Posts in category: Life Style

During the 2000s, simply no outfit was complete without the addition of big, honking wide belts. You know the ostentatious kind that I’m talking about: An extra-wide style that instantly makes its presence known. The brazen accessory was never really there to hold up anything, either—it was designed for fashion not function, and you got bonus points if it was fastened just below the bust, not even remotely near your waistline. All of the It girls of the decade rocked the look, from Beyoncé and Rihanna to Paris Hilton.(That’s hot.)

If you’ve long moved on from Y2K style, we’re sorry to report this: The big belt is slowly creeping its way back into fashion once again. Although, it looks a little different in the present tense. On the fall 2025 runways, designers put forward a fresh new crop of big statement belts that felt decidedly more refined. (For starters, they are no longer being paired with skintight Hervé Lèger bandage dresses.) At Balmain, Olivier Rousteing paired his plushy faux fur coats with thick burgundy embossed belts. At Chloé, designer Chemena Kamali accessorized romantic billowy blouses with wide, low-slung belts—a fresh take on bohemian dressing.

Chloé fall 2025

Photo: Courtesy of Chloé

Balmain fall 2025

Vogue Runway

Even celebrities are slowly beginning to partake in the trend. Snow White star Rachel Zegler, for one, recently stepped out in a sequin top and high-waisted trousers, the latter of which was punctuated with a wide belt with circular buckle. Rose Byrne also styled her white lace dress with a thick brown leather obi belt in Paris. Compared to the Y2K styling of wide belts, both stars took an approach that feels much more subdued; The belt added dimension to the look, without totally overpowering it. (If this were 2008? The whole outfit would revolve around the belt.)

Photo: Getty Images

Photo: Getty Images

So, does this rising movement mean you need to delve back into your closet, and dust off your most enormous belt of the 2000s? Not necessarily. Like any cyclical trend that comes back into the fashion fray, it’s less about replicating the exact look. Instead, the trend’s newfound presence is here to remind us that, sometimes, a hefty statement belt is just the thing your outfit needs to feel complete. Don’t discount the power of it, but don’t necessarily pair it with a bandage dress either. Do as the runways did, and style it with more refined pieces instead.

Below, shop six wide belts that feel modern and fresh.

This story first appeared on Vogue.com

Also read:

Kriti Sanon is bringing back the 2000s chunky belt

Are belts the secret backbone of the fashion industry?

How to style brooches, belts and necklaces in unexpected ways for your winter wardrobe

Ananya Panday is gearing up for the release of her much-awaited movie, Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh. The Gen Z star will be seen channelling the role of a young lawyer alongside Akshay Kumar and R Madhavan in the historical courtroom drama that will recount the aftermath of the massacre. The cast made its way to the capital for the trailer launch of the film on Thursday, for which Ananya Panday showed up in a floral sari by Torani.

Styled by Priyanka Kapadia Badani, her look personifies a beautiful blend of traditional style and modern elegance. Her ‘Firoza Raasika’ sari is made using a diaphanous georgette fabric. Expertly crafted and in an eye-catching turquoise blue shade, the drape served as the perfect canvas for larger-than-life floral motifs in ochre shade.

Delicate resham embroidery on the hem, along with a striped orange and blue border, added to its charm and elevated the sari. The same stripes were echoed on the straps of her bralette. The sweetheart neckline top showcased different floral motifs, resulting in a methodical riot of vibrant colours and botanical prints. A pearl choker encrusted with terahertz and emerald, along with a ruby ring by Moi made for the perfect finishing touches to her look.

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Maybe you worked hard at building your confidence, maybe you were just born as one of the most confident zodiac signs. Whatever the case, self-love is a wonderful thing to master—as long as you don’t go overboard and become pompous. More ‘Main apni favourite hoon’, less ‘Good looks, good looks and good looks’, you know what we’re saying? If you’re yet to get there, you can take the first step with our guide to building your self-confidence in six easy steps. And if you’re on this list of the most confident zodiac signs? Well, then the world is already your playground.

Sagittarius

Move over, Leo. Sagittarius, you’re cosmic gold when it comes to drawing people in with your magnetic charm. Your superpower? Seeing people for who they really are, no filters, fillers or judgments—just pure, authentic connection. You’re as much about getting your facts straight as you are about trusting your gut when it whispers a hunch. You let go as easily as you hold tight to all that matters. You trust your instincts and intuitively know when it’s time to fly.

Leo

Like the lion, you love the spotlight as much as you love a partnership of equals. Your drive to get to your desired destination is a huge motivating factor in the way you devise plans. Intuitive, headstrong and fearless are three words that describe you to the tee. Untainted and innocent at heart, you leave no room for failure, even if it means putting yourself out there a lot more because, in your world, comfort zones don’t exist.

Scorpio

You’re a traditionalist at heart. You love sticking to tried and tested methods because they get you to your goal faster—and who can argue with solid results? You love looking back and relying on your experience to find solutions. When it comes to reading the room, you’re a pro. You can instantly tell what holds weight and what’s just noise, giving you the upper hand in any situation. Your love for a good party not only keeps your razor-sharp wit going but also naturally magnetises the right people and opportunities your way.

Taurus

Come rain, hail or a surprise snowstorm, you never sway from chasing that prize. A true connoisseur of luxury and relaxation, you have the magical ability to turn even the most chaotic moments into comedy gold. If that wasn’t enough, your attention to detail not only keeps you up at night but also helps you close loopholes that others may overlook. Adding another feather to the hat would be your ability to build and progress together.

Capricorn

You’re like a powerhouse on a mission—so locked in on your goals that nothing can distract you from your purpose. Strangely, it’s this obsession that will take you to new heights because you don’t like second place. Your focus on the small, meaningful things in life while you overcome those mountainous hurdles not only helps you find creative solutions but also turns that pointless hamster wheel into your personal wheel of fortune.

Pisces

The world could be in the middle of an apocalypse, but you will always be the one waiting for the sun to rise again, Pisces. You always find yourself in a transitory phase of life because what fun is life if there are no dreams to pursue? Perpetually chasing sunsets, finding gold and looking for unicorns making rainbows, there is little in your reality that you cannot shift with your sheer vision and unshakable optimism.

This season, structured and oversized blazers are taking centre stage on runways across the globe. At Lakmé Fashion Week, designers like Shantnu and Nikhil, Anurag Gupta, Quarter, and LineTribe reimagined the classic blazer with flowing silhouettes and contemporary tailoring. Internationally, fashion houses such as Kenzo, Emporio Armani, Victoria Beckham, and Isabel Marant also embraced the trend, each offering their spin on this versatile wardrobe staple.

Yesterday, Alia Bhatt followed suit. The actor stepped out in a chiffon sage-green ruffled blouse tucked into high-waisted pants by Alberta Ferretti, layered with an oversized grey blazer from Magda Butrym. She paired the look with white leather pumps from Jimmy Choo and gold earrings and rings from Misho. For her hair and makeup, she opted for her signature dewy pink makeup and pulled-back hair.

Isabel Marant Fall 2025

Vogue Runway

The 25th edition of Fashion Week wrapped up on a high, setting the stage for bold debuts and defining moments from industry veterans. The week wasn’t just about the runway—A-listers turned the front row into a style spectacle. With risk-taking and directional fashion at the forefront, the best-dressed stars of the week ensured their presence was as statement-making as the collections themselves, from Alia Bhatt and Radhika Merchant Ambani to Bhumi Pednekar and more.

Alia Bhatt’s latest look played with sharp tailoring and soft textures. She layered a ruffled mint green blouse over matching wide-leg trousers, grounding the pastel set with an oversized, boxy brown blazer. The structured outer layer features a textured finish, adding contrast to the fluid silhouette. With its sheer detailing and precise layering, the Alberta Ferretti and Magda Butrym ensemble was a masterclass in balancing androgyny with a hint of romanticism.

The Vivienne Westwood show delivered some standout front-row moments, with Radhika Merchant making a striking nod to the house’s Fall/Winter 1990 Portrait Collection. She styled the iconic Boucher corset with a custom Chanderi sari, creating a seamless fusion of archival and contemporary design. A vintage Westwood scarf was repurposed as a skirt, and a pearl choker added layers to the look.

Vivienne Westwood’s front row was a reminder of the brand’s rebellious roots, thanks to Bhumi Pednekar and Alaya F, both dressed in the label. Bhumi took the denim route, pairing flared jeans with a matching jacket left unbuttoned just enough to play with proportions. But it was the accessories that did the heavy lifting—pearls and plenty of them. A bow choker, layered necklaces, bracelets, and oversized earrings—all in varying shapes and textures—softened the rawness of the denim without diluting its edge.

Alaya F, on the other hand, took a maximalist approach. Her look featured a plaid corset etched with Westwood’s iconic graffiti, styled with spiked boots, chunky cross-adorned jewellery, and a punked-out smoky eye. The hair was big and deliberately undone—the kind that looks like it’s been danced in. The overall effect? Pure Westwood theatre.

Not to forget, a host of others brought their A-game too—think Mira Rajput, Diana Penty, Banita Sandhu, and more. From unexpected pairings to striking details, keep scrolling to see who else made the list.

After a hiatus of 18 years, artist Laila Khan Furniturewalla makes a powerful return with Untamed Heart, a deeply personal solo exhibition dedicated to her parents Sundri and the late superstar Feroz Khan, whose creative influences continue to shape her work. Using materials like sand, gold leaf, copper, pigment and acrylic in abstract compositions that explore spiritual themes and the balance of tradition and innovation, she delves into the complexities of identity, emotion and memory, capturing what lies beneath. Speaking about the exhibit, Furniturewalla shares, “My forthcoming solo exhibition is a culmination of my journey as an artist. The works are highly personal and emotive, and embody my search for the mystical and divine without boundaries and definition.”

On view at Snowball Studios, Worli, on 5th and 6th April, and Gallery Art & Soul, Worli, from 16th to 22nd April, 2025

Acid Disco by Jonathan Trayte at Akara Contemporary, Mumbai

A single look at his large, quirky sculptures, and you’d really think you’re viewing them on an acid trip. Acid Disco, UK-based sculptor Jonathan Trayte’s first solo show in India, features a collection of painted bronze sculptures inspired by food, using castings and facsimiles to showcase how we see and utilise our natural resources and indulge in overconsumption. “In Jonathan’s compositions, we contend with what is natural or artificial, cultivated or manipulated, playfully inviting or repulsive, through forms that evoke both delight and distaste,” says independent writer Khorshed Deboo in her essay on Trayt’s intriguingly novel exhibition.

At first, his relationship with Claire seemed innocent enough. They were old friends—longtime colleagues, in fact. Plus, she was married and we were happy. Or, so I thought.

Then, she got divorced and started texting him nonstop. We’d be at dinner or at home and, like clockwork, his phone would buzz. “Sorry,” he’d mumble, tilting his phone towards his chest. “It’s Claire. She’s going through a lot.”

Within a few months, he began to seem distant. He was always on his phone; always leaving the room “to talk.” When I would accompany him to work events, Claire was never far away from us. “I need some advice,” she’d say, pulling on his arm.

It got annoying. Every time his phone would ring, my temperature would rise. Then I caught him lying about seeing her—twice. When I confronted him, he’d just shrug it off. “We’re friends,” he’d say, rolling his eyes. Sometimes he’d get flustered: “Maybe you’re the one who’s interested in someone else.”

By then, my trust had completely evaporated—the whole situation was just too much. Needless to say, we didn’t last long. I’ll never know what truly happened between them, but I later heard they started dating a few months after we’d broken up.

What is emotional cheating?

That’s the thing about emotional cheating—it is often difficult to prove. It usually starts off slowly and creeps in like a cloud. It doesn’t come with hotel bills or receipts for gifts; its evidence is more visceral than tangible.

Still, “Emotional cheating can be just as devastating as physical infidelity—sometimes even more,” says licensed marriage and family therapist Claudia Giolitti-Wright. “It creates emotional distance and leaves the betrayed partner feeling replaced or inadequate.”

This is because, unlike a one-night stand or a drunken tryst, emotional cheating revolves around the deeper facets of intimacy—the truly personal ones. It’s the kind of intimacy that comes from the sharing of thoughts, feelings, beliefs and time; the kind that’s born in the divulging of secrets, the trading of stories, the giving of advice.

This kind of intimacy is like a house of cards. Its layers are fragile and built with connection, care, and trust—which is precisely why, when you suspect your partner of building it with someone else, it can hurt so much.

What are the signs of emotional cheating?

Emotional cheating is defined by behaviours that “erode trust and divert emotional energy,” explains licensed clinical social worker and trauma therapist Malka Shaw. “It occurs when one partner forms an intimate emotional connection with someone outside the relationship in a way that is characterised by secrecy and blurred boundaries.”

For her wedding reception, she wore a heavily embroidered Dolce & Gabbana ensemble featuring intricate gold-toned detailing and a structured, corset-style bodice adorned with sequins and beadwork. She paired it with a custom Anamika Khanna sari, where layers of sheer, embroidered fabric added texture and movement. She opted for a gold and diamond necklace, earrings, and bangles for her jewellery. She kept her hair and makeup simple and let the ensemble take centre stage.

Lever Couture

She chose a structured gown with a trail by Lever Couture. The gown features a translucent, iridescent fabric with sculptural details around the shoulders. The overall colour palette is a soft lavender or an icy lilac, and the trail is covered with shimmering feather-like embellishments. She complemented the sleek, pulled-back bun with statement earrings.

Grace Ling