The Bite Magazine - Spring 2016 - Issue 15

L ondon Fashion Week is always a wonderful time of year, giving us a chance to look ahead to the trends that will be filling our wardrobes this coming season whilst taking the time to appreciate the beautiful creations our capital’s top designers have painstakingly brought to fruition. It’s also basically just one long fashion parade for everyone who’s attending the shows. Getting super dressed up day after day is ALL the fun and LFW definitely gives you licence to get a little more experimental with your style, which is super exciting. Everything is a little bolder, clothes a little brighter and heels a little higher. Everyone looks sensational but let’s be honest, multi- ple days of running around London in an array of chic Louboutins and quirky Sophia Webster heels can really take its toll and unless you’re lucky enough to be ferried around in a shiny Mercedes, looking that fabulous is murder on your feet. I’m a firm believer that pedicures are a necessity, not a luxury. After all, our feet carry us around all day (often squeezed into beautiful but impractical shoes) so it’s only fair that they’re pampered in return for their troubles. After attending umpteen shows dotted around London my tootsies were in need of more than just a file and polish – a serious overhaul was in order and nothing gives feet the care they need like a medical pedicure. So off I ran to the shiny new Margaret Dabbs clinic, nestled amongst Notting Hill’s Space NK. Margaret Dabbs is THE authority on feet and the pioneer of the medical pedicure. A podiatrist first and a pedicurist second, your feet are cared for from a clinical perspective and her medical pedicures are renowned for bringing worn feet back to life. Performed by a professional foot specialist or podi- atrist, the Medical Pedicure addresses all aspects of foot health. So much more intensive than a regular pedicure, a medical pedicure is specifically designed to tackle thick, hard skin and treat other common conditions including in-growing toenails, corns, calluses, fungal infections and cracked dry heels. Admittedly it doesn’t sound glam or sexy but let’s face it, neither are dry callused feet and having such a concentrated treatment is so much more effective than hiding behind the veneer of a slick of polish. My podiatrist Niamh began the treat- ment by assessing the condition of my feet and then got to work by cutting my nails straight across the top and smooth- ing them off with a crystal nail file. You’d never think it was so important but incorrectly cut toenails can cause a world of grief, especially when feet are squeezed into pointy heels so this step, whilst seemingly innocuous is actually super important. She then reached for some more elaborate tools, using a tiny drill to smooth the nails, resulting in a smooth canvas. A scalpel was then safely used to remove calluses and a foot file was used to slough away any roughness, all done on a dry foot to ensure long lasting results. Along with their expert care, the clinic has also developed their own range of products to help clients continue the care process at home.Think of it as the first true beauty regime for feet. During the treatment, hydrating oil bitebeauty