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Traditional Indian dresses with modern Western style are examples of Indo-Western style. This aggregate creates particular and stylish garb that can be worn to formal gatherings in addition to casual get-togethers. You can certainly make an assertion and display your individuality by turning into a professional in Indo Western style.

Men`s Indo-Western outfits regularly mixes traditional pieces like kurtas with Western pieces like slacks and coats. There are some exceptional forms of women’s outfits, from sarees with fancy clothes to lehenga skirts with crop tops. It’s essential to recognize the way to place all of these items collectively to have a style appearance that is both appealing and well-balanced.

When bringing together the proper Indo Western look, it’s vital to select pieces that work well together and offer a combo of comfort and adaptability. You should be familiar with the satisfactory combinations of colors, fabrics, and patterns. Paying attention to that information permits you to prepare an outfit that could be a mirror image of your culture and modern style. Let’s move into the best methods for men and women to decorate to get that Indo-Western appearance.

When dressing in an Indo-Western style, men need to aim to include each traditional and contemporary piece. Some important things to hold in mind while you choose:

1. Kurta Paired with Pants

Fitted pants or chinos are an undying desire to go along with a kurta. This blend offers a modern appearance even as staying authentic to its traditional origins. For an easy-to-wear but fashionable kurta, choose silk or cotton.

2. Stylish Indo Western Jackets

Elevate your style with a fashionable jacket. Avoid wearing kurtas and, as an alternative, wear bandhgalas or Nehru jackets. These jackets provide an extensive variety of styles, from minimalist to elaborately embroidered, so that you can also wear them with something you choose.

3. Contemporary Sherwanis

Pick for sherwanis with modern silhouettes and styles for those unique occasions. For a more modern-day try wearing them with slim-fit pants in place of the traditional churidars.

4. Mix and Match

Combine unique elements without hesitation. To make a statement, combine and fit traditional jodhpurs or Dhoti pants with a Western-style shirt.

By keeping an eye on these details, you could create an Indo-Western combination that is both realistic and stylish. Make sure you appear wonderful by keeping an eye to the fabric and being in shape.

When it involves Indo-Western outfits for women can select from an extensive range of possibilities. In order to finish your wardrobe, you want the following items:

1. Dresses in Traditional Lehenga Style

An elegant opportunity is to wear a traditional lehenga paired with a modern crop top. Special events, including weddings, are named for this style. Make an announcement with vibrant shades and intricate patterns.

2. Stunning Indo-Western Suits

Choose outfits that blend Western tailoring with classic embroidery. With its combination of Western and traditional styles, the Mauve Party Wear White Pearl Embroidered Suit is perfect for formal events.

3. Sharara Collections

Sharara suits are each stylish and practical, thanks to their flared pants and quick kurtas. One desire that works for both more formal and more informal events is the Peacock Blue Sharara Suit.

4. Saree Dresses

The saree`s gracefulness and the gown’s comfort come together in a saree gown. Evening occasions and cocktail gatherings call for these ensembles. Try to discover patterns that characterize modern blouses and easy drapes.

5. Indian-Western Tunics

Pairing a tunic with leggings or jeggings is a great concept for extra informal events. This type of tunic is both fashionable and practical because it combines classic designs and fabrics with modern silhouettes.

With those basics, you may prepare an Indo-Western apparel that fits for each occasion. Make positive that the cut, materials, and association of every piece of garb match your particular fashion and the occasion you`re going to.

Skillful balancing is needed while combining traditional and Western attire. To assist you pull off an Indo-Western fashion that`s both elegant and functional, right here are a few pointers:

1. Efficient Use of Color and Pattern

Find stability through blending and matching solid-colored Western clothes with colourful traditional designs. For example, you can wear a traditional lehenga with a plain chambray shirt or a vibrantly printed kurta with plain pants.

2. Adding Layers

You can provide your outfit with more intensity through layering. Cover up your traditional kurta or saree with a denim jacket for a Western look. This aggregate brings warmth and elegance.

3. Pay Attention to Fit

Take care that the parts you mix and match fit snugly. Unbalanced garments are a fashion disaster waiting to happen. What makes a big impact are tailored jackets paired with traditional kurtas or well-fitting blouses and long skirts.

4. Explore a Variety of Shoes

The footwear you wear could have a primary effect on how your outfit turns out. See what occurs while you blend and match traditional juttis and mojris with Western apparel. Traditional apparel may be given a contemporary-day twist with the help of high heels or stylish boots.

You may also gain a unified fashion that mixes traditional touches with modern-day minimalism by specializing in those aspects.

Getting good at Indo Western fashion, it’s important to find the perfect balance between old and new styles. Men should make super and elegant garments with the aid of the use of kurtas with Western denims or jackets. Women can appear elegant and excellent with the aid of selecting from an extensive variety of styles, together with fusion fits and saree gowns.

When you blend traditional and Western garments, you want to consider elements like color, size, and the way to layer them. The right accessories can also make your outfit even great. Jewelry, bags, belts, and footwear can sincerely enhance the manner your Indo-Western outfit looks.

Try those suggestions to upgrade your garments and make each occasion special. Visit our online store to see a wide choice of Indo Western clothing. Let us help you look your best with our beautiful assortment.

Love—it’s something almost all of us want, right? But what kind of love do you dream of? Is it a quick, fiery, passionate love to see you through the summer? Or is it a slow burn—a lasting connection that will last for years to come?

As fun as the first option sounds, most of us would probably choose the latter. But finding a partner who is well-suited to you—not just for now, but for the future—can be pretty tricky. You probably look out for red flags. Maybe, you look to your favourite celebrity couple for some inspiration. Or perhaps, you find yourself turning to a different kind of star.

Astrology can be a great way to explore our personalities and understand how we might respond to the world around us, but it can be a great way to explore our partner’s place in the world too. Plenty of astrologers believe that star signs can indicate whether or not we’ll be a good match with someone. And, as it turns out, some zodiac sign pairings are particularly well-suited to long-term relationships.

What makes a good zodiac sign pairing?

According to astrology expert Inbaal Honigman, there are plenty of star signs that can be a good match—however, there are some that are extra magical. “Polar opposites can be some of the most bang-on astrological pairings,” she explains. Polar opposite signs occur when you and your partner are born roughly six months apart. “Signs that are exactly six months apart tend to complete each other and form a wonderful couple,” she says. Think of it like opposites attract.

Virgo and Pisces, she says, are a particularly strong pairing. “Virgo is practical and organised, and Pisces is chaotic and romantic,” she says. “They complete each other without conflicting. Pisces is thrilled that the home is tidy, and the Virgo is thankful that their partner brings the love.”

Libra and Aries are another good example. “They get along beautifully,” she says. “Libra is calm and mindful, and Aries is active and comical, so they’ll keep each other entertained.”

Polarities:

• Aries-Libra
• Taurus-Scorpio
• Gemini-Sagittarius
• Cancer-Capricorn
• Leo-Aquarius
• Virgo-Pisces

Are some signs poorly suited?

While every couple is different, there are some sign pairings that work a little less well. For instance, two people of the same sign can sometimes butt heads.

There’s a scene in the 1958 technicolour musical Gigi where Aunt Alicia walks her young niece through what looks less like a jewellery box and more like a lesson. “A topaz? Among my jewels? Are you mad?” she exclaims, scandalised, when Gigi misidentifies a yellow diamond. She teaches her the cuts—emerald, pear, marquise—which kings preferred which gems and how only the most beautiful emeralds contain that elusive blue flame darting within the green. “Without knowledge of jewellery, my dear Gigi, a woman is lost.”

While first judged by its quality and visual appeal, what truly sets a piece apart, as Aunt Alicia explains, is its provenance. Who wore it, where it travelled and what moment in history it witnessed. It’s that last layer that I was thinking about in London as I walked into the Victoria & Albert Museum’s (V&A) new exhibition: a display of more than 350 artefacts that stitched together the story of Cartier’s dominion. “The jeweller of kings and the king of jewellers,” King Edward VII called them. Within the vast stone belly of the museum lay proof of that reign.

It was one of those rare London days—bright and dry, with spring sun and a lingering chill—so I’d already witnessed my first luxury sighting of the day: good weather. The exhibit began with the Manchester Tiara, a lattice of diamonds set in delicate platinum, and ended, appropriately, in a cathedral of crowns.

And what a cathedral. The final room had been designed as a dreamscape: a glass vault where a Cartier tiara floated on a man-made cloud. Classical music drifted through the air as I moved between all the tiaras on display, some lent by the Royal Family and the Duchess of Windsor. Gone was the predictable split: men fawning over swords while women ogled the diamonds. Cartier, for all its technical brilliance and legacy polish, had somehow preserved the essential fact of jewellery: its power to be an egalitarian language.

Jacques Cartier’s journey to India inspired his fascination with Indian jewellery and gemstones, influencing Cartier’s iconic Tutti Frutti designs—most notably the famed Hindu necklace.

Entire industries have grown around the idea of living longer, and looking like you haven’t. Anti-ageing treatments, supplements and personalised protocols now promise not just more years, but better ones.

It’s part of why longevity studies have turned to real life instead of just lab results. In places like Japan—especially Okinawa, home to some of the oldest people on the planet—long life isn’t treated as a goal but as a byproduct. What makes the Japanese example stand out is that this longevity thrives in the middle of everyday life, not apart from it.

Japanese beauty is a goldmine of good ideas: facial massage, matcha, rice water in the hair… Many of these rituals have been exported all over the world. But the Japanese are also masters of well-being, their daily lives punctuated by zen practices to feel good for both body and mind.

The rituals aren’t elaborate but they are consistent. Passed down, built into daily routine and effective. Here are 14 habits drawn from Japanese life, shared by @lescopainszen_, that support living not just longer, but well.

14 Japanese habits for a better, longer life

1. Hara hachi bu

Eat until you’re 80% full. It’s not about restriction but recognising sufficiency. A lighter meal makes for a more balanced body and fewer energy crashes later.

2. Asa ichi

Wake with the sun. Syncing your sleep-wake cycle with natural light helps stabilise your mood and energy. It also supports deeper sleep when night falls.

3. Drink sencha (green tea)

Not just matcha. Sencha, sipped throughout the day, supports digestion, calms the nervous system and brings antioxidants to the table. It’s a ritual as much as a remedy.

4. Asagohan (Japanese-style breakfast)

A warm, savoury start, like rice, vegetables and fish, offers steady energy without the crash of sugary cereals or caffeine dependency. It anchors the morning without overstimulating it.

5. Neru futon

Sleep on a futon in a cool, dark room. It supports spinal alignment and deeper rest, without needing memory foam or melatonin. The minimal setup encourages natural posture and stillness.

6. Tabi sökusu

Toe socks may not be trendy, but they stimulate circulation and balance, especially for those who spend long hours seated or standing. They also create more awareness of how your body connects to the ground.

7. Karada o ugokasu

Move, but not for metrics. Walk, sweep, garden, dance; any form of gentle, regular movement keeps the body circulating and the mind grounded. Exercise isn’t extracted from life; it’s woven into it.

8. Geijutsu o suru

Make art without ambition. Draw, fold, arrange flowers; create for the sake of creating. Let the hands work without the mind needing a reason.

9. Ofuro (evening bath)

A warm soak at night can ease tension, calm the nervous system and help you sleep without screens or supplements. It’s also a way to mark the day’s end, physically and emotionally.

10. Zazen

Passive meditation: just sit. No mindfulness apps, no breathwork goals, only stillness. Let your thoughts settle on their own, like silt in water.

11. Miso o taberu

Miso is more than soup. A small daily dose of fermented, gut-supporting food can quietly strengthen immunity and digestion. Its depth comes not just from flavour, but from function.

12. Niwa zukuri

Caring for plants is an act of daily devotion. It teaches slowness, patience, and our place in the natural order. You tend to something outside yourself and are changed by it in return.

13. Kansha

Gratitude isn’t reserved for journals. Say thank you to your food, your body, the rain. It’s a muscle you build over time.

14. Ikigai

Find what gets you out of bed, however small. It doesn’t need to be a calling. Just something that gives your day shape and your life meaning.

You are experiencing a remembrance, Taurus, and you may really be looking back and subconsciously reflecting a lot on life, where it has brought you. You may either find yourself looking back in nostalgia, or wonder or a curiosity to figure out how you can bring your wisdom and learnings forward at this point in time. Spend time with your crystal friends if you have any, or simply in nature to allow yourself to soak in this high-vibing cosmic energy. You hold hidden secrets within you, from your biological or stellar ancestors, and really, all you need to do to unlock them is gather the courage to take that first step.

Cosmic tip: Look a little deeper, pause a little longer. Your wisdom is not lost; it is surfacing.

You are learning new ways of being, you are rediscovering yourself and you are also receiving all you need to know from the cosmic council by means of that intuitive hit, that gut instinct, that vision or dream that won’t go away and even that warm hug of a loved one you have a soul connection with, Gemini. This window, this Sirius gateway, is opening up a supercharged portal for you to clear your karmic history. As you venture into lost lands, you realise your strengths and your follies. You know you have done this before, and that, as you stay open and adaptive, you very compassionately rewrite your personal history.

Cosmic tip: The more honest you are with yourself, the more aligned life begins to get.

You are waking up to what you really are here for, Cancer. Be it building a safe and loving home, a multimillion-dollar business, a legacy of love or kindness, you are owning your truth and are also now unafraid to step into the limelight. Your energy body is being activated at this time as the portals to other realms open up for a brief moment in time. You are clearing massive emotional guilt and other energetic debris because you, my friend, are opening up to redefining your lineage. All that futile stuff that was passed on to you? It will no longer go forward. The buck has stopped existing, and you have set yourself free.

The monsoon is not a season for the faint of sole. When the streets turn into slip hazards and your morning commute becomes an impromptu obstacle course, monsoon-ready footwear becomes the unsung hero of your wardrobe. It’s not just about staying dry, it’s about looking sharp while doing so. Ahead, bookmark all the monsoon-ready footwear trends to add to cart.

Rubber clogs

Once relegated to kitchen staff and ironic dads, the rubber clog has made a triumphant return. Blame Crocs, whose waterproof clogs come with a fashion-forward attitude and rinse-clean functionality. Ugly? Perhaps. Effective? Absolutely. The ultimate monsoon footwear flex for those in the know.

Flip-flops

No, not the ones you wore to college. These are architectural and engineered to survive a downpour. The Row gets the job done while still passing the brunch test. Coperni offers platform alternatives that don’t disintegrate at the first sign of rain.

City Flip Flop in Leather, The Row, ₹ 76,245

Logo-patch flip flops, Coperni, ₹ 45,478

Fisherman sandals

Forget their seaside origins. The fisherman sandal is now fully runway-certified from their jelly rubber to sturdy buckles and city-proof soles. Bottega Veneta and Gucci both offer versions that check the monsoon footwear box without compromising your outfit.

Pre-loved Gucci Rubber Jelly Sandals, My Almari, ₹ 24,000

Short rubber boots

Ankle-length rubber boots are having their moment. Hunter is the classic, but brands like Burberry and Acne Studios are making it fun with bright palettes and playful soles. They’re equal parts puddle protection and style punctuation.

Pebbled rubber rainboots, Burberry, ₹ 1,07,521

Slides

Minimalist, waterproof and surprisingly chic, the modern slide is your monsoon MVP. Take things further with colourways that deserve their own mood board. The trick is in the sole: chunky, ridged, grippy.

Kobarah sandals, Camper, ₹ 13,192

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Exclusive: Kallol Datta returns with a new textile-based exhibition for the first time in Mumbai

While the fiction landscape in India struggles to gain the attention it deserves, it continues to flourish globally, particularly in the US and UK, with novels consistently topping bestseller charts and fueling cultural conversations. But given the developed literary infrastructure in these regions, it’s not exactly a fair comparison. “Theirs is a more mature market with centuries of access to language, form, styles, genres and a long publishing tradition,” explains Thakkar. So, the real question is: what will it take for the Indian fiction market to catch up? Does it simply need time to mature or are there ways we can accelerate its growth?

The rise of social media has supercharged fiction in the West and it’s a trend that can—and should—be harnessed in India as well. With over 200 billion views on TikTok, communities like #BookTok have become powerful catalysts for books like A Court of Thorns and Roses and Fourth Wing. While we may not have TikTok in India, the Indian Bookstagram community is beginning to play a significant role in bringing fiction into the spotlight, with readers and influencers sharing book recommendations, reviews and discussions that help foster a vibrant literary community. In my own experience, when a celebrity posted about my novel Red Flags and Rishtas on Instagram, the impact was immediate. The book’s Amazon ranking shot into the top 100, and it quickly went into reprint.

Building awareness through social media, however, is just one piece of the puzzle. If the reception to shows based on Indian novels like Sacred Games, A Suitable Boy, Paatal Lok and Murder In Mahim is anything to go by, there’s definitely an appetite for storytelling that breaches the borders of believability. But to genuinely broaden fiction’s reach beyond our screens, we need to address issues around accessibility and the availability of books in regional languages. A major chunk of bestselling fiction by Indian authors like Arundhati Roy, Jhumpa Lahiri and Ruskin Bond is published and marketed in English. It’s crucial to remember that most Indians do not read in English, so publishing houses need to back regional-language fiction that will introduce native readers to the joys of fantastical worldbuilding. “We also need a much better distribution mechanism and ecosystem to reach out to remote and rural regions,” Thakkar agrees.

At 19, Coco Rocha was hailed as fashion’s next big thing. At 35, she’s not interested in chasing the label. “Models were considered trends,” she says. “But longevity doesn’t come from chasing a moment. It comes from building something meaningful over time.”

Rocha has been modelling for over two decades. Her face and those whip-smart poses are plastered across countless vision boards and Tumblr pages. But these days, she’s focused on showing up differently: as a mentor, teacher and a mother of three. At the Coco Rocha Model Camp, she trains new talent not just in movement, but in mindset. “Too many models just want approval,” she says. “But when we create images or speak from a platform, we need people to feel something. They don’t have to love it. They can hate it, be confused by it, shocked by it—but feel something.”

It’s a lesson she learned later in her career. “When I started, it was just do the job and hope the people in the room like it. But liking it isn’t really enough.” Somewhere along the way, her strategy changed: from pleasing people to leaving an impact. “That’s when my career started lasting. Even if I wasn’t trending, I stayed.”

The way she describes her work now is more like performance art than posing. “Modeling for me is about creating a performance. If I can make the audience feel something, it moves the character along. It gets the photoshoot going.” Music is her tool. “It’s our secret sauce,” she says. “Even if it’s just dancing a little behind the stage for a runway show, it helps me start moving and step into character.”

That connection between body and feeling runs deep. Rocha trained as a dancer, and her approach still carries that physical intelligence. She uses music to “get out of my head and into my body,” especially before high-pressure shoots. Once the job’s done, she’s quick to switch back to real life. “At the end of the day, I realise I’m Coco the mom who has to pick up her kids,” she says. “You flick a switch, and you’re back.”

Still, some feelings linger. “If it was a lot of emotions expected from me, I can still feel those when I leave and go home. But that tells me I probably did a really good job.”

If you get teary-eyed just thinking about opening up, try using a line like, “Hey, I’m going through a breakup right now and don’t want to get into the details yet, but I’d love your support when I’m ready.” That baby step can be enough to open the door to outside help without feeling overwhelmed.

You fill every hour of your day with distractions

Compared to bed rotting with Ben & Jerry’s, throwing yourself into work or saying yes to every invite sounds like productive, healthy progress. After all, being busy is better than being broken…right?

“These coping mechanisms may feel good in the moment, but doing it too often will only distract you from the pain,” says Carla Marie Manly, PhD, a clinical psychologist in Sonoma, California and author of Joy From Fear. In other words, “They don’t actually heal the pain”—which requires you to sit with your emotions and accept what happened. Otherwise, sooner or later, the heartbreak will catch up to you months, even years after the split, often when you least expect it.

What to do instead: It’s still a good idea to keep yourself busy—go out more, meet new people, dive into your favourite hobbies. And if Sunday nights tend to hit the hardest, strategically planning hangouts with friends that day is a smart move to fill the void.

But balance is key here, meaning you’ve got to also make room to sit with your feelings. “Build in something I call cry time,” Brown says. Basically, it’s your window to wallow about what you’ve lost and grieve the future you thought you’d have together. “Even just 15 minutes works,” she adds. “It’s enough to tell your brain, ‘Hey, it’s okay for me to feel certain things,’ but short enough where your emotions aren’t getting out of control to the extent that you can’t pull them back.”

You’re waiting for the “perfect” closure to move on

According to Dr. Manly, lots of people cling to the belief that one final satisfying conversation with their ex will make it easier to move on for good. Then, there would be no more pain, resentment or lingering “what ifs”—which explains why so many of us might drag out texts, say goodbye a million different ways, or hold off on dating again just in case they finally want to talk things through.

Azelaic acid might not have the same hype as retinol or vitamin C, but this grain-derived dermatologist-love ingredient has slowly become one of skincare’s most versatile power players. With Korean brand Anua’s viral azelaic acid finally launching in India, the acid’s name is on everyone’s lips.

Naturally found in rye and barley, azelaic acid belongs to the dicarboxylic acid family and suits almost every skin type. It soothes inflammation, clears congestion, fades pigmentation and can be used during pregnancy. No wonder it’s cropping up everywhere, from prescription tubes to over-the-counter serums.

But what exactly does it do, how do you use it and is it safe to mix with other actives? Here’s your need-to-know guide to one of skincare’s most underrated multitaskers.

What does azelaic acid do for your skin?

“Azelaic acid is one of my favourite skincare ingredients,” says Dr Anita Sturnham, the founder of skincare brand Decree. “It is most well known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties, meaning it helps to prevent the formation of the comededone, the primary acne lesion.”

A hugely versatile ingredient, it also works to calm and exfoliate the skin, and reduce redness and oil production, as well as preventing the blocking of pores for a clearer complexion. “It also helps to reduce hyperpigmentation and even out skin tone by inhibiting an enzyme called tyrosinase, which leads to dark spots and patches on the skin,” adds skincare expert Nilam Holmes.

Is it ok to use azelaic acid every day?

A fantastic all-rounder, azelaic acid can easily be incorporated into your daily skincare routine with products that are available over the counter (and therefore are not too powerful). However, those with sensitive skin might want to start slowly and use it on alternate days, in order to build up to eventually tolerating daily use. If you’re using prescriptive strength azelaic acid, you might want to use it in conjunction with a squalane based serum, suggests Sturnham, as it can be a little drying.

If in doubt, always consult an expert. “It’s always better to seek professional advice to ensure you are using the right ingredient in the right way, especially when using other actives,” says celebrity facialist Teresa Tarmey. “It’s important that you’re not over-using, so as not to cause irritation.”

What should you not mix with azelaic acid?

On the whole, azelaic acid is a great team player, which means it works well with most other ingredients. If you suffer from sensitive skin, however, or are using prescription strength products and want to be extra careful, you can always separate it from other actives such as benzoyl peroxide, topical antibiotics or retinoids, by shifting these to be part of your evening skincare regime. One thing you might want to steer clear of, says Holmes, are facial exfoliation brushes and other physical exfoliators, given azelaic acid’s existing exfoliant properties.

Is azelaic acid better than retinol?

There are many similarities between azelaic acid and retinol. “Both can help with cell turnover and collagen production,” says facialist Keren Bartov. “They can also treat skin issues like hyperpigmentation, melasma and acne.” However, where azelaic acid treats inflammation and bacteria (hence why it’s ideal for skin that’s prone to breakouts and those with rosacea), retinol can reverse sun damage and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. “The best thing to do is use them in combination,” continues Bartov. “Together they are a powerful and complementary duo.” Note also that azelaic acid can be used when pregnant and on sensitive skin.

Should I put azelaic acid all over my face?

Yes. After cleansing, apply azelaic acid all over the face and neck. Just be careful around the eye area when using a higher strength product. Follow with your moisturiser.

The best azelaic acid products to try now

This article first appeared on Vogue.co.uk

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