< PreviousA few accessories can take your outfit to the next level. Cotton Traders Matching boots, bag and belt pull together this look from Cotton Traders, showing how easy it can be to create an elevated, everyday ensemble. LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 41 FASHION Dune London With an angular sculpted silhouette, to sit under the arm, and a green croc design, this bag from Dune London offers both comfort and style. FACE A FACE Livening up your look is easy with a pair of funky sunglasses, such as these from FACE A FACE. Find this pair, or one similar, at O’Brien’s Opticians in Brigg or http://obriensopticians.co.uk/ Abelini A classic teardrop shape makes this Abelini necklace timeless and versatile. Wear alone or layered for a statement look. Joe Browns With a beautiful bow, black suede and cream trim, these heels from Joe Browns ensure an elegant look from head to toe. Marc Cain Whether looking to make a fashion statement or for practical use, this cap from Marc Cain is a stylish accent to any outfit. Fable England This delicate ring from Fable England, hand-painted with wildflowers, brings a creative aura to your jewellery, to replace a simple band with. DITA Carefully marrying traditional and modern, these DITA frames will always be on trend. Head down to O’Brien’s Opticians in Brigg or visit http://obriensopticians.co.uk/ for your own pair. Pomegranate Jewellery With intricate gemstone beadwork, these Pomegranate Jewellery earrings make for a unique addition to your accessories. A moment of So often menswear is relegated to plain shades, so why not try something rich with colour this month? A moment ofLINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 43 FASHION Opposite: Joe Browns In a bold aqua hue, this shirt from Joe Browns will transition seamlessly from a laid-back daytime piece to a top for a chic evening out. Top left: Simswear In a buttery yellow, this vest from Simswear will brighten up your layering. Above: Pegboarders The rich royal blue of this timeless jacket from Pegboarders, combining functionality with classic style, will ensure your outerwear pops. Bottom left: V&A If you’re not ready to commit to a vivid ensemble, perhaps a splash of colour in your accessories is on the cards instead. Why not try a creative tie, like this from V&A?44 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY HAIR & BEAUTY Glossy beauty: here to stay © stock.adobe.com/and.one Glossy beauty: here to stay LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 45 HAIR & BEAUTY D riven by nostalgia via the early 2000s resurgence, social media, the Korean beauty hype, and growing interest in high-shine products, ‘glossy’ styles have proven they are here to stay. One only need to take a brief glance across TikTok to see how the trend is keeping alive and constantly evolving. From the likes of syrup nails — for manicures with a syrupy, sheer look of jelly-like layers — and jam lips providing a layered, glowing, fruity look, to the longstanding demand for products that can achieve glass skin, this fashion statement is everywhere in beauty routines, whether sporting a clear gloss or iridescent eyeshadow. Helping you appear fresh and radiant, gloss has long left the lips to transform tired skin and eyes. For many it’s about gaining a coveted natural, dewy finish, without going so far as to look as though you’ve just done intense cardio! Here the focus is on hydrating and illuminating the skin. To achieve this look, one should begin with a good skincare routine, starting with exfoliation followed by serums, quenching moisturisers, and sunscreen, to give a facial-fresh appearance. Follow this with a luminous or hydrating primer to prepare your skin with a dewy base for makeup, before precisely placing concealer sparingly on blemishes and under the eyes. Avoiding any matte products, add a radiant, light coverage foundation or tinted moisturiser for a glowy base, a cream blush, and cream or liquid highlighter where the light naturally hits — on cheekbones, the brow bone, bridge of the nose, and the Cupid’s bow. On the eyes, create glazed lids with a little drop of primer or touch of highlighter, then apply a coat of mascara on curled lashes. Finish off with a high-shine gloss to the lips and a hydrating setting spray. If this process has led to more of a greasy outcome, try a dusting of translucent powder. While the glossy image has been booming in skincare and makeup, the trend has also made its way to influence hair. Slick backs and wet looks reflecting the sheen of gel have been the rage amongst celebrities for some time, but glass hair is now rising in popularity, pulling together products that nourish while adding shine. The trend sees hair styled smooth with an almost liquid appearance. The key is for your locks to look healthy, deeply conditioned, and polished through proper haircare, styling, and the right products. Keeping your hair healthy and hydrated is fundamental to glossy hair, so the first port of call is to get a fresh trim to remove split ends, minimising dryness and breakage; blunt ends add further to the polished aesthetic of the hairstyle. To start a glass hair routine at home, you’ll want to begin by cleansing and exfoliating the scalp to remove any impurities and allow the hair shaft to absorb products better. Incorporating a shine boosting shampoo and weightless conditioner will also lay the foundation for a glossy finish, while using treatments (though not required for every wash) is a must, from deep conditioning masks and leave in conditioners to bond-builders improving hair elasticity, strength, and smoothness. Exiting the salon, at-home glosses and glazes are on the rise too for instant shine. Both conditioning treatments, glazes can help add moisture, get rid of minor frizz, and provide a pick-me-up for your colour, lasting for a week or two, while glosses offer something similar but with more longevity for lacklustre hair, penetrating the hair shaft. In many cases, after blotting hair dry with a microfibre towel to avoid friction, picking up the hair dryer for a smooth blowout is the next step, aiming the nozzle down, followed by working straighteners through hair in small sections — using heat protectant of course. This is finished with a hair oil and spray to attain a mirror-like shine, though the look can be achieved with wavy and curly hair too. One can further protect your glass hair overnight with a silk pillowcase or scarf to reduce any friction causing frizz. Sleek and polished, the glossy trend is all about boosting the health of our skin and hair while enhancing this with products that provide a radiant appearance. It intertwines with rising recognition of the importance of self-care, helping bring inner beauty out to the fore. The glossy look has taken over the beauty industry, from skincare and makeup to hair. 46 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY HEALTH & FITNESS © stock.adobe.com/DrazenLINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 47 HEALTH & FITNESS A new walking trend from Japan is quietly reshaping how people think about everyday fitness. Deceptively simple, this method doesn’t rely on wearable tech, sprawling step counts or rigid gym routines. It’s based on alternating short bursts of fast walking with slower recovery periods, repeated over a half-hour session. For those tired of generic fitness advice or looking for something more grounded and effective, this approach is drawing fresh attention, and not just for its accessibility. The method was first trialled nearly two decades ago in Nagano, where public health researchers began testing a walking style tailored to older adults. Their idea was straightforward: have participants walk briskly for three minutes, then slow down for another three, and repeat that cycle five times. The routine would be done four days a week. Unlike endurance-focused exercise regimes, this method prioritised short, manageable effort followed by recovery, enough to raise the heart rate without overwhelming the body. It wasn’t designed as a passing trend. It was a deliberate intervention for health improvement in ageing populations. What surprised researchers, however, was how effective this modest intervention turned out to be. Participants showed marked improvements in aerobic fitness, leg strength and blood pressure control. In some cases, gains in cardiovascular performance were comparable to those seen in more intensive training programmes. Muscular endurance also increased, and participants reported fewer physical limitations in daily life. These weren’t elite athletes or fitness influencers, they were middle-aged and older adults, some of whom had long struggled to integrate any form of regular exercise. Despite the evidence, the method remained relatively obscure outside Japan for years. It didn’t carry the immediate appeal of step goals or marathon training. It also lacked the marketing push that typically drives fitness fads into mainstream culture. But in the past year, the walking method has started to surface again—this time as part of a larger shift in how people view movement. There’s growing recognition that simple, sustainable routines may hold more long-term value than complex regimens or gadget-led goals. Japanese walking fits neatly into that narrative. Unlike the often-quoted goal of 10,000 steps a day (a figure not rooted in medical science but rather in a 1960s marketing campaign), this approach is based on physiological response. Brisk walking activates the cardiovascular system, while intervals allow for recovery and prevent overexertion. The structure also reduces the risk of strain or injury, particularly in joints and tendons. For many people, especially those over 40, that balance matters more than ever. What distinguishes the Japanese walking method from conventional walking isn’t just pace, but purpose. The emphasis is on repeated acceleration and recovery. A simple method from Japan is challenging the way we approach fitness - proving that short, structured walks can lead to lasting health benefits. 48 Á The power of Japanese walking The power of Ja panese walking48 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY HEALTH & FITNESS This mimics interval training, long known to deliver faster gains in aerobic capacity than steady-state cardio. But unlike high- intensity workouts, which often deter beginners, the entry barrier here is low. Most people can walk. Most people can adjust their pace. And unlike jogging or cycling, there’s no need to change clothes, prepare equipment or dedicate a large block of time. It’s adaptable to parks, footpaths, city blocks, even indoor corridors. There’s no app to download. No subscription. No treadmill. Perhaps more importantly, it works. Independent studies in Japan and elsewhere have shown that regular use of this walking pattern leads to reduced blood sugar levels, improved cholesterol profiles and healthier BMI scores. Some users also report better sleep, less joint stiffness and improved mood. They’re the kinds of benefits that tend to accumulate when movement becomes habitual. There’s also something psychologically © stock.adobe.com/sawitreelyaon grounding about walking that extends beyond metrics. The rhythm of moving on foot, adjusting speed and breathing through effort taps into the body’s natural pacing. Walking is one of the few forms of exercise that feels restorative rather than extractive. In a culture where fitness is often framed as punishment or penance, this is a significant shift. Japanese walking invites participation without demanding performance. It frames effort as a rhythm, not a race. That shift matters because for many, conventional exercise guidance has become inaccessible. Gym memberships, home equipment and time-consuming programmes are out of reach for millions. Others face physical limitations or are returning to activity after injury or illness. For these individuals, a simple half-hour walk can be more than a fitness boost. It can be a turning point. The structure provides purpose. The pace gives variety. The gains feel tangible. As more people adopt the method, its broader applications are being tested. Some health providers are exploring it as a low-cost intervention for hypertension. Occupational health professionals have trialled it as a workday wellness tool, especially in sedentary office environments. Fitness instructors have quietly started incorporating it into programmes aimed at clients recovering from illness or dealing with chronic fatigue. And increasingly, it’s being framed not just as exercise, but as a lifestyle practice—a reset button for both body and mind. There’s something reassuring about a practice that doesn’t demand reinvention, only commitment. Japanese walking doesn’t ask you to become a different version of yourself. It just asks you to move with intention, to switch gears, to show up. And in a world that often equates progress with complexity, that’s a radical proposition.LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 49 CARING T he boundaries of care are quietly shifting from the institutional to the intimate. Once a setting reserved for hospitals and care homes, health support is increasingly migrating into our living rooms. It’s a change born not just of demographic urgency but of technological possibility. As populations age and pressure mounts on formal care systems, home becomes both sanctuary and frontline, and new tools are rising to help. Emerging technologies are redefining how care is delivered, blending human oversight with digital assistance to maintain both safety and dignity. Artificial intelligence, once confined to sterile labs or science fiction, is now assisting real professionals (triaging risk, coordinating schedules, and flagging concerning trends in real time) all while keeping clinicians firmly in control. At the heart of this shift is the conviction that empathy and judgement cannot be automated, only freed to focus where they matter most. For many older adults, the ideal is simple: remain in familiar surroundings, supported but not isolated. Sensors embedded in furniture or walls can detect falls, changes in behaviour, or unusual movement patterns. Combined with readings from blood-pressure monitors, glucose trackers or wearable heart-rate sensors, these systems can build a fuller picture of daily wellbeing. That data is sent not to machines alone, but to human carers who can intervene early, often before a problem escalates. The future of home care As pressures mount on traditional services, home is emerging as the new centre of care—powered by technology, shaped by people, and rooted in dignity. © stock.adobe.com/Lumos sp 50 ÁNext >