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Your phone is not a soft start. Especially not at 6.14 am, when you’re blinking at a blurry WhatsApp, cortisol already rising, still curled in yesterday’s regret. You tell yourself it’s just catching up, just looking, just vibing, but what you’re actually doing is feeding a brain that’s still booting up like Windows 98.

Biologically, the early morning is a delicate hormonal window. Cortisol, your body’s primary stress hormone, rises sharply between 6am and 9am, not as a threat response but as part of your circadian rhythm to help you wake up. It’s meant to be a gentle lift. What it doesn’t need is blue light, Instagram stories, five Slack pings and a reel about biohacking your skincare routine before you’ve even stretched.

What science tells us about screens, stress and attention

In a 2022 clinical trial on digital screen use, researchers found that reducing media exposure significantly improved mood and well-being over just two weeks. While the cortisol biomarker shifts weren’t dramatic across all participants, the trend was consistent: less screen time, better baseline regulation.

Another study found that under elevated cortisol, that is, during periods of stress or hormonal arousal, the brain becomes better at “updating” tasks, but worse at switching between them. Which makes your early-morning scroll, switching from a meme to an email to a news story to a calorie-counting reel, the equivalent of trying to play five chess games with one pawn. No wonder you feel frazzled by 9am. You’re working against your own chemistry.

What a slow morning routine does for your cortisol

This isn’t about waking up at 5am, sipping ghee or writing in cursive. A slow morning routine is simply a way to pace your sensory input while your body transitions from sleep to wakefulness. The goal is to delay overstimulation.

Even small shifts in your first hour, like stepping outside, delaying caffeine or choosing a single task, can reduce nervous system load and improve emotional regulation. You’re giving your brain time to calibrate before it has to react.

What to do in the morning instead

Research has shown that your first waking hour plays an outsized role in shaping your energy, focus and stress responses. These are simple, physiological ways to start your day differently:

If anything, a saviour complex could make the situation you’re trying to improve worse. According to Gutiérrez, constantly forgiving or making excuses for someone’s inconsiderate (or downright shitty) habits—even if it stems from pain—sends subtle messages like, You don’t need to take responsibility, because I’ll handle it for you. Or, I’ll always be here, no matter how you treat me.

“Eventually, this can create a codependent dynamic where you’re enabling another person’s bad behaviour and falsely believing you can control them,” Dr. Gooden says. Take a pal who struggles to keep a stable job, for instance: If you’re always offering money or sending available listings, it makes sense they might rely on you instead of shouldering the hard, inner work themselves.

That’s all without getting into how being a “fixer” can hurt your well-being, too, Dr. Gooden says. Over time, you’ll probably be exhausted and frustrated, especially when you’re giving advice that’s clearly being ignored or putting in lots of effort yet…still being treated like crap. “All that emotional investment can lead to frustration and even resentment,” she adds. That’s definitely not the kind of healthy, balanced relationship you deserve.

How to let go of the need to “save” people

It’s easy to think that understanding where someone’s hurtful actions come from means you have to accept them. Sure, my partner snaps all the time, but that’s not their fault since they grew up in that environment. Yeah, my childhood bestie constantly puts me down, but that’s only because they’re insecure—I should reassure them.

Instead of banking on the hope that this person will someday, maybe, eventually become “better” with your support, it’s more worthwhile to shift the focus back to yourself. What do you need to feel respected and valued in this relationship? You can also reflect on why this instinct is overpowering you (and a solid therapist can guide you to that answer): Maybe you’re focusing on your partner’s past to avoid addressing your own. Or you’re chasing the sweet validation that comes with doing the impossible and miraculously unlocking a struggling person’s full potential.

From there, you can decide how to draw limits, adjust your expectations or even step away if necessary. “You get to choose what kinds of behaviours you will and won’t tolerate,” Dr. Gooden says. “And setting boundaries can be an important way to communicate that.”

There is no doubting that Bollywood women have always been epitomes of style and glamor. They paint the red carpets and reel life with their ethereal touches of saree and lehenga ensembles with blouses that are a league apart. If you’re on the hunt for blouse designs that scream glamour and tradition in equal measure, here are some iconic moments from Bollywood that must go straight to your bookmark list.

1. Deepika Padukone – “Ram Leela”

Deepika changed the very essence of royal ethnic wear, all manner of heavily embroidered backless cholis and mirror-embellished blouses in Ram Leela.

Drape a deep maroon, rust, or blue backless blouse with mirror work or the dori-style tying.

Best Pair: A Lehenga with heavy embroidery or mirror work of the flared variety and a sheer dupatta hung in the Gujarati style.

Accessories: Oxidized finish Jhumkas and Kadas, along with a statement-type nose ring, to bring in some Rajasthani glam.

2. Alia Bhatt – “Kalank”

Alia’s wardrobe for Kalank boasted high-neck, full-sleeve-less blouses with subtle threadwork carrying every bit of that Mughal elegance.

Blouse in pastel or jewel tones, with sheer sleeves and antique embroidery.

Best Pairing: Your blouse will do all the talking if you pair it with an A-line very flowy floor-length lehenga or an organza saree with maybe just a tablespoon of embellishments.

Accessories: Kundan chandbalis, an elegant maang tikka, and floral gajras to complete that soft dreamy look.

3. Kareena Kapoor Khan – “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham”

That metallic halter blouse of Poo was all glam in the early 2000s.

Any halter or spaghetti-strap blouse of metallic silver/champagne/rose gold shade shall suffice.

Best Pairing: Go for your chiffon saree or sequin lehenga to unleash that Y2K disco shine.

Accessories: Crystal earrings, a beaded clutch, and scarily sleek pony-high or straight hair.

4. Priyanka Chopra – “Bajirao Mastani”

Backing a royal Marathi looks of Neeta and Priyanka are brocade boat-neck blouses with elbow-length sleeves.

Select a rich brocade blouse in muted-gold-threadwork.

Best Pairing: Earthy shades Nauvari-style saree or a temple border silk lehenga put on a beautiful sight.

Accessories: The temple jwellery set, a traditional nath and a mogra-adorned bun are just right to bring out great magnificence.

5. Madhuri Dixit – “Devdas”

Those deep U neck velvet blouses with intricate zari really made Madhuri’s presence felt.

Velvet or raw silk with zardozi; sparkly work on the sleeves, oh, so dramatic!

Best Pairing: Rich-colored Banarasi and Kanjaivarams silks or flared lehenga with antique gold embroideries.

Accessories: Layered neckpieces, some typical bracelets, and very red lip colors for that vintage diva appearance.

6. Sara Ali Khan – “Atrangi Re”

With parandas and patchwork blouses, Sara marked her look as colorful, playful, and ethnic.

Bright-colored blouses in fun and quirky cuts would be perfect with the look-anything tie-up back, pom-poms, or mirror work.

Best Pairings: Printed lehengas or cotton sarees with contrasting borders and a fun drape-belted or butterfly-for that free-spirited vibe.

Accessories: Keep it casual with chunky oxidized and shell bangles, hair tucked In and braided.

7. Sonam Kapoor- “Veere Di Wedding”

Sonam tried all manners of blouses-need a little crazy and capes, to one-shoulder and any imaginable form of coming off the shoulder.

Fusion blouses owning interesting structure or layered elements such as sheer capes, cut-outs, and puffed sleeves.

Best Pairing: Embroidered shararas or lehengas with a contemporary bent, and pre-stitched designer sarees to boot.

Accessories: Big ear cuffs and statement rings, with a slick hairdo-A totally contemporary pairing.

Wayward is a Canadian‑British limited thriller series that plunges viewers into the seemingly idyllic yet sinister town of Tall Pines. Mae Martin stars as Alex Dempsey, a police officer who moves there with his pregnant wife, Laura (Sarah Gadon). When two students, Abbie (Sydney Topliffe) and Leila (Alyvia Alyn Lind), escape from the town’s academy for troubled teens, Alex begins digging into Tall Pines Academy, run by the enigmatic Evelyn Wade (Toni Collette), and uncovers dark, deeply rooted secrets behind the therapeutic facade.

Streaming on Netflix

All of You (September 26)

Cosmic tip: Surrender your fears to the cosmos.

Hug yourself as you go to bed. Embrace your fears and caress your inner child. A lot has happened for you and in your life recently, Virgo. And just so you know, you may be clearing 5-8 years’ worth of karma and knots. All that has conspired was part of your soul’s plan. And all that is to come will also be. The unknown feels chaotic I know. It feels uncertain and unsure. However, this is leading you onto a journey you decided to take on. A journey that makes you rethink your life, your priorities and what you wish to carry forward with you when you reach your last day here. Profound it is, but it is also very true.

Cosmic tip: Segregate your thoughts and goals from those of others.

You’ve unchained your grip from the past and here you are face to face with your love, passions and a deep sense of alignment. Libra, your personal goals, your value system, the way you engage with life—you are coming online once again with your signature gusto and vibrance. Now look at the long-term picture. You are governed by logic —so fuse this optimism with a long-term strategy and craft your goals to life.

Cosmic tip: If it rings a bell, it is divinely sent.

You are marching on, Scorpio. But are you tired? It is okay to rest, it is okay to ask for help. It is absolutely okay to soak in the silence of the moment to pause, reflect and recharge. You need not always be on the go to make things work. Sometimes, taking a moment to respond to life yields far greater results than taking action to make things happen. You have something wonderful brewing in your heart and soul. Give it an honest shot. And allow it to flutter, prosper and grow.

Cosmic tip: Plan for your future and take decisive action steps.

How easily do you get distracted? This is the question you must ask yourself, Sag. because your inability to get going is not merely based on being unable to find an emotional or mental anchor—in fact, it is directly linked to your struggle to keep honing things the way you initially jump onto them. You are almost like a goblin that is excited by the next shiny thing and while instant gratification feels amazing, does it really get you far? Breathe. Manage your time, focus, energy and resources wisely and then watch the magic unfold.

This love story begins at a community sports festival in Dar es Salaam. That’s where 16-year-old Vishal Vithlani, already armed with intel about a certain Dhwani Rajani, set out to engineer a meeting. The encounter was brief, but it was enough to set something in motion.

What followed were years of calls, catch-ups and countless airport goodbyes. From Tanzania to Chicago and eventually London, Vithlani, an entrepreneur, and Rajani, a freelancer, kept finding their way back to one another–proof that distance can deepen a bond rather than diminish it.

When it came to the proposal, subtlety was never going to be Vithlani’s style. “Yes, much to my ‘surprise,’ Vishal pulled out a magnificent experience to ask me to marry him,” Rajani laughs. He flew her to Oman’s Musandam mountains, checked them into Six Senses Zighy Bay–where paragliding is literally a check-in option–and insisted she shop for something special in Dubai. “He was unusually opinionated about my outfits. That should have been my first clue,” she recalls. The hints all led to a private dinner in the mountains, where Vithlani went down on one knee with a ring. The answer, of course, was yes.

Their pre-wedding shoot was no ordinary walk through the gardens. “We’ve always shared a love for nature and adventure, whether it’s hiking, swimming, snorkelling or even paragliding,” Rajani says. So when Himanshu of Epic Stories suggested a hidden turtle cave in Zanzibar, she agreed immediately. “I’m a complete water baby and turtles have always held a special place in my heart.” As they floated in the water, turtles drifted past, while the couple created a memory they still return to. “Shooting amongst turtles was unlike anything we had ever imagined, equal parts exciting and magical,” Rajani recalls.

For the wedding itself, the compass pointed home. “Tanzania has always been home and home is where the heart is,” Rajani says. A marathon of vendor calls, mood boards and late-night planning sessions followed. “We wanted all our nearest and dearest to feel every moment, and that’s exactly what we managed to pull off.”

The festivities opened with a Sagai ceremony and a Mediterranean beach cocktail, where a live saxophonist played against the ocean. The next day brought pujas, followed by a marigold-and-purple haldi that resembled a bohemian daydream, complete with a spritzer bar and street food counters. At the Sangeet, the walkway was lined with easels carrying handwritten notes of advice, little reminders the couple had lived by over the years, leading into a night of fairy lights, dance numbers on a white chequered floor and cocktails that leaned into Dar’s love for whiskey and gin.

Madhuri Dixit Nene is rarely one to stray from the six-yard classic, favouring traditional weaves and flowing chiffons. Her latest Ashdeen look, however, reimagined the sari as a corseted gown. “The silhouette was inspired by a sari, but the idea was to make it into a gown. The upper part is a corseted bodice, the bottom an A-line skirt with a high slit,” explains designer Ashdeen Lilaowala.

She chose the ebony ensemble for the screening of Netflix’s The Ba**ds of Bollywood. “The gown took us more than eight weeks to complete because it consists of lots of different elements, which were crafted across various studios by various artisans. It was an intricate process to ensure all pieces were rendered in the same shades and details,” the designer explains.

The highlight is the embroidery. “The sari features our classic Parsi gara,” notes Lilaowala. For this sari-gown, motifs of flowers and birds in pink, blue and orange were stitched against a black canvas, turning the gown into a work of wearable art.

Often described as “painting in thread” and relegated to heirloom collections, the centuries-old Parsi gara work dates back to the 19th century when Parsi traders brought back embroidered silks from Canton to Gujarat. Its motifs, spanning the range of florals, birds and even Chinese figures, were borrowed from porcelain and adapted into threadwork so intricate it could take months to finish a single sari. Lilaowala adds, “We have quirky names for motifs, too. There’s ‘Cheena Cheeni’, which depicts a Chinese man and woman against a landscape of pagodas or ‘Karoliya’, which means a spider.”

Another famous pattern, ‘kaanda papeta’, literally translates to onions and potatoes, a tongue-in-cheek nod to its ubiquity.

Keeping the spotlight on the sari-gown, Madhuri Dixit Nene accessorised with nothing but a pair of chandelier earrings. With her hair styled in a half-up, half-down, she completed her beauty look with smoky eyes and berry lips.

Also read:

Madhuri Dixit Nene’s ombré sari pays homage to bandhani and Banarasi craftsmanship

Madhuri Dixit Nene’s silk-tissue sari pairs peach tones with playful palm blooms

7 saris from Madhuri Dixit Nene’s collection that take you from day to night

While their dream acquisition remains a Rothko, they’ve built up an enviable collection that houses celebrated names including Jitish Kallat, Tanya Goel, Sanket Viramgami, Gurjeet Singh, Areez Katki and Soghra Khurasani. Their taste has evolved too, moving from modern abstract art to process-driven pieces and geometric art to even folk. Over a decade later, they still enjoy doing the rounds of galleries to discover new artists and visual languages.

“Buying a piece of art can really bring a couple together,” explains Shivani Mutatkar Sambhare, founder of boutique advisory firm The Art Insider. “Focus on the process rather than the outcome—go to galleries and fairs together, turn monthly art nights into date nights. It helps with building your taste as a couple and can spark many interesting conversations, which then leads to buying the right piece.”

Sculptures, textiles, ceramics, even a beautiful piece of furniture can be collected as art, notes interior designer Ravi Vazirani. Photographed by Pankaj Anand.

And your purchases need not be limited to paintings or prints for the walls. “Sculptures, textiles, ceramics, even a beautiful chair can be art,” says Ravi Vazirani, founder and principal designer at Ravi Vazirani Design Studio. “Invest in small collectibles that feel like they belong to your story, not just your space. Buy less, but better. And don’t rush to fill every corner. Let the space grow with you.” Whether it’s the same colour, art form or something that evokes nostalgia, Vazirani recommends finding a common aspect and using that as a starting point to build your collection.

Some shoe trends feel very of the moment—take the Ugg Mary-Jane, which feels distinctly 2025. Others, though, carry a strong sense of déjà vu. Several of the key footwear trends for autumn/winter 2025 will be instantly recognisable to anyone who followed Carrie Bradshaw’s early Sex and the City looks, or who instinctively saves every photo of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy that appears on their Instagram feed—almost every ’90s style icon had some version of these shoes in her wardrobe back then.

These 7 shoes from the ’90s that are back this season

The minimalism that defined the decade—think Winona Ryder or Gwyneth Paltrow showing up to a fashion week party in just jeans and a tank—is echoed in many of the shoes that returned to the runways for autumn/winter 2025, like the sharp loafers and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy-approved mules spotted on the catwalks in Milan. But the ’90s were never short on glamour either: no red carpet was complete without a pair of bracelet-strap heels or sky-high stilettos. Read on for the seven ’90s-inspired shoe trends making a comeback this autumn.

Bracelet shoes

Bracelet shoes by Gucci, Fall-Winter 2025.

Condé Nast Archive / Gorunway.

Zapatos pulsera con falda satinada y camisa de Peet Dullaert.Daniele Oberrauch / Launchmetrics / Spotlight.

Tom Ford’s tenure at Gucci is one of the most frequently referenced eras in ’90s fashion—just last week, Hailey Bieber was photographed in a teal satin shirt from Ford’s autumn/winter 1995 collection for the house. But beyond the slinky separates and tactile tailoring, shoes with a delicate bracelet strap around the ankle were also central to his seductive Gucci aesthetic. Maximilian Davis echoed the detail in the killer heels of his autumn/winter 2025 Ferragamo collection.

Mary-Janes

The revival of prim Mary-Jane shoes has been underway for some time, and they continued to be a recurring theme on the autumn/winter 2025 runways. Back in the 1990s, fashion’s enfant terrible John Galliano was a devoted fan of the style. More recently, Nicolas Ghesquière sent Mary-Janes down his autumn/winter 2025 Louis Vuitton runway.

John Galliano Fall-Winter 1995 Mary Jane Shoes.

Condé Nast Archive / Gorunway.

Zapatos Mary Jane con pantalones drapeados y chamarra oversize.Launchmetrics / Spotlight.

Mules

Pared-back mules were a cornerstone of the ’90s wardrobe, popularised by minimalist houses like Helmut Lang and Calvin Klein. Fast-forward to today, and the style is enjoying a new heyday—especially at Schiaparelli, where Daniel Roseberry has reimagined the mule with a series of unforgettable trompe-l’œil twists.

Calvin Klein mules, Fall-Winter 1997.

Condé Nast Archive / Gorunway.

Schiaparelli mules, Fall-Winter 2025.

Launchmetrics / Spotlight.

Ballerina flats

Is there a fashion house more synonymous with the ballerina flat than Chanel? Back in 1999, Karl Lagerfeld gave the style a sharper edge with a pointed toe, but it’s the classic toe-cap version that has led the ballet-flat craze of the 2020s. Still a street-style favourite, they were a staple on the autumn/winter 2025 runways—including at Rokh.

Chanel Ballerinas, Fall-Winter 1999.

Condé Nast Archive / Gorunway.

Ballerinas by Rokh, Fall-Winter 2025.

Launchmetrics / Spotlight.

Loafers

Long an autumn staple, the designer loafer has taken on trophy status in recent seasons, thanks in part to the enduringly popular preppy aesthetic of Miu Miu. Back in 1998, Yohji Yamamoto paired sensible loafers with relaxed tailoring, but in 2025, you’re more likely to see them styled with an awkward-length skirt and schoolgirl-style socks.

Yohji Yamamoto loafers, Fall-Winter 1998.

Condé Nast Archive / Gorunway.

Miu Miu loafers, Fall-Winter 2025.

Launchmetrics / Spotlight.

Metallic boots

The dresses weren’t the only things gleaming on Rabanne’s autumn/winter 2025 runway—the retro-futurist house also sent out metallic silver boots for good measure. Their high-shine finish and calf-skimming cut recalled another jet-set moment from 1995, when supermodel Claudia Schiffer strode down the Versace runway in a pair worthy of Barbarella herself.

Versace metallic boots, Fall-Winter 1995.

Getty Images

Metallic boots by Rabanne.

Launchmetrics / Spotlight.

Classic stilettos

Classic stiletto heels are never not in style, but they were especially in favour in fashion in the mid-’90s, in many ways an era of optimism and economic prosperity. Elisabetta Franchi styled them with sheer tights and a denim pencil skirt for autumn/winter 2025, a more relaxed take on the sort of power dressing seen on Mugler’s autumn/winter 1995 catwalk.

Mugler stiletto heels, Fall-Winter 1995.

Condé Nast Archive / Gorunway.

Elisabetta Franchi stiletto heels, Fall-Winter 2025.

Launchmetrics / Spotlight.

This story first appeared on Vogue.mx.

Also read:

Satin skirts are having a moment—here are 8 simple ways to style them

Tailored dresses are replacing suits as the new power look

6 summer dress and shoe pairings that feel fresh for 2025

You are emerging from your fears almost as if plummeting into space and floating above it all, Aquarius. Has it taken work? Yes, very hard work. Has it taken persistence? Yes, every ounce of it you never thought you had. Has it tested your spirit? Yes, of course. But also, has it surprised you with confidence, skills, support and empathy? Yes. What has got you so excited, Aries! Yes, that is your calling. You may have been going round in circles about something; however, you know you need help pegging things down, and the help is here, and it is divinely timed. It is not far out into the future, because although you think there is time, there is so much happening until then that this will feel like a blink of an eye. You’ve got an arrow in your hand, and you’ve been looking for a bow to shoot this from. However, the cosmos asks you—what if you are meant to be the bow that helps this arrow hit the bull’s eye? Taurus, this is your final round. Keep pushing through till the bell rings.

Read on for what the stars have in store for you and make sure you check out your sun, moon and rising signs for the complete picture.

What has got you so excited, Aries! Yes, that is your calling. You may have been going round in circles about something; however, you know you need help pegging things down, and the help is here, and it is divinely timed. It is not far out into the future, because although you think there is time, there is so much happening until then that this will feel like a blink of an eye. But here is the thing—you need not stop dreaming, planning and putting pen to paper to see what you wish to do going forward. The opportunity will come for you to showcase it and perhaps even refine it, but until then, you have enough to keep you going.

Cosmic tip: One brick at a time builds an entire fortress.

You’ve got an arrow in your hand, and you’ve been looking for a bow to shoot this from. However, the cosmos asks you—what if you are meant to be the bow that helps this arrow hit the bull’s-eye? Taurus, this is your final round. Keep pushing through till the bell rings. Instead of focusing on every punch that is being packed in, focus on the one winning move you can make to make it to the victory post. This is all coming to a close. Hang in there.