Posts in category: Life Style

In the last couple of years, celebrity impersonators have inspired mixed feelings amongst internet users. On one hand, lookalike competitions have grown in popularity since the virality of the October 2024 Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest in New York City, where the actor himself showed up. On the other hand, impersonators like Paige Neimann and Ashley Leechin, who imitate Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift respectively, receive continuous backlash for not only building an audience from their likeness to a popular celebrity but also drastically changing their appearance, personality and mannerisms to further resemble the celebrity in question. Take Neimann, who dramatically lost weight and dyed her hair blonde to match Grande’s look in Wicked (2025) and even more sinisterly, created an OnlyFans account where she cosplays as the singer. Despite Grande speaking up several times about the discomfort of watching people mimicking and almost parodying her behaviour, Neimann has gained nearly a million followers on Instagram.

While Qadri also first blew up on social media like Niemann and Leechin, he makes it exceedingly clear that he is not Shah Rukh Khan: that just like the Bollywood star, he is entertaining, stepping into a role that he keeps separate from his personal life. He finds this is nothing to be guilty about. “I personally believe that we choose a career for two reasons. The first is money: everyone needs money and we’d be lying if we said we don’t,” he notes. “The other reason is happiness. If you’re happy doing what you do, it doesn’t matter what anyone says about it. I don’t think I’m doing anything wrong.” When I enquire if Khan’s mannerisms ever slip into his personal life, Qadri laughs bashfully. “Never. I’m absolutely normal and a good boy. Otherwise, my family and friends would all laugh and make fun of me.”

“High-quality collagen peptides provide the body with usable forms of glycine and proline,” says Pradhan. “They’re especially helpful for vegetarians or those who aren’t eating collagen-rich cuts of meat.” She doesn’t recommend the trendy plant-based ‘collagen boosters’ on the market as they most likely don’t contain collagen, only supporting nutrients. So if you’re serious about vegetarian collagen support, a well-chosen supplement might be doing the real work.

Frequency matters more than food trends

There’s no one magic food, Pradhan says—it’s about consistent exposure. “People think lemon is enough, but amla has much higher vitamin C,” she adds. Ideally, you’d include these cofactors regularly: vitamin C from raw fruits, amino acids from collagen peptides or animal sources, and minerals from whole foods.

It’s less about trendy ingredients and more about sustained nutritional patterns. Collagen production isn’t a one-time thing. It needs constant scaffolding.

A little truth with your turmeric

Slow-cooked or raw foods retain more nutrients critical for collagen formation. Sprouted lentils and pressure-cooked dals are excellent for digestion, but not necessarily for collagen support.

“The less processed your food is, the more nutrients it holds,” says Pradhan. For example, a spoonful of homemade chutney made with raw sesame or flax might do more than a multivitamin when it comes to delivering minerals that support connective tissue.

According to an Ayurvedic nutritionist Aditi Sharma, vegetarian diets can be deeply nourishing for skin and tissue repair. “In Ayurveda, we look at building mamsa dhatu (muscle) and shukra dhatu (reproductive fluid) through foods that are warm, well-digested, and rasa-rich.” That means moist, soupy preparations like mung dal khichdi with ghee, not dry cereal with almond milk.

Rasayana herbs like amla, ashwagandha, shatavari and guduchi are traditionally believed to support vitality, immunity and skin health. “When these herbs are taken with the right anupana or vehicle—like ghee or honey—they can support deeper tissue nourishment,” notes Sharma.

But, she adds, “it’s not collagen. Ayurvedic eating supports overall resilience and glow by improving digestion, reducing inflammation and enhancing nutrient absorption, not by supplying collagen peptides directly.”

So yes, your thali might be building ojas. But if it’s collagen you’re after, that’s still a different scaffolding.

Vegetarian collagen support needs either strategic supplementation or a shift in expectations. And that doesn’t have to mean abandoning what’s on your thali. Just understanding what’s actually working and what’s just comfort food.

We’re meant to believe that Carrie, the dyed-in-the-wool New Yorker, who has lived in this diverse metropolis for many decades, has somehow never heard about Diwali before Seema describes it to her? The good time gal then dons a lehenga (it’s not a sari, Carrie!) to attend a festive party with her friend—complete with an elaborate floral mohawk.

8. Aidan refuses to enter Carrie’s old apartment

Yes, Aidan has bad memories of Carrie’s old apartment, but his refusal to cross the threshold again means they have to stay in hotels, and then borrow Che’s apartment, after which Carrie has to sell her home. She then buys a giant Gramercy Park mansion, which has enough space for Aidan and his kids—except, they’re never there. What a jerk.

7. Carrie pretends Charlotte’s dog has cancer

HBO

Cosmic tip: Take up space.

The only meaning of pain is that you feel deeply. And Sag, you don’t need to fix the pain—you simply need to heat what lies at the root of the pain. Be it your bones, your mind, or your emotions—the message remains the same. For way too long, you may have tried to fit into boxes that may have felt alien to you. And now you find your soul reacting to it. Your time now is to seek purpose in whatever you do. Learn, evolve, adapt, and move on. This is your mantra from now on.

Cosmic tip: Awaken your inner voice, and listen to it.

Slowness can be sacred, Capricorn. Haste is not a culture or your ability to move quicker or get more done. It is a distortion. Ever noticed a tree or looked at the stars and planets? They don’t move according to when others think it’s time for them to grow or move. They move simply when they are meant to move. They follow their own rhythms, and if that were disrupted, chaos would break loose in the entire ecosystem or solar system. What do you think makes you different?

Cosmic tip: Choose peace over validation. Your key to success lies there.

Come back to your body and breathe, Aquarius. It is time for rooted action, not simple wishful thinking. You have experienced something that may have felt radically eye-opening, almost like a spiritual awakening, where you cannot go back to sleep or unsee things. Now use this newly opened perspective and ability to bring out the joy you feel in doing things instead of the task you feel things feel like. Set healthy boundaries and ensure you assert them gently, but firmly. Specific message for some is to watch their health, specifically bloodwork, and get things in order.

Cosmic tip: You are not healing your circumstance, you are healing your lineage.

You’re not behind Pisces, you’re being asked to build better—with courage, valour and determination, but eyes full of dreams and a heart full of hope. Your guides remind you to make every move with utmost presence, not pressure. There are no timelines you are chasing, no adrenaline or dopamine hit you are following—just the simple knowledge and wisdom to set your eyes on your visions, work towards them with integrity and honesty, and watch them unfold. Use today’s vibrant energy to really ask for what you want and have the prowess to show up to claim it.

Cosmic tip: Refine. Simplify. Tune in.

Shine–brilliantly like the sun, Scorpio. It doesn’t wait for approval, it doesn’t think what others will think of it, it doesn’t tone down it’s radiance to make others comfortable—because it knows that life sustains itself on the fact that every single day it will rise up and show up to do what it knows best—shine. It is the life-giving force that sustains our planet, and it is the same force that pulsates through your entire being. Now tell me, would it not be liberating to show up in this world—not, not caring a damn, but really just basking in your radiance that comes from you making peace with yourself?

Cosmic tip: Take up space.

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Aries August 8, 2025

Taurus August 8, 2025

Gemini August 8, 2025

Cancer August 8, 2025

Leo August 8, 2025

Virgo August 8, 2025

Libra August 8, 2025

Sagittarius August 8, 2025

Capricorn August 8, 2025

Aquarius August 8, 2025

Pisces August 8, 2025

The more you focus on serving with love, the more the universe will help you shine.

Leo

You will need to swallow a little bit of that pride to create space for compatibility. You might also want to make space for something more aligned in your life. Break habits that cause you to take actions that are compulsive but eventually redundant.

This year, the more mindful your choices are, the faster you are likely to reach your goals.

Virgo

A complete identity shift is underway for you, Virgo. This stems from how you see the world to how you decide to show up in it—be it within your relationships, your goals or your health.

The more you water your inner energy and worlds, the more easily you will see your environment and life shift into what you really desire or need.

Libra

Your core energy is shifting. For some, it may be centred around an awareness of their sexuality; for others, it may involve discovering important parts of their identity. Libra, you are about to realise that you are gold, but only when you accept and see yourself in ways that you authentically are.

Talk to the universe, bathe in the morning sun and wear slivers of gold to fuse its solar power into your core.

Scorpio

You are freeing yourself from the chains you previously mistook to be love. You see, love is meant to make you feel free, not stifled. Love is meant to see the wonders in your soul, not hold you back. Love is meant to help you rise, not spiral down. And this shift happens both magically and epiphanically.

Tune into your inner sense of freedom to set yourself free and honour your soul in the gentlest ways.

Sagittarius

Peace, harmony, health and wellness are yours for the taking. This portal supercharges your deepest desires and delivers them to you gift-wrapped with determination, willpower and the discipline to see them through.

The more you acknowledge your emotions, the more you bring your hidden light to the fore.

Capricorn

Opportunities come flooding just when you are ready to take charge of your life. Be it love, relationships or career, you love the spotlight, and your main character energy is about to kick in. You are ready to take bold action, and powered by your indomitable determination, you will be invincible.

Woven on simple pit looms by Tripuri women, rignai is a burst of colour and geometry that serves as the cultural fabric of the state. The GI-tagged textile features intricate stripes and diamond motifs, whose creation demands both dexterity and patience since each pattern is counted and picked by hand, one thread at a time. For centuries, every Tripuri woman has woven her own rignai, making each an heirloom that tells familial and tribal stories. As urban markets awaken to the appeal of tribal crafts and fashion, rignai stands as a steady contender.

Chettinad, Tamil Nadu

Woman working at a loom in a weaving factory, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. (Photo by: Mel Longhurst/VW Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)VW Pics/Getty Images

A bold display of South Indian opulence and craftsmanship, the Chettinad sari is named for the region it hails from in Tamil Nadu. The saris are known for their distinctive borders narrating stories, in vibrant colours, of the architecture, cuisine, temples and culture of the region. The remarkable weaving technique, called korvai, involves weaving the borders and sari separately, ensuring a striking contrast of hues. Despite its structured finish—achieved through the use of pit looms—the fabric is still breathable and fluid, as it is woven from fine cotton threads.

Kuchai, Jharkhand

Kuchai silk is Jharkhand’s organic wild silk treasure, crafted with silk from silkworms reared on asan, arjun and sal trees. Over 30,000 artisans preserve this ecofriendly legacy by producing silk without any chemical processing, relying on traditional knowledge for yarn extraction. The process begins with villagers gathering cocoons from forests by hand and reeling the silk into glistening yarn. Today, Kuchai’s natural sheen and earthy texture attract the attention of those seeking meaningful, sustainable handloom fabrics.

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Handloom has been romanticised by a lot of brands, but this label hopes to add much-needed transparency within the system

Meet the ‘Dress Doctors’, an invisible workforce restoring our heritage textiles, stitch by stitch

On those summer days when you need more support than a flip-flop, it can be easy to live in your trusted sneakers; however, over the past few years, loafers have become an integral part of spring/summer collections, too. Once limited to autumn/winter collections – the structured shoes traditionally pair well with “back to business” staples like tailoring and denim – many designers have tweaked and softened classic penny loafers so they will work in your warm-weather rotation, too.

Loafers are inherently a classic, wardrobe staple; however, that doesn’t mean they are immune to the trend cycle either. Miu Miu first showcased boat shoes in the spring/summer 2024, dusting off the posh boy staple and giving them a more streamlined, supple silhouette. You don’t have to spend your summers yachting off the south coast to access this look either, as Loewe’s nautical-inspired blue and white deck shoes for spring/summer 2025 look best when worn with city wear rather than anything too seafaring.

Sweaty summer temperatures can be rife for blisters, and so you want your loafers to be soft and supple, with a more relaxed feel than traditional takes. Miu Miu once again made a case for wearing loafers in summer with its penny loafers that have an elastic backing, making them feel like a slip-on ballet slipper. However, for those who want something with a little more personality, Tod’s elevated its black and white loafers with hardware embellishment – sculptural, metal shapes add a point of difference, without being overdone.

Sturdy and practical, you can wear these as an everyday substitute for your Sambas or Puma Speedcats. Keep scrolling for four summer loafer trends that are all versatile and comfortable enough to see you through long, step-count-heavy days.

Boat shoes

Loewe AW25. Launchmetrics.com/spotlight

White loafers

Miu Miu AW25. Alessandro Viero/Spotlight

Embellished loafers

Tod’s AW25. Launchmetrics.com/spotlight

Supple driving shoes

Miu Miu AW25. Alessandro Viero/Spotlight

This article was first published on Vogue.mx

Also read:

From granny clogs, fashion moves to grandpa shoes

Goodbye white sneakers—these are the colourful styles we’re wearing this summer

Goodbye ballet flats, this French shoe will be trending come September

And yet. “I’m a relationship girl, picky and [with] high standards, so I don’t often find myself in relationships,” says Aswan, a 24-year-old content strategist. “When I do, they’re heart-wrenching.” A recent nine-month situationship “wrecked” her, and she’s been on the apps ever since. The issue? “All the men [were] saying that they wanted long-term relationships and a life partner, but really wanted hookups and short flings.”

The fundamental problem, as Aswan has it, is the lack of eligible men. “There are more men on most of the major dating apps than women, so it is not that women are going on dating apps and finding no men; they’re just not finding men who they want to date,” agrees Dr McKeever.

I can relate. After my breakup last year, I dutifully signed up to the dreaded apps. A man who worked in a tennis shop ghosted me after asking in great detail over text how I like to be pleasured. A West End actor ditched me after kissing me passionately at his stage door, only to ask if I wanted to hook up before he moved to Croydon. “We should collect all these and make a millennial novella,” a friend told me after I left one particularly fraught voice note. “Epistolary Texts From the Dating Trenches,” I replied.

The initial eagerness of these men was flattering, if a little frantic. I had the sense that they’d slotted me into their lives like a Jenga block—one which suited them till it didn’t. But I felt I was as guilty as they were; wasn’t I scrolling through dozens of prospects every night myself? “If we are encouraged to be autonomous, direct and to hustle in other areas of life,” explains Dr Luke Brunning, an academic who specialises in the philosophy of love, sex and relationships, “then those ideas can leach easily into our intimate lives.”

So I decided to go offline in my quest to find a man. Pubs, clubs, bars—these used to be my traditional hunting grounds. But here I ran into a peculiar new problem: people just didn’t flirt in the same way, if they flirt at all. One 25-year-old man I met told me earnestly, “I think people are bad at talking. The pandemic made it worse.” When was the last time he chatted up a woman he didn’t already know? “Like, a year and a half ago.” I should have felt flattered that he even agreed to talk to me. Instead, I felt depressed. And as for house parties? Well, tiny rentals, overzealous landlords and skyrocketing rent have effectively killed that well-trodden mainstay. Who’d risk hosting? I can count the number of house parties I’ve been invited to in the last year on one hand. And it doesn’t help that Gen Z and millennials are increasingly swearing off booze, the traditional lubricant of many a kitchen hookup.