Posts in category: Life Style

You asked for the stars and here you are reaching for them. Now Sag, it is time for you to converge logic with wisdom to lay the brick road ahead. You have many allies seen and unseen that will cross paths with you, supporting you forward, as long as you stay on course with your ethics and integrity. There are a million tricks and gems you will need to master yourself, and through it all you will need to step up as your friend, philosopher and guide. Until then, take it one breath at a time.

Cosmic tip: Yes, it is really happening and the stars are aligning.

I must have been a teenager when I found this strange, thin book gathering dust on my mum’s bookshelf. The Cosmic Ordering Service, the cover read, the text spread across an image of dandelion seeds being blown away into a blue sky. A Guide To Realising Your Dreams, by Bärbel Mohr. I liked the look of this odd, functional-sounding book. “It’s fantastic,” read a quote on the front attributed to Noel Edmonds. I was too young to know who Noel Edmonds was. But still: fantastic.

While we often hear about The Secret, Rhonda Byrne’s 2006 self-help bible beloved by Gen Xers, it was The Cosmic Ordering Service, published a few years beforehand, that really got me hooked on the idea of manifesting my life. Essentially, the book promotes the notion that, in order to get what you want, you can simply “place an order” with the universe. You write it down, set a date and wait for it to be “delivered”. So long as you ask in a positive way, aren’t too attached to the outcome and, crucially, believe, then it will happen. What could be a more enticing prospect?

Over the next decade or so, I became a staunch proponent of manifestation. I didn’t bang on about it or anything; this was my own private formula, and for the most part, I felt as though it worked. I manifested my way into jobs, relationships, lump sums of money. I’d ask for a certain amount of cash, and then get an unexpected tax rebate. I’d ask for a compatible partner, and then meet her in a bar. Each time an “order” was “delivered”, I’d feel thankful (the book encourages you to feel thankful; it fuels your manifestation powers). I am a lucky, lucky girl, I remember thinking, without irony. If only people knew how lucky they could be.

And then, I guess, my frontal lobe developed, and the things that I hoped to have obtained by now became harder to wish into being. My peers with inherited wealth began buying houses or being able to afford kids. I noticed the ways in which those from certain backgrounds had been able to pursue creative interests freely, while those less well-off were still shackled to unrelated 9 to 5s. I don’t mean to sound like a first-year politics student who just smoked their first blunt and discovered class consciousness. I just mean to say that cracks began to appear on the surface of a system I had—until my late twenties—come to follow like a secret cult.

There was a time when nearly everyone had a collection of cropped wide-leg pants in their closet: black for year-round wear, white for summer, and colourful variations for those who loved to follow the shades of the season. About ten years ago in Italy, this was the go-to style; everywhere you turned, you’d see them. Usually paired with sneakers or ultra-flat sandals, they suited every personality, from sporty to sophisticated.

Their geometric, ankle-baring cut sets cropped, wide-leg pants apart, especially when made from fluid fabrics—like the ones seen in Giorgio Armani’s designs. In more structured versions, they take on a bold, sculptural flair. With denser weaves that still feel light, these pants create dramatic volumes, adding a sophisticated and almost theatrical element to any outfit. The visual appeal is strong yet never overdone, often drawing inspiration from Far Eastern aesthetics, where relaxed, flowing silhouettes have deep sartorial roots. This cultural influence gives the style a timeless, refined allure that balances comfort and elegance.

It’s no surprise that designers like Yohji Yamamoto and Kenzo have embraced this silhouette on their runways, reimagining it with technical fabrics, geometric cuts, and abstract prints. In these interpretations, cropped wide-leg pants become more than a garment—they’re a statement of personal style and cultural nuance, perfect for refined city looks or conceptual, artsy outfits.

But not all cropped wide leg pants are the same. Alongside minimalist, clean-lined versions ideal for lovers of modern design, there are also romantic, boho-chic styles like those seen at Chloé. Here, the pants become airy and almost weightless, flowing softly along the legs and cinched with lace or drawstrings just below the knee or mid-calf. The result? An airy silhouette that ends in ruffles—both playful and elegant. This detail isn’t just decorative; it carries historical significance, referencing 18th-century French culottes once worn by aristocrats. In fact, the term “sans-culottes” originally referred to revolutionaries who rejected this aristocratic clothing. Chloé subtly reimagines this past with a poetic and modern touch, giving cropped wide leg pants a fresh, unexpected dimension.

Cropped wide-leg pants to buy now online

Also read:

From harems to pajamas—these 4 types of pants will work with all your summer fits

5 trouser trends that everyone will follow in 2025

’80s cigarette jeans are back—here’s how to wear them this summer

For the past few days, Aditi Rao Hydari has been veering towards classic six-yard staples from Raw Mango while gallivanting around Mumbai for personal and professional outings. She opted for a jamuni purple satin silk sari when attending an awards ceremony, where she received the award for her performance in the Netflix series, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. Recently, she continued her sari streak with yet another refined number from the label.

Seen sporting the Gulbahar sari, she perfectly emitted that old-world charming appeal of Bibbojaancore. In a flowy satin silk, her sari is a fusion of three panels from the pink family—petal pink with a gulkand palla and kamal pink in the pleated front. While she thrusts the traditional sari back into the spotlight, her look’s multi-coloured detailing gives it a modern update. The sari was further adorned with hand-embroidered floral motifs in zardozi.

Who says anarkalis have to be cake-like, heavy silhouettes? Vaani Kapoor recently made a case for sensual, summer-ready occasion wear with her strappy yet lightweight anarkali from Rohit Bal. Vaani Kapoor, who has two films in the pipeline this year, is already gearing up for one of their releases, Raid 2, alongside co-actors Ajay Devgn and Riteish Deshmukh. At its promotional event, she opted for an ivory look with a floor-length kurta showcasing a fit-and-flare silhouette. Instead of a conventional yoke, the bodice stood out for its corset-esque style, which created a cinched look.

The noodle-thin straps and the Chanderi fabric made her look warm-weather appropriate. Originating from the eponymous historical town in Madhya Pradesh, the fabric is characterised by its weightlessness. Chanderi was once handwoven with 200-count cotton only for royal and aristocratic families to make pagdis, dhotis and saris. Today, silk yarn is used to introduce some sheen and luxuriousness to the handloom, much like Kapoor’s anarkali.

Traditional patterns are often woven into the textile, however, the actor’s monochromatic base served as a beautiful canvas for enhancing it with resham thread embroidery and aari work. The same handiwork echoed on her dupatta, too.

Keeping things classic, she accessorised her anarkali with all but a pair of silver chandbali earrings and kadas by Silverstreak. Sleek, middle-parted blow-dried hair and dewy makeup were the finishing touches. With her look, Kapoor proves that despite its conventional connotation, you don’t need to subscribe to tried-and-tested anarkali styles. It is the small details that will give your look a contemporary update.

Also read:

Vaani Kapoor’s sari spotlights block prints from Ri By Ritu Kumar’s archival collection

Vaani Kapoor paired her pre-draped Arpita Mehta sari with a sexy racerback blouse

Vaani Kapoor does it all from HIIT and stretching to weight training, and more for a toned figure

If you spend much time on mental health Instagram or TherapyTok, you might’ve come across talk of “reparenting” your “inner child.” Maybe you rolled your eyes and kept scrolling. Another airy-fairy fake therapy trend, cool. But if you’re here, the concept probably intrigues you, and for good reason: Reparenting is a fairly intuitive and actually helpful framework that a growing number of therapists (and their clients) adore.

“It’s gaining momentum in the mental world,” says therapist Nicole Johnson, LPC, founder of Oak and Ivy Therapy Services. “But it’s still not normalised and talked about enough, in my opinion.” (Johnson is hoping to help change that—she’s got a book on the topic coming out in July called Reparenting Your Inner Child: Healing Unresolved Childhood Trauma and Reclaiming Wholeness through Self-Compassion.)

So what does reparenting yourself look like, exactly? And how can it help you? Let’s get into it.

What is reparenting?

“Reparenting is a therapeutic technique focused on creating a nurturing and supportive internal dialogue,” says psychotherapist Gillian O’Shea Brown, PhD, LCSW, adjunct professor at New York University. “[It] can help you to develop a healthier relationship with yourself and overcome past wounds by providing the care and support you may have lacked in childhood,” she explains.

The approach is closely tied to the concept of the inner child or children, which you can think of as young parts of your psyche that still hold pain or distorted beliefs, largely from the ways your caregivers fell short or mistreated you. “Reparenting and inner child work are like two sides of the same coin,” Johnson says. “It’s like these children are stuck, frozen in time in that experience.”

Because of that, the old beliefs and wounds of our inner children can drive a lot of our unconscious patterns in the present day in ways we don’t realise, Dr. O’Shea Brown explains. Like core beliefs about how lovable you are or tendencies around how you act in relationships, talk to yourself, handle your emotions and approach conflict.

An example: Maybe your parents got into explosive fights when you were little and you learned to stay safe by hiding in your bedroom. Today, that might show up as withdrawing at the slightest hint of discord. Or if your caregiver sometimes acted annoyed when you expressed a need, you might’ve coded that to mean you’re a burden. And now you’re terrified of expressing needs to your partner, even though you know it’s not “rational.”

If you fall among the most mysterious zodiac signs, it’s quite possible you’re the one standing at the back of the room at a party, not to hide from people, but to observe more than you reveal. They say still waters run deep, and while that may be true, you could also be a typhoon on the surface—like a Leo—visible to everyone within a 10km radius, but finding a strange calm in the eye of the storm. If you live in your rich inner world more than you live in the real world, count yourself among the most mysterious zodiac signs.

Scorpio

Let’s be honest, you expected to see Scorpio on this list. Their enigmatic aura holds the potency to penetrate your very soul. They seem to know exactly what’s going on, drawing you in with a balance of intensity and independence that’s downright swoon-worthy. Be it their mystifying edgy demeanour, their sharp wit or their dark humour, there is no escaping a Scorpio’s magnetic charm. Their elusive nature keeps you hooked, always leaving you wondering what’s hidden beneath the surface.

Taurus

If you know a Taurus, you know that while they can be the life of a party and keep those wisecracks coming, only a chosen few have access to who they really are. Their inner landscapes are rich and vivid, even borderline dreamy. However, their headstrong, change-resistant nature gives off an I-don’t-care vibe that makes them irresistibly attractive. Their ability to be the best observer in the room only adds to their inscrutable enigma.

Gemini

Head in the clouds and one foot levitating over water is the only way to encapsulate a Gemini’s bewitching personality. Their power to dish out life-changing perspectives while keeping it lighthearted and playful feels like an otherworldly fusion between poetry and logic, as does their ability to nurture while being fiercely independent. It’s their perennial need to seek new experiences fuelled by their passion for life that makes them so captivating.

Leo

Like their ruler, Leos are radiant, effervescent and all-encompassing like the sun. They don’t just shine, they shine blindingly and unapologetically, often being misunderstood as arrogant or too full of themselves when this couldn’t be further from the truth—at least mostly. While they draw their luminosity from within, their emotional waters run deep too. Fiercely protective of their chosen ones, their loyalty and their vulnerabilities are safely tucked away behind that sparkly mask. If you get to see it, consider yourself lucky.

Virgo

Nobody, not even a Virgo, knows what they are looking for under the guise of perfectionism for the most part. But once you get over that initial hurdle, there are uncharted waters in the depths of a Virgo’s heart and mind. Their overly logical and analytical perspective is often softened by a refreshing emotional depth and maturity—even an insecure, wounded inner child at times. Their goal-oriented attitude towards everything in life and their seemingly serious demeanour with a side of dry humour keeps you guessing.

Capricorn

If you ever thought of a Capricorn purely as a workhorse, you haven’t seen a Capricorn let their hair loose. They are committed and ambitious even when it comes to having fun. Behind their quiet, seemingly reserved exterior lie a million dreams, backed by a quiet strength in their ability to make them tangible. They may be folks of few words, but those carefully chosen pearls of wisdom act as tiny doorways into their bustling interior life. Their drive to succeed at any cost, but not without a strong ethic, makes them superlatively appealing.