Forget the equinox; for me, the first day of spring is marked each year by the Ceremonial Putting Away of the Tights. This is followed by the Rummaging Around looking for last year’s FitFlops and the Holding of Breath as I squeeze into my cut-offs, culminating in the Terrifying Realisation of Doom: I look about as appetising as the elderly potato at the bottom of the vegetable basket.
Still, there is something tremendously liberating about stepping out in the first sandals of spring. It’s good to feel the air around the ankles after a long winter, even if it is gently ruffling a downy coating of untended fur. But, unlike other areas of the body, which require long-term dedication, the extremities can be quickly knocked into shape with relatively small amounts of effort. If you can only afford to have one foot treatment this year, now is the time to have it. A going-over by a podiatrist or skilled pedicurist will slough away dry, wintry skin, give your nails a nice healthy shape and generally set you up for the warm weather. All you need then is a little light maintenance, and some fresh shades of polish to see you through until autumn.
Margaret Dabbs has just opened a foot spa in the basement of Liberty, offering all the treatments pioneered at her salon in Marylebone. The best of these is her medical pedicure (£75; 020-7494 4492 for bookings), a thorough overhaul designed to address all ailments, from corns to in-grown toenails. Unlike traditional chiropodists, who have scant regard for aesthetics, Dabbs and her girls will leave your feet looking as pretty as they are healthy. I can’t help feeling that Liberty is really missing a trick by not having a shoe department located on the way out.
Hair-wise, do try to resist the urge to panic-shave. I’m as guilty as the next woman on this, and I always regret it afterwards, not just because my legs end up looking like the last chicken in Sainsbury’s, but also because it means you have to go through all the hassle of growing them again before you can have them properly waxed. That said, many salons now use the ultra-chic Lycon wax, which is not only brilliant for sensitive skins, it also picks up the tiniest of hairs: see for yourself at stripwaxbar.com. If you find your legs are looking a little pallid, mix a bit of foundation with your body cream and give them the once-over; it’s surprisingly effective.
And so to colour. This season’s toe shades are a far cry from the greys and mushrooms of last year. There are plenty of neons and oranges about, and pink is, as ever, hot. But the most fashionable palette is a playful one. Think children’s wax crayons, in vivid varnish form, to wit: sunny yellows, girlish lilacs and sky blues. Chanel’s vibrant new Mimosa shade, available in May, will be a favourite among fashionistas (£17.50; 020-7493 3836), or you can have it all with Nails Inc’s I Can Paint a Rainbow: six adorable shades in a neat little box, nail file included (£25; 020-7499 8333).