All posts by : AyFa Collections

Kareena Kapoor Khan stunned at an event in a blazing look by Anamika Khanna that felt contemporary yet rooted in tradition. The set consisted of an asymmetrical top and straight pants, marrying Khanna’s love for unconventional silhouettes with Indian craftsmanship. It belongs to Anamika Khanna’s Women’s Couture/Ready-to-Wear line.

Instagram.com/anamikakhanna.in

The ensemble featured an asymmetric, one-shoulder neckline that accentuated the actor’s collarbones, while also adding a modern edge to it. The rich scarlet fabric, a a fluid crepe-silk, was elevated with artful draping, and further embellished with hand-cut tonal lace appliqué embroidery. Painstakingly embroidered into three-dimensional floral clusters, they were placed artfully across the neckline, shoulders, hemline, and along the length of the drape, adding depth and texture to the monochromatic look. A hallmark of Anamika Khanna’s couture craftsmanship, the tonal threadwork also proved the house’s commitment to championing Indian artisanal crafts. This red-on-red Anamika Khanna set balanced structure with fluidity, and some unexpected accessorising made it a stand-out look.

Stylist Lakshmi Lehr opted for traditional jewellery over modern designs, pairing the scarlet outfit with statement drop earrings, inset with emeralds and uncut diamonds. Kareena Kapoor Khan also sported stacked gemstone bangles with multi-coloured stones on one wrist, and the jewellery certainly brought a flash of drama and contrast to the all-red palette. For footwear, the stylist maintained neat and uninterrupted lines with minimal red strappy stilettos by Gianvito Rossi.

It’s funny how a piece of stretchy fabric can hold so much power in your wardrobe after a certain age. Shapewear is strange. You know you shouldn’t have to wear it if you love yourself—like makeup to the gym—and yet, somehow, it ends up in your shopping cart the night before a big event.

I personally love a bit of support (especially the spandex kind), and the internet has been ablaze with shapewear of all types that promises to cinch and slash inches off one’s body. So, in the name of fashion, vanity and mild masochism, I decided to try a whole range—from the surgical to the decorative—and I have some thoughts.

Victoria’s Secret

When I first picked up the Victoria SeamlessShaping Bodysuit, it reminded me of something I would’ve worn with inexplicable confidence at the age of 10, with glittery leggings and a tiara, no less. I was pretty sure I would not fit into it (my niece might), even though the size on the label matched mine. But to my absolute surprise, it did fit, and it was soft, stretchy and weirdly soothing. Not as heavy on compression as I would have imagined (one must not judge shapewear by its cover) but effective nonetheless. Their High-Waist Brief Panties smoothened without squashing and stayed in place, mostly thanks to the silicone grip, which actually works. Honestly, these pieces were quite comfortable to wear throughout the day.

Shapewear by Victoria SeamlessShaping™ High-Waist Brief Panty, Victoria’s Secret, ₹3,999

Shapewear by Victoria SeamlessShaping™ Bodysuit, Victoria’s Secret, ₹8,699

Wacoal

Wacoal’s shapewear was firm, focused and quite thick. It holds. It compresses. It neither moves nor chafes, which is quite rare in shapewear with this kind of silhouette. It’s the kind of thing you wear when you don’t want to think about your thighs touching—or breathing. That said, it does what it promises.

Girdle Collection Full Coverage Firm Control Seamless Shaping Brief – Beige, Wacoal, ₹2,999

Uniqlo

I had my doubts if Uniqlo’s Airism shapewear was actually shapewear, because it looked more like hosiery that got lost in the cycling shorts section. The entire range was thin, semi-sheer and felt more like a base layer than actual shapewear, which is exactly what it’s best for: light smoothing and no harsh lines. There’s no strong compression here, so if you’re trying to make a bodycon dress your quick friend, this may not be the one. But for everyday outfits that need a little gentle help around the midsection or thigh, these are your pair.

AIRism Smooth Non-Lined Shaper Shorts, Uniqlo, ₹1,290

AIRism Shaper Shorts Support Type, Uniqlo, ₹1,290

FEIER

I embarked on my quest to find shapewear and Instagram’s targeted ads took it from there: ask and the algorithm shall provide. That is how I stumbled across Feier—they’re mostly a fitness brand, but dabble in bodysuits and shapers from time to time. Since the compression here is light, more “subtle smoothing” than full-body vacuum seal, these can be a daily companion.

Adjustable Shaper Bodysuit, Feier, ₹1,299

InVogue

InVogue’s shapewear genuinely took me by surprise. Having only seen a few ads on Instagram, it was a bit of a shaky bet. But you know that hopeful fantasy of being as thin as you were three years ago—before all that Zomato-ing had consequences? Well, the InVogue bodysuits actually get you there, living up to descriptors like “high compression” and “intense snatched” perfectly. They are also one of the few brands that offer a tube-like strapless version of topwear. The cynic in me was doubtful, as anything labelled strapless and tube is typically not my friend, but I was held firmly while the inches disappeared.

Intense Strapless Bodyshaper, InVogue, ₹3,999

Intense Snatched Bodyshaper, InVogue, ₹4,999

Marks & Spencer

M&S shapewear is like that reliable old friend. It won’t make you feel wildly transformed, but it will do exactly what you need it to—and comfortably. I’ve owned a few of its pieces over the years and they’re still in decent shape, which is a true testament to their quality. Despite the many wears, its shapewear has adapted seamlessly as my body has changed.

Firm Control Body Define™ Shaping Body, M&S, ₹2,999

ContourWear Waist & Thigh Slimmer, M&S, ₹3,499

Nykd by NYKAA

Nykd’s pieces comprise a good 50% spandex, which really helps with the soft sculpting. The brand’s got range: their bodysuits, waist and thigh shapers and compression briefs are definitely doing something, as you feel supported without feeling like your organs are being remoulded. Some styles even come with boning at the waist, which sounds intense but actually feels like someone is helping you stand up straighter—unfortunately not as pleasant when you’re sitting.

Waist and Thigh Shaper-NYSH02-Nude, Nykd By Nykaa, ₹1,999

Bonded Lace Tummy Tucker-NYSH33-Brown, Nykd By Nykaa, ₹1,999

Spanx

The OG. When I first bought Spanx, I didn’t wear it so much as climb into it. It holds everything exactly where it needs to be, which is equal parts comforting and alarming. You’ll look smooth, but you’ll definitely know you’re wearing it.

High-Waisted Thong, SPANXsupersculpt™ Transform, ₹5,989

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When it comes to bohemian style, transparencies can be as unpredictable as curtain bangs or ornamental ruffles. At Chloé, long skirts take shape through layered tulle that creates an ethereal drape—suggestive without fully revealing, yet achieving the same sensual effect. These designs break away from traditional tailoring, reaffirming that the boho aesthetic remains relevant for fall. Think lace-embroidered blouses paired with fur jackets—a striking alternative to the usual jeans-and-quilted-jacket combo, and a surefire way to stand out with elegance.

White skirt with transparencies and a long jacket

Altuzarra Otoño-Invierno 2025Altuzarra/Gorunway.

In summer, we saw skirts layered over pants; now, in autumn, long skirts are elevated through styling with accessories that fall below the hips. This technique becomes especially impactful within the sheer skirt trend. When paired with a relaxed, floor-skimming silhouette that moves with each step and hints at transparency, adding a longline jacket helps define what’s revealed. The result is a look that feels polished yet playfully sensual—refined without sacrificing allure. Altuzarra captures this balance perfectly, proving that even the most sophisticated ensembles can carry a flirty edge.

Sheer skirt with ruffles and tweed jacket

Isidore Montag / Gorunway.

Even fashion houses as classic as Chanel have embraced sheer skirts as a must-have, incorporating them into some of the standout looks in their latest collection. The French maison offers a fluid design adorned with black ruffles, seamlessly adapted to its iconic aesthetic. Paired with a classic tweed jacket and heeled ankle boots, the result is a seductive yet refined ensemble—perfectly suited for the colder months. It’s an invitation to experiment with understated sensuality, offering an elevated alternative to the typical casual dress.

This article first appeared on Vogue.mx.

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The Festival of Lights, or Diwali, is one of the most popular occasion for Indian and South Asian people in the United States. Diwali brings people of all ages together through joy, custom, and family. Sparkling carnivals in California and New Jersey, temple fairs in Texas, and family get-togethers in Chicago and New York are all locations where you may look at this.

The outfits that people wear additionally play a big position withinside the festivities, simply because the diyas and fireworks do. Showing off your ethnic fashion is an excellent way to honor your way of life at the same time, while also expressing your individuality. Diwali style trends 2025 are perfect for celebrations throughout the United States due to the fact that they integrate traditional factors with current elegance.

Everyone desires to showcase their quality throughout the festivities; for that reason, women`s Diwali dress ideas are trending this season. New, brightly colored, and celebratory garments, consisting of the latest Diwali outfits, are ideal for this occasion.

No matter your taste—classic, festive, fusion, or everything in between—there’s an abundance of outfit alternatives to fit your fashion and make memories so that they will remain for a lifetime. Find an appropriate Diwali outfit for each woman, from traditional sarees to modern-day anarkali fits and statement jewelry.

1. Elegant Sarees: Timeless Options for Diwali

Sarees are an undying and wonderful desire for Diwali, the festival of lights. This year, move for a royal blue silk saree or, for a more contemporary-day appearance, reflect on an organza saree. Show off your excellent celebration style in a saree with colorful shades, intricate stitching, and replicate work. Accessorize your Diwali ensemble with bold earrings and many necklaces to embody the festival vibe.

2. Stunning and Elegant Lehengas

During Diwali, women wear vibrant, colored lehengas that replicate how glad and pleased they are. A stunning lehenga with complicated needlework, replica work, or shiny colorings may be the icing on the cake at your Diwali party. An ambitious and happy appearance is excellently performed with colors like royal blue and emerald green.

With a lehenga, the quality way to combine modern and traditional patterns is to wear a crop top or a choli with plenty of complicated stitching. Add a few beautiful rings to your Diwali outfit to complete it. No matter what age, carrying a lehenga on Diwali is the most fashionable aspect you could do.

3. Elegant and Flourishing Anarkali Suits

Anarkali suits are still a popular preference for women to wear for Diwali. The way they’re layered and flowy offers them a traditional grace that makes them best for Diwali or puja. Anarkali outfit in vivid purple or royal blue will make you stand out at a celebration. 

The wealthy fabrics, fancy embellishments, and exquisite styles make them the best Diwali outfit for women of all ages. Wear a couple of vivid jewelry and different traditional earrings along with your anarkali to complete your Diwali outfit. An Anarkali suit set is a traditional piece of Indian outfit that represents modern Indian culture.

4. Elevate Your Festive Style with Sharara and Gharara Sets

Contemporary twists on classic Diwali garb are available in sharara and gharara sets. These holiday outfit styles are remarkable for women who want to wear something precise to Diwali. They appear excellent and are practical. Choose vibrant shades and excellent materials in your Diwali outfits, like royal blue or emerald green. 

People love these outfits at Diwali celebrations because they’ve fancy details like mirror work and elaborate stitching. Add a few fancy earrings or a maang tikka for a full-on celebration that`s proper for his or her age. 

5. Indo-Western Fusion and Outfits

Fusion apparel and Indo-Western apparel are great alternatives for women who like current patterns with Indian influences. Some of the outfits that women wear for Diwali are crop tops and ethnic skirts, flared pants and quick kurtas, or tunics with dhoti pants. For Diwali celebrations and events, a completely unique, comfortable fashion is created with the aid of using blending shiny colorations with high-quality fabrics.

Putting on a maang tikka or a couple of shiny rings to make your Diwali outfit stand out. When you wear fusion apparel, you may live within the vacation spirit all year long at the same time as staying comfortable and stylish.

6. The Latest Co-ord Sets for a Trendy Diwali Look

Co-ord sets are one of the latest patterns in Diwali outfits that people want to wear. Tops and bottoms that cross together commonly have fancy embroidery, mirror work, or particularly colored styles on them. Coordinated clothing is fantastic for Diwali celebrations and activities due to the fact they’re fashionable and comfortable.

For a fashionable and smooth Diwali get dressed concept for women, add a few appealing jewelry or layered necklaces to complete your look.

7. Crop Tops and Dhoti Pants

Diwali is a time when many people want to wear dhoti pants with crop tops due to the fact that it’s a fantastic blend of classic and modern styles. This outfit is ideal for women who need to appear fashionable and informal at Diwali celebrations or get-togethers. 

Select bright colors that make you feel like the holiday season, and add sparkle by using mirrors or small details. For a real festive appearance, pair your dhoti pants with crop tops, shiny rings, or a printed blouse. This one-of-a-kind mixture is outstanding for any occasion and could please people of all types.

8. Elegant and Affordable Pre-Drapped Sarees

Pre-draped sarees are a practical and fashionable update on classic Diwali garb. For those last-minute wardrobe inspirations or hectic Diwali parties, these sarees are a great option because they are ready to wear. Pick styles with replicate work, complex needlework, or shiny colors for a livelier feel.

People of every age can discover a pre-draped saree that they prefer, made from silky fabric like organza or georgette. Add a few shiny rings to your Diwali outfit to complete it. This concept for a Diwali dress will make your appearance stunning and glad in no time.

From the traditional splendor of sarees to the opulent beauty of lehengas, we`ve pointed out the various Diwali clothes that ladies can wear to honor their traditions and display their personal style. The most critical factor about Diwali isn’t always what we wear, but how satisfied we make each other, how many tales we tell, and what sort of love we display.

Slowness isn’t slacking. It’s a way to regulate your nervous system. As Mehta puts it, “It communicates safety to your body.” And in a world constantly nudging you toward urgency, safety might just be the most productive feeling of all.

A slow morning routine supports mental health

Hyper-optimised mornings can come at a cost. The relentless checklist—wake at 5, dry brush, meditate, journal—can leave you wired before your day even begins. The anxiety isn’t just physical, it’s performative: Should I be doing more? Do I need a new adaptogen? Why does everyone else look so calm at 6am?

This pressure to do mornings right feeds what psychologists refer to as toxic productivity. It’s the compulsive need to optimise every moment—even rest. But routines that overstimulate your nervous system may actually reduce your capacity to handle stress later in the day.

By contrast, a slow morning routine can help regulate cortisol, lower anxiety, and increase compliance with habits that actually support your wellbeing—like eating breakfast before caffeine or avoiding doomscrolling before your brain has woken up. As a result, you’re less likely to crash by noon or spiral into emotional reactivity.

How to try a slow start without derailing your day

You don’t have to scrap your whole schedule. Try this:

• Delay coffee until after a protein-rich breakfast
• Leave your phone in another room for the first 20 minutes
• Pick just one grounding activity (like stretching, journalling or sitting outside) instead of five
• Set your first meeting or task post-9am when possible

If nothing else, treat your first hour awake as a warm-up. Not a race.

Not a trend–a nervous system hack

You don’t need a slow morning routine because it’s cool. You need it because your nervous system isn’t designed to launch straight into chaos. So tomorrow, when you wake up and feel the instinct to perform your morning wellness like a theatre act—pause. Breathe. Sip your water. And do nothing, very deliberately. Because sometimes, doing nothing is exactly what your body needs to start doing everything better.

When you stick your head out of the murky waters, Scorpio, you come up with a game plan—one that actually works for you. You are not here to ride it out in the short term so your angels plead with you to widen your perspective. Your guides and the cosmos remind you to preserve yourself as much as you would like to also save that burning village. This message has been so consistent for you recently, Scorps. If I were you, I’d listen and pay attention.

Cosmic tip: Leave a raggedy story behind for a more fulfilling life.

Not everything that feels rosy really is so, Sag. Now you may be exactly where you once wish you were—but you are here, feeling trapped and miserable. Your angels remind you that you are not chained to one place and you have the option to move—you always do, if not forward then sideways. It may be time to find that spark once again and turn your romanticised vision of life into a more dynamic and ever-evolving one where you look forward to newer experiences with a fresh lens.

Cosmic tip: Are you trapped and confused or just downright transitioning?

Turn your woes and sorrows into burns and blessings, Capricorn, because your personal Fairygod Mother is transforming your life into a treasured story where at the stroke of midnight, things don’t go south, they just get better. While you are being cosmically supported, why don’t you put in that consistent effort and hard work too to uplift your spirits and intentions, expecting only the best possible outcome for you and your life? You have held the mast up high for long enough; now allow your loved ones to take charge and weave a new story.

Cosmic tip: Fortunes are about to change, all for the better.

Add some spice to your life, Aquarius, and take that leap forward. This is not just a random stroke of luck taking place in your life; it is the cosmos weaving in a new story for you, and the more you focus on your strengths, the more swiftly you will navigate through the changes. If you are to build your lasting legacy, you simply cannot be at war with yourself anymore. Accept your desires non judgementally and make waves as you move along.

Cosmic tip: Bring heaven to earth by building your ideas into action.

Nope, you did not jinx it, Pisces. You’ve moved through things, you’ve celebrated life, you even have built your tribe but now that it all suddenly feels elusive, you need not take things personally. The recent eclipse has affected everyone in multiple ways. If any relationships or ‘lucky streaks’ seem to be eclipsing out of your life, trust your angels that they are not. It is simply an illusion that you are feeling presently and all you need to do is hold space, gently, firmly, kindly, and abundantly. That is all. This too shall pass and swords will soon be dropped.

Cosmic tip: Your focus need not be on winning the battle; instead, it needs to be on dropping/ resolving the conflict. Sometimes silence solves more things than swords ever can.

Morning coffee is more than a beverage. It’s a ritual, a coping mechanism and a moment of silence before the day flows into emails and existential crises. But what if your cup could do more than just jolt you awake? What if it could support your metabolism, digestion, stress response and even your skin?

Turns out, it can. If you know what to stir into your morning coffee.

“What you add to coffee changes how it behaves in your body,” says Mugdha Pradhan, functional nutritionist and founder of iThrive. Proteins and fats slow caffeine absorption, offering steadier energy. Sugar-laden syrups? They do the opposite, spiking blood sugar and setting you up for a crash.

Below, expert-backed ways to upgrade your morning brew.

Protein powder

Skip the post-gym shaker. Stir a scoop into your mug instead. “Protein slows digestion, which smooths out caffeine’s effects,” says Dr Eileen Canday, head of nutrition and dietetics at Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai. It also helps you stay full longer and supports muscle recovery. Pick one that blends easily and skips the sugar.

Ghee

If you’re following a keto or low-carb program or just want longer-lasting focus, ghee can turn your morning coffee into an energy-boosting elixir. “Healthy fats slow caffeine release, preventing crashes,” says Pradhan. But pairing high-fat coffee with intermittent fasting can spike cortisol and disrupt your hormonal balance, especially if you’re already stressed.

Cocoa powder

Adding a bit of cocoa powder to your morning coffee enhances the flavour but it can also boost your mood and provide antioxidant support. Start your day with a little extra kick by adding a spoonful of unsweetened cocoa powder to your coffee. This twist packs in feel-good flavonoids that boost mood, sharpen focus, support heart health and even give your skin that lit-from-within glow. Cocoa helps smooth out caffeine jitters, stabilises energy levels and brings anti-ageing antioxidants to the party without the sugar crash of sweetened syrups.

Salt

A pinch can cut bitterness, enhance flavour and help restore minerals like sodium and potassium that caffeine tends to deplete. Pradhan recommends using remineralised water to brew your coffee. It doesn’t alter the taste but helps support hydration and electrolyte balance.

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha blends in easily and helps with stress, cognition and immunity. Pradhan explains that its taste is masked by coffee and it works well as a daily adaptogen. As for honey, it’s better than syrup but still a form of sugar. Use sparingly.

Spices (Nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper)

Cinnamon brings a warm, sweet edge to coffee while helping regulate blood sugar and adding antioxidant benefits. Cardamom offers digestive support and has anti-inflammatory properties, making your brew gentler on the gut. Both are also thought to support better insulin sensitivity, which may help prevent caffeine crashes and sugar cravings.

My grandmother needs nighties: large ones with front-opening yokes that can be pulled down over her head. Soft cotton garments that sit weightlessly on her 95-year-old frame. In pastel colours only, please. As I trudge up and down Bengaluru’s Commercial Street seeking this delicate combination, I know these voluminous gowns do little justice to her dignified self. But for her stiff arms and corroded knee joints, what other options exist?

Clothes are everywhere—in malls, bottomless online feeds, in the stand-alone textile shops that dot our neighbourhoods—creating the illusion of infinite choice. But for those whose bodies carry visible and invisible markers of what society construes as ‘nonconformity’—be it disability, age or even a temporary affliction such as a frozen shoulder—suitable clothing is elusive.

Soumita Basu would know. At 29, she was all set to pursue a master’s degree in the Netherlands. Even though she walked with a limp and bore niggling aches, nothing signalled the loss of mobility from an autoimmune disorder that was about to upend her life. Soon even everyday tasks like changing clothes became cumbersome and painful.

Soumita Basu and her mother. Image courtesy of Soumita Basu

“In 2018 and 2019, I googled adaptive clothes but nothing was available in India. The stuff from the US or Canada was too expensive and not compatible with our culture, climate or aesthetics.” Fuelled by her own necessities and the gaping holes in the market, Basu cofounded Zyenika, a pioneering adaptive fashion line, with her mother. She went on to create an entire range comprising elegant front-open dresses and chic no-bend pants that could be worn easily by individuals with limited locomotive ability or dexterity.

Recent years have witnessed the birth of several homegrown inclusive fashion brands. At Multifly’s basement studio in Bengaluru, cofounder Brinda Pancholi demonstrates the nuances of a maroon top with magnetic buttons, a shirt with tactile designs for persons with visual impairment, a pair of trousers with two-way zippers and discreet alterations to conceal catheter bags or stoma pouches. These adaptations cater to a spectrum of needs and are significant. Yet, the difficulties faced by persons with disabilities or older people go beyond design, into more structural issues.

Image courtesy of Multifly

Sangita Thakur is a disability inclusion consultant. Her Instagram grid makes me gasp as I marvel at the saris—Paithanis, Kanchipurams, Banarasis—that flash by in a riot of colour. Before she began to lose her mobility due to a progressive disorder, she loved to saunter through the handloom exhibitions in Delhi. As a wheelchair user, those spaces are now largely inaccessible.

Even the malls with their cramped fitting rooms don’t allow her to try on clothes. She must estimate fits based on size charts, cross her fingers and hope for the best. “I don’t seek out specific adaptive brands, but from the mainstream options, I choose designs such as elasticised waistbands that serve my purpose. But my choices are limited.” The one compromise she won’t make is on the saris she wears to work daily. “I can barely stand for the two minutes that it takes to drape one, but I don’t want to sacrifice my personal sense of style.”

Image courtesy of Sangita Thakur

Kkanchan Gupta too has a story to tell about sartorial aspiration. At a rehabilitation centre, she met a young man who had just cleared the famously competitive CAT. But his heart was set on another, more ubiquitous goal: a pair of jeans. He asked if she could customise pants that could be pulled up over his prosthetic which led to the creation of her amputee denims at Haxor. We are often guilty of viewing fashion as superfluous, as frivolous desire disconnected from life’s lofty purposes. We forget that a pair of jeans is not just a pair of jeans. It is also agency, identity, a sense of belonging. And that clothes make and unmake us, in both practical and profound ways.

Image courtesy of Kkanchan Gupta

According to a World Bank report, persons with disabilities are estimated to be about 16% of the global population. While older people comprise approximately 10% of India’s population, as per the ‘India Ageing Report 2023’. Despite the significant numbers, searches for adaptive apparel on e-commerce marketplaces throw up few meaningful results; the category seems mostly invisible in large retail stores as well. The West is ahead at least by a few steps with mainstream fashion houses offering inclusive options (Tommy Hilfiger, Primark) alongside specialised brands like IZ, Buck & Buck and Silverts.

“Awareness!” chorus the two friends and cofounders of Anucool, Saritha Kamath and Nalini Venkataramanan, when I ask them on our Zoom call about their biggest challenges. A handful of labels and a large, disparate community with limited autonomy mean most people don’t know that the solution exists, even if in limited ways (for instance, footwear is an underserved category). Kamath says, “There is also some resistance to identifying with the label given the social stigma surrounding disability and ageing.”

Image courtesy of Anucool

The language is alienating. Adaptive fashion or clothing seems to suggest that there are two categories, one regular and another ‘adaptive’, making the latter appear like a compromised option for a ‘less than’ body. But a garment is inherently meant to ‘adapt’ to the human body and not the other way around. This is not a niche requirement; it is a fundamental ask from every article of clothing. Fashion and functionality cannot be mutually exclusive.

My grandmother is giving her drapes away and insists I take my pick of her kasavu saris. Her days and nights are spent in nighties; for photographs, a shawl is wrapped over her torso. When Google serves up a memory, I gaze at her steel-grey eyes, still-black hair. Her timeless grace is intact. Only fashion has some distance to walk to meet her.

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From bugadi to kaanphool, today’s earring stacks echo centuries of style

Cleopatra knew how to make an entrance. Not with sequins or speeches, but with scent. History tells us she doused the sails of her ship in rose oil so that the harbour of Tarsus carried her presence long before Mark Antony ever laid eyes on her, as Plutarch (Greek philosopher and historian) writes, “the very winds might bear her perfume” before she even arrived. She seems to have understood that perfume isn’t about smelling “nice”. It’s about command. That’s the thing about perfume, it’s always been less about smelling nice and more about control. Take Napoleon Bonaparte, who was so devoted to cologne that he allegedly ordered 50 bottles of it a month, often layering citrus with rosemary.

Meanwhile, in Elizabethan England, gloves were perfumed with rosewater, orange flowers, cloves, musk, civet and ambergris. And in Mughal India, emperors wore attars of rose and sandalwood; these can be so potent that they’d linger on garments for months. Empires might collapse but fragrance endures.

Then came Coco Chanel, who approached perfume the way she approached clothes, with rebellion. By the 1920s, she’d had enough of single-flower scents that reduced women to roses, violets or lilies. Her answer was Chanel No5, a layered blend of aldehydes and florals that felt as modern as her little black dress. Marilyn Monroe later immortalised it in Life magazine; when asked what she wore to bed, she answered, “Chanel No5.”

Modern perfumers like Juliette Karagueuzoglou remind me that fragrance isn’t just bottled luxury or history’s afterthought, it’s generosity. She’s the creative mind behind scents like Yves Saint Laurent’s L’Homme, Ferragamo’s Signorina and YSL’s velvet-dark Tuxedo, perfumes that already live on countless vanities.

When I asked her what fragrance is, she didn’t reach for molecules or chemistry. Instead, she smiled and said, “For me, perfume is about giving people emotion, giving them strength, giving them confidence. It’s the tool that lets them appear in the world the way they want to.”

Signature scents and perfume layering, at its core, is storytelling. Maybe that’s the reason it has endured for 3,000 years, it reminds us that identity isn’t fixed. Cleopatra layered to seduce, Napoleon to conquer, Coco to liberate. Today, we use it to curate identity, memory and mood. The fascination endures because layering, when done well, is narrative. Perfume is music in molecules. Every scent has top, heart and base notes. An overture, a chorus and a finale. Layering is remixing that symphony. A smoky oudh under a rose? That’s jazz. A bright citrus lifted by vanilla? Pop ballad. Each spritz is a casting choice: who do I want to be today?

What’s the first thing that goes through your mind when you’re about to step into a high-stakes match?

PT: Firstly, there’s this looming pressure: Are Indians even good at MMA? Because for 30 years, nobody brought home a medal. Then I think back to where I came from, how girls aren’t valued there and how my victory could be their victory too. For me, winning is not only about bringing glory to my country, it’s also about bringing change to my village.

GD: The mental toll that each game takes on a player is quite high, especially at the top, where there isn’t a single easy game for a stretch of two to three weeks. You sit at the table and cannot afford to lose your focus for five hours straight. It gets to me, but I feel like the nerves are also my North Star. I get worried if I don’t feel nervous before a game because being slightly on edge means that my brain is fully locked in.

Winning is all well and good but having to deal with failure in public requires a different kind of strength. How do you do it?

PT: I won’t deny that it feels great when people recognise me at the airport because it motivates me to continue along the path I am on. When I won the UFC fight, some journalists travelled to my village. The locals couldn’t understand what was happening since my mother hadn’t told them where I was or what I was doing. So instead of answering the media’s questions, they started asking questions of their own. They’re very proud of me now and there’s always a grand welcome waiting when I return home. That said, I have no qualms about admitting that losing a match makes me cry a lot. After I have pacified myself, I assess my flaws to see why I lost and whether I need to work on my attack or defence.

Puja Tomar reacts after her victory against Rayanne dos Santos of Brazil in a strawweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at KFC Yum! Center on June 08, 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky. Jeff Bottari/Getty Images.