Posts in category: Life Style

Alia Bhatt wears Anamika Khanna couture, styled by Rhea Kapoor, in an ivory lehenga set where the visual weight sits firmly with the cape. The look is built around contrast, pairing light base fabrics with concentrated surface work rather than full-body embellishment.

The cape is styled open and worn in place of a dupatta establishing scale and movement across the body. Its borders carry dense metallic embroidery and pearl detailing, creating a strong frame that defines the silhouette from shoulder to hem. The length and transparency allow the eye to travel, while the embroidery at the edges holds attention.

Polki earrings by Amrapali Jewels and haathphool by Rah Jewels add ornamentation without filling the neckline, allowing the blouse and cape borders to remain the visual centre. Bhatt wears her hair loose with natural volume, keeping the look relaxed. Her makeup follows the same logic. Warm, even skin, softly defined eyes and a muted nude lip complement the palette and embroidery.

From Vogue’s fashion desk:

“Lean into the regal feel of the cape and go all maximal with accessories. Add a polki necklace to add weight to the look while retaining the earrings and hand accessories. A side part slick back hair with crimson lips and heavy smoky eyes to make it all modern without compromising on the old world opulence,” says Vogue India fashion associate Manglien Gangte.

Also read:

Alaya F’s oxblood gown plays with sharp shoulders and a folded waist detail

Alia Bhatt’s romantic draped gown and Sonam Kapoor’s embroidered statement sleeves led this week’s best looks

The case for the oversized-shoulder mini dress this party season

The last new moon of the year on December 20 is an auspicious moment to close 2025 and a 9-year cycle in numerology, while preparing to welcome 2026 and plunge gently into the new 9-year chapter that’s opening.

At the time of the new moon on December 20, the moon will lie between the Earth and the sun. Its sunlit side faces the sun, while its Earth-facing side is in shadow. This makes it appear black in the sky. This phenomenon will be exacerbated on December 20, as the new moon will be responsible for the darkest night of the year. Not only will it have a total absence of light, creating a very dark sky, but, as an added bonus, it takes place on the eve of the winter solstice, the longest night of the year. Fortunately, behind this darkness lie messages of light. According to astrologer Rachel Ruth Tate of Casinos Analyzer, this New Moon is ‘a lesson is a blessing’ moment, a reset that pushes us all toward honesty, clarity, evolution and movement, even if we don’t feel ready for it.

What will the new moon in Sagittarius on December 20, 2025 bring us?

“The new moon invites us to introspect, feel and perceive our environment and ourselves,” says Tate. “This new moon, under the sign of Sagittarius, encourages us to set goals and aim high, all the more so as its ruler, Jupiter, is well placed in Cancer. To hit the bull’s-eye, you need to believe in yourself enough to pick up the bow and pull the string.” Venus is close to Sagittarius, helping us to take courage and choose joy. On the other hand, Saturn’s pressure meets Neptune’s fog, which means this new moon isn’t without its challenges, as it’s also under the pressure of a Saturn square in Pisces, which reminds us that there will always be obstacles on the road to success. “Be patient and keep the faith when doubts stand between you and your dreams,” Tate advises. “‘Someday’ has to end up being ‘today’. Keep in mind that you’ll never be as ready as you think you should be.” That said, Neptune, a potentially confusing planet, also blurs things in conjunction with Saturn in Pisces, so be careful not to venture into the realm of illusion. The best advice for this new moon? “Be honest and move forward with love in the process of becoming, however chaotic and imperfect it may be.”

3 zodiac signs particularly targeted by the new moon on December 20:

Cancer: Deeper clarity and emotional reset

You tend to feel each lunation more than other signs, Cancer, because the moon is your master and its cycles correspond to yours. This new moon will be felt more deeply due to the presence of its ruling planet in your sign. Jupiter went retrograde in Cancer in mid-November, and since then, you’ve learned a lot about what you really want for yourself. From what you believe about the origin of the universe to what you want your days to look like, you’ve been doing a lot of thinking about your life… and that’s a good thing. Set yourself clear intentions and do your best.

Sagittarius: Endings that pave the way for new beginnings

This new moon occurs in your sign, Sagittarius, which inevitably heralds new beginnings. However, as some things begin, others come to an end. It’s normal to mourn the end, and it’s much easier to turn the page by acknowledging and accepting the situation with dignity. Your ruling planet, Jupiter, is retrograde in Cancer, which encourages you to accept life’s ups and downs with grace. There’s no peak without a valley, Sagittarius. Venus is conjunct this moon, gently reminding us that there’s also something beautiful behind the next hill. Keep climbing.

Pisces: Tension now, relief soon

You can’t help but feel the tension this lunation, Pisces, with Saturn and Neptune sending difficult squares from your sign. With this extra tension comes a feeling of extra weight, so give yourself more space than usual to rest and decompress. The situation is probably uncomfortable at the moment, preventing you from enjoying life to the full. But this will pass, once Saturn and Neptune have left your usually gentle and pleasant sign, during the first two months of next year. Just a little more effort, Pisces. You’ll soon be able to enjoy yourself again.”

This article first appeared on Vogue.fr

The body care industry has undergone a major transformation in the last few years. Once an afterthought, (if cared for at all) there is now a wealth of formulas designed to tackle common concerns, from ageing to dry skin as we begin to treat the skin on the rest of the body in line with our visage.

The Korean 10-step skincare regime has stages from cleansing to treatments to masks, which may feel more than enough for our faces. And while we don’t expect we need to have so many lotions and potions for the body, the question remains: should we be layering our body care, even just a little?

According to Dr Richard Devine, aesthetic doctor and founder of Devine Clinic, the answer is yes, “Most people don’t realise how effective it can be,” he tells us. “The skin on the body is thicker than the face, so it often needs more support, especially if you deal with dryness, keratosis pilaris or pigmentation.” But layering doesn’t mean slathering on haphazardly and hoping something sticks . You can be targeted with the application.

“Layering doesn’t mean using lots of products, it simply means applying the right textures in the right order so your actives work properly,” stresses Dr Devine. “A targeted body serum can deliver ingredients deeper into the skin, while a moisturiser seals everything in and reduces water loss. The result is smoother, clearer and more hydrated skin that feels more resilient.”

Anastasia Koles, an aesthetic nurse, adds, “The skin on the body is exposed to friction, clothing, heat and sweat, so it often needs targeted support. A single moisturiser won’t always address things like pigmentation on the décolletage or congestion on the back. Using one product to correct and another to hydrate gives you clearer results with far less effort. Think of it as streamlining, not adding complexity.”

Step 1: Cleansing

A step that (hopefully) is already ingrained as part of hygiene practices, a body wash or cleanser is a staple. But just because it is a basic step, it doesn’t need to be basic. Upgrade your daily ablutions with a sensorially scented formula or make it work harder for you by incorporating active ingredients. Koles says, “Even an AHA body wash twice a week keeps the skin smooth and helps other products penetrate.” Dr Davines suggests, “For body breakouts, salicylic acid helps to clear pores and calm inflammation.”

OUAI Body Cleanser Melrose Place

Justhuman Revitalizing Body Wash

Step 2: Exfoliating

“This doesn’t need to be every day,” says Dr Devine. “A chemical exfoliant like lactic acid or glycolic acid used two or three times a week keeps the skin soft and helps any treatment you apply afterwards absorb better.”

Sol de Janeiro Bom Dia Body Scrub

Forest Essentials Body Polisher

Step 3: Treatment

This is the most important step to solve a concern, according to Dr Devine and generally comes in the form of a body serum. “This is where you put your actives, whether that’s niacinamide for pigmentation, salicylic acid for breakouts or retinol for texture and firmness.” Koles says if you’re short on time, this is the one to maintain: “everything else simply supports it.”

Beneath that signature whirlwind vibe, Sagittarius, there is a core that is so deeply hidden that even you may have forgotten about it. Today, tap into that anchor. Tune into that rock that keeps you feeling grounded from within and you may realise that while you go past life in a blur, there is so much more to soak in, and be grateful for. Your heart feels full, your plate feels abundant and your home feels vibrant, with just this tiny little shift. And then you realise what you want to really fight or die for.

Cosmic tip: Honour yourself and your commitments as truthfully as you can.

Focus on your own powers, Capricorn—your own strengths, your own skills and your own views on everything. The more your gaze moves outward, the more you feel scattered. Make your  moves, but inward—towards your ideas, your inspirations, your willpower and what you see as lined up ahead for you. A new person or a new you is entering your life, and your unwavering vision and foresight is what draws things your way in an expedited manner.

Cosmic tip: Embrace new opportunities now, as things are looking up for you.

The most important quality that we all could do with is to “go easy” not only on others but also on ourselves. Share that extra dollar, help how much ever you can, stop counting your food and begin respecting your body. Aquarius, fortunes change overnight, and often the quality of life experienced with this transition is not based on how much gold you accumulate, but how much emotional and intangible wealth you build along the way. So while you are at the task, remember to also make the journey a wonderful ride. Life is short, it doesn’t have to be difficult.

Cosmic tip: Share freely of what you have, the cosmos has your back.

You are cosmically charged and aligned, Pisces. Your intuition and senses are speaking loud and clear. Your ideas are in confluence with your higher self. You are deciding to come together with people and build teams or relationships. Maybe on a personal level, you want to bury a hatchet for good and work towards a better present and future. Sure, effort will be needed from your end in the near future, but you will rise and shine brilliantly well.

Cosmic tip: Get ready to enjoy the beautiful orchard you have sown and grown.

Until May this year, Banu Mushtaq’s days were filled with the sound of clacking laptop keys as she locked in to complete her daily quota of writing, the rustle of a turning page from the book on her nightstand, the scratch of a pencil moving over her notes. But since winning the International Booker Prize for Heart Lamp, a collection of short stories she wrote in Kannada between 1990 and 2023, her most common sights are cacophonous airports and book festivals, suitcases half-zipped by her bed, dozens of emails and a phone that won’t stop buzzing. Amidst it all, the one thing Mushtaq now finds slipping through her fingers is the very thing that rooted her in the first place: the slow, solitary act of writing.

When we meet at the Metaphor Lucknow Litfest, a free-for-all celebration of literature held in the heart of Hazratganj at Le Press, the 77-year-old author is reinvigorated from soaking up the city’s quiet lanes and historic monuments. “Yes, my life has totally changed since winning the Booker Prize,” she admits, explaining that where her days were once grounded in quiet legal work, activism and writing, they are now dominated by media attention, festival invitations and constant travel. “I’ve become accustomed to being on the move—airports, litfest stages, cities blurring into one another—but it’s left me with so little time to write, or even to think uninterrupted.”

Even the small details of Mushtaq’s daily life have shifted now. Things she once took for granted, like long chats with relatives over tea, calls with friends and relaxed mornings at home, have become rare moments tucked between commute, events and literary appearances. Thankfully, her writer’s mind is capable of finding inspiration on the go. “Wherever I travel, I note the history, the people and the experiences…and the reactions I get,” she says. “I file them away for use at a later stage.”

Mushtaq understands that this enforced writing hiatus is important, not just for her, but for the voices and the stories she represents. “It is a great occasion to celebrate,” she says, noting how historic it is for a South Indian language to have been recognised at the Booker level. For many writers, this recognition has brought voices long unheard out of oblivion. Perhaps it’s why literary figures from other Indian languages, including Malayalam and Telugu, joined in celebrating Mushtaq’s victory with such enthusiasm.

Before her Booker win, Mushtaq was deeply immersed in writing her autobiography, a project she’s eager to return to. “I need to complete it, the publisher is worried,” she laughs wryly, a reminder that even big wins bring a new set of expectations. She’s already recorded much of her early life up to her marriage, but the chapters on her activism and struggles remain unwritten. The author says those parts need careful reflection and uninterrupted time, something that’s been hard to find amid constant engagements.

Learning how to use toner pads the right way can be a game changer for your skincare routine. They’re convenient, effective and genuinely satisfying to swipe over your skin. But before you go nuts with the first toner pads you find on Amazon, it’s worth doing your homework.

A toner pad isn’t just intended to catch the residue and makeup your cleanser leaves behind. Depending on the formula, they can also hydrate, exfoliate, boost brightness, minimise the appearance of pores…the list goes on. “For many people, a toner pad can be a valuable addition that enhances overall skin clarity, smoothness and glow,” says Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, FAAD, founder of Skincare Junkie. But without the right considerations, irritation might interrupt your glow.

Ahead, we asked dermatologists to share everything you need to know to get the most out of your toner pads.

What do toner pads do for your skin?

Toners (lightweight, fast-absorbing skin care solutions typically used between cleansing and moisturising) “can help rebalance the skin’s pH, sweep away residual impurities, provide gentle exfoliation and replenish hydration,” Dr. Murphy-Rose says. “A toner pad is a pre-soaked pad that delivers these benefits in a convenient, controlled application.”

In the skincare world, toners and toner pads have come a long way recently. “While older toners were often drying and astringent, today’s formulations are more sophisticated and pH-balanced, often formulated with hydrators, exfoliators, antioxidants and/or barrier-supportive ingredients,” Dr. Murphy-Rose says. Single-use toner pads can add an extra element of exfoliation and lots of current formulas include active ingredients that target dullness, breakouts and hyperpigmentation.

How to choose a toner pad for your skin type

Since there are so many different toner pads on the market, it’s important to choose yours carefully based on your skin type and skincare goals.

Dry or sensitive skin

“Look for humectants like hyaluronic acid, glycerin and aloe along with gentle exfoliants such as PHAs (like gluconolactone),” Dr. Murphy-Rose says. “These ingredients hydrate, soften and smooth while being far less irritating than traditional acids.” Most hydrating toner pads can be used daily, but “Tailor your frequency to your skin’s tolerance”, Divya Shokeen, MD, FAAD says.

Madagascar Centella Quick Calming Pad

First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads

Acne-prone or oily skin

If you’re hoping to reduce oiliness, treat acne or improve dull or uneven texture, Dr. Shokeen recommends a gently exfoliating toner pad that includes salicylic acid. These should be used less frequently; she recommends two to three times per week. “Salicylic acid (BHA) is key for decongesting pores and preventing breakouts” Dr. Murphy-Rose explains. “Choose fragrance-free, alcohol-free, pH-balanced formulas to minimise irritation and keep the barrier intact.”

Anua Heartleaf 77 Clear Pad

The Face Shop Tea Tree Korean Toner Pads

If you regularly deal with eczema, rosacea, very dry skin, or barrier damage, Dr. Shokeen advises using toner pads with extra caution, or skipping them altogether. The added friction from the pads can irritate these conditions, but don’t worry; “Most benefits can be achieved more effectively with serums or liquid toner,” she says.

How to use a toner pad in your skincare routine, step-by-step

Step 1: Cleanser

A toner pad might seem similar in concept to a makeup wipe, but you’ll want wash your face as usual before using this product. “Apply toner pads immediately after cleansing and before your serums and moisturiser,” Dr. Murphy-Rose says. “This helps remove any lingering impurities.”

Step 2: Toner pad

Both experts say to use gentle, sweeping motions and to avoid scrubbing when using a toner pad. “I recommend starting with the oiliest areas like the T-zone, which includes the forehead, nose, and chin and then gliding outward across the cheeks, jawline and chin using light, even pressure,” Dr. Murphy-Rose says.

For the bride, who had always envisioned having a fairytale-esque wedding, it seemed fitting that they choose a destination that exuded palatial charm and opulence. After recceing properties across Udaipur, Istanbul, Paris, Rome and Monaco, none caught their fancy, unlike a wedding in Vienna. “Our guests could wander through galleries of Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele, arrive at celebrations in traditional horse-drawn carriages and dine beneath centuries-old frescoes,” Rughani shares. It came with its fair share of challenges, such as hosting the wedding ceremony in the premises of the Belvedere Palace, a historic complex in the heart of the city that required prior approval from the Austrian government, as well as the sangeet evening at Palais Liechtenstein, built by the princely family of Liechtenstein nearly 300 years ago.

The couple roped in Aditya Motwane of Motwane Entertainment & Weddings to execute their dream wedding in Vienna, with a mood board that featured clean, neutral palettes layered with lots of florals and glossy white textures, among other whimsical elements. “We wanted the setting to be the masterpiece with grand palaces and Baroque-style architecture commanding attention,” they add. This included taking over the historic Park Hyatt Vienna hotel as the base for the celebrations.

As guests flew in from around the world, they were greeted with eclectic mithai hampers from Bombay Sweet Shop, along with being treated to champagne breakfasts, live cooking stations curated by Foodlink Luxury Catering, personalised room service menus and even sitar performances in the lobby of the hotel. Even the wedding invitations were designed as objets d’art featuring lacquered wooden boxes (that served as keepsake jewellery boxes), a gold-plated bookend, and a compendium of sketches of the couple’s couture ensembles, nuggets of history behind the palace venues, as well as messages from a Michelin-star chef that had been roped in to design the wedding reception menus. “We wanted each of our guests to feel immersed in our world. Even soft touches such as personalised napkins and tables named after our favourite hotels—Amanzoe, Cheval Blanc Randheli, and Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc—were an ode to memorable travels together,” Rughani adds.

The wedding weekend unfolded as a well-orchestrated extravaganza, starting with a haldi lunch, a ceremonial swagat and a havan puja in front of the Liechtenstein

Palace, followed by the sangeet the same evening, which replicated a whimsical European-style garden laced with florals and old-world charm, and a theme centred around Vienna-meets-India. Think Bridgerton-inspired performers mingling with the crowds, a large Marie Antoinette-style chariot that was the centre of attention, colourful Indian textiles and glossy swings. The couple recalls a gesture of privilege when the royal family allowed guests to partake in private curator-led tours of the galleries during the sangeet, which included viewing the Badminton Cabinet, considered one of the most valuable pieces of furniture in the world. “An experience rarely, if ever, accessible to the public,” says Rughani. A boudoir-inspired after-party concluded the night.

Cosmic tip: Nurture yourself and others.

When you make serenity a priority, you not only reshuffle your life but also activate your nervous system differently. Sagittarius, try a different outlook on what you have been running after for all this while. If you have been chasing love—honestly answer what has kept you from it (without self-deprecating yourself). If you have been chasing money—honestly answer why it has felt tough to get a grip on it. Now, if that is tough—look at what you have going for you in life and step away to notice how it automatically doesn’t wreck your nervous system. Do the same work on what you desire—make it your basic requirement.

Cosmic tip: Regulate first, then pursue. What feels calm will last longer.

Something old is leaving your life and something new is entering it. And while this may feel like an extremely rundown message, Capricorn, this time round it comes with depth. You are transforming at your cellular level—how you eat, think, sleep, perceive life and so much more. Sure this inbetween phase may feel tougher than you imagined it to be, but trust the cosmos darling, you are in for a grand surprise that will need you to move quick—donning your creative hat.

Cosmic tip: A cycle of debt is complete for you—karmically, financially, energetically or in any other manner.

You need a plan and you need to be able to stick to it to get to the next chapter in your life, Aquarius. This is a time for positive changes and while these may feel overwhelming for you, a lot more is ongoing beneath it all. Your willpower, focus, determination are all being noticed by the cosmos. Soon you will be in the lead. Until then, just get your focus onto getting on a clearer track.

Cosmic tip: Objective and detached assessment will lead you to valuable insights that hold the power to transform where you are.

Your hard work is finally paying off, Pisces. Good news is on its way and so is the recognition you’ve so yearned for. Now as you step up to make this grow and expand in various ways, realise that you need not always be in the forefront to excel in your work. It is the conductor that makes the orchestra outstanding, not just the lead musician. And this is precisely what is being asked of you right now.

Cosmic tip: Stand up, show up and lead the way in your own unique style.

Alia Bhatt’s appearance in an archival Hervé Léger dress for the Filmfare Awards draws attention to a silhouette that once defined red-carpet dressing in the early ’90s. Styled by Rhea Kapoor, Bhatt wore a black halter-neck gown from the house’s Fall/Winter 1993 collection, part of the era when Hervé Léger’s bandage construction became a red carpet favourite, embedded in fashion culture.

The dress follows a now-familiar structure from that era: a close-fitting column that traces the body from neckline to hem, paired with a halter cut that exposes the shoulders and upper back. The fabric’s engineered stretch creates a smooth, uninterrupted surface, while the scalloped neckline introduces a subtle architectural detail. A high slit breaks the line just enough to bring in movement.

Cindy Crawford, in Hervé Léger, with Richard Gere during 65th Annual Academy Awards, 1993

Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images

Claudia ‘Clau’ Robles-Gil and Prakhar Gupta met in October 2021, introduced by mutual friends. Both had just arrived back in New York, carrying the aftershocks of the pandemic and the feeling of starting something new. “There was an instant connection and familiarity between us,” says Robles-Gil. “We fell in love early and hard.”

Those first weeks were marked by intensity and care. Robles-Gil was grieving her grandmother, who had passed away due to COVID-19, when they met, and Gupta arrived with a steadiness she needed. “Prakhar met me exactly where I needed him,” she remembers. Soon after, their separately planned Thanksgiving trips unexpectedly aligned in Tulum. Robles-Gil nudged him to join. He did. “At the end of that November trip, only weeks after first meeting, we knew this was special.”

After spending the holidays apart, Gupta in India and Robles-Gil in Mexico, they returned to each other with certainty. “We came back to each other with sure hearts and have been building our life together ever since.”

Marriage arrived not as a grand question, but as an agreement already made. “We knew before the one-year mark that this was the endgame for us.” A traditional proposal never quite fit. During Robles-Gil’s final months in New York, Gupta simply brought her a ring. “A proposal felt more like a formality than a question,” she says. An engagement celebration followed at his family home in February. Months later, at the Anjunadeep Explorations festival in Albania, seated on beanbags by the ocean during a concert, Gupta proposed again. It wasn’t planned, but it was private, tender and theirs alone.

From there, the wedding began to take shape not as a story they wanted to tell together.

Robles-Gil is an artist from Mexico City whose work is rooted in identity, memory and belonging. Gupta runs PGX, a long-form conversation project where he sits with scientists, technologists, artists and thinkers shaping what’s next. That shared instinct for meaning would come to guide the days ahead.

Robles-Gil had felt drawn to Thailand for years. When they finally visited earlier this year, the decision landed immediately. “The moment we stepped onto the JW Marriott Phuket lawn, with the palms and the ocean opening up in front of us, I knew immediately this was the place.” Phuket allowed them to keep the celebration intimate while giving friends from India and abroad a reason to travel. Just as importantly, it placed the wedding by the ocean, a landscape both feel deeply connected to.