Well, it’s payback time! Shoes are calling out for blood and they want it now. It’s the return of the skyscraper heel.

Remember when spike heels came back in? They made us look leaner and sophisticated and we swore blindly that we would never wear another wedge heel. Wedges were dirty, reminded us of the spice girls, and gave us a clunky almost clumsy look. Oh, what a difference a couple of seasons makes. Wedges are firmly back in the stores and back onto our precious feet.

Chloe, Dolce and Gabbana and Donna Karan all featured wedges in their catwalk shows this season. From bright pink pvc, to natural tones and muslin straps, wedges were the finishing touch to nearly all the latest trends on the runways, whether teamed with thigh scraping minis or floaty dresses.

The great thing about wedges, besides the fact that they go with everything, is although they look clunky, they are actually easier to walk in than skinny heels. Your weight is more evenly distributed across your foot and pressure is alleviated from just being on your heel. So although they aren’t as sophisticated looking, your walk might look a little less like you really need to use the loo (that’s my high heel walk, which negates the fact that I am wearing sexy heels).

But if you promised that you weren’t going to wear wedges again, and aren’t as fickle as I am and actually mean what you say, then you’ll be seeking a wedge alternative. If you are then no sleek stilettos please, they are a definite no no no! NO!

The only way forward would be chunky-heel platforms for spring’s no-frills silhouette. The chunkier the better. Burberry, Donna Karan and Gucci had chunky heels pitter pattering down their runways in patent, pvc, duck egg blue and lizard skin. All the high street designers will be putting out copies in the shops so don’t be a wallflower when it comes to your feet this season. Make your feet feel like they are starring in the rocky horror show.

Now, if you’ve tried fake tanning before, you are probably aware of how easy it is to get streaks or ‘tide lines’. After my first couple of attempts which left me looking like a diseased carrot, I decided I needed to take some positive action and find out how to do it right. First, you want to find a product that suits you, the market is inundated with fake tan creams, gels, sprays and lotions. You can play it safe by using a slow build tanning product, like Johnson’s self tanning lotion, or use a wash off product. But whatever you decide, there are a couple of simple rules you should follow.

Exfoliate: Get rid of all the dry skin cells and rough skin before you tan, it will make you look and feel far better. You can use a body scrub gel or cream, or use a loofah or body brush. Believe you me, it does make a difference.

Moisturise: Moisturise your skin after exfoliating to get it all lovely and silky, this will make the fake tan far easier to apply.

When applying the fake tan, using a tanning mitt will not only make it easier, but will also save your hands from going a peculiar shade of orange, which is a dead giveaway. After you have thoroughly rubbed all the lotion into your skin, wipe your knees, ankles, elbows and wrists well with a cloth, these areas of your body are where the fake tan gets into the creases, and it’s a dead giveaway. It’s also a good idea to wipe behind your knees and the inside of your arms, to give you a more natural tanned look.

A product I absolutely adore, and is an amazing time saver, is Sally Hansen Airbrush Body Tanner. It’s best if you can get a friend/sister to do it for you, but is also completely doable yourself. Just simply spray on your body, and hey presto, you’re a gorgeous tanned babe in an instant. It is available in different shades, so you can choose the exact tone you would like to be. It simply washes off afterwards.

So there you go, we can all be amazing sun kissed goddesses without damaging our precious skin, so let’s get to it!

Lashes are in in in for spring, they need to be as big as possible, layer up as many coats as possible without clumping, they should be separate and lengthy. Believe it or not, if you count the amount of strokes needed to get this look you’d be reaching about 100. So stick with it, it’s worth the effort. If you don’t have the time to achieve this look on a daily basis but have the money to splash out, you could invest in ‘permanent’ false lashes applied individually. They last about a month but are quite pricey (I’ll be sticking to my 100 strokes then).
Fake tanned skin is in again as we come up to summer, but this spring DON’T over bronze! Think more Charlize Therons subtle tones rather than David Dickinson. Instead of using a powder bronzer try layering your fake tan with a light tanning crème set with a tinted moisturizer. The best thing about bronzed skin? You can go light on the rest of your makeup; this look goes perfectly with the large lashes and nude glossy lips. Add in a touch of shimmer. We love the look of shimmer on eyes & cheeks, especially on tanned skin, but again this needs to be kept understated, you don’t want to look like an Abba reject.

One look that has been trying its hardest to come back in for a good couple of years now (and one I swore I would never partake in) is coral lipstick. No longer should you associate it with moth ball smelling cardigans and blue rinses. Coral has been invading the catwalks globally like a pensioner with a free beans coupon. But please, be careful when running the coral route – matte is faux-par, opt instead for glosses that can be applied with the finger so you look as if you’ve just eaten a fresh piece of fruit.

One look that has stayed with us from winter is red. Red lipstick has seen us through those cold winter nights hiding the bluish tinges of frost beneath, and now it’s come through to the other side to tide us through to summer, but again, this should be in the form of stains or glosses, the matte look is so office Christmas do its untrue.

UpDos: Get back to your girlhood talents and start braiding. Ponytails and braids are hot, hot, hot. As much as we LOVED the loose bun trend of yester year, it’s purported not to be back this spring, according to Glamour magazine. Like a garland headdress, a single braid woven across the top of the head is nothing if not romantic and it’s a brilliant alternative to hair clips for keeping hair off your face.

This look, coined the “empire braid”, is a favourite of stylists all over the globe. Worn with the rest of the hair down it gives an almost Greek princess feel, while when teamed with a high ponytail the look is much more edgy. This can be so soft and elegant it even makes a sex kitten like Jessica Simpson look grown-up. It’s a most perfect hairstyle to team with this season’s crisp fashion lines.

A trend that has stuck through from winter is waves. Long waves are still hot, while straightening irons are still not. Over-ironed hair has been out now for a couple of seasons and it stays out for spring, many fashionistas preferring the lower maintenance and softer look that waves have to offer. Opt for straight, but full hair with a few loose waves you can get via velcro rollers or winding hair around a full-barreled curling iron.

Oh, and by the way, don’t go cutting your hair into any new short styles. Super long hair is so very Gwyneth and so very now, as long as you keep it trim and in good glossy shape. But if you aren’t naturally in possession of long locks, please please please step away from the glue and put the hair extensions down, you’re not fooling anybody with those rats’ tails hanging out the bottom of your real hair. They spell one thing – tacky!

Finally whatever your hair style, spring is the perfect time to replenish your hair’s beauty. You’ve stopped partying so hard, you’ve done your detox, and you’ve lost your winter pounds – don’t forget your crowning glory, it deserves as much care and attention as the rest of you.

Some useful resources to check out:

Naturally Curly – an inspiring online community of naturally curly women, who are happy not to own any hair straighteners.

UK Unisex Hair Salons – find your local unisex hairdresser.