Best foot forward: time for a pedicure. Photograph: Eamonn Mccabe for the Observer

In the olden days, they'd cut the dry skin off a woman's heel in order to count the rings and work out her age. We've come a long way since then, those days when we had to walk 20 miles to school every morning over ice, glass and blades, and then when we got there we were only allowed in if we wore ear plugs because the lessons were deemed too "incendiary" for female ears. Yeah. But our feet – still they are tough. Butter London has launched a new pedicure collection of products that do disgusting things quite beautifully – like the Rock Off Glycolic Callus Peel (25, butterlondon.com), which dissolves hard skin off your heels, and the Mucky Pups Foot Wipes (13) for when "your dogs are barking". Summer has been promised to us. So start pumicing today.

Alternatively…

Dirty Works Pedicure Set 9.99, sainsburys.com
Cowshed Hand and Foot Treatment 38, cowshedonline.com
Tweezerman Nail Rescue Kit 22, asos.com

Sibling, one of the designers receiving special backing by the British Fashion Council Photograph: BFC

Forget the Olympics, Guardian fashion has its own countdown clock right now. It's now only 24 days to go until the first ever menswear catwalk season in London which runs 15 to 17 June. Our excitement was stoked by the announcement on Monday evening of the six young labels who will receive mentoring and support from NEWGEN MEN – a Topman backed initiative - to showcase their collections at the coming three-day event. This season Lou Dalton and Sibling won the catwalk sponsorship; the former is known for her refined tailoring while the latter is known for their bonkers but brilliant knits – or as the British Fashion Council would have it "progressive knitwear". Christopher Raeburn, Martine Rose and Matthew Miller won the presentation sponsorship, while jewellery label Bunney won the installation cash and support. They're a diverse bunch and we'll be bringing you all the news from London Collections: Men as and when.

• Jonathan Saunders, Topman and Margaret Howell confirmed for first 'men's London fashion week'

Versace unveil gothic shoot for autumn/winter 2012 collection

After a summer of pastels, will we be ready for something a little darker come autumn? Versace certainly think so. Their women's A/W 2012 collection, unveiled in Milan earlier this year, saw gothic brocade usurp the trend for lighter colours which dominated summer collections. While the men's collection had flashes of colour, the seriousness of military tailoring was still present. Calling the collection 'bold, strong, iconic', Donatella Versace claimed that the Byzantine crosses used in the collection were in reference to her late brother, Gianni, who used them in previous designs

Face facts: work in with gusto to make your skin look brighter

If cleanliness is next to godliness, then exfoliation is standing right above them both, beaming. Facial scrubs get you cleaner than you thought possible – used regularly, they make your skin feel amazingly smooth. Rather than the big sugary grains you get in a body scrub, for the face you want a fine speckle that you can work into the annoying bits by your nostrils with gusto. Try Origins Never A Dull Moment scrub (24, origins.co.uk) to make you look a little bit brighter, and Proactiv's new Solution Cleansing Bar on your back (9.99, proactiv.co.uk). It will feel ever so soft.

Alternatively

Sisley Buff and Wash 65, harrods.com
Bior Pore Unclogging Scrub 4.99, sainsburys.co.uk
Ole Henriksen Walnut Complexion Scrub 26, 020 7351 3873
Declor Double Radiance Scrub 23.40, feelunique.com

Grime buster: Origins' United State Balancing Tonic sweeps the debris away.

Whatever happened to toner – the tingly watery stuff we used to dab on our faces? I rediscovered an old bottle recently. It got me going. "Toner!" I said (I'm not in the habit of anthropomorphising potions in my bathroom cabinet). "I had forgotten you, what with serum and BB cream." And so I found Origins' United State Balancing Tonic (17, origins.co.uk) to sweep away pore-clogging debris and rebalance dry or oily areas. I pressed it on and remembered that satisfying moment toner brings: the cotton wool ball with the grime your cleanser missed. But toner has moved on, too. These days there are mists and pump-action formulas that tighten and lift. Perricone MD's Firming Facial Toner (35, perriconemd.co.uk) smells like spas and is perfect for mature skin.

Alternatively…

Nivea Visage Pure & Natural Cleansing Toner 3.36, nivea.co.uk Sisley Botanical Floral Toning Lotion 64, 020 7591 6380 Crystal Clear Revitalising Tonic 20, 08705 934934 Lancme Tonique Douceur 21, lancome.co.uk