All posts by : AyFa Collections

No matter how hard you try, avoiding bloating isn’t always a walk in the park—especially when hormones aren’t on your side, or the chaos of daily life derails any hope of a consistent workout routine. And then, of course, there are those days when menstruation rolls around and makes everything just a little more unbearable.

And I’m not just talking about aesthetics. That constant, uncomfortable feeling of a swollen belly—that leaden, sluggish bloat—can be genuinely draining.

The silver lining is that nature, in her infinite wisdom, offers us a thousand ways to fight back: detox juices, herbal infusions, and smoothies that are as delicious as they are effective.

Just ask Isabel Preysler, who swears by a juice made with broccoli, green bell pepper, kale, spinach, apple, zucchini, and lime. Or Victoria Beckham, fashion and beauty mogul extraordinaire, who starts her day with a blend of spinach, broccoli, celery, cucumber, avocado, apple, lemon, and ginger.

Your honour, I rest my case.

How to make the perfect green smoothie

Montse Prados, an endocrinologist, nutrition expert, and author of La medicina que necesitas eres tú, shares one of her go-to green smoothie recipes—one that delivers real results.

The secret? As with most things in life, balance. It’s about combining effective, nutrient-rich ingredients without compromising on flavour.

“Choosing the right ingredients for your smoothie can help reduce abdominal bloating and tackle chronic low-grade inflammation,” says Prados. “It’s about selecting components with antioxidant power—ingredients that are visually appealing and taste good—so you won’t feel the need to add sweeteners.”

Recipe:

• 1 cup of plant-based milk, while I like oat milk, I know it’s not the healthiest.
• 1 kiwi, an ideal source of potassium and vitamin C.
• 1 pear, which is hydrating and filled with magnesium and calcium.
• A handful of spinach leaves, which have high doses of magnesium and fibre.
• A heaping spoonful of chia seeds, which are filled with fibre, vitamins, and minerals, as well as an ideal source of omega-3s.
• 5 mint leaves, in addition to providing fibre and vitamins, have an anti-bloating effect.

When is the best time to have a green smoothie?

“Best mid-morning, after a protein breakfast with healthy fats, or before exercise, as it is a healthy alternative to juices and shakes with added sugars. In addition, it is not advisable to break the fast with a food rich in sugars, so taking it just before starting a physical activity will help modulate glucose and insulin peaks,” Prados points out.

With just few days to go until the Met Gala 2025, excitement is building as we wait to see what the stars will wear. One name we’re always curious about is Priyanka Chopra. The Love Again star has graced the Met Gala on multiple occasions and consistently turns heads. Over the years, she has showcased both avant-garde red-carpet looks and bold, experimental fashion. With this year’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” we’re eager to see what she’ll wear next. In the meantime, here’s a look back at some of her most memorable Met Gala appearances.

Met Gala 2017: Ralph Lauren trench coat dress

Priyanka Chopra made her Met Gala debut in 2017, wearing a custom Ralph Lauren trench coat dress. Her arrival with Nick Jonas drew attention, but it was the dress’s exaggerated train that truly stood out. She paired the look with bold, metallic earrings and wore her hair in a messy top knot to balance the dramatic silhouette. Minimal makeup and black high-heeled boots tied her look together.

Met Gala 2018: Ralph Lauren gown

Chopra’s sartorial sense was on full display in 2018, as she embraced the “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” theme in Ralph Lauren’s deep ruby-red velvet gown, paired with a bejewelled hood that added an ethereal touch. Her bold look was echoed in her makeup—celestial gold eyeshadow embraced the “more is more” approach, complemented by matte, bold red lips.

To assert your boundaries it is not necessary to scream, shout or be curt, Virgo, and neither do you need to go onto the other end of the spectrum where you become a passive aggressive loner. What is needed is a clear identification of boundaries for yourself first and for the world after that. You can only ask for what you want if you know what you want and you will only know what you want if you dare to ask yourself who you are.

Cosmic tip: Stop taking on other people’s emotions and living out other people’s truths.

Give worries around how things will manifest in your life to your Angels and the cosmos to handle, only focus on staying strong in your faith – in yourself, your efforts and the purity of your heart. Libra, you love being there for everyone, but you must also love being there for yourself. It is okay if someone has to wait a minute extra while you drink your water. It is okay if something needs to pause sometimes because you need to hit reset. Your inner ability to gauge without judgement and with complete fairness will never let you go astray. Shine bright you crazy diamond.

Cosmic tip: Don’t play small anymore.

If you were already at a pinnacle of your dream-like success, how would your life feel, Scorpio? It may be time for you to ease up and immerse yourself in some self care and self love as these are the true keys to ushering in lasting prosperity in your life. You’ve grinded enough, you’ve hustled enough. Now consider allowing your intuitive and creative side to take the lead, making moves only when you feel it is aligned, and allowing you self respect to thrive as you do for others. The time to only give is over. The time to also receive as you give is here.

Cosmic tip: Surrender to the flow of life. You are enough.

You’ve been asking for something and the cosmic council says it is arriving – just not yet. This is not your lesson in endurance. It is your lesson in learning to go easy on yourself, stop trying to push harder, instead focus on showing up more consistently in your life. You’ve been through a lot and just as you would not push another to their limits when they are healing, offer yourself some grace too. Your expanded awareness is here for you. Embrace it, claim it and know that you are ready for a brighter life.

For the most part, Instagram understands me in ways I didn’t think was possible. When I’m low, it throws up a video of an Uber driver politely telling his passenger, Shanice, that her mouth is “moving a lot like a rat (yapa yapa yapa yapa)” and to “shut it, please. (Thank you, Shanice).” When I get too exuberant, it produces a disappointing affirmation to remind me that “life sucks, and then you die”—(I agree, Jacob Black). When I’m in a fight with my partner and unwilling to meet him halfway, it suggests that maybe I’m the problem. When I wake up on a Monday morning empty of the will to show up at the office, a Victorian work meme will pop up to commiserate with my woes.

But every now and then, Instagram misses the mark entirely. Doing away with chronological feeds? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Instagram notes? A pitiful facsimile of the BBM status and the kind of feature you would expect your parents to be excited about. Recommending I sign up for Threads mid-scroll? Try suggesting that to my sleep therapist who accuses me of spending too much time on my phone. Just a few days ago, we got Instagram Blend, an update that allows users to scroll reels based on mutual preferences by clicking the icon featuring two merged faces in their DMs with a friend/group. While it’s too early to gauge whether this feature is headed the Reels-way to heaven or the Threads-way to hell, my money is on the latter.

My opinion isn’t unfounded. Last night, my partner and I tried a Blend session and let’s just say that the resulting cocktail of reels was less than savoury. “Why do you watch so many videos of hydraulic presses crushing things?” I screamed, more flabbergasted than bored. “Not another Sanrio video—it’s been five months since you returned from Japan,” he groaned in response. Our Blend lasted all of 45 seconds before we went back to scrolling our own feeds. The relief was palpable.

Perhaps I could chalk the failure of my first Instagram Blend down to experimenting with a straight man incapable of resisting a good hydraulic press smash. So today, I Blended with one of my gay besties… and it was somehow worse. Apart from the fact that every other reel featured a shirtless twink whom I had no interest in, even the videos we would’ve both guffawed at if received via DM, extorted, at best, a half-chuckle. We also couldn’t quite manage to sync up our viewing patterns—he, diligently watching every reel to completion; me, watching them at 2x if I wasn’t abandoning them mid-way. Duration of Blend session: 54 seconds.

Deepika Padukone isn’t just the leading lady on screen – she’s a global fashion icon off it as well. As a brand ambassador for Louis Vuitton and Cartier, she has cemented her status as one of India’s most influential faces on the international stage.

While the Met Gala 2025 guest list remains a mystery, we’re taking a moment to revisit Padukone’s standout appearances at fashion’s most iconic night. From her debut in Tommy Hilfiger to channeling a real-life Barbie in a Zac Posen gown in 2019, here’s a look back at the Met Gala moments that continue to captivate fans around the world.

Tommy Hilfiger, 2017

NEW YORK, NY – MAY 01: Actress Deepika Padukone attends “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between” Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 1, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images)John Shearer/Getty Images

For Padukone’s first-ever Met Gala in 2017, with the theme Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between, she chose to go for a simple yet statement-making bias-cut gown in white satin featuring cascading embroidery of crystals on the ends. Designed by Tommy Hilfiger, Padukone wore diamond studded flowers on her hair and wore long drop earrings to complete her look.

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Prabal Gurung, 2018

NEW YORK, NY – MAY 07: Deepika Padukone attends the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

At the 2018 ball, Deepika Padukone appeared in a sculptural red gown designed by the Nepalese-American designer, Prabal Gurung. The theme of the year, Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination inspired the cardinal red shade of Padukone’s gown.

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Zac Posen, 2019

JAMIE MCCARTHY/GETTY IMAGES

Padukone’s last appearance at the Met Gala in 2019 was her most iconic. Zac Posen made her a custom bubblegum pink strapless gown that was constructed out of lurex jacquard and featured 400 pieces of three-dimensional embroidery. Since the theme of that year was Camp: Notes on Fashion, Padukone took things up a notch and wore a tall voluminous ponytail to go with her look for the evening. For jewels, she wore a headband with pink diamonds and sculptural earrings to complement her origami-esque gown.

Shop the look:

Also read:

This is how Deepika Padukone pulled off her Met Gala look in 24 hours

Deepika Padukone makes her first red-carpet appearance since becoming a mom in JADE by Monica and Karishma

7 Louis Vuitton bags you’ll want to borrow from Deepika Padukone’s collection

Glass hair is having a moment—again. If glass skin was the gateway drug to our collective obsession with mirror-like luminosity, then consider this its follicular sequel. While dewy complexions have evolved into everything from dolphin to glazed-doughnut skin, the pursuit of hyper-gloss has simply shifted gears. Now, it’s your hair’s turn to blind the haters.

But the pursuit of achieving impossibly glossy hair that resembles glass isn’t as easy as just slapping on some hair serum. You need to start at the roots first. “Glass hair, just like glass skin, needs to be really healthy to shine through. Choosing the right products according to your specific hair needs is essential. Ensure you always apply a protective serum on your hair to protect your strands from external aggressors. It also adds shine and gloss. Always use a heat-activating spray or cream before any heat styling. For a more put-together look, get a trim as the glass hair effect works best when your hair is at an even length,” says Shweta Sahni, National Education Manager, L’Oréal Professionnel.

And if you thought you needed to sport straight, sleek strands to pull off this look, you’d be wrong. This trend is all about getting mega-shine and embraces all hair types and textures. Just pick the right products that work best for your hair type. Apart from the gloss-infusing products you can use at home to achieve this look, Sahni also suggests opting for an in-salon gloss treatment to dial up that shine and nourish your locks in the process.

But as far as your hair wardrobe goes, these products from serums and oils to illuminators and deeply nourishing treatments, will help you get the gleaming strands of your dreams, so add to cart stat.

KERASTASE Chroma Absolu Soin Acide Chroma Gloss

This water-activated gloss treatment seals in colour, adds intense shine, and leaves hair feeling silky-soft, while Centella Asiatica and three powerful acids (amino, lactic and tartaric) work deep inside to strengthen and protect every strand.

OUAI Hair Gloss

Infused with rice water and hyaluronic acid, this gloss makes your hair shiny, smooth and frizz- free and protects it from heat while locking in your colour. With a dreamy scent of bergamot, rose, and sandalwood, it keeps your hair looking—and smelling—salon-fresh.

Oh! Clear Gloss

Your hair’s new glow-up in a tube— it transforms dull, dry, or coloured strands with a silky, light-reflecting shine that lasts up to 5 washes. Powered by Argan Oil and Sunflower Seed Extract, it makes flyaways a problem you never have to worry about.

L’Oréal Paris Elvive Glycolic Gloss 5 Minute Lamination Treatment

Want ultra-glossy, mirror-shine hair in five minutes flat? Enter: L’Oréal Paris Elvive Glycolic Gloss Lamination Treatment. This multitasking formula smooths, conditions, and adds an unreal level of shine—like your strands just stepped out of a hair commercial. Bonus: it makes hair easier to manage without weighing it down.

Moroccanoil Blow-dry Concentrate

This formula contains argan oil and adds shine and polish to even the most rebellious locks, and ensures they are perfectly protected during any heat styling.

The Earth Collective Overnight Hair Illuminator

Coarse, porous strands can make achieving shine a challenging task. This light, non-greasy formula works overnight to nourish hair with potent ingredients like pine bark, rosemary, and soya protein. You wake up with glossy locks.

Kiehl’s Silk Groom Serum

Whether you have smooth, straight, curly, or wavy hair, this ultra-light, vitamin E-infused serum goes on easily to smoothen frizz and nourish dry ends.

Sebastian Professional Trilliant Spray

Rock crystal extract is the magical ingredient that allows this lightweight hair spray to protect and condition your hair while leaving it with an unworldly shine.

L’Occitane Aromachologie Intensive Repair Enriched Infused Oil

This silicone-free formula incorporates the regenerating effects of essential oils like Angelica, ylang-ylang, sweet orange, lavender and geranium to repair and strengthen your hair and add that coveted shimmer.

René Furterer Style Shine Mist

The final step of your styling routine should include a spritz of this micro mist, which works to brighten and protect your hair without weighing down your strands while adding an instant high-gloss finish.

Also Read:

Glass hair is the celebrity-favourite hair trend you have to try now

Liquid hair is trending and here’s all the inspiration you need to get it

How to pick the best shampoo for hair fall, according to your hair type

Her book, ‘From an Era Bygone’, is a love letter to family legacy and heritage. Back in the day, when she was a young bride in the Neotia household, she found comfort in her husband’s grandmother, Bhagirathi Devi Neotia (whom she affectionately calls Dadima), who shared her treasured collection of textiles and artefacts, many of which have inspired her book.

“My understanding, my love of textiles, is largely bequeathed to me from our family. I have learnt so much from observing how generations of women preserve their share of heirlooms and from engaging in the discussions and conversations that centred around the arts and crafts that go behind the making of precious pieces. ‘From an Era Bygone’ captures a personal story, but it was never mine to keep—it was only forever to share.”

Neotia has built her work around the concept of conscious patronage, a term that resonates throughout her involvement with The India Story and her efforts to preserve textile heritage. “It is important for patrons and conservationists to also take an active interest in seeking conscious choices that protect, preserve, and promote the dying crafts of our country.”

The India Story has expanded beyond exhibitions to include The India Story Awards (TISA), celebrating indigenous businesses that contribute to India’s creative economy. Discussing the criteria for these recognitions, Neotia is passionate. “The Awards were our way of recognising path-breaking talents in the industry. Today, creative talent is not bound by rules.”

She explains the rigorous process behind these selections. “For us, it was important to have categories relevant for the modern audience. The research undertaken to draw the nominations was also intensive, based on studies of individual creations, achievements and conversations to prioritise ingenuity and honest creativity.”

If this is you: It’s worth remembering that conflict isn’t automatically a bad thing—in fact, working through the hard stuff can be a healthy way to deepen your connections. That’s why, if something is genuinely bothering you (maybe a friend’s passive-aggressive comment or your partner’s messiness), it deserves to be brought up.

Of course, learning to express yourself (even if it makes someone else uncomfortable) can be anxiety-inducing. But using “I” statements is an expert-approved tactic for communicating honestly without placing blame or hurting feelings. For example, “I was kind of upset when…,” “I would really appreciate it if…,” or “I need some reassurance on….”

3. You focus on keeping the other person happy

People-pleasing can look pretty similar to avoiding confrontation—and to be fair, they share a common hatred for conflict and drama. But there’s a subtle difference between the two styles, according to Larry Schooler, PhD, assistant professor of communication studies at the University of Texas at Austin.

“An avoidant style will decline to engage in any sort of meaningful communication about conflict,” says Dr. Schooler. But for you, it may not be that you fear disagreement and discomfort in general—it’s more that you don’t want to disappoint or upset the other person. Let’s say you bring up your partner’s flirting, and they get extra defensive. Where a more avoidant style might quickly drop the conversation (“Forget I even brought it up, it’s fine”), you might get overly apologetic or say you were wrong only to calm them down. Basically, you’re so focused on prioritising somebody else (because you care so much!) that you’re unable to find a resolution that benefits both of you, not just them. Over time, these tendencies might keep the peace at the surface, but they often come at the expense of your own needs.

If this is you: Again, disagreeing with someone doesn’t mean they’ll suddenly hate you. So, remind yourself that it’s okay to express yourself, Dr. Schooler says, even if it’s hard at first.

Another thing to think about, he adds, is what you’re conceding—and more importantly, why. Are you really okay with your SO texting their ex, or are you only pretending because you’re afraid they’ll break up with you otherwise? Does apologising for bringing up a genuine issue seem fair, or are you only saying what you think they want to hear? A little self-reflection can teach you to prioritise yourself during moments of contention so you’re not automatically giving in every time.

4. You suppress…until you explode

At first, you might try to hide any frustration or unhappiness, convincing yourself to keep your mouth shut and pretend everything’s fine. Deep down, however, a suppressor will find their emotions quietly building. “They say nothing, they pacify, they let it go,” says Lisa Brateman, LCSW, New York City-based psychotherapist and author of What Are We Really Fighting About?. “Then, all of a sudden, they can’t handle it anymore and just rip.” This outburst—whether it’s snapping in anger or suddenly crying mid-argument—usually catches outsiders off-guard, leaving them wondering why you went from zero to a hundred.

The 2025 Met Gala is soon upon us on Tuesday, May 6, 2025—and for devoted spectators of the annual star-studded red carpet, you’ll want to tune in to Vogue’s livestream.

For the fifth year in a row, the official Met Gala livestream will provide exclusive coverage of all the action in real time—and the good news is we now know where you can watch it, and which celebrities will be hosting it. The livestream will be broadcast across all of Vogue’s digital platforms, as well as on YouTube. This year, it will be hosted by singer and actor Teyana Taylor, actor and producer La La Anthony, and actor and comedian Ego Nwodim. Internet multi hyphenate Emma Chamberlain, meanwhile, will return as Vogue’s special correspondent.

Below, everything to know about the 2025 Met Gala livestream—from how (and where) to tune in, to what the night’s dress code and themes entail.

Where can I watch the livestream?

The 2025 Met Gala livestream will be hosted exclusively by Vogue, and broadcast live across its digital platforms, as well as on YouTube. You can also watch the livestream within this very post.

What time does the livestream start?

The Met Gala red carpet livestream will take place on Monday, May 6, 2025 starting at 3:00 am IST.

Who’s hosting the livestream?

This year’s livestream will be hosted by singer and actor Teyana Taylor, actor and producer La La Anthony, and actor and comedian Ego Nwodim. Internet multi hyphenate Emma Chamberlain, meanwhile, will return as Vogue’s special correspondent, to interview some of the biggest stars on the red carpet.

What’s this year’s Met Gala theme?

This year’s Met Gala theme celebrates the Costume Institute’s new spring exhibition, titled Superfine: Tailoring Black Style (on view from May 10th to October 26th). The exhibition—which explores the importance of clothing and style to the formation of Black identities in the Atlantic diaspora—will be arranged by 12 characteristics of Black dandyism. The exhibition was spearheaded by curator in charge Andrew Bolton, as well as guest curator Monica Miller—Professor and Chair of Africana Studies at Barnard College, Columbia University.

Every year, the Met Gala provides The Costume Institute with its primary source of funding for exhibitions, publications, acquisitions, operations, and capital improvements.

Is there a dress code?

The dress code for the event will be “tailored for you.” The dress code is a nod to the exhibition’s focus on menswear, and is “purposefully designed to provide guidance and invite creative interpretation.”

Who are the co-chairs this year?

The 2025 Met Gala co-chairs were announced back in October of last year, and will include Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, and Anna Wintour. LeBron James will also serve as an honorary chair.

Also read:

Everything you need to know about the Met Gala 2025

The 2025 Met Gala dress code is “Tailored for You”

Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, Colman Domingo, Pharrell Williams, and Anna Wintour will co-chair the 2025 Met Gala alongside honorary chair LeBron James

Cosmic tip: As long as you choose to remember your inner light, you are incorruptible.

A repetition – be it a thought, pattern or simply a number that won’t leave you holds a message for you, Leo. Everytime you see 1111, 222 or 333 the higher realms are trying to get your attention and redirect it to something that needs your active intention or support. Place your hand on your heart and tune in. What does that nagging feeling tell you? If you’ve asked for a sign today, it is a yes from the cosmos. When you find ways to express yourself in imaginative ways, you recreate your life miraculously.

Cosmic tip: When you feel stuck, ask the cosmos for a sign and then follow it.

What is the meaning of your life, you ask? Virgo, it is to connect, build, love and cherish your relationships. By some obscured understanding of the word ‘purpose’ we have learnt to equate it only with something that can be monetised. While yes, that version is true too, we all have many purposes at the same time, including personal ones. If we were to summarise this, it would be safe to say that “learning to achieve personal balance” is the only true purpose for us all – be it in how we contribute to the world and how we feel, or our personal life and money relationship or how we nurture our bonds. For you, it all boils down to how you keep your loved ones close together and how you show up for them – and that is truly commendable, okay?

Cosmic tip: If something needs correction, do it. If something needs love, nurture it.

Have you let everyone walk all over you, Libra? Well, now it may be time to put a password on the security gate and only let those who feel right enter. You’ve been doing a lot of reflecting and assessing, and hey, give yourself some credit for being so objective and honest with your answers. Yes, life is best enjoyed with people singing different tunes, but you also need to remember that not everyone’s taste in music is the same and it is absolutely okay. It doesn’t make anyone’s choices bad, it simply makes them different.