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Mary Quant's Colour Shop, 3 Ives Street, London SW3

Atmosphere: Disappointingly un-Sixties: no white plastic chairs, no skinny girls with geometric black page-boys. Walls are painted white brick, floor is pine.

What to buy: Any of the fab Sixties-meets-the-Nineties make-up, as seen in all the current glossies. There are 80 shades of nail polish and lipstick, and 120 of eye shadow. Current bestsellers are blue nail polishes (Seagull, Moonglow, Midnight Feast, all at pounds 8), matt white and black eye shadow (pounds 6.50, plus pounds 6 for reusable compact) and purple brown lipstick (Chocaholic, pounds 15). We also got rather nostalgic over the sparkly silver and gold nail polish. All make-up comes in the smart black daisy logo packaging.

What's more: You can have a free makeover at the shop. All you have to do is book.

What not to buy: The clothes, which are boring (all shades of black and neutral) and overpriced. A plain black cord mini for pounds 54? Nope, not even for the daisy logo rivets

Interesting fact: Mary Quant has 250 shops in Japan but only one here. That's why all the labels are in Japanese.

Why not to go: Because you can buy everything mail-order instead. Call them on 0171-581 1811

Bestsellers

Top 10 at Harrods bakery

1 Cookies ...................................................................pounds 9.90 per kilo

2 Walnut bread ..........................................................pounds 1.20 per loaf

3 Pumpkin bread ..........................................................85p per loaf

4 Plain croissants .............................................................60p each

5 Fruit and cheese scones ................................................35p each

6 Demi baguette ...............................................................45p each

7 Belgravia cake ........................................................pounds 2 per portion

8 Banana bread .............................................................pounds 1 per loaf

9 Frambois au chocolat .............................................pounds 2 per portion

10 Charlotte rouge................................................ pounds 2.25 per portion

Good thing

`Re-bag' bag dispenser, pounds 2.50

We all know about reusing plastic bags, but where to keep them in the interim? Squashed up Tescos bags bursting out of a kitchen drawer are not a pretty sight. Here's the answer: stuff all the plastic bags you can find (up to 40) down this cotton cloth tube and hang it behind the door. Every time you need a bag simply pull one out of the elasticated end. Send cheques for pounds 2.50 (which includes p&p) to the Sackgammon Design Company, MIT Studios, 36 Townmead Business Centre, William Morris Way, London SW6 2SZ.

What kind of fitness class should I join?

A bewildering variety of classes exist to get you into shape. Further information on many classes can be obtained by sending a s.a.e. to The Exercise Association of England, Unit 4, Angel Gate, City Road, London EC1V 2PT.

Aerobics Forty-five minute to one-hour classes are designed to raise your heartbeat, with at least 20 minutes of aerobic activity. If you are fit, opt for a mixed impact or high impact aerobics class where the moves make your feet leave the floor by jogging, running, gallops, jumping jacks and knee lifts. A low impact class is better for beginners, where you have at least one foot always in contact with the ground, and do walks, lunges, squats, leg lifts, etc.

Box aerobics An aerobic class which uses a non-contact form of boxing training. It can involve using punch bags and choreographed movements. For more information on the 600-plus classes nationwide call Box-a-cise (01223 881700).

Circuit training Involves following a circuit to strengthen and tone the whole body. You will usually start with a warm up and stretch followed by the circuit. There will be at least eight stop-off "stations' where you will either use an exercise machine or do exercises like abdominal curls, bicep curls and squats.

Step class Step is an aerobic class with low impact movement. The exercise involves a variety of choreographed routines.

Kids fitness This is health-related fitness for children where the emphasis is on fun. Children play with parachutes, space oppys, balloons and bean bags in a non-competitive environment. There are about 300 such classes nationwide.

Slide Involves placing a pair of booties on your feet and sliding from side to side in a skating action on a special mat. Slide is an aerobically intense exercise and you must be fit to do it. Good for inside and outside thigh muscles.

Water aerobics Check that your instructor has a qualification in water aerobics: this is not just land aerobics in the water. The class should use a wide range of exercises, with floats etc, which use the buoyancy and resistance of the water to aid exercise. Further information from Aquarobics: 0181-876 7789.

Julie Aschkenasy

See fitness clubs offer, page 20

Mad thing

The Fifo Sock Dispenser, pounds 16

The Fifo sock dispenser is translucent, which means you can see which socks are on their way for tomorrow and the day after. Perfect for planning your daily wardrobe. There's room for nine pairs of socks in the sleeve, loaded at the top and delivered neatly from the bottom on a first-in, first-out basis. An ideal accessory would be a handservant to wash, dry and roll up the socks. From Purves & Purves, 80-81 & 83 Tottenham Court Road, London W1 (0171-436 8860). Mail-order available