Posts in category: Life Style

The night before I left Bengaluru to start my job in Mumbai, I hovered by the corner cupboard in my living room, pretending I had a reason to be there instead of in bed. Prying open the doors, I reached for the photo albums stacked inside. I didn’t need to see them, I’ve memorised every image. But it’s a habit I can’t shake, like checking my phone when I wake up.

The photos, clicked by my father, capture my family at our candid best: me rolling on the floor of a department store mid-tantrum. My amma in the kitchen, wearing a blue nightie and sporting her famous murrikyal (Malayalam for ‘fierce glare’, one I have inherited), wielding an appai (utensil) in protest against being photographed. My brother perched on a hospital bed, holding up a freshly fractured arm from some misadventure. Walls, chairs, his offices, my plushies—my father feverishly documented the mundane fragments of life no one else would think to hold on to.

Back then, the pictures seemed unremarkable, a waste of film, but now I cherish them. Those photos weren’t about perfection or preservation; they were about perspective. My Appa’s perspective. My father passed away suddenly when I was 15, right after my board examinations. He was—and continues to be—one of my favourite people. It took me 15 years to realise the profound power his photographs held, building a bridge between the two planes of existence that separate us.

At first, I clung to the images he took because they were more than memories; they were proof. Proof that he had been here, that we had shared those moments. But his absence in them haunted me. A few months before he passed, he said something I’ll never forget: “I took all these photos, yet no one took a single one of me.”

At the time, I didn’t grasp the weight of those words. Later, desperately searching for his face in old albums, I felt their sting sharp and deep.

Appa’s self-portraits, often taken on his work trips abroad, were unintentionally comedic—close-ups of his nostrils and moustache, his face slightly out of focus. Armed with a boxy, black Canon point-and-shoot camera, he was the OG selfie king before selfies were a thing. The results weren’t perfect, but they were unabashedly him. After my father passed away, my brother and I studied the photos he took on his trip to Leh, his final journey. We searched the snow-capped mountains, the halted trucks and silent vistas over and over for clues, for a message he might have left us.

There are so many stylish ways to wear baggy jeans; the 2000s trends have proven that they can be combined with any piece of clothing or footwear. But, there’s one combination that takes these jeans from just stylish to glamorous: baggy jeans and sandals.

The duo is suitable for day or night wear, all summer long, and has been worn by the likes of Rihanna and Sofia Vergara. The two are frequent guests on Pinterest style boards, and share the same taste for styling the denim pants with heeled sandals.

Getty Images

Getty Images

On-trend jeans for Spring/Summer 2025 include this flowing design. The preference for a looser fit that moves away from high-waisted or skinny jeans is transgenerational. Additionally, the nostalgia that revives past trends has brought these jeans back to the main fashion capitals.

Brands like Bottega Veneta, Gucci, Loewe and Stella McCartney have not hesitated to include them in past and current collections, increasing their demand among fashion experts. By now, it would be impossible that you don’t have one (or several) designs in your closet.

Below, seven different ways to style baggy jeans with summer’s signature footwear. From strappy heeled styles to flat soled mules, they’re an excuse for a different look, with the same old clothes.

How to wear baggy jeans with sandals in summer 2025, according to street style

Light, printed baggy jeans with strappy heeled sandals

Street style shows how to put a stylish, yet cool twist on the on-trend baggy jeans.

Spotlight

Cosmic tip: Create balance with your energy to make the densest things levitate.

“No, thank you.” is a complete sentence. No overjustification is needed, no simplification or reasons are needed. You have an opportunity, you like it, jump at it. When someone asks you to dish out reasons for their approval, you don’t need to, Taurus. Your goal here is not mere material attainment; it is rising above the physical and mastering the real essence of life, transcendence. From this point onwards, you are in charge of your authority, your decisions and what feels right for you. Get your boss’s shoes on now.

Cosmic tip: Embrace your inner fire and confidence.

Gemini, don’t you see? You are not bound by the same chains that trapped you at one point in time. You’re glowing in ways you once only dreamed of, and that light is real. It’s coming from deep self, trust, hard-won clarity, and showing up for yourself. Your power is quiet, steady, and enough. Remember that you don’t need to prove anything to anyone anymore. In times that feel like a tug of war, just keep choosing alignment over approval. You know you are here to thrive without shrinking. So, allow yourself to take up space. Let it be easy this time.

Cosmic tip: Break free from this chain.

Pick your battles, choose your options and amidst it all, stay grounded. Cancer, when conflict arises, even if it feels like all is up in the air, take a moment to process your emotions, scream, shout, cry it out if you must, but when you choose to act, do so from a space of neutrality, balance and firm groundedness. If you were the sun, would you not shine more responsibly, or would you let your fury and sorrow get the better of your power to destroy?

Cosmic tip: You are the sun, you are the moon, you are the cosmos, but you are also human. Feel, process, emote, act.

You’ve closed a chapter that nearly broke you, but it also freed you, Leo. Now, there’s a quiet fire returning. A fresh idea, a pull toward something that feels more you. Follow it. This is a moment to rebuild from clarity, not chaos. Say yes to what excites you, even if it scares you. Align your work with your truth, not your past. You’re not starting over, you’re starting real with refined skills, ideas and an entire game plan in place. Lay strong foundations. Surround yourself with support. Let growth be steady, not rushed. Your next step doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be honest. You’re not lost, you’re being recalibrated.

Nights out with friends weren’t always this complicated. In my early twenties in New York, Friday nights meant stumbling out of cramped Lower East Side bars at 2am, heels clicking against wet pavements as we laughed our way to our favourite late-night taco joint. We’d dance until our feet ached and often catch the sunrise from misted taxi windows. Life moved with the easy rhythm of youth—decisions made on a whim, adventures born from boredom, freedom taken for granted.

Then, at 23, everything changed. After a serious motorcycle-taxi accident in Uganda, where I’d moved from New York to work, my world turned upside down. The traumatic brain injury severely impacted my movements on my right side. When I woke three months later, I couldn’t move my right arm or hand, and damaged nerve pathways blocked motor signals to my right leg, too.

What had been a strong, independent body, able to climb stairs, dance for hours and navigate any terrain, became one that had to relearn the most basic movements through rigorous physical therapy. Having lived away from my family across continents, happily with friends, I had to move back under my parents’ roof. The injury also affected the muscles used for speech, slowing my pace and slurring my words.

Six years after my accident, I enrolled in university in the U.S. to pursue an MBA. I wasn’t at Yale only to get a degree; I was also determined to reclaim a ‘normal’ social life. I was using a quad cane to walk indoors, but ventured into the world on a power wheelchair. This meant calendarising my weekends like an army general. Each outing required immense planning, patience and delicate negotiation: with my own body, with exclusionary infrastructure, and often, with my mother, who had accompanied me to university. Naturally, she carried her own fears about letting me out into a world that hasn’t learned to make space for people like me.

When I stopped to think about it, the contrast was brutal. I’d gone from spontaneously meeting friends anywhere to researching every venue in advance. Were the bathrooms accessible? Were there steps to enter? Could my power wheelchair fit through the door?

Nights out meant travelling in groups so friends could help navigate crowded spaces and accepting that my soft and slightly slurred speech required patient ears. I would jostle through the crowds with friends flanking me, carving out space for my wheelchair, until we escaped to a dimmer back room where conversation didn’t require shouting over music that made my already-challenged speech even harder to understand.

Those imperfections—the therapist who pauses awkwardly, the missed cue, the flawed response—can be deeply therapeutic. “For anyone who grew up under pressure to be perfect, the realness of a human therapist can actually be corrective,” says Donahue.

For Gen Z, however, turning to tech is second nature. “They grew up with devices as a fifth limb,” says Alyssa Petersel, a licensed social worker and founder of MyWellbeing. The pandemic, too, trained this generation to rely on screens for connection. In that context, AI therapy doesn’t feel like a compromise—it feels intuitive.

But that intuition can be risky. Younger users are developmentally more vulnerable and more likely to trust confident responses, even when those responses come from a machine. In extreme cases, this has had tragic consequences. Two Texas families recently filed a lawsuit against Character.AI after their children’s interactions with AI chatbots led to devastating outcomes.

Even outside those extremes, there are concerns. “You’re losing the muscle to reflect and decide for yourself,” Petersel says. “AI therapy is persuasive, but not always contextual. And young people often don’t yet have the internal scaffolding to filter that.” Older adults, by contrast, often bring more scepticism to their interactions with tech.

That doesn’t mean AI is devoid of value. “We need to honour the benefits while understanding the risks,” says Pharaon. AI can rapidly synthesise documents, process journal entries and offer frameworks for reflection. Petersel offers a real-life example: uploading pages of stream-of-consciousness writing and asking the bot to summarise what she seems to believe.

But even the best AI therapy apps are only as good as the prompts they receive. Advice to “take a walk” or “call your dad” might seem supportive—unless your street is unsafe or your family dynamic is fraught. “The tech can’t always know what’s safe or emotionally appropriate,” says Petersel.

A recent study published in PLOS Mental Health found that people could rarely tell the difference between ChatGPT and human therapists, and often rated the AI responses higher. While that’s significant, it also raises questions about what kind of connection we’re measuring. “It’s not just about sounding smart,” says Donahue. “It’s about being seen.”

Ultimately, AI therapy might offer helpful tools, but it’s not a replacement for the messy, layered work of being in a relationship with another person. “AI shortchanges people from the beauty of growing through human connection,” says Donahue. “We need people. Period.”

Eye makeup might just be the most creative and chaotic part of any routine. It’s a delicate balance of blending, smudging, lining and hoping both wings cooperate (they rarely do). One wrong flick and it’s back to square one, mascara wand in one hand, micellar water in the other. The effort is real, but it’s also what sets the tone for the rest of the look.

This week, the eyes did all the talking. Ananya Panday swapped her usual barely-there glam for a hit of pastel colour, while Sara Ali Khan dialled up the intensity with a full-bodied smoky gaze. Consider it a nudge to move beyond the basics—be it a soft smudge of kohl or a pop of pigment across the lash line.

Ananya Panday paired her turquoise swimsuit with an equally punchy eye moment. Pastel green on the lids met a pop of periwinkle below for a playful two-tone contrast. The rest of her makeup stayed minimal: dewy skin, bronzed cheeks, softly filled brows and a blurred nude lip. Her tousled, honey-highlighted hair, worn loose and windswept, mirrored the easy, beachy energy of the look.

Sara Ali Khan’s all-black look hinged on bold eyes and clean structure. Deep kohl along the waterline and softly diffused liner were framed by full lashes and sharply defined brows. A velvety base let her natural glow show through, while a muted rose lip softened the effect. A braided ponytail and stacked ear cuffs kept the look grounded and graphic.

Rasha Thadani opted for soft glamour in a silver slip dress and makeup to match. Warm brown eyeshadow melted into softly diffused edges, with crisp winged liner and kohl tracing the lower lashes. Her base was dewy and defined, accented by coral blush and a touch of champagne shimmer. A glossy nude lip tied it together.

Rashmika Mandanna kept things classic in an ivory sari and delicate gajra. Her second-skin base set the tone, while deep-lined eyes and fluttery lashes gave definition. A creamy mauve-pink lip echoed the soft tones on her cheeks. A tiny black bindi and bold brows completed the look, with oversized jhumkas offering the only hint of sparkle.

Bhumi Pednekar kept the focus sharp and modern. A glossy brick-toned lip set the mood, complemented by rose-gold shimmer on the lids and softly defined lashes. Her skin looked fresh and radiant, with warmth diffused through the cheeks and just enough contour to frame the face. The slick bun and sculptural earrings added polish without overpowering the look.

Deshmukh accessorised her look with polki pieces by Razwada Jewels. “Her look features our handcrafted Kaan Shear earrings, adorned with vibrant polkis, Colombian emeralds, pink tourmalines, and a centrepiece polki of three carats, all set in exquisite 18k gold. Her look is complemented by our elegant hathphool set with polki, Zambian emeralds, and pearls,” shares Jeetendra Sirohiya, founder, Razwada Jewels. She also wore a stacked selection of bangles and kadas. For her glam, she went with soft smoky eyes, a nude gloss, and a gajra-adorned sleek bun—a perfect beauty look with her traditional anarkali.

Instagram.com/who_wore_what_when

There’s a reason why anarkalis are so popular: lightweight, comfortable, and head-turning at once. The staple can be worn for any festive occasion, be it in summer, monsoon or winter. It can also easily transition from AM to PM, making it a trend- and season-agnostic outfit. But an anarkali is hardly an innovative style. That said, Deshmukh has recently proven, you can style in a unique way to make it look fresh, while retaining its timelessness.

Also read:

Genelia Deshmukh’s Kanjeevaram sari championed hand-painted kalamkari techniques

Genelia Deshmukh’s summer-appropriate sari highlighted bandhani and thread embroidery

4 looks from Genelia Deshmukh’s collection of Kanjeevarams and Benarasis to try for wedding season

Cosmic tip: You are a powerful, magical creature.

What do you truly value, Sag? Stop! Can you, for one moment, stop to absorb the love and share it with the ones who matter most to you? Can you, for one brief moment, put yourself in someone else’s shoes with compassion? Can you, for one tiny second, suspend yourself mid-air to observe instead of swinging by things constantly? Yes, for you, life is amazing when it feels rushed and thrilling. But really, what you must also consider is that fire is most powerful when it learns to tame and sustain itself, because it is then that it gives life.

Cosmic tip: Your task at hand is to help transform.

You’ve been looking at life from a different lens, Capricorn. And what this has been creating for you is a sense of wonderment and a deep understanding of how fleeting life is, how the real moments to be treasured are the ones you share with those who matter, how by just being around, you may be making a difference in someone else’s life and how even though you did not have the ideal inner circle, you still made it through beautifully. You’ve been through many lifetimes seeking meaning, and you are here unwrapping it one moment at a time. Don’t you see, you were exactly meant to be where you are.

Cosmic tip: You are the sum of all the parts of you that have brought you to this point.

The emperor sits on his throne, gazing out into the horizon till his eyes can see. What he sees is what he’s built, worked hard for and earned. What he feels is immense pride in his efforts and a deep sense of responsibility towards all he is here to safeguard. There is work still to be done, but a lot has already been achieved through reflection, peace and tranquillity. Now it is time for him to juggle between preserving and creating, withholding and conceding, sharing and receiving. This Emperor is you, Aquarius.

Cosmic tip: Watch your words – catch them come to life.

The walk between your ideas and your charmed life is one you must take, Pisces. And although things may feel very awry, very chaotic and extremely up in the air presently, allow yourself to fix your gaze beyond the window where the sun shines over grassy pastures and lush trees sway in the cool breeze. Your sense of freedom is right here within reach – and this loop you’ve been trying to exit for so long, it is finally going to end.

Cosmic tip: You will soon meet yourself – brand new and sparkling, once again.

If there’s one skincare ingredient that’s stood the test of time, it’s glycerin. In fact, using glycerin for skin health dates back to the late 18th century, when it was used in hygiene products and general cleaning. As it grew in popularity, it began to be incorporated into skincare products like toners and other topical formulas.

Now, it’s a quiet skincare behemoth, appearing in the INCI lists of cleansers, mists, essences, serums, body washes and moisturisers. Why is glycerin in such demand, though? We asked three leading dermatologists to explain.

What is glycerin?

“Glycerin, also known as glycerol, is a naturally occurring compound found in both animal and plant fats,” explains Dr Sophie Momen, consultant dermatologist at The Cadogan Clinic. Though she goes on to say, most cosmetic-grade glycerin is plant-derived. “Glycerin is a colourless, odourless, syrupy liquid that’s been used in skincare for centuries due to its ability to retain moisture.”

Molecularly speaking, glycerin has an innate ability to bind with water, which is what makes it such a powerful hydrator for the skin. Often, it’ll be listed as “glycerin, glycerin or glycerine” on skincare labels, Momen finishes.

Is glycerin a humectant?

Yes, glycerin is a humectant and one of the most effective and efficient ones, at that. “A humectant works by attracting water molecules, either from the deeper layers of your skin or from the environment, and binding them to the skin’s surface. This function is crucial in helping the skin stay hydrated, plump and smooth,” Momen explains.

An easy way to understand the role of a humectant is to think of it as a magnet for water. Glycerin, for example, pulls water towards it, holding it within the skin barrier and preventing it from escaping. “This makes glycerin especially important in maintaining skin elasticity, preventing dryness and supporting the skin’s natural healing processes,” she says.

What are the benefits of using glycerin?

At a glance, glycerin can:

• “Deliver deep hydration by attracting and binding moisture to the skin, keeping it soft and supple,” says Momen.
• Improve elasticity and appear firmer and more resilient.
• Can smooth rough or bumpy textures.
• Alleviate dry patches.
• Promote enhanced healing and support faster repair.

Pride Month isn’t about rainbow-washing your feed with slogans no one means or wearing a glittery plastic pin made in a factory that actively underpays its workers. It’s about taste. Bad taste that circles back to brilliance. And gifts that speak queer in fluency, not marketing decks. Whether you’re shopping for your best friend, your sneaky link or your gorgeously complex self, here are 19 Pride gifts that aren’t tragic.

1. A bumbag (or a version of it)

Prada – Triangular embellished satin and leather mini-pouch, Price on request

Because nothing says “I’m curated, calculating and armoured” louder than an embellished pouch slung across the chest.

2. A cigarette box

Saint Laurent Paris – Cigarette box in vegetable tanned leather, ₹63,551

It looks like it holds cigarettes, but actually holds boundary issues and three unsent drafts of a breakup text.

3. Vivienne Westwood orb necklace

Vivienne Westwood – Mini bas relief pendant necklace, ₹16,675

It is not a phase, it is a queer rite of passage.

4. Paul Mescal’s micro Gucci shorts

Gucci – Striped cotton shorts with embroidery, ₹77,400

Getty Images

Because thighs are a right, not a privilege.

5. Alone Together by Perfumehead

Perfumehead – Alone Together Extrait de Parfum, ₹21,377/30ml

Smells like queer summer heartbreak and moss. Wear it while listening to Sufjan Stevens.

6. Jacob Elordi’s bathwater-scented candle (Saltburn edition)

Etsy – Jacob Elordi’s bathwater candle, ₹2,603

Smells like unresolved tension.

7. A Nan Goldin print

Yvon Lambert – Nan Goldin – Print (2004), ₹4,960

Emotionally wrecked in soft lighting. Just like you.

8. A Diptyque shampoo

Diptyque – Perfumed shampoo, ₹4,900

For the softboi in healing. Smells like hope and longing.

9. A Polaroid camera

Polaroid – I-2 instant camera ₹58,664

Not all memories are meant to be clear.

10. A very good fan that snaps open with force and fury. Even better if it’s vintage.

Farfetch – Pre-owned vintage 1920s feather fan, ₹34,878

Great for club exits, shade and mildly violent flirting.

11. Anything by Jonathan Anderson

JW Anderson – Cafe scene all-over print t-shirt, ₹18,500

It doesn’t matter what. It’s already queer-coded.

12. Gaultier mesh tops

Jean Paul Gaultier – The ‘le classique’ top, ₹8,950

A trompe l’oeil fever dream for the fashion-insecure and fabulous.

13. Laetitia Rouget’s candle holders

Laetitia Rouget – Pink tulip candle holder, ₹16,308

Looks like a candelabra in drag.

14. A silk robe

Versace – Graphic-print silk robe, ₹1,95,289

Clearly not for modest mornings. You don’t wear it, you enter in it.

15. A leather harness

Dsquared2 – Leather harness, ₹41,874

For fashion reasons only, duh.

16. A bottle of hand mist for post-encounter reflection

Aesop – Resurrection rinse-free hand mist, ₹1,369

Clean hands. Dirty thoughts.

17. Margiela Replica fragrances that smell like emotional weather

Maison Margiela – Replica whispers in the library, ₹11,200

Vague, chic and definitely about a boy.

18. A banana-shaped lamp

Seletti – Banana lamp louie, ₹19,575

Unhinged and somehow romantic.

19. Reading glasses

Tom Ford Eyewear – Oversize-frame glasses, ₹48,920

…because reading is what? Fundamental.

Also read:

10 queer romance books that deserve Pride of place on your shelf

How this queer couple’s wedding beside Kerala’s Vembanad lake made Indian traditions their own

18 things to buy if a Labubu isn’t for you