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14/2/11 12:12:11 14.02.2011 10:58 Rival Colour LTD

❝Loose Women saved me❞ Singer and actress Jane McDonald’s life took a turn for the better when she auditioned for daytime TV

By Richard Barber

J

ane McDonald doesn’t pull her punches. “The biggest mistake of my career?” she asks.

“Making my husband, Henrik, my manager. In the end it just didn’t work for me.

“I’ll say this for him, though. He pulled off some amazing deals. He got me on Saturday night TV and at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

And I had a platinum- and gold-selling albums.

“But he was steering me into a territory where I didn’t feel comfortable. He said I shouldn’t talk on stage; in other words, I shouldn’t be me. But I don’t know how to be anything else. In the end, he did me the biggest favour of all by leaving me. It meant that I had to learn how to be my own manager as well. Suddenly, I was in control. It’s taken me a long time but, at 47, I finally feel I’ve grown into Jane. I know who I am and I like it.”

While the end of her marriage may have been liberating, Jane is the first to admit that, from a professional point of view, it left

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11/2/11 11:40:35

her floundering. “When Henrik left, I didn’t know what to do. But then Loose Women came along and it proved to be a lifesaver.

“Henrik would never have wanted me to do daytime TV. But that programme has taken my career to a completely different place. I fell in with a group of girls I’ve grown to love. It was the best thing that could have happened to me because it allowed people to see the real Jane again. They’ve seen me come through the bad times and now they know I’ve met my lovely fella.”

Almost three years ago, Jane was sitting in the make-up room preparing to appear on This Morning. “Ed was the drummer with The Searchers at the time. I looked up at the TV monitor in the corner of the room. ‘Oh my God!’ I

Jane with fiance, Ed Rothe

said. ‘I used to go out with him when I was 17.’ It was Donna, the make-up artist, who persuaded me to go and say hello. So I did and it was instant, as if we’d never been apart. His decree nisi ending his marriage had come through that very week. It felt like it was meant to be.”

Ed Rothe (56) couldn’t be more different from Henrik Brixen,

‘We’re two of a kind. Ed’s gorgeous and he makes me laugh every day’ according to Jane. “Ed’s so placid.

The two are chalk and cheese. I used to be like a moth to a flame, going from one controlling man to the next. Why do we click?

Because we’re two of a kind. He’s gorgeous and he makes me laugh every day.

“Ed was in Liquid Gold, and Mud before joining The Searchers. He’s seen it all. In February, he finally hung up his

D Jane McDonald Live at the London Palladium is on DVD

PIC: REX FEATURES; ITV

Loose Women (L-R): Andrea Mclean, Lisa Maxwell, Sherrie Hewson and Jane

drumsticks. He chose me. When I get home from touring and I’m sitting in my dressing gown with no make-up on and eating cereal out of a bowl, he says: ‘This is the bit I love. This is the side of you no one else sees.’”

The two have been together for almost three years now. “But we’ve probably only spent about three months all told in each other’s company. Ed’s been touring the world. I’ve been on an 18-month tour of the country – and that’s not good for a relationship. So when I looked at my schedule for 2011, I found myself for the first time ever saying ‘No!’ and cancelling my spring tour.

“I’m off to Australia in March to publicise my tour there which begins in June. And I’ve decided to do much bigger venues in the UK this autumn with a much bigger show. The diva has arrived!

Meanwhile, a break will also give me time to get back on to Loose Women again.”

So, five years from now, what would be the ideal scenario? “The mortgage would be paid off. I’d have appeared on the West End stage in the title role in Hello, Dolly! or as Mama Rose in Gypsy.

And Ed and I would be married.

We’ve set the date but it’s a secret.

As it is, we’re already married in every way except on paper. We’re together because we want to be.”

Jane smiles contentedly. “This is the busiest, most successful time in my career ever. And I couldn’t be happier in my private life. Really, it’s been like a big jigsaw finally coming together.”

Jane’s seasonal secret If you’re filling 2000-seater theatres round the country, you can’t afford to fall prey to winter’s coughs and colds.

How does Jane cope? “I take a linctus called Covonia,” she says. “I swear by it. It keeps the tubes open which makes breathing – and singing – easy. Not so long ago, I had a bit of a tickly cough. So I took a bottle of Covonia on stage and swigged it throughout the evening. It really does the business.”

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By Claire Williams re you fed up with having to throw out food that’s past its best-before date?

If so, you’re not alone. According to government statistics, the UK throws out a whopping 8.3 million tons of food – 364,000 tons of which is still edible but past its best-before date.

To combat the problem, scientists at Strathclyde Univesrity have come up with ‘smart’ plastic food wrap that changes colour when the contents have gone bad.

This could be particularly useful for the over 60s, as cases of listeria in this age group have doubled in the past nine years. Research carried out by The Food Standards Agency found that the over-60s are more likely to take risks with ‘use-by’ dates because they’re reluctant to throw food away.

A

WAste NOT, WAnt NOT Help fight the war on food waste and save yourself money at the same time…

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the over-60s are more likely to take risks with ‘use-by’ dates because they’re reluctant to throw food away Food writer Marguerite Patten, who worked for the Ministry of Food during the war, has some sound advice. “I’m very careful about what I eat, I’m 95 and have to be! I won’t eat anything that has passed its use-by date. I lived through the war years when few people had fridges. These days there’s no excuse not to store food correctly. Fridges should be wellmaintained, kept clean and at the right temperature.”

Sadly the smart food wrapping won’t be available for another two years. So, until then we’ve complied some handy tips on how make your food last longer, save money and unnecessary waste.

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y food freshness y How to make your food last longer Lettuce: When you buy an iceburg lettuce, break it up with your hands and store it in the fridge in a bowl of cold water – it will stay fresh and crispy for much longer than normal.

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Potatoes: Add an apple to a bag of potatoes and the eyes won’t bud up as quickly.

Cottage cheese: This will stay fresher, longer, if stored upside down in the fridge. The position slows oxidation, which is what causes cheese to sour.

Avocado: To keep one green, refrigerate it fleshside-down in a bowl of water into which you have squeezed a little lemon juice. They will keep beautifully for a few days this way.

Peppers: If you’re only using part of a pepper, leave the stem, seeds and membrane intact and the pepper will store for much longer. spinach: Wash it well in cold water, shake off as much water as you can, then store in an airtight container in the fridge. This method also revives old spinach.

Celery: Wrap it in foil and store in the fridge to keep it fresher for longer.

Keeping leftovers covered helps keep the fridge clean

Onions: Avoid storing onions and potatoes together as this will cause both to spoil sooner. salad: Cover with a damp piece of kitchen paper before covering with cling film or putting in a sealed container. This will prolong the life of the salad leaves. nuts: Keep any leftover nuts fresh by freezing them. No need to thaw – eat straight from frozen.

Cream: Freeze leftover unwhipped cream. You can use it to cook with (eg adding to beef stroganoff, mashed potatoes etc) eggs: If you’re unsure of an egg’s freshness, put it into a cup of water. Bad eggs float, good ones sink Pesto: Don’t throw away a half-empty jar of pesto.

Freeze it in teaspoonfuls

Pitta bread: Warm or toast the pitta pockets straight from the freezer – sprinkle with water and warm through.

Asparagus: To keep stems fresh, cut off the bottoms and keep them in some water.

Cheese: When you buy cheese, take it out of its wrapper and put it in foil. This way the cheese doesn’t sweat and stays fresh much longer.

Parmesan cheese: Grate the whole wedge of Parmesan into a container and place in the freezer – it will last for ages.

Bananas: Always keep bananas separately from other fruit, unless you want the other fruit to ripen quickly. To keep them fresh, put them in the fridge to slow down ripening. The skins will go brown but the fruit inside will last up to three weeks without becoming over-ripe.

D For more hints and tips contact Love Food Hate Waste on 0845 600 0323 or visit the website at www.lovefood hatewaste.com YOURS

YOUR109-16-17 food waste.indd 17

PICS: MASTERFILE; MEDIA BLITZ

Vegetables: Wrap lettuce, carrots, courgettes, etc in kitchen paper then put them in plastic bags in the salad compartment of the fridge and they’ll keep fresh for longer.

The paper absorbs the condensation to stop it softening the vegetables, and inhibits mould.

and keep in a tightly closed container. Then use readymeasured frozen portions as you need them.

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11/2/11 11:43:35

Style notes

winner

no7 Protect & Perfect intense eye cream (£18.50/15ml)

The besT age-defying eye creams all reader-tested

Not sure which eye cream is best for you?

Here we’ve asked readers to test six of the best, to see how the brands measure up

By Jade Pickering

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YOUR109- 40-41 beauty .indd 40

Pauline Kennedy (56) from fleetwood says: “On first application I found this product absorbed quickly and didn’t feel greasy. After two weeks I didn’t notice much of a change, but after three, my wrinkles certainly looked smoother.

“It promised to reduce fine lines and wrinkles as well as boosting radiance and puffiness and it definitely worked – my skin tone and texture had both improved in a matter of weeks.

“I’ll definitely pop it on my shopping list. I think it’s reasonably priced considering a little goes a long way. Besides, I certainly don’t want to go back to my 9 10 pre-test wrinkles!”

“my skin tone and texture had improved in a matter of weeks” Pauline Kennedy StockiStS: Aldi 0844 406 8800 www.aldi.co.uk; Clinique 0870 034 2566; L’Oréal 0800 072 6699; Boots No7 0845 070 8090; Marks and Spencer 0845 302 1234; Origins 0800 731 4039 www.origins.co.uk

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aldi Lacura moisturising eye cream (£1.49/15ml) heather causnett (77) from york says: “This product was easy to use and helped keep the skin around my eyes smooth and hydrated. I really cherish my complexion, so was pleased to see it minimised how puffy my eyes looked in the morning.

“The ingredient list includes bio-peptide Mimox, which claims to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and although mine didn’t disappear completely, they did look softer. I even used it on my lips, which helped keep them nicely hydrated too.

“I’ve always gone for more expensive creams, because I thought they’d give better results, but this cream proved me wrong. I’ll definitely continue using it, because at less than £2 it’s a bargain – one of the 7 10 best I’ve ever used.”

best for fine lines

marks and spencer formula age restructure calcium complex Lifting eye cream

L’Oréal collagen microVibration eye

(£8.50/15ml)

(£11.35/15ml)

Janet morse (56) from blackpool says: “I really enjoyed using this product, mostly because it was so quick and easy to use. The cream sank in within seconds, allowing me to apply my moisturiser and make-up straight away – a bonus when rushing to leave the house in the morning!

“The eye cream promises to hydrate and improve skin texture and surprisingly, after a couple of weeks, the improvements were noticeable, with wrinkles improving and skin around my eyes looking less puffy in the morning.

“It’s a great value-formoney product as you do really get great results. I’ll definitely buy this product again and recommend it to all my friends – it’s practical and 7 10 affordable.”

clinique all about eyes serum dePuffing eye best massage for (£20/15ml)

shirley O’neill (51) from Peterborough says: “I was eager to find out whether this product lived up to its promises.

“After a couple of tries, I soon got the hang of the vibrating applicator and although it took a while for the cream to sink in, the results were good. The skin around my eyes instantly looked brighter and smoother – an effect which sadly didn’t last very long.

“After a couple of weeks, though, my skin texture had improved and the skin around my eyes wasn’t as dark in the corners.

“The product also claims to help reduce crow’s feet but I didn’t see a huge difference. However, it was a saviour for puffy eyes after a late night! I’d certainly buy it again, because it helped brighten 8 10 under my eyes.”

Origins starting Over age-erasing eye cream (£25/15ml) christine moizer (57) from huddersfield says: “My initial thought was that you don’t get a lot for your money. However, first impressions were good, it sank in immediately but did leave my skin

Patricia holness (66) from bigburyon-sea says: “This eye serum had a cooling roller ball applicator and came in a handy transparent tube.

“On first application my skin felt a little damp, but this soon disappeared once the serum had sunk in. After reading what the product claimed – to combat puffy eyes and reduce dark circles – I was keen to put it to the test.

“After using the product for a couple of weeks the skin around my eyes felt more nourished and looked smoother. I even tried applying it over the top of my make-up and it didn’t smudge or remove any of it.

“It’s a slightly more expensive product than my normal eye cream, but it lasted well and gave 8 10 better results.”

feeling a little bit sticky.

“After the first three days the skin above and under my eyes appeared less wrinkled, but my wrinkles didn’t disappear completely. It claims to reduce the appearance of crépey eyelids and fine lines and although it smoothed out some of mine, I expected better results for such a steep price. This 5 10 cream just isn’t for me.”

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puffy eyes

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PIC: GETTY IMAGES

best budget buy

41

7/2/11 12:57:26

GUIlT-FREE shopping treats!

If you’re feeling the pinch you needn’t resign yourself to a shopping ban! Here’s our pick of the best buys under £20 that will help you spring clean your wardrobe – without cleaning out your pockets

By Michelle Nightingale

PHOTOGRaPHY RUTH JENkINSON aNd PETER dURkES; STYlING daNIEllE ElmES; HaIR aNd makE-UP SaRaH JaNE GREEN aNd HaNaN TOUHamI.

D Our lovely model Francine (67), dress size 12, wears: Red jersey top, £20, sizes 6-32, isme; stripe pencil skirt, £16, sizes 8-22, F+F at Tesco; red patent courts, £12, sizes 3-8, New look; gold bead hoop earrings, £12.50, Wallis.

42

StockiStS:Bonmarché 01924 700100; F+F at Tesco 0800 505 555; Evans 0845 121 4516 www.evans.co.uk; isme 0844 811 8112 www.isme.com; New Look 0500 454094; Primark 0118 9606 300; Tu at Sainsbury’s 0800 636 262; Wallis 0844 243 4320 www.wallis.co.uk; Littlewoods.com 0844 822 8000.

Details correct at time of going to press YOURS

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Style notes

D Red stripe top, £18, sizes 8-24, littlewoods.com

key look classic twist

D Jewel necklace, £12, daisy & Eve at Evans

D Scarf, £3, Primark

D Silver and jewel chandelier earrings, £10, Wallis

roomy with style

D Red belt, £3, sizes S-l, Tu at Sainsbury’s

denim best buy

D Navy dirndl skirt, £16, sizes 8-22, F+F at Tesco

under

£10

D Blue canvas wedge shoes, £8, sizes 3-8, F+F at Tesco

D White and tan bag, £12, F+F at Tesco

D Cotton denim trousers, £20, sizes 12-24, Bonmarché D Jewel silver pumps, £16.99, sizes 3-9, New look

D Pearl and jewel bracelet, £5, Tu at Sainsbury’s

NEXT ISSUE: Lightweight macs YOURS

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Ask us anything… we’d love to help!

Your questions answered

Does anyone make glasses with lights built in?

Lynda Broome, London Yours says: These LightSpecs

by Foster Grant are very clever.

They have small LED lights hidden in the temples, angled down so as not to disturb your neighbour. Available in a range of optical strengths, they run on batteries and cost less than £25.

To find a stockist, call 01782 813000 or visit www. fostergrant.co.uk D To be in with a chance of winning a pair of LightSpecs, see our March 8 issue.

Q

where can I buy pocket hand warmers?

Anna Brand, Hull Yours says: These gel-filled pouches (£4.95 for two, plus £1.95 p&p) will keep your hands nice and toasty on the coldest days. Flex them to activate the gel and they’ll stay warm for at least 20 minutes. To reactivate, pop them into boiling water.

D Call 0870 011 7174 or visit www. personalcooling. co.uk for more cosy – and cooling – products.

Q

we’d love to help

Yours to answer your

PICS: ALAMY; THINKSTOCK

info

questions.

Write to us at: Ask Us Anything, Yours magazine, Media House, Peterborough Business Park, Peterborough PE2 6EA. Or email your query to us at yours@ bauermedia.co.uk with ‘Ask us Anything’ in the subject line.

58

YOURS

Did you

Know?

How to...

clean the natu Keep your home spic and span this spring with a few household staples

Your essential toolkit

what to clean and how to clean it...

D Descale your kettle by filling it with half water and half white vinegar, and setting it to boil. Leave to cool overnight, then boil to rinse next day.

D Get scummy rings off glass vases by filling them with water and adding one tablespoon of vinegar. Leave to soak for ten minutes, then rub with a soft cloth and rinse.

D Make windows shine using 2-3 tbsp of vinegar in three litres of warm water. Dry with crumpled newspapers.

D Buff up stainless steel by applying a paste of baking soda and water with a damp cloth. Leave for 5-10 minutes and wipe away. Rub on baby oil, using kitchen roll to finish.

D Freshen up your microwave or fan oven by placing four lemon slices in a bowl of water and heat on high for a few minutes.

D Brighten dull silver with toothpaste – leave for 15 minutes, then rinse.

D Freshen whiffy Thermos flasks by filling with water and adding a couple of tbsp of white vinegar. Leave half an hour, then rinse thoroughly.

D Brighten bath tiles with two parts soda to one part vinegar or lemon juice. Apply with a damp cloth, leave ten minutes, then rub with a damp sponge and rinse. For grout, rub in with a toothbrush before rinsing.

D Keep the loo stain-free, sprinkling 8 tbsp baking soda in the bowl and leaving overnight before flushing.

D De-clog drains by sprinkling down one part soda, followed by four parts hot vinegar. Leave overnight if possible.

D Banish mould and mildew with one part vinegar/lemon juice to one part bicarbonate of soda. Apply and leave for 1-2 hours before rinsing.

D Scour rust off baking trays using half a raw potato. Drizzle it with washing powder and scrub the pan before rinsing.

Banish room smells

D Make your own natural air freshener using eight tablespoons of baking soda with three drops of your favourite essential oil. Used alone, baking soda will absorb smoke smells from ashtrays.

For soft furnishings, sprinkle it on and leave for 3-4 hours before vacuuming off.

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T m o

4/2/11 13:10:57

The unluckiest house number is 243 with more home insurance claims than any other door number, according to confused.com

tural way

By Sheena Correa

5 top eco-friendly cleaning products For laundry: Ecozone Ecoballs lift dirt from fabric without fading colours or damaging delicates. They soften clothes even in hard water, so you won’t need to use fabric conditioner or a rinse cycle – saving money and water. £10.99 (two balls plus refills), Lakeland 01539 488100; www.lakeland.co.uk For cleaning appliances: Ecozone Washing & Dishwasher Cleaner is the greener way to keep appliances free from limescale and gunk. £3.79 (six sachets), Lakeland.

For washing up: Earth Friendly Dishmate comes in almond, pear and grapefruit, to make washing up less of a chore. Powerful but mild on skin, thanks to its neutral ph value. £3.98 (500ml), Nigel’s Eco Store 0800 288 8970; www.nigelsecostore.com Furniture polish: Earth Friendly polish is made from olive and orange oils so that surfaces shine naturally. £3.99 (500ml), Nigel’s Eco Store.

Shower or toilet cleaner: Ecover uses natural plant and mineral ingredients for effective safe cleaning without the chemicals. £2.03 (750ml), Nigel’s Eco Store.

D nEXT ISSUE: How to trace your family tree

1

2 3

4 D For a subtle room scent, spritz a small amount of your favourite perfume onto a cold lightbulb (while switched off, of course). when the light is on, the heat produced will help the perfume to evaporate and fill the room with fragrance.

D If you’ve been handling smelly foods, rinse your hands with soap and water then rub with half a lemon. Rinse again and the pong should be gone.

D Grandfather’s wisdom... by Barry Robb is from Michael O’Mara Books, £9.99.

5

Turn the page for more money advice YOURS

YOUR109-58 59 61 how to moneywise.indd 59

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Ask us anything… about boosting health

Keeping fit and staying hea expert for tips on how to imp

Improve 50s your fitness at 50, 60 & 70+

Start with slow activities and then build up to an easy cardiovascular workout.

“Niggling aches and pains are common in your 50s, so working on your strength, mobility and cardiovascular system should be your priority,” says Anne. Heart disease kills three times more women than breast cancer, but you can decrease your risk by

IN YOUR

Meet our expert

IN YOUR

D Anne Elliott, Personal Trainer and Lecturer in Sports Science at Middlesex University www.anneelliott.co.uk

60s

f you think you’re too old to start exercising, then think again – not only can it benefit your health, but it can improve mobility too.

Yet finding the enthusiasm can be hard: one survey suggests only half of 60-69 year olds take regular exercise.

“Most of us have some distant memory of horrible PE lessons at school or lack confidence in our bodies,” says Personal Trainer Anne Elliott.

“This can often put us off from doing any exercise.”

But fitness can be fun and doesn’t have to be hard work.

So get the most from your regime by following our expert advice on how to get fit and stay healthy, whatever your age.

I 70

YOURS

Take part in exercises that are gentle on your joints and bones to avoid injury.

During your 60s you might notice a slight difference in your joints and bones – they might feel weaker or you may notice small aches and pains that you never had before.

Reduced bone density is common because of the changes we go through during

Your motivation might be & BEYOND lacking, so look for fun, sociable ways to stay active.

In your 70s and beyond, finding the enthusiasm to start a new fitness regime is your biggest challenge, but dancing can be a great way to stay active. “Dancing is fantastic because it doesn’t seem like exercise and you’ll still feel like you’ve done some work, without experiencing any muscle pain,” says Anne.

IN YOUR

70s

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Did you

know?

Britons spend £37million a year on wasted gym and slimming club memberships

ying healthy doesn’t have to be stressful, which is why we’ve ask our sport w to improve your fitness without having to ‘pump iron’ By Jade Pickering

menopause. High oestrogen levels are essential for keeping bones strong and healthy, so the sudden drop can cause your bones to become weak, brittle and fracture easily.

“Exercises that involve slow, non-jerky movements are best, so try taking part in yoga or Pilates. These exercises will challenge your body gently, without putting it under pressure,” says Anne.

Yoga and Pilates help

There are plenty of dances available, from the waltz to salsa and even ‘Zumba’ – a latininspired workout that burns lots of calories, plus they’re a great way to meet new friends too.

Try not to push yourself too hard, and always start where you feel comfortable. “Make sure you progress gradually, doing little and often. Check with your doctor before you start, especially if you have existing medical problems,” says Anne.

If dancing isn’t for you, then adapting simple everyday

such as swimming, are great because they’re low impact and don’t put your body under too much stress.” Swimming lessons are readily available, and most pools hold ladiesonly sessions too.

If swimming isn’t for you, go for a brisk ten-minute walk. You’ll burn calories, improve mobility and cut your risk of heart disease by 50 per cent. Make sure you walk faster than normal to get your heart pumping.

D For more information on local Pilates classes in your area call 0207 033 0078 or visit www. pilatesfoundation. com. For local yoga classes call 01529 306851 or visit www.bwy.org. uk for The British Wheel of Yoga.

you to become more aware of your posture, improve balance, muscle strength and flexibility.

“You could also try gardening, swimming or walking,” says Anne.

Gardening is great for keeping your joints and bones moving.

movements can improve your mobility and strengthen your muscles, too. Simple chair exercises are useful. Try getting up and down from your chair and when you’re comfortable, progress onto chair squats – stand in front of your chair with your feet shoulderwidth apart, lower your bottom towards the chair and just before your bottom hits the chair, stand back up again. Keep your arms out in front of you for balance.

D Look for dance classes in your local paper or visit www.idta.co.uk for the International Dance Teachers Association. For Zumba classes contact your leisure centre or visit www.zumba.com D nEXT ISSUE: Money makeovers

Turn the page for more expert advice YOURS

YOUR109-70-71 fitness 50 60 70.indd 71

D For more information check with your local authority to see if they offer free swimming for over 60s or visit www. swimming.org where you’ll find the latest information about pools in your area.

PICS: GETTY IMAGES; MASTERFIlE

keeping fit and staying active.

Noticing a little more weight around your middle is common too and this can become harder to fight off postmenopause, when a drop in oestrogen levels encourages your body to store calories instead of burning them. But, there is a way you can fight this and Anne has some great advice: “Exercises that encourage a full range of movement in your body,

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y talking point y

Are children being exploited?

Our granddaughters have a love of hotpants and high heels – but are they dressing appropriately for their age?

By Kate Corr o you shudder when you see your granddaughter wearing a skimpy top and high heels at an age when you were still wearing a liberty bodice? The Government is now so concerned about the sexualisation of children’s clothing that it’s proposing a law to ban clothes that are deemed inappropriate. But is a law really necessary? Yours weighs up the pros and cons.

D

PICS: ALAMY

YES, we need a law because…

D Children are growing up too quickly Children today are under immense pressure to look ‘sexy’ and ‘hot,’ warns esteemed psychologist Dr Linda Papadopoulos, who recently published an in-depth report for the Government into the sexualisation of children.

Clothes such as padded bras and micro miniskirts only add to the pressure, and can expose vulnerable children to the wrong sort of attention.

D Shops can’t be trusted to sell sensible clothes Times are tough and shops are under increasing pressure to make money.

Without legislation, you can’t blame them for wanting to stock clothes they know their customers want to buy – even if they are in very bad taste.

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D Parents are too afraid to say no to their kids A law would make life much easier for stressedout parents who find themselves caving in to their children’s demands for hotpants and sequined bikinis because ‘everybody else’ already has them.

It would also stop the feckless few who buy without stopping to think.

D We’re giving girls the wrong messages Skimpy, figure-hugging outfits don’t only make children look older than their years, they also reinforce the message that, for girls, looks are all that matter in life.

T-shirts bearing slogans such as ‘Future WAG’ are really depressing, too.

Surely little girls should aspire to more than marrying a footballer and going shopping? Let them enjoy their youth.

NO, we don’t need a law because…

D Children will want these clothes even more Make something illegal and it becomes even more attractive. A law may stop your 12-year-old from having a skirt the length of a curtain pelmet, but it can’t stop her borrowing one from a friend, or buying three when she’s 17 – with stilettos to match.

D It discourages good parenting and initiative The ‘nanny state’ interferes enough in family life, without it also lecturing and patronising parents about how to dress their own children.

Besides, if a mum wants to buy her daughter a pair of high-heeled party shoes

– why shouldn’t she be allowed to?

D The law would be impossible to enforce How padded can a bra be before it is ‘too padded?’ How high is a heel before it’s ‘too high’?

Will Government ministers be marching around department stores with tape measures in hand?

Legislation wouldn’t work.

D Adults are over-reacting What’s the harm in children wanting to look fashionable? Children’s clothes today are funky and fun, and adults are over-reacting to a passing fashion fad that will eventually go away if we ignore it. Besides, a padded bra is probably a lot more comfortable than a liberty bodice…

What do you think? Write and tell us at the address on p3.

EVERY FORTNIGHT

11/2/11 11:44:20