fashion, health & beauty

Sharp knitwear, North East style

If you live in Northumberland, you get to know a lot about dressing warm. But stylish clothing with a sense of fun and colour that also keeps you nice and toasty isn’t always easy to come by. So Alnwick resident Lizzy Sharp decided to do it for herself, designing and knitting her own distinctive jumpers and cardigans.And the many compliments that came her way led her to set up her own business, producing bespoke knitwear which now graces the backs not only of North Easterners but people around the UK and o

Newcastle Falcons star goes for smart-casual

 He's got the look By Anne Graham Smart-casual is a great concept in theory, but a hard one to get right in practice. Newcastle Falcons’ Alex Gray – also England Under 18s captain – shows you how. Fashion-conscious guys who care about clothes are catered for these days as never before. That’s particularly true in the North East where men like to make an effort to look good when they go out on the town.Many of the region’s celebrities – especially its sports stars – make a beeline for one small a

Accessorise for a wedding weekend away

Accessorise for a wedding weekend away When you’re packing for a weekend away at a fabulous wedding your first thought will be what you’re going to wear.But don’t forget that what you put with the clothes is just as important.Any fan of TV’s Gok Wan knows that you can ‘sex up’ a high street outfit to make it look like Bond Street if you use the right bags, scarves and jewellery.In fact, accessories are key to your look and individual style: gone are the days when they were designed to blend into the backgro

Massage hits the spot

Hands-on treatment for stressed-out professionals Jude Parmley tells how massage can ease pain and banish the blues of modern life Being a journalist is bad for your health. Two of the four most common causes of muscle tension are spending hours hunched over a computer and being stuck behind the wheel of a car – both occupational hazards for those of us who earn our living as writers. I’ve suffered stiff shoulders and neck for years, but a spell of flat-out work took the problem to a new level.&n

Cutting a dash on the riverbank

Smart-casual isn’t as easy as it sounds. Men can usually get away with a smart T-shirt or polo top and jeans or chinos, but it’s a harder look for women to pull off.We asked Van Mildert in Durham to show how it’s done with classic pieces that should be the staple of any girl’s wardrobe – white shirt, jeans and a coat or jacket to bring the look together.The outfit is modelled by Alex Thomas, a part-time caterer and student. Her outfit:Paul Smith red cotton mac, £340Paul Smith white swirl-cuff shirt, £90DVB