Posts in category: Life Style

“I still struggle with trusting cisgender folks for fear of being ridiculed,” Su says. For Jyotika, it resulted in a period of self-harm and isolation. “My anxiety and trust issues intensified after being called a “depressing trauma dumper”. I’d work, cut myself and sleep. I didn’t speak to anyone for a year.”

Su and Jyotika have another thing in common: a deep sense of confusion. Both claim they opened up only after persistent encouragement. “It leaves you feeling unsettled and dirty,” Su confesses. “They’re convincing you they didn’t ask for this, but your brain is telling you that they did. You didn’t imagine the performative empathy; you were fooled into sharing and being vulnerable.”

Psychotherapist Prerna Gupta advises discretion. “It takes a lot of courage to open up, so the pain can be acute when our confidences are not received the way we expected. To the sharers: You don’t have to tell someone your story just because they’re asking. Build a history of trust before you open up about your more painful life experiences.”

All of us live in a labyrinthine reality, with complex forms of trauma crisscrossing with different layers of relationships and professional demands. Life can often feel like a pressure cooker, one whistle away from blowing its lid off. In such a scenario, what do we actually owe each other?

“Basic human dignity,” says Lipika. “You’re a garbage human being if you turn someone’s trauma into fodder for gossip. It’s not that hard to say, “Hey, I’m sorry, I can’t handle this topic,” and exit a conversation.” Perhaps the worst thing about the flippant use of the phrase is how far it travels, and how quickly. Natasha tells me that the ‘too much’ tag continues to follow her years later. Jyotika senses wariness in strangers who know her former friends.

I reached out to all of Lipika, Natasha, Su and Jyotika’s former friends. Most refused to engage, a few were hostile, a couple seemed ashamed but not enough to speak on record. One from Lipika’s trio admitted, “On some level, we knew we were being awful friends. She often brought our mood down, and at one point, protecting our energy became more important than our friendship.”

Tracksuits are having a moment—and not just in athleisure circles. Last week, The Times published an article about “the end of the yummy mummy” and the birth of the cool mum 2.0: the millennial edition. Goodbye leggings and Vejas, hello Salomons and vintage puffer jackets. But it was Jennifer Lawrence who was presented as the poster child of the new swag mum movement, with her enviable wardrobe of cool-girl staples – including, but not limited to, camel coats, cashmere knits, checked shirts, slouchy denim, leather loafers, and, perhaps most notably, tracksuit bottoms.

We’re happy to report that you don’t have to be a mum, nor be in possession of a The Row budget to lean into Lawrence’s nonchalant New York style, and in fact, the aforementioned tracksuit trouser might just be the most unexpected, yet versatile, addition to your polished winter outfits this year.

Of course, the tracksuit rebrand has been simmering for a while now: from the sellout Wales Bonner X Adidas collaboration that saw humble sporty staples given a runway-ready update – plus the souped-up tracksuits that appeared on the actual autumn/winter 2025 runways of Tory Burch and Undercover – to the plethora of track pants that paraded the pavements during fashion month. Sporty has become a byword for cool, particularly as the world’s fashion lovers found themselves drifting away from the increasingly watered-down quiet luxury trend, and craving something a little fresher.

But, apparently the stealth wealth look is not entirely defunct, because the way that street-stylers and Lawrence herself have been wearing their tracksuits is really quite elevated. The shoe choice seems an important consideration here, with elegant flats and pointed heels a popular option for those wanting to give their trackies a grown-up spin. The fabrication of the trouser itself is also a key factor, as while classic grey marls can certainly be dressed-up, it helps to invest in a more heavy-duty material (see Uniqlo U’s unisex style) that will hang nicely and not crease; cashmere and wool iterations are also worth a look as they require less considered styling to achieve your desired level of polish.

So even if you wouldn’t consider yourself a tracksuit person (same), you might just find that these pulled-together winter looks convince you to reconsider. Scroll down to see and shop the trend.

Hanna Lassen/Getty Images

Drawstring Striped-Panel Stretch-Woven Trousers

Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images

Scarf-Detail Cotton-Blend Sweatshirt

Edward Berthelot/Getty Images

Viper Oversized Leather Jacket

Cashmere-Blend Polo Neck Jumper

Originals Firebird Loose track Pants In Black

Claudio Lavenia/Getty Images

Bonded Cotton Check Trench Coat

Navy Vapor Tracksuit Joggers

Tabi Split-Toe Leather Ballet Flats

Claudio Lavenia/Getty Images

Oversized Faux Leather Jacket

Saskia Argyle Wool Jumper

Adidas Originals Firebird Loose Track Pants

Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images

Originals Firebird Loose track Pants In Black

This article first appeared on Vogue.co.uk

There are too many things striving for your attention, Leo. If you take a moment for yourself, you will realise that your inner voice is speaking loud and clear. Consider carefully before you act upon anything, but also be mindful of not getting so involved in logic that you forget that you are a pulsating, thriving force of the cosmos with an innate intelligence that knows a lot more than you give yourself credit for or that you keep seeking proof of. You are not only learning new tricks in the book, but are also applying them in new ways to test new waters and ways to get going in life. Sag, you are extremely ambitious, and there is nothing wrong with it. In fact, it would be safe to say that success and material security get you feeling ecstatic in many ways; however, do remember that while your season has just begun and you will be on a roll, you must also continue to uphold your beliefs and integrity in good standing. You are the magician, Capricorn, and no matter what you are going through at this point in time, remember that your energy and your intentions are super powerful—so be it your drive to build and enjoy a happy family, top-notch health, a solid career, an empowered sense of confidence or anything else—you can do it.

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.

Walk over your path cautiously, Aries, and that in itself is applause-worthy because after all these months of repeated messages from your guides, you are finally paying heed and taking action. This brings us to two important points: what is yours never truly leaves your side, and what is meant for you to do, you will be urged to pick that path and do it anyway. There are many things that will be happening all at once in the coming week, and you, Aries, are going to feel like you are on fire. Lead with passion; however, also keep your heart, mind and eyes open.

Cosmic tip: Delays are finally behind you.

Breathe in, breathe out and wait for perfect timing, Taurus. For some, there is good news on money approvals—be it receiving loans or paying off debts. For some this paying off debts can also imply rebalancing your karmic debts. If you have been asking for an answer, a powerful revelation that really triggers a change at a cellular level or a deep thinking level surfaces and almost as if out of nowhere, you find answers to questions you have been asking for a while, and you also begin seeing things slightly differently. Taurus, release your grip on the familiar now so that the new, fresh and slightly out there world can enter your life.

When you’re ticked off, it’s tempting to immediately text your mom or best friend to rehash all the gory details. But new research suggests that venting anger actually doesn’t work to help you calm down and it may actually make things worse.

The findings contradict the way most people respond to anger, but taking a different approach can make a big difference in how you feel in the aftermath, Brad J. Bushman, PhD, study co-author and a professor of communication at The Ohio State University, tells us. “Just ranting about what happened with a friend is a bad idea,” he says.

Of course, it’s only human to have a reaction when you’re angry. So what’s the best way to work through this? Here’s what research and mental health professionals suggest.

What did the study find?

For the study, which was published in the journal Clinical Psychological Review, researchers analysed 154 studies on anger that included more than 10,000 people. After crunching the data, they found little evidence that venting helped when people were upset and that it may increase angry feelings (you probably have a solid idea of what venting is, but Dr. Speakman says his team defined it as people expressing their anger verbally or physically, like kicking a punching bag, hitting a pillow, ranting, screaming or swearing.)

The researchers also discovered that doing things like going for a run when you’re angry also didn’t help. It only kept people feeling worked-up. Instead, the only thing that brought anger levels back down was doing things that helped to calm and quiet the mind.

Why venting doesn’t work

While venting anger is a go-to strategy for most people, there are a few reasons why it doesn’t work. “When people are angry, their arousal level increases,” Dr. Bushman says. “Venting just makes it go higher.”

“Venting doesn’t encourage things like problem-solving, taking a different view on things, and radical acceptance,” Aaron P. Brinen, PsyD, assistant professor of Psychiatry & Behavioural Sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, says. “It’s just continuing to fuel the anger and aggression,” he adds.

Venting also tends to go hand-in-hand with rumination, which is when you keep going over the same negative thoughts, Dr. Bushman says. “That’s like using gasoline to try to put out a fire,” he says. “It’s a very ineffective and destructive way to manage anger. It’s the worst thing you can do.”

What to do instead of venting

The big goal in the immediate aftermath of being upset should be to try to calm down, according to Dr. Bushman. “That’s why going for a run doesn’t work,” he says. “While it may be good for your heart, it’s not good to manage anger. It keeps those arousal levels high and anything that increases arousal is a bad idea.”

Instead, he recommends leaning on things like mindfulness, meditation, breathing techniques and yoga. “All of these are very effective, not only in reducing stress, but feelings of anger,” he says. Dr. Bushman says he regularly leans on the 4-7-8 breathing technique, which involves inhaling slowly through your nose for a count of four, holding your breath for a count of seven and exhaling slowly through your mouth for a count of eight.

It’s really easy to swear you’d never forgive a cheater. But real-life relationships are messy, layered and influenced by so much more than one (or a few) bad moments, which makes the question of whether there are ever “good” reasons to look past infidelity a complicated one.

Of course, all of this is subjective. An immediate dealbreaker for one person might be something another couple feels they can genuinely work through. But for anyone wondering what circumstance could possibly excuse this sort of betrayal, the short answer is none: “There is no universally ‘good’ reason to cheat,” says Idit Sharoni, LMFT, a couples therapist who leads an infidelity recovery program called It’s Okay to Stay. In more than a decade of practice, she says, “I haven’t seen one case where anyone said, ‘Okay, that’s a really great justification!’”

That said, the relationship therapists we spoke with agree that people underestimate how possible it is to recover from an affair and even grow stronger on the other side of it—either as individuals or, if you choose, as a couple. Either way, forgiveness can be the very tool that provides clarity, closure and a surprising sense of peace. While there is no universal formula for how to forgive a cheater, here are a few factors that at least make the choice to forgive understandable.

1. You’ve been together for a while and share a deep history

Needless to say, couples who have been together for decades have a lot more on the line than those in the early stages of dating. “If you’ve been married for a really long time, it’s not just a simple decision to say, ‘Let me end this relationship,’” Sharoni says. “It’s not an on-and-off switch.”

That’s because long-term duos have years of shared history and life experiences to take into consideration. Maybe they were there for each other during the death of a parent or child, a serious health scare or sudden financial challenges, Sharoni says. “When you go through the relationship having supported each other in so many different ways, the infidelity doesn’t always automatically negate that.”

2. You rely on each other financially

Similarly, the practical circumstances of a long-term relationship—such as being financially tied to each other—can make the decision to leave incredibly complex. “I work with a lot of couples who’ve decided to stay together because it would be very expensive to maintain separate housing, separate lives and they’ve figured out a way to make the situation work,” says Lisa Chen, LMFT, a Los Angeles–based couples therapist. On top of that, other money-related realities like shared debt, childcare costs or relying on a partner’s health insurance can play a meaningful role in explaining why a person may be tempted to stay.

3. They came forward on their own

While it doesn’t suddenly erase the betrayal, an unprompted confession can make it easier to believe they won’t do it again, says Patrice Le Goy, PhD, LMFT, a Los Angeles–based couples therapist.

If we had to choose a pair of shoes to worship for their silhouette and comfort, they would be the mini heels. Their design comes to say goodbye to flat soles, but without forcing us to take dizzying steps. They allow us to go on walks that last for hours without our feet hurting and make any look, no matter how casual or formal it may seem, to be elevated with just three centimetres (or even less).

Their perception as ‘granny shoes’ was left behind several seasons ago, becoming the favourite of the best-dressed. Whether it’s Erdem’s casual furry models, Rachel Comey’s scale prints or Shushu/Tong’s cherry red proposals, mini heels will always be the great ally of style, capable of transmitting an elegant character without much effort or sacrifice. A concept that fashion trends for Winter 2025 approve of, since to look impeccable, you don’t need a strident impact.

7 ideas for combining mini heels with long skirts and pants in winter 2025

Maximising style is also achieved through discretion, and the shoes in trend for Fall-Winter 2025, including the well-known kitten heels, have become a must-have that perfectly balances the art of standing out without attracting attention. They are ideal for both petite women, who want to add to their presence, and taller women, who value styling without adding too much height. In many ways, they are as versatile as they are elegant, with the ability to work as the perfect base for any look.

Low heels and tailored pants

Pantalones en la pasarela de Stella McCartney Otoño-Invierno 2025.Umberto Fratini / Gorunway.

We saw it very clearly on Stella McCartney’s runway, low-heeled shoes look divine paired with sartorial garments. They are ideal to elevate the elegance of baggy pants and double-breasted blazers, so that, both in the office and on the street, comfort goes hand in hand with style. Wear them in neutral tones and go for square-toe pumps as an extra touch of modernity that adds an unexpected twist to any classic outfit.

Slingback shoes and shorts

Su Mustecaplioglu / Gorunway.

Cosmic tip: Let go of past hurts and be more willing to be there for others.

Non-stop. Your life has been non-stop, Scorpio, and while you have been wrecking your brain on what to do and how to get things done, you are being asked to hit snooze for just a little while longer before you take the baton and go for the run. You have your own way of operating, and Scorps, this way is unique because it not only touches upon the material, but for a lot of you out there, you are somehow looking at a larger picture that transcends this current life. What we mean is that your decisions are not just based on logical facts, but also are rebalancing karmic scales in the long run, and this might make you feel like time has slowed down and so has your progress, but Scorps, you are earning some serious brownie points from the cosmos. And these bonuses will arrive when you least expect them.

Cosmic tip: Your individuality is merging with your innermost circles, and this is happening in a good way while you still remain an individual.

The more you withdraw within today, Sag, the more you will benefit from it. It might be a stupendous idea today to disconnect from your social media, perhaps, if possible, for a bit from technology as a whole. Use these amazing new moon energies to reflect on what you really want and what aligns with you, not from a superficial perspective, but from a deeply soul-led level. This is the new moon in Scorpio, and the next one will be in your sign, so whatever it is that you are drawn to during this cycle, you will be building upon for the next month and allowing it to flourish then on. Have a little patience because this time out is actually the leap you have been waiting for.

Cosmic tip: Be selective in your engagements and stand your ground firmly.

You want to do this, and then you want to do that, and then you want to do it all. But Capricorn, do you realise that you may be an infinitesimal soul but are still an embodied human? To cut a long story short, you only have so much energy and so much bandwidth, and hence, it may be time to upskill, refine or even declutter your entire gamut and pace of life. The recent past, for some, the past 9 months, may not have been easy to say the least, but you are birthing anew. And while this crowning moment may feel uncertain and shaky, trust that you got this, and you will find your oasis soon.

LACMA recently unveiled their new David Geffen Galleries building, designed by Pritzker Prize–winning architect Peter Zumthor, and is working up to a grand opening next April. “The entire building is designed to be ‘no hierarchies,’” Govan explains, “It’s three football fields long, it goes over the central boulevard of Los Angeles, it’s a whole different worldview.” Govan jokes that artists are the diplomats of our time, and he’s right; they carry ideas from one culture to another, revive forgotten technologies and tell stories that may otherwise be lost. And just as many artists are embracing AI as another tool in their belt, curators are tapping into an increasingly global network of artists and institutions to enhance their points of view.

Michael Govan. Photo © Brigitte Lacombe

It’s no longer enough for cultural exchange to be relegated to a few artworks shuttling back and forth between museums, which also aligns with the NMACC’s mission to meaningfully take India’s heritage and contemporary creativity to the world. “What’s new for me is the depth of personal relationships one can have in the long-term to embed people’s points of view,” Govan shares. “We have Isha Ambani on our board, we have board members in Seoul, Taipei and Doha. That’s new. Once you discover it’s possible, you feel it’s almost an obligation. Why wouldn’t we reach out for all those perspectives on an ongoing basis?”

If there’s one foolproof way to level up a look, it’s shine. Sonam Kapoor’s hand-painted Tarun Tahiliani jacket caught the light in a soft, subtle way. Tara Sutaria, on the other hand, dialled it all the way up with pearls and crystals. Sanya Malhotra leaned into a clean, glossy finish, while Shanaya Kapoor’s gold set shone from every angle. Different approaches, same instinct to reach for something that catches the eye.

Instagram.com/sonamkapoor

Sonam Kapoor set the bar with a cream ensemble from Tarun Tahiliani‘s collaboration with de Gournay earlier this year. The cream jacket is pure silk, hand-dyed, then fully hand-painted with peonies and finished with gemstones and Swarovski crystals. She layered stacked pearls with an antique gold polki-and-emerald choker for contrast. She completed the look with ivory juttis and an embroidered potli that kept the palette light.