Posts in category: Life Style

Illusions—aren’t they a wonderful thing? They trap you, enslave you, while also holding the power to set you free and liberate you. Pisces, just as you can only assume what another person sitting across the room is thinking, not knowing things entirely for sure, you can use this to your advantage. What if they are not judging you; instead, they are having a hard day themselves? What if they are not even thinking about your actions at all? Instead, are you the one riling yourself up for nothing? Invest your insomnia wisely, if any. Use it to fuel dreams instead of drama and fears. Come up with game plans instead of finding rocks to hide under.

Cosmic tip: Co-operation and compromise are the pillars of a lasting foundation, as is the art of waiting intuitively for the right time to strike.

Also read:

Aries October 9, 2025

Taurus October 9, 2025

Gemini October 9, 2025

Cancer October 9, 2025

Leo October 9, 2025

Virgo October 9, 2025

Libra October 9, 2025

Scorpio October 9, 2025

Sagittarius October 9, 2025

Capricorn October 9, 2025

Aquarius October 9, 2025

Once a humble byproduct of winemaking, grapeseed oil has become one of skincare’s most effective multitaskers. Extracted from the tiny seeds found inside grape pulp, the oil is cold-pressed to preserve a potent blend of polyphenols, linoleic acid and vitamin E, all known for their antioxidant strength. The same compounds that protect grapes from sunlight can help protect your skin from premature signs of ageing.

Light in texture yet rich in nutrients, grapeseed oil absorbs quickly without leaving residue, making it suitable for nearly all skin types, including combination and acne-prone skin. It is packed with vitamins D, A, E and K, essential fatty acids and minerals that nourish the epidermis while reinforcing the skin barrier. The result is skin that feels supple, balanced and more resilient to environmental stress.

Why it matters

Oxidative stress triggered by pollution, UV rays or even lack of sleep breaks down collagen and accelerates fine lines. The antioxidants in grapeseed oil work to neutralise those free radicals, slowing visible signs of ageing. It also helps repair and support collagen fibres when paired with actives like retinol, peptides or vitamin C, making it a versatile addition to any anti-ageing routine.

Skin benefits of grapeseed oil at a glance

• Strengthens the skin barrier and improves elasticity
• Keeps the complexion even-toned and luminous
• Helps reduce redness and irritation thanks to its calming effect
• Provides lightweight hydration without clogging pores
• Offers mild antimicrobial action which may help prevent acne flare-ups

How to use it

Massage a few drops directly onto damp skin as a final step in your evening routine or mix it with your moisturiser for added nourishment. It also layers well beneath sunscreen in the morning for an antioxidant boost.

Whether used on its own or blended into serums and creams, grapeseed oil proves that sometimes beauty’s most powerful ingredients come from what was once considered waste.

This article first appeared on Vogue.it

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I will never forget walking into Elgin, a pub with worn wooden tables, soft lighting and the faint scent of chips and Sunday roast hanging in the air. Outside, London’s sky pressed against rain-streaked windows, but inside, thirteen other random expectant mothers and their partners were settling into mismatched chairs. It was the first evening of our antenatal group course, Happy Parents, Happy Baby, a four-week immersion into everything from hypnobirthing to contractions to decoding the mystery of swaddling. My husband and I walked in with no expectations, just a head full of unknowns: How painful would delivery be? How exactly does breastfeeding work? Should I get an epidural?

When I moved to London from New York City a year and a half earlier, I found myself swiping through Bumble BFF, making small talk in gym classes and smiling too brightly at my husband’s friends’ wives, hoping proximity might turn into friendship. I quickly learned that making friends as an adult is like trying to catch lightning in a bottle—rare and fleeting and always just out of reach.

Then I fell pregnant and the loneliness felt like a weight I carried alongside my growing belly.

Everyone talks about how it takes a village to raise a child, but my village was three thousand miles away. My mother’s advice came with love but often too late, arriving in a different time zone when I had already weathered the storm that prompted my call. My friends back home, many of them mothers themselves, were always a text away, yet our worlds had fallen out of sync. Their 9pm was my 2am. Their toddlers were sleeping just as my insomnia began. I wondered endlessly who I would lean on when the baby was here.

From the moment I sat down in that pub, there was a shared understanding. We were all strangers—some native Londoners, others expats like me from America, France and Spain—but together we were a United Nations of anxiety, bonded by the tiny humans doing somersaults in our wombs. No question felt too silly and no topic off-limits. I only made it to the first two classes before my son decided to arrive six weeks early. My husband and I were completely unprepared, both physically and emotionally. Yet what surprised me most wasn’t the chaos of premature motherhood but the kindness of near-strangers. My phone lit up with messages from the women I met a fortnight ago, offering to drop off food or set up my nursery or wash the tiny onesies still in my shopping bags. It was an avalanche of empathy from people who barely knew me and my first glimpse of a budding village I feared I would never have.

In the old city of Ahmedabad, where the air still hums with the rhythm of looms, a century-old house stands with its stories intact. Built by master craftsmen for textile industrialist Seth Mangaldas Girdhardas, it was once the centre of a world where industry and idealism shared the same address. A hundred years later, his descendant Abhay Mangaldas has kept that spirit alive, restoring the house one brick, one piece of teak, one heirloom at a time.

The story begins with Seth Mangaldas, one of Ahmedabad’s early mill owners, whose work and philanthropy shaped the moral architecture of the city as much as its physical one. During the plague years of 1912 to 1914, when mill workers demanded fair wages and tempers rose, he mediated between owners and labourers. When Mahatma Gandhi returned from South Africa in 1915, he stayed here for three nights. Their conversations—about self-rule, work and dignity—would ripple outward into the founding of the Kochrab Ashram later that year, funded in part by Mangaldas himself.

His generosity was as quick as it was quiet. One story still circulates in the lanes of the old city: during communal unrest in the nineteenth century, a man fleeing a violent crowd found refuge in this very home. To distract the mob below, Mangaldas scattered silver coins from the terrace until the shouts dissolved into a scramble for wealth. The man escaped, and the house became a symbol of something larger: compassion practised without hesitation.

That moral fibre ran through every venture he touched. At the Shethia Club, a society of Ahmedabad’s merchant families founded in the 1890s, Mangaldas turned private privilege into public purpose, financing reading rooms, medical dispensaries and evening schools for mill workers.

A century later, the house that held so many conversations of commerce and conscience has been reimagined by Abhay Mangaldas, the founder’s great-grandson. Beginning in the mid-1990s, he restored the family estate room by room, turning decay into dialogue. Today, every space carries the texture of touch: brass lamps burnished by utensil makers, cane furniture woven by local artisans, upholstery block-printed by hand.

The restoration was never meant to freeze time. Instead, it treats heritage as something alive. The hotel’s textile and jewellery galleries, drawn from the family’s private collections, hum with continuity: jamdani saris that once belonged to Leena Sarabhai, heirloom ornaments worn by women of the household. They are not museum pieces so much as conversations between past and present. reminders that craft only survives when it is used, worn and passed on.

A blazer is more than a garment – in many cases, it serves as a functional accessory. With the right tailoring or embellishment, it can completely transform an outfit, elevating it from an office staple to a chic dinner statement. From regional designers to collaborations with models, here are some of the blazers on our wish list this season:

Embellished blazers

Dubai-based Sanah Yasin, who designs handcrafted blazers punctuated with intricate, palm tree embroidery, tells Vogue that the blazer has always been a classic piece. “It carries an ease and confidence that instantly pulls the entire look together,” she says. “I wanted to reimagine that silhouette with beadwork and embroidery, taking something familiar and giving it a sense of artistry and story.”

Aisha Rao- Taroob Hand Embellished Kashmir Art Blazer

Marella- Blazer with floral and embroidered detail

Cinq A Sept- Metal Paisley Karlie Blazer

Leather blazers

Another Dubai-based designer reimagining blazers this season is Dima Ayad, whose just-released leather pieces mark a departure from her feminine and colourful eveningwear. Crafted from vegan leather, her trenches and shorter, blazer-inspired jackets are versatile and timeless, available in hues like brown, khaki and burgundy. While a black leather blazer makes a sleek statement, brands in this region and beyond are turning it up a notch by experimenting with colour: hues of greens and pinks are appearing alongside neutral tones.

Dima Ayad- Leather Jacket

Tuxedo-inspired blazers

In Marella’s recently-unveiled collaboration with British-Irish model and former Victoria’s Secret angel Stella Maxwell, blazers are not only abundant, they were the starting point for the collection. Sharp tailoring, sculpted lapels and an overall air of exaggeration give new meaning to power dressing through tuxedo-inspired blazers, and there are also designs incorporating floral appliques, corsetry and cropped lengths (which we’ll get to later).

Plaid and pinstriped blazers

A trusty plaid blazer is key for adding depth to a jeans-and-tee ensemble. Finished off with bold jewellery, and you have a breakfast-to-boardroom look that’s effortless and exudes confidence. Pinstripes have a similar effect. Stick to monochromes or branch out into neutral tones this autumn, and witness your outfits transition seamlessly from day to night.

Saint Laurent- Jacket in Prince of Wales Wool

12 Storeez- Pinstriped Wool Blazer

Cropped blazers

Classic but with a punchy, contemporary twist, the cropped blazer has emerged as younger fashion enthusiasts’ take on corporate style. Wear it closed or with a white tank underneath, paired with baggy denims or high-waisted trousers. Play with proportions and experiment with layers – they key is to keep it playful, a la Miu Miu’s cropped blazer with a faux sleeve cuff.

Miu Miu- Single Breasted Jacket

Balenciaga- Cropped Distressed Blazer

Lapel-less blazers

For some, a lapel or collar is a crucial design element of a blazer. For others, it’s a cumbersome addition of fabric. The collarless blazer, refined, feminine and without superfluous lapels, then becomes an ideal outfit-topper, adding just the right polish to your office – or dinner – look.

Max Mara- Segnale Cotton Twill Blazer

Limé- Wide-Shoulder Blazer

The fun doesn’t stop at selecting your blazer silhouette – the next step is styling it, with summer’s layering trends that are transitioning into the cooler months. Push bold bangles over the cuffs of your sleeves or tie a silk scarf around your waist like a belt, to give your blazer an editorial edge.

This story first appeared on Voguearabia.com.

From zero to hero—that is your vibe, Sag. You may have been sitting in a dark room, even metaphorically, wondering how to make things work. And here you are—things are finally taking off. Things are moving and you are beginning to love the pace—it’s safe to say that you could get used to this. Now comes the most important part, darling—as you await exciting, promising beginnings, you are to also make note of all your wonderful ideas that show up unannounced and make note of them. They will come in handy at some point, soon.

Cosmic tip: Review your true motives for everything in your past to make headway in your present life.

Your hard work and dedication have led you here, Capricorn. Now that you are sitting beneath the wish-fulfilling tree, you can ask for whatever you desire. There may be several options in front of you and the good part? They are all possible for you. So how do you make a choice? Understand that each decision comes with its pros and cons. And if you are okay with understanding and accepting the cons while the pros excite you, you have your choices shortlisted. There is one cup that feels shinier or a bit different than the others and perhaps you don’t know what it would entail—but if your gut guides you forward, this is yours for the taking.

Cosmic tip: Make decisions from a state of contentment, not fear.

Take charge, get down upon your knees and get going with what you know you have to get going with, Aquarius. Your strength? Your naive, innocent vision and faith in yourself. Your wildcard move? To trust your gut, no matter how challenging it feels at first. Now, tell me, what is it that you are dying to plunge into but have been logically cautious about? That, my dear friend, is what you need to figure out a way to work around and get going with.

Cosmic tip: You crave to move at your own pace, so why do you compare yourself with the world?

Missing the familiar is natural, so take it easy and slow, Pisces. Get to know yourself once again in the current life situation you are in. Sure, this feels different and alien, but hey, you love the unknown, the dreamy and the otherworldly vibes, don’t you? So now that you are bang in the middle of it all, then why don’t you place one foot ahead of the other and just wing it. You are not meant for the endless grind, my dear—you are meant for more. So look up and chase the sun.

Cosmic tip: Look at what you have and what lies ahead, instead of turning back to look at what is left behind.

Missing the familiar is natural, so take it easy and slow, Pisces. Get to know yourself once again in the current life situation you are in. Sure, this feels different and alien, but hey, you love the unknown, the dreamy and the otherworldly vibes, don’t you? So now that you are bang in the middle of it all, then why don’t you place one foot ahead of the other and just wing it. You are not meant for the endless grind, my dear—you are meant for more. So look up and chase the sun.

Cosmic tip: Look at what you have and what lies ahead, instead of turning back to look at what is left behind.

Also read:

Aries October 8, 2025

Taurus October 8, 2025

Gemini October 8, 2025

Cancer October 8, 2025

Leo October 8, 2025

Virgo October 8, 2025

Libra October 8, 2025

Scorpio October 8, 2025

Sagittarius October 8, 2025

Capricorn October 8, 2025

Aquarius October 8, 2025

When Marilyn Monroe professed that diamonds were a girl’s best friend, she hadn’t seen a Paraiba tourmaline. One of the rarest gemstones in the world (gemstone experts estimate that for every Paraiba tourmaline mined, nearly 10,000 diamonds are found), its unique greenish, bluish, turquoise hue makes it sparkle even in the faintest light. Spotting one is unlikely, unless, of course, you’re looking at Gucci’s high jewellery collections in 2025.

This year, Gucci brings new creations featuring two of its iconic motifs as well as an update to Labirinti Gucci—the brand’s 2024 high jewellery chapter inspired by the geometric beauty of an Italian garden. Think winding pathways, symmetric archways and flowers in full bloom translated into deep blue tanzanites, vivid green tsavorites and soft pink sapphires.

Courtesy of the brand

One standout design is a close-fitting necklace that wraps around the neck in lines of diamonds, interrupted by a burst of blue—a round-cut 24.75-carat tanzanite and a cushion-cut 5.94-carat Paraiba tourmaline, like stumbling upon a fountain in the middle of a maze. Another highlight is a ring featuring a 6.02-carat Brazilian aquamarine framed by Paraiba tourmalines and pear-shaped diamonds, its setting reminiscent of delicate rose petals.

Courtesy of the brand

Gucci also reimagines one of its most popular emblems: the Horsebit. The double-ring and bar design, originally from the equestrian world, was co-opted by the house in the 1950s and has since become synonymous with the brand’s design language. Here, it comes alive with a technicolour twist. In an asymmetric collar necklace, lines of diamonds encircle the neck, with a 3.07-carat ruby, set amidst round tsavorites in electric green, creating a Horsebit centrepiece.

Courtesy of the brand

Next, the Marina Chain from the 1960s. Inspired by maritime codes and nautical chains, this motif now shimmers in shades of blue, orange, pink and yellow. A Marina Chain necklace features a gradient with hundreds of rubies, tsavorites and sapphires; the adjoining links shine with diamond pavé settings. A pair of rose-gold earrings echo the chain’s silhouette with pink sapphires and diamonds, each framing a 2.73-carat pink spinel centrepiece.

Courtesy of the brand

If you could capture a rainbow and turn it into high jewellery, this might be the result. For Gucci, it’s proof that beauty isn’t just found in the white sparkle of diamonds, but also in every shade of the spectrum.

In a classic “disappointed but not surprised” moment, dark circles are officially trending. On one hand, under-eye care has become beauty’s new luxury battleground. On the other, a new wave of women online are embracing their fatigue in what’s being dubbed The Tired Girl Face: hollowed cheeks, sunken eyes, dark under-eyes, pale skin and cool-toned lips (concealer lips might be making a comeback—brace yourselves). Much of the hype can be traced to Jenna Ortega’s gothic glam for Wednesday season two, which turned visible weariness into a kind of moodboard.

Who would’ve thought? The one thing we all tried to erase is now being pencilled back on—literally. People are hand-drawing eye bags, proof that irony has come full circle. Somewhere, the ghosts of 2016 makeup with its thick concealer and blinding highlighter are watching this unfold in disbelief.

While a part of me rejoices in relief that people are embracing their ‘flaws’, the other cannot wrap can’t quite process how easily beauty flirts with sickness. When tuberculosis was rampant, its symptoms, like pale skin and rosy cheeks, were aestheticised. Romantic in theory, tragic in practice. Today’s tired-girl aesthetic feels like the modern sequel: less coughing up blood, more coughing up emails.

Fatigue is the universal mood this year. Rather than concealing it, you wear it out proudly. Because the new “It” bags are under-eye bags. It is funny until you realise we built an entire wellness economy around avoiding the very exhaustion that’s now aestheticised. We bought planners to schedule our rest, magnesium to support our sleep and apps to measure it. Instead of resting, we tried to optimise it and now we’ve made the lack of it a beauty trend.

Born into an artistic family, trained as a classical singer and noted for her work with printmaking, drawing, acrylics and use of fabric in art, Shobha Broota has made a mark in many creative spheres. Now, viewers can witness a career highlight of the multihyphenate octogenarian’s vast oeuvre. Presenting the first-ever retrospective of Broota’s artistic life spanning over six decades, DAG’s new exhibition includes around 100 paintings structured into five thematic sections that give viewers a glimpse into her evolution as an artist: ‘Seed of Origin’, ‘Earth & Sky’, ‘Woven Echoes’, ‘Impressions in Ink’ and ‘Portraits in Time.’

On view at DAG, 22A, Janpath Road, Windsor Place, New Delhi until 18^th October 2025

Happenstance by Boshudhara Mukherjee at TARQ, Mumbai

Sometimes, artists create out of purpose, other times, to make a statement. Often, art organically flows from memory, life and the artist’s mind. Bengaluru-based artist Boshudhara Mukherjee’s creations, she feels, fall into the latter category, as the title of her ongoing show suggests too. Working with several intricate weaving and crocheting techniques, Mukherjee’s creations are ambitious in scale as well as complex in their making. They may seem like paintings, but a closer look showcases the fine threads that come together in a mammoth canvas.