £27.99

Transform yourself

Have you ever wished someone could wave a magic wand to make you feel better about yourself? Are you lacking in confidence, fed up with feeling invisible, unhappy with your body shape or feeling stuck in a rut with your style? Has the menopause hit you and your struggling with hot flushes and struggling to lose weight?

All of these concerns are really debilitating and cause great angst to many women when they open their wardrobes looking for ‘something to wear’. Recent surveys have shown that the average woman spends between £1,200 and £3,600 per year (an average of £100-£300 per month) on their wardrobe. That’s around £90,000 in a lifetime…

Just think what you could be spending your hard-earned cash on. Most of you will only wear 20% of your purchases regularly. If those statistics resonate with you, it is about time to do something about it. In an age of rising costs and sustainability it must be the right moment to take action.

Don’t worry, help is at hand! If you really want to feel better about yourself and save money, getting some good advice from an expert who has been in the image industry for 25 years will be money well spent and get you focused once and for all. With proper planning it is entirely possible to have a compact well thought out wardrobe of mix and match items that work seamlessly together in the right styles and colours and, most importantly, fit with the demands of your lifestyle.

I compare a successful wardrobe with baking a cake. Without the right recipe and ingredients, the cake and simply won’t rise or taste nice. Most of us check the cupboard prior to cooking to make sure if we have all the ingredients before we start baking and go shopping with a list of ingredients we need to complete the recipe.

This approach is no different to creating a successful wardrobe. In fact, when you consider how much people spend on clothing, surely we should be doing the same for our wardrobes? If not, why not?

Just think: less clothes to confuse you with, more combinations than you ever thought possible in colours and styles that help you feel confident and more visible. If the

Jane can help you make the right make-up choices An image session with Jane at her Olney studio will transform how you think about your wardrobe

whole idea leaves you feeling apprehensive and nervous about meeting me, just read some of the recent comments on www.imagemattersuk.com from ladies who have experienced my services. I am always more than happy to have a cup of tea and a chat about what is that worries you the most in complete confidence. All my image sessions are carried out at my studio in the heart of Olney just behind the Market Place on a one to one basis. No “classes” with women you don’t know… just the two of us focusing on how I can help you gain “the confidence to shine”.

Jane Sumner Image Matters 07779 585323 www.imagemattersuk.com

A one hour introduction to colour, style and make-up advice for just £49

At Image Matters Studio in Olney Bucks or online

Quote MK Pulse when booking your appointment Valid until April 30th 2022

Image Matters | Fashion Styling | Colour Analysis | Personal Styling Email Jane on: jane@imagemattersuk.com or call: 07779 585323 www.imagemattersuk.com

BEAUTY Smooth away your troubles...

It’s time to banish the lines and rough stuff, and embrace the skin you’re in – here’s our pick of the products...

Creature of Habit is ‘there to help you feel comfortable in your own skin,’ the brand promises, and the products it releases are for everyone, and all multifunctional. Its Cleansing Balm will remove dirt, oil and makeup and leaves your skin smooth, nourished and soft, with a natural glow. The soft texture will turn from an oil to milk on contact with water.

RRP: £34 Get it: creatureofhabitskincare.com

Following on from its 2020 Nutri-Lumiére launch, Clarins has just swelled the range with a new 2-in-1 formula ready to restore your glow, and plump nutrient-depleted skin. Nutri-Lumiére Revive is a firming day cream for mature skin. Its ingredients list is plant powered (with eight organic plants working together for optimum results) and illuminating violet pearls to reinforce skin’s radiance.

Suitable for combination, dry, normal and oily skin. Say ‘see you later’ to sallowness by giving glycation a fight it won’t win when faced with Revive. Skin care doesn’t have to be a pricey business, and we love Skin Academy’s range of Zero goodies which are great for you, and for the environment. The Facial Oil provides targeted hydration and an intense glow boost with concentrated plantbased oils. It is rich in antioxidants, Vitamin E and essential fatty acids and easy enough to deal with all skin types. Natural and nice. The Face Scrub will remove excess oil, dead skin and other horrible debris. It’s not abrasive, but delivers on its promises. RRP: £12.99 (facial oil), £9.99 (face scrub) Get it: Holland & Barrett stores or beautybyzero.com

Want to remove the appearance of dark spots and discolourations? Grown Alchemist presents its potent Vitamin C enriched formula that hydrates, conditions and leaves skin brighter and more youthful looking. Age-Spot Corrector harnesses the power of plants with Rumex Leaf extract, fruit acids, Peony extract and Kakadu Plum. Suitable for all skin types, it should be applied morning and evening post cleansing and before moisturisers and facial oils. It is 100% natural, clean and cruelty-free, and brimming with antioxidant-rich ingredients to help hydrate, strengthen and protect. RRP: £40 Get it: H Beauty in Milton Keynes, John Lewis branches and through grownalchemist.com

RRP: £91 Get it: clarins.co.uk

Calm-Essentiel Repairing Soothing Balm proves that little packages are definitely worth taking hold of. This balm is suitable for use across the body and face, soothing and repairing delicate and damaged skin. It reduces discomfort, dryness and itchiness, and that unpleasant feeling of tightness is tackled too.

Fragrance-free and with shea butter at the heart of the matter, this really is a tidy tube of goodness and brings new meaning to enjoying a balmy time! RRP: £28 Get it: clarins.co.uk