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By Alison James wenty-four years of marriage is quite an achievement for anyone but for a celebrity couple it’s well nigh a miracle – especially when the couple are so obviously still happy together.

“Yeah, well, we’re best mates,” laughs Twiggy, talking about her husband, actor and writer Leigh Lawson. “We have the same interests plus we work together on quite a few projects, which is very nice. We make a good team.”

But after more than a quarter of a century – they got together in 1987 and married a year later – is there still passion in their marriage?

“Of course,” she smiles. “I still really fancy Leigh – he’s a very handsome man. He’s also very funny. He can really make me laugh which I find very attractive.

We don’t have stand-up rows but whenever we have a disagreement – and all couples do – Leigh can usually win me round, eventually,

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‘How I keep my marriage passionate’ As she launches her own clothing range for M&S, Twiggy talks about passion, fashion, love and laughter

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‘I still really fancy Leigh – he’s a very handsome man’ the team that I’ll step in if they ever need an extra machinist!

“The range is only available online at the moment as that is where the growth area is right now. I’m modelling the clothes on the website so people can get ideas about how to wear them.

I am really pleased with the collection: it’s affordable, too, with prices starting at £12.50 for a tee. The most expensive item is a sequin jacket at £79. We built the collection around the things I personally love to wear.”

The idea for fashion icon Twiggy to design her own range has been in the pipeline for

some time. She explains. “I was constantly being asked by women I met when I’d be designing a clothing range myself. I find inspiration for the clothes in everything: books, films, art, people. I also have a number of vintage items, which are truly inspirational.

“Fabric inspires me, too.

I’ve just found a bag on top of my wardrobe, for instance, full of beautiful Indian fabric, which I brought back from a trip there.

I’ve also been keeping an eye on what’s happening at the fashion shows in London, Paris, New York and Milan, which has been good fun.”

Twiggy feels very strongly that her clothes should not be categorised by age.

“I hate that,” she says.

“Who’s to say who should wear what? It’s just not right.

My big thing about this range is that it’s for everyone – whether they are 18 or 80. Why should clothes – or anything else for that matter – be defined by our age?’ ✤ Twiggy for M&S Woman launches on April 12 exclusively online at www.marksandspencer.com/ Twiggy ✤ Turn to p33 for your chance to win one of five Twiggy dresses (shown left) from her new range

Twiggy’s fashion highlights

✤ In the Sixties she was one of the first supermodels with the iconic elfin look that made her the face of 1966 ✤ In 1971 she starred in The Boyfriend in which her slender, boyish shape suited the Twenties’ fashions perfectly ✤ In the Seventies she became a chart-topping pop star and adopted a romantic, hippy-influenced look ✤ In the Eighties she looked gorgeous in period costume in dramas such as ITV’s Pygmalion ✤ In the Nineties she reinvented herself as a TV presenter (right), adopting a smartcasual look ✤ In 2005 Twiggy becomes the face of Marks & Spencer fashion, launching millions of sales YOURS

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PIC: BRIAN ARIS; PA; REX FEATURES

by making me laugh. I think we were very lucky to find each other when we did and that we both happened to be unattached at the time. That really was a bit of a miracle.

“We promised each other that we’d always work to make sure we were together and we are. We’re both family people, and we’re on tenterhooks at the moment because Leigh’s nephew’s wife is in labour as we speak. It will be so exciting to have a new baby in the family.”

Does Twiggy have any other tips on how to keep a marriage on track?

“I think you have to respect each other and be willing to swallow your pride and say sorry when you’ve had a disagreement,” she says. “Leigh’s mum told him, and mine certainly told me, that you should never go to sleep without making up first and I think that’s very sound advice.

I’ve never understood couples who have a row and then don’t speak for days on end. It must be so miserable, mustn’t it? I like being happy.”

Twiggy also likes being busy, and she’s busier than ever right now as she is collaborating with Marks & Spencer to launch a clothing range bearing her name.

“I am just so excited about it,” she enthuses. “There are about 47 items in this season’s range for spring; versatile yet flattering dresses, chic palazzo pants, soft structured jackets and luxurious knitwear plus a few accessories.

By the time summer comes along, we should have some sandals and more belts, and by the autumn we’ll have everything, including jewellery!

“I work with the M&S team who know their customers very well but I’m also very hands-on. I’ve always been passionate about design and making clothes. In fact, I’ve told

y Food labelling y

Be a supermarket Does ‘lighter’ really mean better for you?

Here’s how to read between the lines…

By Laura Bradder f you’re trying to be healthy in the run-up to summer, you’re probably checking food labels to help you make the best choices. But are they really as helpful as we assume? A World Cancer Research Fund survey

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has revealed that around two thirds of adults in Britain have a “troubling” lack of understanding about the nutritional content of everyday foods, partly because labeling is confusing.

Yours turns detective to reveal some common pitfalls…

D ‘Light’ and low-fat products Those of us watching our waistlines make a bee-line for these products, but they’re not as saintly as they seem. As consumer psychologist Nick Jankel says: “Branding a product as ‘light’ is an attempt to persuade us that it’s healthy, even if it’s not.”

Branding a product as light is an attempt to persuade us that it’s healthy

Did you know?

To be classed as ‘light’, one of the main nutrients has to be reduced by a third. But when one is reduced, the others usually stay the same, so the amount of sugar, for example, may still be high. Nutritionist Vanessa Hattersley says the difference in calories can be minimal.

Example

Calories Sugar Fat 85 5.1g 4g (per biscuit) McVities’s Light Milk Chocolate Digestives 77 5.1g 2.7g (per biscuit) SAVING 8 0g 1.3g McVities’s Milk Chocolate Digestives

In some cases, other ingredients such as salt are actually increased to make sure taste isn’t affected. Vanessa calls it the ‘seesaw effect’ – when one ingredient goes down, an other goes up.

pICS: MEDIA BLITz, ALAMY, REx FEATURES,THINKSTOCK

Example

Fat

Saturated Fat

Tesco value Beef Lasagne

19g

10g

1g

Tesco Beef Lasagne

14g

8g

1.5g

Tesco Light Choices Beef Lasagne

8g

4g

2.1g

Our advice Nutritionally, it can be better to avoid ‘light’ products and just eat smaller portions of full-fat foods, says Vanessa. However, check labels to avoid eating too much saturated fat, which can raise cholesterol and raise the risk of heart disease.

Salt

D Positive health claims Many products advertise the healthier aspect of their foods while hiding unhealthy ingredients.

Did you know?

Manufacturers often use positive adjectives that add no real benefit to the product. Think ‘hearty’, ‘fresh’ and ‘finest’, for example.

According to Nick Jankel, this doesn’t mean there’s anything better about the product – it’s simply designed to make us buy more. “A positive label creates an enticing halo around the product. After a label change, people often say they have enjoyed the product twice as much, even though the contents are exactly the same.”

Examples A study by Which? found the majority of cereals are too high in sugar – 32 out of 50 tested. Some of these were brands that are marketed as healthy. Kellogg’s All-Bran Branflakes, for example, advertise a high fibre content but contain 22g sugar per 100g, putting them in the high category according to NHS guidelines. Also look out for claims such as ‘30 per cent less fat’ (because that means 70 percent of the original fat is still there!).

Our advice Ingredients on the back of the label will be listed greatest first, so if unhealthy ingredients are near the start of the list steer clear. On sugary cereals, those containing fructose (the sugar found in fruit) are a better choice as studies show this gives you a longer-lasting energy boost. Even better, choose plain cereals like porridge oats, then add fresh fruit to sweeten. The cheaper own Look brands aren’t necessarily out for unhealthier – Tesco Baked claims: ‘30 Beans (220g) contain per cent less fat’ about the same amount means 70 per cent of salt and sugar as Heinz of the original (200g), yet cost just 23p is still fat compared to 53p.

there!

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✤ Traffic light labelling ✤ Supermarket positioning Where a product is placed in a supermarket plays a big part in whether we buy it.

Be careful of heading to sections such as ‘Wholefoods’ which promise healthy foods

Did you know?

‘Healthy Biscuits’ aisles often feature biscuit alternatives, such as cereal bars and yogurt break bars. Although they sound a healthier option, Vanessa Hattersley says they can often be higher in sugar than a couple of ordinary biscuits. Also be careful of heading to sections such as ‘Wholefoods’ which promise healthy foods. Although they all have health benefits, you can end up clocking up as many calories as with other snacks. A 50g bag of Morrison’s Mixed Nuts, for example, contains 45 per cent of your daily fat intake.

Did you know?

In this system, a red light means the product is high in fats, sugars or salt, while green symbolises a healthy choice and amber falls between the two. Unfortunately, companies aren’t required to use this system, so some don’t bother. Also, some supermarkets use a different colour coding on their own brand products!

Then there’s the problem of portion sizing: the Which? study found that serving sizes vary between brands.

While a portion of a product may be given the green light, the whole contents may be in the amber or red category, but this isn’t made clear.

Examples On a 600g carton of New Covent Garden Plum Tomato and Sweet Basil soup, the traffic light system shows the salt content for a half carton as amber at 1.1g.

But, at 2.2g, the salt content for the whole carton would mean a red warning light.

Other portion sizes are simply confusing – McCain Oven Chips show traffic light measurements for a 135g portion, even though the bag, at 907g, doesn’t divide into equal 135g portions.

Our advice Weigh out your portions carefully, and check a product’s nutritional information against the NHS guidelines given below. A standard labelling system across all types of food is unlikely to be brought in soon. Why not cut out the guidelines below and keep them in your handbag?

Guidelines: The official highs and lows [sources: NHS Choices website and World Cancer Research Fund]

Cut out and keep

Fat

✁

Our advice Go to the same supermarket regularly to get to grips with what is in each section.

Once you have a regular shopping list, stick with it – impulse buying often means you don’t consider what’s going in your basket.

Shopping online is also a good choice if you can – you won’t be affected by positioning, and on most supermarket sites nutritional information is given clearly for each product.

High

Low

20g per 100g

3g per 100g

Saturated fat 5g per 100g

1.5g per 100g

Sugar

15g per 100g

5g per 100g

Salt

1.5g per 100g

0.3g per 100g

Calories

Approx 225 Approx 100 calories per 100g calories per 100g YOURS

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Examples Go Ahead strawberry yogurt breaks, for example, contain 14.2g sugar per two slices, and Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars contain an average of 12g sugar per two bars. Both are situated in the healthy biscuits aisle, yet two McVities Hobnobs – in the normal biscuit aisle – contain only 7.2g sugar.

This is supposed to help us see how healthy a product is at-aglance, but the current system is confusing and inconsistent.

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50+ FASHION AWARDS …revealed THE

MEET OUR PANEL OF READER JUDGES… Anita Martin, 57, from Norwich…

Anita runs her own consultancy agency and has a keen eye for fashion. Her favourite brands are Wallis, Next and Vanilla, but she had her eye on the ‘Best for a bargain’ dress from George at Asda! “Oh, that is just the style I wear and I love the colours.”

Chris Ainsley, 61, from North Yorkshire…

Chris works part-time and volunteers with her local branch of mental health charity Mind. “I love the fashion advice you give to the 50-plus ladies.” Chris admits that she prefers to shop alone and her favourite store is Marks & Spencer.

sories? vourite acces ‘Pick our fa … e must ’ Oh well, if w

Shopping sleuths D elia and Karen pa ss on tips to Valery

BEST 50+ RETAILER Marks & Spencer Our panel chose Marks & Spencer as the overall winner because it not only offers great quality and value, but also because it’s the one-stop-shop for all your wardrobe needs. M&S keeps up with the latest trends but you can always find your favourites, too – all with excellent finishing touches. The brand offers great fit, varied lengths in trousers and skirts and, did we mention that Marks & Spencer has brilliant customer service too?

White shirts, £29.50, 8-22, Marks & Spencer

Karen McCuster, 54, from Hants…

Karen is a retired mortgage advisor. It was husband Brendan who wrote in to the magazine to nominate her for our panel. He said: “She takes a keen interest in fashion, preferring stylish and unusual to frumpy and predictable.”

(We were impressed with him, too!) Karen admits that shoes are her guilty pleasure!

Delia Bennett, 71, from Leics…

Delia, a retired magistrate and local government officer is ‘extremely interested in fashion’. She loves to shop and her favourite stores are Next, F+F at Tesco, Bonmarché, New Look and TK Maxx. Delia also turned her hand to styling on the photo shoot, choosing some great statement jewellery for our models to wear.

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✤ Bag, £25 ✤ Red shoes, £45 3-8 ✤ Sunglasses, £9.50 all Marks & Spencer.

Kathy wears: Navy and white stripe dress, £39.50, 6-22, Marks & Spencer; shoes, £15, 3-8, Marks & Spencer.

start ashion Ed Jo Anita and F s… te e separa assessing th

…while C

hris casts a fashion eye over the shoes

Kathy wears: Cream jacket, £75, 6-22, Autograph at Marks & Spencer; top, £25, 6-22, stretch trousers, £39.50, short 10-18, med 6-20, long 10-18, Marks & Spencer; shoes, £30, 3-8, M&Co; jewellery from a selection at Marks & Spencer.

Kathy wears: Navy waterfall jacket, £49.50, 6-22, Marks & Spencer; dress, £35, 8-22, Marks & Spencer; shoes, £40, 4-9, Marisota.

✤ Statement necklace, £15, Marks & Spencer.

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7 ways to ...

younger, glowing s

Extremes of winter weather and central heating can play havoc with our com Give your skin a youth boost this spring with these seven simple tips from the collagen a facial oil on overnight 2 Boost face and décolletage 1Use “Following the menopause your skin may lose elasticity, so it’s even more important to keep it hydrated,” says skin care expert Pippa Bateman.

Argan Oil is rich in Vitamin E and essential fats and has been found to protect and nourish dry skin. Just smooth one to two drops over your face and décolletage for a youthful glow, or use instead of a night cream.

SPLURGE: Kaé L’Huile de Beauté Pure Argan Oil (£34/50ml) from Fenwick stores nationwide 0207 629 9161, www.fenwick.co.uk

PICS: RUTH JENKINSON; ALAMY

SAVE: Holland & Barrett Argan Oil (£16.25/50ml) 0870 606 6605 www.holland andbarrett.com

Look for a rich night cream that contains collagen-boosting ingredients such as soya bean and red clover phytoestrogens, hydrating ceramides and provitamin B5. If you like a natural approach, look for nourishing pure avocado oil, moisturising manuka honey, and healing calendula oil.

SAVE: Nurture Replenish Night Cream (£7.95/50ml) 0800 072 9510 www.nurture replenish.co.uk

SPLURGE: Antipodes Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream (£32.99/60ml) from health food stores nationwide, 020 7828 0101 www.antipodesnature.com

to a mineral foundation 3 Switch “Heavy make-up can accentuate wrinkles, so keep in mind the adage ‘less is more’,” advises skincare therapist Louise Thomas-Minns.

“Swap your usual cream foundation for a mineral one.” Mineral foundations are great multi-taskers and are effectively a foundation, concealer and powder in one. They’re easy to use, too – simply dust over your skin.

SAVE: Elemental Beauty Mineral Foundation (£10.99/10g) 01580 892504, www.elemental beauty.co.uk

SPLURGE: Priori CoffeeBerry® Perfecting Minerals Foundation SPF 25 (£33/14g) 0845 555 2121

comes from within 5Beauty

your neck and chest 6Remember

older skin gently 7Exfoliate

“Phytoestrogens are a natural plant hormone that helps boost the production of oestrogen and therefore collagen,” says Julie Brackenbury, Nurture’s cosmetic nurse. Nurture Day/ Night supplement feeds skin from within. The daytime tablets contain soybean extract; the night-repair capsules contain essential omega-3 fatty acids and borage oils.

A crepey neck and bust area is one of the biggest giveaways of a woman’s age. “This area of your body has the thinnest skin after your eye area – and because there are fewer oil glands here the skin is less resilient, too,” says dermatologist Dr Nick Lowe. Look for a specially targeted neck cream to encourage tightness and reduce sagging.

“Don’t reach for any old scrub,” warns Angela Bartlett, former chairperson of British Association of Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology.

“Exfoliates that contain fruit acids or fruit enzymes are more beneficial than gritty scrubs.

Granular scrubs should be avoided because they can aggravate or stretch delicate older skin tissue.”

SAVE: Nurture Day/Night supplement (£10.95/30 capsules) 0800 072 9510, www. nurtureskincare.co.uk

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SPLURGE: Vitabiotics Perfectil Platinum (£23.95/30 capsules) 0208 955 2662, www.vitabiotics.com

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SAVE: M&S Formula Age Restructure Calcium Complex Contouring Neck Cream (£12/50ml)

SPLURGE: The Secret is Out Neck & Décolleté Firming Cream (£29.99/50ml) from Boots nationwide or www.dr nicklowe.com (08450 708090)

SAVE: Try skincare expert Josephine Fairley’s brightening and firming facemask for mature skin: Leave the pulp of six mashed grapes on cleaned skin for10-15 minutes, rinse off and moisturise.

SPLURGE: Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel (£28.60/ 50ml) from www.time tospa.co.uk or call 0117 3161818.

g skin

our complexions. om the experts By Annabelle Hood with a serum 4 Brighten Facial serums come in many forms, often designed to target specific problems such as wrinkles or age spots. “Serums penetrate deeper than a moisturiser,” says celebrity facialist Nuz Shugaa. “Being concentrated, a little goes a long way.”

SAVE: Award-winning Lacura MultiIntensive Serum (£3.49/50ml) from Aldi stores nationwide

SPLURGE: iBright Serum (£35/15ml) is great for correcting uneven skin tones and age spots. Available from Harrods or online at www.forestsecrets skincare.com (0117 230 2823)

Top tips... ✤ Try popping your night cream in the fridge for an instant hot flush cooler. ✤ Applying a smoothing primer under your foundation, such as Barbara Daly for Tesco Make-up Flawless Primer (£10/15ml), stops foundation settling into deep wrinkles and helps you use less make-up.

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Garden clippings Geof f Stebbing comes to the defence of our least-loved garden weed plant that has The humble dandelion bright, beautiful has hidden benefits flowers in spring, is ridiculously easy to grow, is hardy a plant, so the leaves grow a pale and edible, can be made into a hot green and taste less bitter. If the drink or wine and is packed full of leaves are too bitter, pull the goodness ought to be treasured. flowers apart and sprinkle the Instead, the dandelion usually petals over your salad – you will features prominently on most still get some nutrients. packs of weedkiller.

Dandelion leaves have Some shredded dandelion medicinal effects, too. The plant leaves among more commonlyis a diuretic, and dandelions used salad leaves will give have been used to treat an amazing amount of liver complaints. As a nutrients. Just 50g rich natural source (2oz) contains 5g of of Vitamin K, which fibre, 30 per cent of is thought to limit your daily Vitamin C, neuronal damage in plus more than your the brain, dandelions daily recommended have been used to requirement of Vitamins treat Alzheimer’s. The Add nutrients to roots have been used A and K – not to mention your salad with iron, calcium and medicinally for centuries dandelion leaves magnesium! Perhaps and were considered to because of all the minerals they be a substitute for coffee. Having contain, dandelions have long tried this myself, I have to say that been considered a tonic. Before it is not really a substitute but does we had access to a range of foods make a palatable drink. The best out of season, a dandelion salad time to dig the roots is in winter was a good pick-me-up after a long or spring when they are at their winter of eating stored rootcrops. plumpest. Scrub them well to As the leaves are strongly remove soil, then cut into sections flavoured, you can blanch them and dry in a cool oven (this takes by placing an upturned pot over a long time because they contain

A

This week I’ll be...

✤ Transplanting tomato seedlings into their 8cm (3in) pots ✤ Planting early potatoes in the garden ✤ Hoeing off weed seedlings ✤ Dividing and transplanting ornamental grasses and hostas ✤ Deadheading winter pansies and feeding outdoor pots latex). I had trouble grinding up the roots but, steeped in boiling water, they made a pleasant enough drink that was surprisingly sweet.

Be careful where you pick your dandelions – you don’t want them from roadsides or where people walk dogs. Some companies sell dandelion seeds and it may be worth sowing a row if you get the taste for them.

Nothing could be easier to grow, even though your neighbours may wonder what you are up to! ✤ Geoff Stebbings is editor of Garden Answers. For advice and inspiration each month, don’t miss your copy.

Other edible weeds PICS: ALAMY; THINKSTOCK

Geoff has been gardening since the age of seven and has three allotments and a small garden, crammed with plants.

✤ Bittercress – punchy, peppery leaves ✤ Chickweed – crunchy, sweet and fresh ✤ Miner’s lettuce – crisp, refreshing flavour ✤ Nettles – good spinach substitute ✤ Hops – young shoots eaten like asparagus

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Next issue: How to grow peaches and plums YOURS YOURS

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