Posts in category: Life Style

While architecture and fashion might seem like distinct disciplines, both share one instinct: to shape the world around us into something worth remembering.

Coco Chanel put it best: “Fashion IS architecture: it is a matter of proportions.” In both practices, proportion is more than a technical detail. It is a form of expression, a balance between freedom and form. This idea takes centre stage as Vogue India’s Forces of Fashion returns for its next chapter, bringing structure and story together.

The 2025 edition of Forces of Fashion brings over 35 of India’s leading designers for a five-day exhibition, followed by an evening of celebration. From September 16-20, 2025, Nilaya Anthology in Mumbai will become a gallery that explores the threads and silhouettes shaping the work of India’s weavers, storytellers, architects and artists.

With the support of Rabanne, Nilaya, Moroccanoil, and Grey Goose, the line-up spans icons, contemporary designers and emerging voices, set to display one-of-a-kind pieces made especially for the showcase.

Industry icons: Manish Malhotra, Anita Dongre, Gaurav Gupta, Rimzim Dadu, Shantnu Nikhil, Shivan & Narresh, Varun Bahl, Suneet Varma, Shyamal & Bhumika and House of Kotwara.

Contemporary voices: Abhinav Mishra, JADE by Monica & Karishma, Archana Rao, Kunal Rawal, Dhruv Kapoor, Divyam Mehta, Namza, NorBlack NorWhite, Papa Don’t Preach, Rimple & Harpreet and Rahul Mishra.

New guard: 11.11, Akaaro, Kaleekal, Rishta by Arjun Saluja, Ashdeen, Bloni, Bobo Calcutta, Chanakya School of Craft, Countrymade, EAST, Ekaya Banaras, KGL, Paiwand, QUOD, Rkive City, Studio Medium, SWGT and That Antiquepiece.

Together, they sketch a living map of what Indian fashion looks like right now.

Registrations are now open. Click here to sign up and be part of the conversations shaping Indian fashion today.

Also read:

What the fashion industry wore at Vogue India’s Forces of Fashion 2024

Who wore what at Vogue India’s Forces of Fashion exhibition

Hardik Pandya wore a black Celine pantsuit and diamond jewellery at Vogue’s Forces of Fashion

It was a momentous text in May 2024 that brought Richa Moorjani into the historically coveted sci-fi horror universe of the Alien franchise. Ever since Ridley Scott’s movie about a spacecraft intercepting extraterrestrial activity gained popularity in 1979, eight more Alien sequels and prequels have hit cinemas, spawning a cult fandom of their own. The latest iteration, FX’s Alien: Earth, created by director Noah Hawley and streaming on JioHotstar, is the first TV series to be introduced in the mix. “When I received the text from Noah, I thought it was spam. I had worked with him last year on Fargo and he never texts,” Moorjani says, joining in on a video call from her sunny California home.

Photo courtesy: Patrick Brown/FX

Thankfully, the message was far from staged. On September 2, a little over a year later, a special flashback episode of Alien: Earth starring Moorjani as the captain of a fictional spaceship released to global anticipation. The 36-year-old actor, whom you may remember as Kamala, Devi’s hot older cousin from Netflix’s Never Have I Ever, further cemented her place in the industry in 2023 by playing Deputy Indira Olmsted in season five of crime series Fargo. “When it came to Alien though, there was no audition. Just a message, then one call and I was on a flight to Bangkok to shoot the series,” she shares.

Libra, if you’ve been feeling something is off, most likely it is, be it in a vibe within a relationship, a knot in your stomach, a recurring dream or hunch or a call to get a little serious about your routine and body—anything that fits into your scheme of things. Trust your heart to lead the way forward, and open yourself up to giving freely without calculations—meaning when you work towards a dream, you work towards it openheartedly. When you work on a relationship, work towards it with all your heart. Be willing to soften yourself up not only towards yourself but also towards others.

Cosmic tip: Pack in some rest to replenish your energy.

Also read:

Aries September 3, 2025

Taurus September 3, 2025

Gemini September 3, 2025

Cancer September 3, 2025

Leo September 3, 2025

Virgo September 3, 2025

Scorpio September 3, 2025

Sagittarius September 3, 2025

Capricorn September 3, 2025

Aquarius September 3, 2025

Pisces September 3, 2025

Cosmic tip: Allow your wounds to heal by letting them be and nurturing them.

Yes, Leo, you have been hearing that right—get your nutrition in place. Your lethargy, mental fog, fickleness, lack of motivation, crash in energy levels, food cravings or aversions—they are all directing you towards listening to what your body is telling you. Your mind may be able to trick you, but your body simply cannot. Stretch, exercise, go for a walk, consult a medical practitioner to get our levels in check—do anything you feel you need to do to get your zing back, without getting into fads or temporary quick fixes.

Cosmic tip: Your success is based on how well you learn to work with others—your body included.

What would it feel like if your drive, ambition and motivation came from within, Virgo, instead of being derived from external factors? Accept yourself the way you are, accept things the way they are and most definitely accept others the way they are—then one magical shift occurs. You stop looking at others for answers or as stopgaps that fill your void. You begin coming back to yourself in a healthy manner as your own sounding board. For those experiencing relationship challenges, accepting that multiple points of view can co-exist may be the answer that removes judgment and fosters love and togetherness in your life.

Cosmic tip: Make a start, but keep your vision long-term.

Libra, if you’ve been feeling something is off, most likely it is, be it in a vibe within a relationship, a knot in your stomach, a recurring dream or hunch or a call to get a little serious about your routine and body—anything that fits into your scheme of things. Trust your heart to lead the way forward, and open yourself up to giving freely without calculations—meaning when you work towards a dream, you work towards it openheartedly. When you work on a relationship, work towards it with all your heart. Be willing to soften yourself up not only towards yourself but also towards others.

Cosmic tip: Pack in some rest to replenish your energy.

A tough chapter is closing, the stopper is finally out of a stuck door, and now that you reevaluate your life, you begin to ask pertinent questions around whether you really even were in the right place in the past. Aquarius, when divine intervention is at play, you know what is the best thing to do? Get out of your own way so that life helps you win at itself. Your concerns around a relationship or other worries are ready to be shouldered by your angels and guides. All that is needed of you is to set a clear intention around what you need and want, and then ask the cosmos to support your desires in the best possible manner.

Cosmic tip: Expect things to get easier now.

Also read:

Aries September 3, 2025

Taurus September 3, 2025

Gemini September 3, 2025

Cancer September 3, 2025

Leo September 3, 2025

Virgo September 3, 2025

Libra September 3, 2025

Scorpio September 3, 2025

Sagittarius September 3, 2025

Capricorn September 3, 2025

Pisces September 3, 2025

Paul’s room at the FTII hostel had a window that opened onto a garden and a bench that always looked like it had been recently sat on. It was the first room on the ground floor, pressed up against the hostel’s common telephone, catching heartbreak and homesickness as it passed through the wires. She arrived on campus during one of those tumbling rainy afternoons, and for a few days lived in a nearly empty hostel, waiting for her batchmates and seniors to trickle in. Electrified, lonely and empowered are the three words she uses to describe how she felt in those very first days.

Filmmaker and writer Batul Mukhtiar on campus, 1992

Decades later, when she held the FTII’s diamond jubilee coffee-table book in her hands, Paul experienced the same triad of emotions again, but now with a fourth note added: disappointment. The book featured roughly four or five women, the already seen, the always included names. “As you get older, you think of turning points, and FTII was a huge one in my life. To see women represented so sparingly, so narrowly, felt disappointing. Belittling, even. It made me question how success is measured and how women are always made to feel they have to work twice as hard, just to be seen,” Paul says.

Finding the best nude lipsticks that feel like they were made for you can be harder than moving past heartbreak or resisting midnight sugar cravings. After all, that little tube of pigment becomes your comfort zone when nothing else feels right—your trusted companion on every holiday and the one product you’ll never tire of. So, naturally, discovering the hue that truly works for you feels as rare—and as elusive—as spotting a snow leopard.

“The first thing to consider is your skin tone and lip colour,” says makeup artist Tanvi Chemburkar. For Indian skin tones in general, she suggests going for warmer undertones if you’re looking for brown nudes, dusty pinks for a rosy nude, and brownish undertones rather than corals if you want a true nude—“and trying it on your lips for your final decision.” If the consequent result is a skin-tone complimenting shade that applies evenly on your lips and doesn’t flush out your face or make it look pale, you are close to the one.

How do you find the perfect nude lipstick for your skin tone?

To get the best result, line and fill your lips with a lip liner that is very close to your nude or slightly warmer if you’ve picked a pale nude, “since often tend to have a double or two-toned lip, filling the lip with a pencil first makes a good base for the nude lipstick colour to come out evenly,” says Chemburkar.

And to make it all easier, we’ve done the hard work for you and tested one too many (we’re not complaining), to pick out the 50 best nude lipsticks that work for the Indian woman. Because it’s so unique to each individual’s face, we suggest taking one of these out this weekend to know if you’re ready for a long-term commitment.

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick – N12 – Nude Instinct

Laura Mercier Rouge Essentiel Silky Creme Lipstick – 30 Nude Nouveau

Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Gloss – Kristen – Cool Desert Sand

L’Oreal Paris Color Riche Intense Volume Matte Lipstick – shade 550 Le Nude Unapologetic

Estee Lauder X Sabyasachi Limited Edition Collection Satin Matte Lipstick – Pomelo Rose

DIOR Addict Lipstick – 418 Beige Oblique

Kay Beauty Hydra Crème – Verve

FENTY BEAUTY Gloss Bomb Stix High-Shine Gloss Stick – Blaz’D Donut

Simply Nam Satin Soft Lip Creme – Pernia Perfect Nude

Bobbi Brown Crushed Liquid Lip – Juicy Date

Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G – Naughty Talk

CHANEL ROUGE ALLURE L’EXTRAIT 812 Beige Brut

Clinique Dramatically Different Lipstick Shaping Lip Color – Blushing Nude

Lancome L’ Absolu Rouge Cream – 238 Si Seulement

Dior Rouge Dior Matte Finish – Forever Nude Look

e.l.f. Cosmetics O Face Lipstick – Standing Ovation

Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Moisturising Lipstick – Pale Petal

Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Matte Sculpt Lipstick – Indecent Nude

Ruby’s Organic – Bare

Pat McGrath Labs Satinallure Lipstick – Skinsane

Forest Essentials Tinted Lip Serum Madhu Rasa – Misri Cardamom

Color Chemistry Creamy Matte Finish Lipstick – Primrose

Rom&nd Zero Matte Lipstick – 07 Envy Me

IsaDora Ultra Matt Liquid Lipstick – Dusty Cedar

Kay Beauty Matteinee Matte Lip Crayon Lipstick – Rumour

KIKO Milano Lasting Matte Veil Liquid Lip Color – 02 Cappuccino

Kylie Cosmetics Matte Lipstick – Kylie

NARS Explicit Lipstick – Bare It All

Natasha Denona – My Dream Lipstick – 11NB Natasha

Lush Moist Matte Lipstick – Lotus Dew 01

Lakme Absolute Matte Revolution Lip Color – Morning Coffee

Too Faced Melted Matte Lipstick – My Type

Lancome L’Absolu Rouge Intimatte Lipstick – 276 Timeless Appeal

M.A.C Matte Lipstick – Meher

Fae Beauty Lip Whip – Bone – A Cold Caramel Brown

Givenchy Le Rouge Deep Velvet 23 Ext Matte Lipstick – N15 Nude Amber

Melting Mocha – Bare Browns Ultra Matte Lipstick (Nude Brown)

Yves Saint Laurent The Inks Blur – 230 Beige Expression

RAS Lumiere Satin Matte Lipstick – Nude Silk

Hermès Rouge Hermès Matte lipstick – 11 Beige Naturel

₹7,000, available in stores

Nudestix Nude Plumping Lip Glace – Nude (Cool Toned Pinky Mocha With Glossy Finish)

NYX Professional Makeup Soft Matte Lip Cream – Cannes

Revlon Colorstay Overtime Lipcolor – Boundless Nude

Clinique Pop™ Longwear Lipstick – Bare Pop

Sephora Cream Lip Stain – Vintage Rosewood

Shiseido Rouge Rouge – Desert Quartz

Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipstick – Driver’s Seat

Kiro Non-Stop Airy Matte Liquid Lip – Nude Mocha 18

PIXI Naturelle Lipstick – Pecan

theBalm Meet Matt(e) Hughes Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick – Committed

Also read:

75 shades and infinitely refillable: Peter Philips revives the Rouge Dior lipstick for 2021

Does the face mask spell the end for lipstick?

3 best lipstick shades that will make your smile look brighter

Quit your job on a whim by throwing your uniform at your manager after your holiday request was denied? Emergency stopped in traffic to let out a blood-curdling scream behind the wheel because someone pulled out in front of you? Triple-texted your situationship before blocking him and throwing your phone across the room when he took two days to respond to the meme you sent? If any of these scenarios sound familiar to you, you may be engaging in 2025’s hottest trend: crashing out.

Defined by Urban Dictionary as “to go insane and/or do something stupid” and “to lose all your self control”, the phenomenon itself is obviously nothing new. From meltdowns to ‘menty bs’, we’ve been snapping in the face of both minor and major inconveniences since time immemorial. But the term itself is relatively new. Spend any time online and you’ll see young people using the phrase to describe anything from talking themselves down in the work bathroom after an interaction with an annoying customer to losing their shit over having their time wasted by a man they had to force themselves to like in the first place.

Like most slang, the exact origin of the phrase is unknown, but—again, like most contemporary slang—general public opinion points to roots in AAVE (African-American Vernacular English). According to an annual research article studying patterns in American speech, many attribute it to Baton Rouge slang, and Louisiana rapper Youngboy Never Broke Again in particular, although there’s proof of it being used on Twitter as far back as 2013, according to the New York Times. As for its sudden ubiquity, you can thank social media’s propensity for shaping language at lightning speed. The term was a runner-up for 2024’s Word Of The Year in the publication American Speech, losing out to “rawdog”. Incidentally, rawdogging modern life is a surefire way to crash out.

But why are we all crashing out? And why does the term feel so pertinent? The Guardian summarises the phenomenon as “the young people of today, overwhelmed by stress and emotionally impaired by their social media addictions, finding themselves prone to visceral outbursts”. What this analysis fails to mention, however, is what the young people are actually seeing on their phones while they scroll. Sure, there is brain rot and AI slop and GRWMs, but there is also a world being ravaged by climate change, people being ripped from their families and imprisoned without due process by masked men and the daily atrocities that our governments refuse to acknowledge. Is it any wonder that we’re crashing out?

Cosmic tip: New beginnings will require new moves, but definitely fewer conflicts.

You may have recently experienced some profound shifts and realisations, Virgo. And now it is almost as though the cosmos is opening its doors to make way for your new way of life. Virgo, this is your chance to make your moves. This is your chance to take on those prospects that you know in your heart will flourish and thrive. This is your chance to step away from feeling trapped to actually realise you hold the reins of your life in your own hands.

Cosmic tip: Listen to your inner wisdom and allow it to help you bloom.

You’ve got an idea, an inkling, or a certain spark that is keeping you from taking a backseat or resting for a bit—and Libra, this excitement may feel temporary or passing; however, when you begin nurturing it, things will begin to grow and evolve rapidly. You have sown seeds that are taking root and this is not short-term gains you are looking at—this is something long-term. Just ensure you stay balanced and grounded instead of allowing your need to control to take over your innate ability to help things grow.

Cosmic tip: Focus on tending to your most intimate relationships and passions.

What the world sees is a young personality—what the cosmos sees is a wise old soul. Scorpio, you may or may not be the esoteric types; however, you are working through your promises, karma and personal growth lessons with quiet grit and integrity—and they are actually making an impact. You may have a lot going on beneath the surface—fears, insecurities, worries, and so much more; however, you are also realising that what needs to be done needs to be done. And you are not shying away from the hard work and resilience that are needed to come through as part of that effort and work. New opportunities for renewal await you.

Cosmic tip: Work your way through, even if the way seems a bit rugged.

You have several choices, you have many options and ideas, and, Sag, you may be feeling a bit conflicted to make decisions that need action. Past hurts, disappointments and things simply not going your way may be getting in the way of you making decisions from your present moment. And Sagittarius, your angels want you to know that through your sheer will of not being in this situation anymore, even if you feel like giving up, surrendering and allowing things to move in a different way than you initially wanted them to turn out to be, this is will be your surprise turning point where life takes over in a meaningful and rewarding way.