Posts in category: Life Style

History was first made with the release of the Casiotron (QW02-10) in 1974—the world’s first fully digital wristwatch with an automatic calendar—but it was never just a timekeeper. Over the years, Casio digital watches have become pop-culture fixtures, appearing everywhere from on-screen sci-fi fantasies including Back to the Future, on the wrists of CIA agents in Argo, Jessica Henwick’s Casio F-91W in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Breaking Bad’s Walter White with the CA-53W calculator watch—all nods to clever, understated taste.

They remain a staple of Japanese street style and even Milan runways: think early-2000s utility-heavy collections from Helmut Lang and Nicolas Ghesquière’s Balenciaga and, most recently, the Y2K revival at Miu Miu’s fall/winter last year and the spring/summer collection by Blumarine in 2023, when tech nostalgia resurfaced as fashion currency.

This lineage, from the pioneering Casiotron to the cult-classic F-91W of the 1990s, leads directly to today’s A1000 models. They carry the same retro credibility and matte-metal minimalism, now elevated with polished stainless steel and a Milanese strap. It’s this blend of historic tech cool and modern refinement that makes wearing the watch both disarmingly ordinary and unexpectedly iconic.

“It’s one of the few timepieces that slips into anyone’s life without demanding a costume change,” says stylist Ayesha Amin Nigam, who has been spotting them on shoots across Delhi and Mumbai. She tells me that, in the last year alone, she’s seen them on interns, models, production assistants, even accountants who wander on set in between takes. “It shapeshifts into whatever the outfit needs—grounding streetwear, sharpening suiting or sitting quietly against a sari.” That cross-city, cross-lifestyle adaptability, she says, is exactly why stylists keep reaching for it when a look needs ease rather than perfection.

The variants alone could fill a moodboard: the brushed-steel A1000MA, its gold-toned MG counterpart, the pastel-tinted MPR editions, the ultra-slim LA670s, and even the resin-cased F-series that collectors love for its purist ’80s silhouette. And unlike many vintage icons, most of these models are still in production and available directly at brand stores, while a handful of discontinued colourways and older A1000 batches quietly trade hands on resale platforms like My Almari and Luxepolis for those seeking a deeper nostalgia hit.

Based on Harlan Coben’s twisty novel, Run Away follows Simon Greene (James Nesbitt), a seemingly successful father whose life falls apart when his troubled daughter Paige vanishes into a violent, drug-fuelled underworld. A chance sighting in Central Park sends him on a desperate hunt through cult compounds, seedy clubs and strangers’ secrets, forcing Simon and his fractured family to confront the lies they’ve been living with for years. Co-starring Ruth Jones, Minnie Driver and Alfred Enoch.

Streaming on Netflix

Stranger Things season 5 finale (January 1)

The vibrance of life is what gets you going and feeling excited. Gemini, the moment you add protocols, obligations and guilt to the mix, this vibrance begins to dilute itself. As this year closes you are being cosmically guided to lighten the load. The most successful and happy people don’t waste time creating vision boards first. What they actually do is—declutter. They take their time to assess and remove the noise from their lives that does not let them breathe. What they are left with then, is all that they truly want. Try making some time for this tiny exercise and see where it leads you.

Cosmic tip: Be patient. Your moment will arrive.

You must learn how to master chaotic energies not just in hindsight, but even while you are in the chaos yourself, Cancer. Does it really matter how much you are seen when you are doing something that is of value to you? Or is it more important that you get to the crux of what you are creating and get done with that? You may be a warrior, but you need not be one that is in the frontlines.

Cosmic tip: Take a moment to listen to your inner guidance. It has been asking you to slow down for a while. Tune in.

The universe is not saying no, it is simply asking you whether you are ready, Leo! Whether you are feeling overwhelmed, drained, lethargic or distracted—this is not your time to collapse under pressure. It is your time to use your mind and find a lever that helps you easily lift the weight off. Yes, you need not do this alone, you can be smart about it and you can most definitely take your own time to get there. Temporary pauses need not be dead ends. Remember this always.

Cosmic tip: Could it be that the moment you ease up, is the moment the cosmos begins to flow in your direction.

It is time to take action. Virgo, you don’t need more ideas, you simply need more structure. You don’t need to wait for the right time, you simply need to pick where you wish to begin and head in that direction one step at a time. You don’t need more guilt on your path, you simply need more grit and acceptance that you are walking on your ‘right’ path. From this point on, it will be quality over quantity. And then for you, there will be no looking back.

Alcohol is a regular guest in social situations, especially at parties. If you don’t drink, it’s assumed you’re not having any fun. Dry January was born to disrupt this concept and bring alcohol consumption back to pleasure rather than an obligation. It’s a test that consists of trying to abstain from alcohol consumption for the duration of the month and see how one’s body responds. Compounded by the preceding month of the holidays, in which the number of toasts increases exponentially, it’s a good idea to detox and start the year off with more energy and better health. In fact, it’s not the usual challenge born on TikTok, but rather a movement started in 2012. And now, in 2026, it might be interesting to try to change habits and consume less alcohol, once you know about all the benefits that can bring you.

What Dry January is and how it came about

‘Don’t think about what you give up, but what you gain from the experience‘ is the slogan of the campaign to raise awareness against alcohol-related harm, promoted by Alcohol Concern, now Alcohol Change UK: a British charity and activist group that started in 2013 and promoted Dry January. If the first problem that comes to mind when reading Dry January is “but then how do I go about my social life,” you are already looking for an excuse.

When Emily Robinson, a girl with the goal of preparing for a marathon, decided to embark on a total alcohol detox for the month of January in 2012 and speak publicly about it to international newspapers and media, it ignited a journey that led to more and more people wanting to participate. The real value of dry January, however, is not in getting a badge of honour or a certificate of superiority, but introspection and body mapping to understand how it works and to know your body better.

Health benefits of Dry January

For the brain

The effect of alcohol on the brain is initial euphoria followed by slowing down and difficulty with coordination. This happens because it acts as a central nervous system depressant, interfering with neurotransmitters and impairing balance, language, memory and judgment in the short term. Dry January ensures:

• Better sleep quality which means more stable memory and concentration
• Reduction in hangovers and anxiety
• Mood regulation
• Increased clarity in thought

For the heart and blood pressure

Alcohol alters the autonomic nervous system and causes an electrical imbalance in the heart, which can lead to palpitations, arrhythmias and even classic “hangover” tachycardia. Even after quitting drinking, an increase in resting heart rate can occur the next morning and up to 24 hours later. What really changes when you eliminate (or reduce) alcohol?

For her intimate Christmas celebrations at home, Tara Sutaria chose a look that straddled intimacy with high drama. Though technically a modern co-ord set, Sutaria’s look by Gauri & Nainika reads as something far more versatile. Inching towards a compelling alternative to an ornate lehenga, it appears equally suited to a destination wedding soirée where modernity is prized as much as tradition.

At first glance, the ensemble feels like a modern-day lehenga reimagined through a contemporary lens. Comprising a high-waisted, billowing, floor-grazing skirt and a sculpted bralette, the set is lifted by painterly florals that bloom against a noir base. The ensemble is drawn from Gauri & Nainika’s Lakmē Fashion Week x FDCI Spring–Summer 2026 showcase, where the designer duo unveiled a collection rooted in wearable artistry. Inspired by painted canvases, dark roses and moody still lifes, the line translated romance into tactile form using organza, tulle and silk mikado, shaping silhouettes defined by volume, bows, ruffles and drama. On Sutaria, these themes distilled into a maximalist floral piece that felt opulent and of-the-moment.

Black punctuated with bold florals has long held fashion’s imagination, from the late ’30s’ bias-cut evening gowns to the lacquered rose prints of the ‘50s. This lineage is mirrored on her look. The high-waisted skirt elongates the frame, offering a sleek, cinched foundation, while the bralette’s open back introduces a sensual counterpoint.

A sleek, centre-parted bun was adorned with red roses, complemented by a deep crimson lip, together conjuring a Frida Kahlo-esque romanticism. A pair of drop chandelier earrings added the final flourish, letting the noir florals take centre stage. With thoughtful styling, a skirt set, like hers, can seamlessly shift from a formal evening affair to a festive sangeet night. Swap the diamonds for polkis, dial up the drama with the makeup and you have a versatile statement that can be reworked and returned to, time and again.

The best Indian movies of 2025 did not have a lot in common—except for the fact that they all managed to touch the hearts of people watching them. From intimate family dramas to films dripping with rich folklore, the big screen saw it all this year. Audiences gravitated towards movies that explored themes such as caste, class, sexuality, migration and grief. In a landmark year for South Indian cinema, we also had crowd-pleasing superhero films, seat-gripping revenge thrillers and beloved sports dramas.

In 2025, Indian cinema once again proved that in a country as diverse as ours, our tastes are just as wide-ranging. Films like Homebound and Sabar Bonda made waves internationally—with screenings at Cannes and Sundance—while others like Kantara and Saiyaara became box-office phenomena, drawing audiences back to theatres in large numbers. This list brings together our top 12 picks for the best Indian movies of 2025.

Homebound (Hindi)

Ascend. The cosmos is giving you a chance to make changes in simpler ways. It is sending you signs through animals that cross paths with you repeatedly—in your reality, on billboards, or just a bus sign that may read “unicorn” or any other animal that may have been following you, Taurus. You’ve been working to stay steady and fluid, grounding yourself on a solid footing. You’ve made a conscious effort not only to absorb your own wisdom, but to live it out in practical, meaningful ways. And Gemini, this is that time where the cosmos allows you to build yourself up. You are in this phase where you are transforming into a butterfly, and what you will become is not yet certain, but you are definitely not what you were. Ask the cosmos to lead you on, send you signs, and perhaps even show you the way forward, and no matter how unclear your end destination feels, keep walking the path with certainty and contentment that you are watched over, Leo. Your guides remind you that you are the embodiment of your soul’s expression, and although you see yourself as a purely physical being, you are also divine and etheric. Look for this spark of magic in all you do today, Virgo. You will tap into your highest potential.

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.

Your third eye is open, your psychic senses are on an all-time high, and this is not because you are going crazy, but because the veil between the realms is thin, and oh, you are so loving it. Aries, how you can use these gifts that are opening up for you is up to you—even practically. So if your intuition is peaking, it may be a great time to chart out a soul-aligned POA for your work/ personal life/ journey ahead. Also, your throat chakra is opening up—so find ways to express yourself in effective and creative ways. This is your cosmic gift for this holiday season.

Cosmic tip: Share who you are, but first, accept who you are.

Ascend. The cosmos is giving you a chance to make changes in simpler ways. It is sending you signs through animals that cross paths with you repeatedly—in your reality, on billboards, or just a bus sign that may read “unicorn” or any other animal that may have been following you, Taurus. A quick internet search on what the message is will help you identify the important things being relayed. However, if you’re confused, remember that by simply welcoming it into your life, you open up to embodying all the amazing energy and spiritual lessons it may bring your way to ease your journey.

We’ve grown up learning of the gleam of Kanchipurams from Tamil Nadu, the historical grandeur of Banarasis from Varanasi, the familiar swirls of kantha from West Bengal. But provenance is a curious thing—sometimes linear, sometimes shape-shifting. What belongs where? Who decides? Dr Ritu Sethi, founder-trustee of the Craft Revival Trust, recalls a footnote that lingers: “In a primary source, I found that [John] Lockwood Kipling (Rudyard Kipling’s father) said the finest whitework textiles came from the Madras Presidency. But we don’t know what this ‘whitework’ looked like. Could it have been chikankari, most famously from Awadh?”

Like memories, true craft hides in corners till sought out. Sometimes it stays tethered to a place, but more often than not, it travels via the hands that make it. Take, for example, block printing, most revered in Kutch (Gujarat) as ajrakh, but widely practised in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, Karnataka and even Machilipatnam, in Andhra Pradesh, where it’s known as kalamkari block printing. Partitions may force people to divide goods and lands, but patronage follows desire, and textiles move where they are tugged at. India is not a single scroll of tradition; it’s a patchwork quilt with infinite seams. And for every celebrated weave, there is a second, third or even fourth textile waiting to be remembered. This is our map of those discoveries. A glossary of Indian textiles stitched together with revivalists, risk-takers and quiet believers who’ve dusted off archives or reimagined threads for today’s wardrobes beyond the most obvious names.

Although woven in Varanasi, mapcha gyaser’s route was originally traced through Ladakh. Namza Couture’s collections return the textile to its roots.

Andhra Pradesh

Almash Tarash, raised tinsel work of diamond-shaped lamé, once bordered the khada dupatta. These borders, or gokhru, were often finished with dagger-like khanjar ki lace. Unlike the North’s zamindozi, which covered the fabric completely, the Deccani guldozi style let it breathe, using metallic thread to sketch airy patterns. A family of artisans with four generations of expertise is helping revive this lost vocabulary of Deccani glamour, one gleaming thread at a time for Sourav Das’s namesake label.

Arunachal Pradesh

The loin loom or backstrap loom, among the earliest of its kind, is still used in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. In these regions, weaving is the sole domain of women. Designer Jenjum Gadi captures his mountainous memories using textiles made on the loin loom, turning them into sharply cut jackets and capes. His point of view through each collection focuses less on unnecessary reinvention and more on continuation, a thread pulled from his own childhood into the present.

Assam

Designer Sonam Dubal’s Sikkimese-Tibetan and Maharashtrian heritage, combined with a Himalayan upbringing, exposed him early to textiles tied to spiritual and ecological values. Eri silk, also known as Tsen silk in monastic settings, is central to Buddhist traditions due to its non-violent production methods. Working with both iterations since 1999, Dubal has fused eri’s textured character with vintage or leftover resist-dyed ikats and brocades, often upcycled, to create garments that echo what he calls “cultural linkages” between philosophies, geographies and techniques.

Bihar

Sujani began as a ritual textile in Bihar, made from layered cloth and stitched with protective motifs for newborns. Over time, it evolved into a form of narrative embroidery used by women to depict their daily lives. When Swati Kalsi began working with sujani artisans in 2008, the design vocabulary remained largely traditional. Her intervention introduced a more graphic, minimal aesthetic often with indigo-dyed fabrics and stencil-like motifs. This shift helped refine the embroidery’s visual language, while continuing to involve entire families in the making process.

Goa

Your Goa wardrobe might be all floaty dresses and denim shorts, but the state’s most enduring textile is a checked cotton weave originally worn by Kunbi women. Marginalised and denounced by caste hierarchies, they were reduced to entertainers, but they were, and are, the original inhabitants of the land. Besides his many legacies, the late Wendell Rodricks also helped revive and dignify this textile. With his team of weavers, he softened the palette, elevated the cotton and placed it in contemporary collections.

Gujarat

A state known for its endless styles of embroidery, dyeing methods and award-winning artisans, Gujarat’s humble hero is kala cotton. Ashok Siju’s unisex shirts begin in the rain-fed fields of Kutch, where local sakalia (kala cotton) is grown without chemicals. The cotton is hand-spun on the charkha, dyed using natural dyes and then hand-woven on their compound. Pattern-making and cutting are done locally, and for the final step, Rabari women from Bhujodi hand-stitch each shirt, completing a fully local and sustainable production cycle.

Haryana and Punjab

Phulkari or flower work is a traditional embroidery from Punjab that dates back to the 15th century. Among many other forms, bagh stands out for its dense surface coverage, often worn during weddings and festivals. The most intricate form, bawan bagh, can contain up to 52 panels on a single textile. Designers Sukriti and Aakriti Grover work with artisans to create festive garments embroidered with bagh using organic cotton. “By updating the cuts, colours and context, we aim to keep phulkari relevant and wearable today while supporting craft-based livelihoods,” says Sukriti.

Himachal Pradesh

‘Shatranj, the Political Circus’ is a Chamba rumal by Delhi Crafts Council and Swati Kalsi that reinterprets the Shatranj theme, drawing from contemporary politics.

What’s old is new again and Navya Nanda echoed that sentiment in a multi-hued lehenga by Mayyur Girotra that felt less like occasion wear and more like a cherished inheritance brought back to life.

A pale gold tissue silk lehenga serves as the canvas of the look. As the New Delhi-based designer explains, “Navya Nanda wears Mayyur Girotra gold tissue silk signature lehenga. The skirt is paired with a vintage brocade blouse, which is intricately hand-embroidered in zardozi and tilla that is inspired by archival motifs. From the fabric to craft, it carries stories of the past into the present.” The time-honoured designs hark towards patterns that once adorned bridal trunks and temple textiles. The delicate craftsmanship techniques add depth and just the right dose of opulence.

What animates the ensemble is the blouse. A multi-coloured counterpoint to the otherwise pared-back, neutral-coloured lehenga. Rendered in multiple hues and finished with vintage brocade, it brings a burst of colour and personality to the look. The plunging V neckline lends a contemporary edge, while the half sleeves, colour-blocked with heritage textiles and artisanal crafts, ground it in tradition. It is this interplay of textiles and techniques that makes the outfit feel polygonal, present and perennial.

Nanda’s styling follows the same time-honoured philosophy. She went with soft, understated makeup in old rose tones along with open hair for glam. Jewellery, however, made a statement. She opted for a bold choker set and earrings from Shri Paramani Jewels, echoing the old-world mood of the lehenga. “This exquisite set features handcrafted chandbaali earrings adorned with luminous diamond polki, delicately shaped to reflect timeless artistry and regal charm. Paired with a premium diamond polki choker, the neckpiece showcases superior craftsmanship, rich detailing and a graceful silhouette that sits beautifully on the neckline,” reveals Vinay Gupta, founder, Shri Paramani Jewellers.

The holidays and a gazillion wedding invites have officially collided, which means your camera roll is about to see a lot of makeup trial photos. Ananya Panday used structured waves to lift the face, while Tara Sutaria’s bun dressed up with flowers was a highlight. We saw lips that feel festive but understated and a lot of smoked-out neutrals on the eyes instead of heavy blacks. Skin stayed soft-focus and lightly contoured rather than full-coverage. Brushed-up brows and nude, glossy lips did as much work as the highlighter. The mood right now is very specific: glam that feels expensive but not exhausting; the kind you can wear from cocktail hour to a sangeet without wanting to take it off in the car.

A classic old-Hollywood bun with a slick middle part pinned low at the nape and crimson lips were Tara Sutaria’s picks for the holidays; truly a breath of fresh air. The bun instantly cleans up the face, while the deep red rose tucked into the back keeps it festive. Skin is a soft matte with contoured cheeks and subtle highlighter on the high points. The bold, blue-red lip is paired with precise liner, fluttery lashes and defined brows.

Loose, side-parted waves framed Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s face beautifully and softened the visage’s perimeter. The base is velvety but sheer enough to let real skin show through with a gentle, peachy flush and diffused contour. Kohl is worked into the upper and lower lash lines, then smoked with taupe shadow and a satin rose-nude lip plays the balancing act.

Malaika Arora’s power pony with a dramatic flick brought instant movement and lift. The eyes are built on layers of bronze and soft khaki shimmer, tightlined and paired with full lashes for a sultry stare. Skin is bronzed and strategically contoured, while the lips stay in a muted nude-brown, keeping the focus on the eyes and cheekbones.

A relaxed half-up hairstyle with face-framing tendrils gave Aditi Rao Hydari’s look that easy, date-night energy. The base is sheer and luminous, with just enough concealer and a touch of peach-beige blush to mimic naturally good skin. Neutral lids, tightlined lashes and brushed-up brows keep the eyes bright, while a blurred, soft-rose lip ties everything together without looking too perfected.

Ananya Panday’s mid-length waves were clipped back and away from the face in a nod to retro Hollywood, but the makeup stayed fresh. The complexion is even and lightly highlighted along the cheekbones and bridge of the nose. Eyes get a soft caramel wash and plenty of mascara. The lips are kept in a hydrating nude-pink, perfect for long wedding functions and back-to-back events.

Tousled, centre-parted waves complemented Rakul Preet Singh’s warm brown smokey eyes (focused close to the lash line and blended outward), with a hint of shimmer catching the light from every angle. Skin is bronzed and luminous across the décolletage, while a glossy beige-nude lip and defined brows keep the whole look cohesive.