All posts by : AyFa Collections

Cosmic tip: Allow your rational mind to guide your thoughts, words and speech, and most importantly, allow it to strategise what your heart knows to be right.

You have risen above your fears, Leo, and ooh! What a feeling! Yes, you know you must safeguard yourself and all that you have built, but also, you must pick and choose wisely. To move or stay is a choice, as is to let something or someone in. The cosmos is communicating with you and you must know that there is a fine line between caution and fear – as long as you are coming from a space of alertness, it’s fine, but the moment you shift gears into fear, it may be time to remind yourself to switch back into assessing things from a different, more objective standpoint. You may be tirelessly working on something and it may have put you in a perpetually prickly mode, so sift through your energy, rest up and ask yourself if this is how you choose to shine.

Cosmic tip: Your wisdom transcends your logic and experience. Listen to it, and trust it.

How many cups have you left along the way, and how many more are you going to use halfway? Virgo, sometimes a simple wardrobe change can help us shift into new energy, and sometimes, things run deeper than that. When surface-level work does not work, it may be time to rein in your million ideas and assign tasks to your mind instead of allowing your overthinking to consume you. For example, if you cannot help but overthink, ask your mind how you could make something better and take action on things, instead of it spiralling down an unwanted rabbit hole.. You will realise that this slight shift can help improve the quality of your life experience.

Cosmic tip: You are supported. Spin the wheel of fortune now!

This is the end of a battlefield phase in your life, Libra. You are done, you are stepping up and you are evolving. Now, listen, this also does not mean that you need to keep hustling, moving, and grinding. This means you are moving with others, aligning, collaborating and building a community, a safe space, kinship, and camaraderie. Your heart is in the right place, Libs, just keep your mind in line with its callings, use your sitting-on-the-fence skill to make peace, find new ground and explore adventures you previously thought were not possible. Your guides suggest that this may be your time to help yourself, and people see in themselves what was not visible earlier; it’s time to embrace this now.

Sag, a difficult ending or a past loop is now behind you, and while you may be still finding your ground look around you, in what ways is emotional support available to you right now, in the form of a friend checking in on you via text, in the form of a loved one saying, “ I was thinking of you”; in the form of help arriving just when you needed it the most; in the form of a sign sent by the cosmos to let you know that you are on track or simply a hug from your loved one, a cuddle from your pet or a calming feeling from your plants. You are supported in more ways than you can recognise, and Sag, it is time you draw on that strength from your most intimate love-filled relationships now. What matters is right in front of you. And you’ve got this.

Cosmic tip: You asked for healing, and the Universe also blesses you with joy.

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Aries July 8, 2025

Taurus July 8, 2025

Gemini July 8, 2025

Cancer July 8, 2025

Leo July 8, 2025

Virgo July 8, 2025

Libra July 8, 2025

Scorpio July 8, 2025

Capricorn July 8, 2025

Aquarius July 8, 2025

Pisces July 8, 2025

VI: Did anything else—art, film or music—find its way into your creative process this season?

RM: Gustav Klimt’s work has always moved me; the way he painted women, you can sense the intimacy, the tenderness. What struck me most was how rarely his subjects looked directly out of the canvas. Their eyes were often closed or averted as if they were lost in another world. I’ve admired Klimt for years, but interestingly, I’d never consciously translated his influence into any of my work until now.

Ritik Jain for Rahul Mishra

VI: Do either of you have any preshow rituals or mindsets that you go into a show with?

RM: My eyes always catch little mistakes backstage. Maybe a button is sewn wrong, or something just needs another round of ironing. I always carry a small pair of scissors with me—always. To cut off loose threads, especially if a bead has come undone and left a little tail. Above all, I try to stay calm.

SJ: The main thing for me is focus. Unlike a dress, which sits on the shoulders or the waist, a hat is a movable object. It shifts. I place whatever we’ve created onto the model’s head, and I ask her, “Do you feel okay?” And usually, they say yes, but I’ll say, “No, let’s make it better.” I’ll put in a hair grip, adjust something. I’m trying to give them the confidence to relax and be who they are.

VI: What’s the most fun or unexpected thing you’ve ever worn on your head?

RM: The most fun things I’ve worn on my head have probably come from my daughter. She’s put all sorts of things on my head, little inventions she’s come up with. She reads a lot, so sometimes she’ll create things inspired by the characters or stories she’s immersed in. It’s really special to see the world through her imagination.

SJ: I once went to a party where the theme was to wear a mask. So I put on this mirrored mask; it was literally a reflective surface right in front of my face. Apart from being the most uncomfortable thing I’ve ever worn, it was also completely impractical. No one could talk to me; they were essentially speaking to their own reflection.

Also read:

Divya Mishra on her behind-the-scenes journey of building the brand—Rahul Mishra

Rahul Mishra on the changing definition of Indian couture

Exclusive: Rahul Mishra X Tod’s pays homage to Indian craftsmanship

Dries Van Noten spring/summer 2026 menswear

Spotlight

Matthew McConaughey wore a black sarong with a black T-shirt in 2010 to an event. It stood out. It started conversations. Beckham did it in 1998. He was mocked, then copied. Dries Van Noten’s spring 2026 menswear show featured sarongs over trousers, not unlike Beckham’s. Fashion moves in cycles. Men are finally breaking out of the mould, leaning into looser shapes, more drape and more play.

Balenciaga – Houndstooth wool-blend wrap skirt, ₹2,15,140

Courtesy of the brand

Tom Ford – Silk satin wrap skirt, ₹1,43,360

Courtesy of the brand

Functional in heat. Unisex in intent. Sometimes a stylish extra layer. Sometimes, a nod to cultural and traditional fabrics like gamcha and madras checks. The shift from tradition to runway has been effortless.

Instagram.com/padaniiii

Instagram.com/padaniiii

Padani, a Sri Lankan model and stylist in Paris, became a constant on my Instagram feed because of how she wears sarongs almost exclusively. Originally from Jaffna, she moved to France in her 20s and started draping lungis and sarongs, twisted high or folded low, depending on the weather. Often paired with deadstock tailoring or vintage Comme des Garçons. This was her way of incorporating her culture and making me visually challenge mine.

ImliDana – Kiran skirt, ₹21,800

Courtesy of the brand

At home, for a while, it was still seen as traditional, which often just means overlooked. But newer brands have surely been challenging that. Anamika Khanna brought the dhoti to couture. Antar-Agni expanded the draped options for men. Imli Dana began with wrap skirts made from patches of checked fabrics, a lungi collage. What started as unisex basics became part of a wider movement to rework South Asian silhouettes without flattening them. Mayaraj, a label based in New York, now makes modular mundus. Shot by Rema Chaudhary, their latest drop lands somewhere between streetwear and ceremony.

Burberry – Checked wool wrap skirt, ₹1,19,350

Courtesy of the brand

Valentino – Valentino floral cotton twill sarong, ₹1,62,411

Courtesy of the brand

The current resurgence is a reminder to take another look at this basic piece of cloth. Its strength is in the styling. The merit in having one in your wardrobe has now been established. Buying one is easy. You can order a veshti online faster than deciding on your takeout. Or take the older route, raid your grandfather’s wardrobe. Even a threadbare one will do. From the runway to Ramraj, it still works. That’s the point.

Also read:

A heartfelt ode to the classical dhoti and its impact on the politics of dress in India

This summer embrace Madras checks in clothing from your neighbourhood darzi

Tara Sutaria’s ivory jacket and dhoti pant set by Ritika Mirchandani took 280 hours of embroidery

Few beauty industries have shaped the global imagination quite like Korea’s. From skincare steps that feel like self-care rituals to makeup techniques that blur the line between effort and effortlessness, K-beauty has reshaped routines across the globe. The latest obsession? Blurred lips. A makeup technique that fakes fullness without filler or filters, it’s diffused, soft-edged and subtly seductive—like your lipstick’s been kissed off just so.

The magic of the trend lies in its contradiction: it’s barely there, but makes a statement. It doesn’t rely on crisp lines or heavy pigment, and yet it delivers the illusion of volume and softness. Inspired by everything from popsicle-stained lips to early 2000s K-drama aesthetics, blurred lips are about looking effortlessly undone—more instinctive than Instagrammed. It’s the kind of lip that looks good even after a meal, and arguably, even better. Here’s how to try it in four easy steps, no Seoul residency required.

Step 1: Prep the lips

Dry lips will prevent the effect that blurred lips require, so gently massage your lips with a scrub and then apply a moisturising balm. If you have time, leave the balm on for a few minutes as a mask before removing it for the next step.

Exfoliating first creates a smooth base, allowing tint or balm to settle naturally. Think of this step as priming your canvas—it’s what keeps the pigment from clinging to dry patches and ensures that signature soft-focus finish.

Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Smoothing Sugar Scrub, ₹3,000

Step 2: Blur the outline

We’re looking for the opposite of outlined lips, so use a little concealer on the outline of the lips to neutralise your natural colour. Don’t overdo it; a very small amount of concealer is more than enough. If you have previously applied makeup to your skin, you can also achieve the same effect by spreading foundation onto your lips with your brush or sponge. Then blend with your finger, and you’re done.

This trick lets the centre colour pop while softening the edges, the key to the blurred lips effect. Unlike lip liners, which sharpen and define, this technique erases the boundaries just enough to make everything look diffused and natural.

Too Faced Born This Way Super Coverage Multi-Use Concealer, ₹2,700

NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer, ₹3,000

Step 3: Apply a drop of colour in the middle

Lip tints or moisturising lipsticks are the key to achieving this look as it relies on transparent, light layers. Look for shades that closely resemble your natural colour, but with a slightly more vivid touch. Cherry reds, raspberry, coral, guava; apply a drop of colour in the centre of the upper and lower lips, then blend outward with your finger.

Humidity doesn’t care that you spent 45 minutes with a blow dryer. It doesn’t care about your heat protectant. By the time you’ve made it to work, it’s already in your roots, puffing up your parting and curling your ends like you’ve stepped into a steam room. Every monsoon, the same problem returns: frizz, swelling, stickiness, shapelessness. You Google how to manage frizzy hair. You smooth it down. You pin it back. You give up. The trick isn’t to beat the weather. It’s to adjust to it. Style for the climate you actually live in.

1. Get a haircut that can handle chaos

Hair that can’t hold a shape in 98% humidity doesn’t need more styling cream. It needs a better cut. Go for shapes that allow for expansion—long layers, grown-in bangs, soft shags. These work with texture rather than fight it, giving your hair room to swell without looking distorted. If you rely on flat-ironed ends or sharp angles, the minute the humidity hits, the silhouette collapses. Avoid anything that needs a daily brush or a perfect parting.

If you colour your hair, steer clear of bleach-heavy lifts during this season. Swollen strands and compromised cuticles are a guaranteed recipe for fluff and breakage. This is step one in how to manage frizzy hair when it’s constantly reacting to the air around you.

2. Treat frizz like a texture, not a failure

Frizz is your hair reacting to moisture in the air. So instead of smothering it with serums, shape it. Work with what’s already happening. On wavy or straight hair, use a curl cream to nudge the puff into a pattern. On thicker textures, use mousse and a scrunching technique to define what wants to emerge naturally. Skip the brush entirely. It breaks up clumps and creates static. You’re aiming for cohesion. This is not the moment for a stiff hold or crunch. It’s the moment for controlled chaos and that’s often the most realistic path to managing frizzy hair in monsoon.

Fix MY Curls Weightless Whip Volumizing Mousse, ₹770

Kérastase Curl Manifesto Crème De Jour Fondamentale Leave-in Cream, ₹3,000

3. Clean your scalp properly

Your scalp is where monsoon problems begin. Sweat, oil, dust, product residue; it all gets trapped. A muggy scalp is uncomfortable and becomes a breeding ground for buildup and itch. Don’t wait for flakes or irritation. Use a gentle exfoliating shampoo once a week to reset. Look for ingredients that dissolve debris without stripping the skin barrier. If you’re used to heavy stylers or dry shampoo, rinse more often. Clean doesn’t mean squeaky, it just means your roots don’t feel overloaded. For anyone trying to manage frizz long-term, it starts at the roots.

K18 PEPTIDE PREP™ detox shampoo, ₹3,600

KEVIN.MURPHY MAXI.WASH Detox Shampoo, ₹2,500

4. Oil with caution

Hair oils can protect and smooth, but they can also create a sticky seal over hair that’s already struggling to breathe. In monsoon, when the air is heavy and damp, oil behaves differently. And when applied too close to the roots, it weighs everything down. Use it sparingly and only on ends at night, not before stepping out.

If you want daytime slip or shine, go for a light styling product instead. Learning how to manage frizzy hair also means learning when to leave it alone.

5. Accessorise like you mean it

Monsoon styling is about what you use to keep it functional. Wide headbands absorb sweat and tame halo frizz without needing a full restyle. Claw clips and banana clips create instant shape when hair is too damp to hold anything else. A silk scarf wrapped around your crown can hide a bad hairline day, protect your roots from grime, and look intentional doing it. The trick is to treat accessories as essentials, not afterthoughts. They’re the insurance policy. They’re what holds it all together. And when it comes to how to manage frizzy hair, they might be the most effective trick of all.

How would you rather have your life feel, Scorpio? Stressed and worn out or focused and clean? I bet you chose the latter, so let’s work out a strategy for you now. Make a note of your top 5 priorities: 3 short-term and 2 long-term. Now, each day, your core focus and energy must be expended on tending to your 3 short-term goals with a rough timeline for your 2 long-term goals. Now, however, you can find a minimum of 20, to 30 minutes a day to tend to your long-term vision and let the short-term goals be streamlined, each day as it comes. Keep coming back to this strategy for 6 months straight and tell me if you found some peace of mind and a peaceful minute to breathe along with consistent growth. Okay?

Cosmic tip: Your emotional needs feed your material gratification. Take care of one to balance off the other.

Hold your horses, Sag! You love being in the thick of it; however, sometimes a thicket needs to have a clear way out, for safety reasons. A new opportunity related to work, money, or personal growth is within reach, and it has real potential if approached with care. Staying curious and open to learning enthusiastically is great, but make sure it’s backed by patience and follow-through. Your instincts are spot on, and if you combine them with strategy and maturity, the impossible becomes possible.

Cosmic tip: Be open to all the heartfelt advice coming your way.

Looking at what’s lost, Capricorn? Yes, you can have a tendency to feel stuck on what you earnestly want to conspire, but honestly, we all are a little like that, no? But don’t you worry, cosmic momentum is building now and as things begin moving quickly after a period of patience and planning, use this surge of energy wisely. You have the tools and ability to take control of your direction, decisions and everything in between– but focus is key. Be mindful of spreading yourself too thin. Trust that sometimes, walking away creates space for what truly aligns with your goals.

Cosmic tip: Act with purpose, instead of letting impatience or old attachments slow your growth.

“We recently conducted a study that explored the effects of increasing fermented food intake in more than 6,000 people,” she tells me. “We found that 42% reported less bloating and 52% reported feeling less hungry.”

4. Beans and legumes

Described as “full of fibre” and a “longevity food” by Nasser, beans and legumes can help with feeding the good bacteria in the gut, as they tend to contain both soluble and insoluble fibre. Pick from kidney beans, butter beans, edamame beans, black beans, borlotti beans, pinto beans, chickpeas and myriad others for maximum variety.

5. Kefir

“A fermented dairy drink that’s rich in live cultures (or probiotics), kefir is a staple in my home because of the way it supports the balance of good bacteria in the gut,” nutritionist and author of The Unprocessed Plate, Rhiannon Lambert explains. “There’s a growing body of evidence suggesting that regularly consuming probiotic foods like kefir can help improve gut microbial diversity, potentially supporting digestion, immune function and even mood.”

6. Cooked leafy greens

“Rainbow chard, kale, spinach, spring greens and cavolo nero are all rich in magnesium and fibre, which feed beneficial gut bacteria and support regular bowel movement,” says BANT registered nutritionist, hormone specialist and author of Everything I Know About Hormones, Hannah Alderson. She emphasises how important regular bowel movements are for detoxifying excess oestrogen from the body.

7. Shiitake mushrooms

“Shiitake mushrooms contain a special type of fibre known as ‘beta-glucan’,” Nasser explains. “It helps to strengthen the gut lining, increase SCFA production and plays a role in immune-modulation.” In layman’s terms, this means it can positively affect how the immune system functions.

Nasser says she likes to buy dried shiitake mushrooms, blitz them in a blender or food processor and then add them to the base of whatever she’s cooking. So, for good gut health, think onions, garlic and shiitake.

8. Pumpkin seeds

A handful of pumpkin seeds contains around 5g of fibre and 150mg of magnesium, which can help with gut motility and regular bowel movements, says English. “A lot of people who experience bloating or constipation are low in magnesium, especially if they’re stressed or not sleeping well,” she says. Sprinkle on salads, porridge or yoghurt, or simply enjoy a handful as a mid-morning snack.

9. Herbs and spices

According to Dr Murthy, carminative (anti-bloating) herbs and spices are a happy gut’s best friends. “Ginger, fennel, ajawain (carom) cumin, coriander, cinnamon and mint all support digestion, reduce bloating and regulate gut motility (the way in which the digestive tract moves food and waste through),” he explains. His best tip is to sip a warm ginger and mint tea in the morning to “wake up” the gut.

10. Stewed fruit

Ideal for when you fancy a warming sweet treat, cooked fruits are high on Alderson’s list of the best foods for gut health. “Cooked apples and stewed berries are high in pectin, a soluble fibre that feeds your gut bacteria, especially those linked to inflammation reduction and gut lining health.”

11. Healthy fats

“Extra virgin olive oil, avocados, nuts and omega-3 rich fish can help calm inflammation and support the gut lining,” nutritionist, naturopath and founder of Artah, Rhian Stephenson tells me. Consider swapping low-quality, heavily processed cooking oils like corn and some sunflower varieties for healthier alternatives, such as ghee, coconut, extra virgin olive or avocado.

12. Dark chocolate

In addition to offering a range of health benefits (better mood being just one of them), dark chocolate contains a notable amount of fibre, says Nasser. “One study found that a serving size of 85% dark chocolate helped to improve gut health,” she says. “The darker the chocolate, the more fibre and polyphenols it’ll contain.”

13. Bone broth

An often overlooked part of good gut health is the gut lining. The innermost layer of the digestive tract, the gut lining can control how well food is able to pass through the colon without pesky particles “leaking” back into the bloodstream. “Bone broth is rich in collagen, glycine and glutamine,” English explains, noting that each of these nutrients plays an important role in maintaining the integrity of the gut lining.