Posts in category: Life Style

Shilpa Shetty Kundra knows her way around a showstopper sari. But her latest outing in an electric green Manish Malhotra drape is a reminder that sometimes minimal is more than enough. At a cursory glance, it’s deceptively simple. No ornate embroidery or embellishment. No dramatic silhouettes. No over-the-top styling. And yet, it delivers impact in spades.

The chiffon drape itself is lightweight, fluid and fuss-free. While the six-yard feels like a classic Manish Malhotra moment, the blouse delivers a modern take. Meticulously ruched and well fitted, it is held up by noodle-thin halter straps. The bralette is elevated by beaded crystal droplets that trace the straps, delicately dangle off the open back, and on the border of the pallu, adding just the right dose of sparkle without spectacle.

Her choice of accessories, a single cuff, stacked rings and a pair of shoulder-dusters, all encrusted with diamonds and emeralds, is also a masterclass on how a look can be both ornamental and understated. For glam, she went with her signature winged eyeliner, sculpted brows and rose pink lipstick. Loose, brushed-out waves kept the focus firmly on the ensemble’s silhouette and hue.

Whether it’s a slinky metallic pre-draped number, a traditional weave paired with a contemporary blouse or something more nonchalant, Shetty toes the line between classic and contemporary with ease. This Manish Malhotra look, too, sits comfortably within her style oeuvre. It’s the perfect choice for a cocktail night when you want to stand out but without trying too hard.

Also read:

Shilpa Shetty wore a daringly low-cut midriff-baring set by Helen Anthony

Shilpa Shetty, Aditi Rao Hydari and a 24-foot beauty grazing table: Highlights from VBWH 2025

Shilpa Shetty’s sheer white sari from Manish Malhotra was an ode to her Dhadkan character

Cosmic tip: Surrender to your inner wisdom and accept help now.

Staying balanced is ingrained within you, Libra, and hence, you excel at finding a win-win outcome for all involved. Nope, it is not called compromise; instead, it is borderline creative thinking at play. When you are at the fag end of a conclusion, why not release the grip on the rope in your hand? Say yes to letting your hair down, and also, let some steam off in the bargain.

Cosmic tip: it’s time to think with your heart and give your mind some rest, just for a bit.

You have goals, but how do you plan to get to them? Or at least what was your most recent plan of action, Scorps? Now, don’t dwell too much and simply begin to slowly inch in that direction. The current retrograde energies are likely to get intense, but thank God! You deal with deep stuff fantastically well. Work through your fears one day at a time. This pause is just the cosmos allowing you to rest before the storm arrives. Things are going to get busy soon. Rest your body, mind and soul as much as possible while you also jog your mind in different directions to conjure new creative breakthroughs.

Cosmic tip: This pause is no cause for unnecessary worry. Things will move soon.

The upcoming August eclipse brings in a powerful shift, a revelation, a healing or simply some form of deep alignment. Sag, you and your loved ones are safe, now will you please stop fretting and start believing? Set your standards and intentions high and your faith higher. Your long-term goals for health, happiness and stability depend on your ability to wade through whatever you are currently facing, and your angels want to tell you that you are doing an amazing job and that you got this!

Cosmic tip: This is a time for an emotional reset.

Do you really need to do this alone, Capricorn? Or do you still need to keep going? Nope. The answer is no. It is okay to ask for help, it is okay to change your mind, it is okay to want something new. The resurgence of a relationship or an enhanced sense of self-worth and expression is here for you. If you’ve ever doubted your intuition, this is the cosmos reminding you to place a little more trust in yourself. If you have commitment issues (especially in love), this is the cosmos nudging you to ask yourself why. The time is ripe, and the more honest you are with yourself, the quicker you will get to your solutions.

But it’s not all history, lessons in resilience and possible celebrity sightings. Take a walk down the old city. You will find stores selling freshly made namkeens, malpuas and the famous Bikaneri bhujiya. My favourite, however, is the Chunnilal sherbet shop, which sells unique sherbets made from bela, mogra, white rose, khus and rose, amongst other desi flavours. Served over crushed ice with milk or water, you will catch stars and locals alike enjoying these cooling delights. My kitchen cabinets are always stocked with bela sherbet, but it doesn’t taste the same when I make it myself. I think it has something to do with the dry, arid Bikaner air that the guides talk about. Or maybe it’s just another reason for me to go back.

Rampuria Haveli. Getty Images

If you are a traveller eager for new experiences, the city might not satisfy you, but if you are looking for a place that will touch your soul and is simultaneously untouched by overtourism, go to Bikaner. Here, I have discovered a sanctuary that speaks to my soul. It has taught me resilience through the quiet strength of its history and the everyday life of its inhabitants. Every time I bid farewell to this enchanting city, I depart with a longing to return.

There’s usually nothing too scandalous about kiss cams. That is, until the Jumbotron at a recent Coldplay concert spotlighted a sweet, cuddled-up couple that turned out to be a CEO and his company’s chief people officer, allegedly caught mid-affair as they scrambled to dodge the cameras.

You might assume office affairs are just tabloid tropes—the kind of thing that only happens to high-profile figures. Not everyday folks like you or me. And it makes sense: Cheating is a betrayal that people usually go to great lengths to hide…so why risk your entire relationship (not to mention your job) by hooking up with someone who’s not only around all day but who also might be friendly with your significant other?

“Unfortunately, affairs are more common than most of us would like [to think], and coworkers are actually the most common affair partners I’ve seen,” says Kathy Nickerson, PhD, a clinical psychologist who specialises in infidelity recovery and author of The Courage to Stay: How to Heal From an Affair and Save Your Marriage. “What I’ve seen over 25 years in practice is that more generally, affairs function as a kind of emotional painkiller to escape deep distress,” whether that’s loneliness in their current relationship, low self-esteem or burnout.

Whatever the reasons, infidelity therapists say that cheating with a colleague, in particular, is a recurring issue brought into their sessions.

Here’s why office affairs are so common

There’s a reason the boss-and-employee romance trope has become such a mainstream cliché. “It’s true that the very taboo nature can be intoxicating,” says Patrice Le Goy, PhD, LMFT, a Los Angeles-based couples therapist with expertise in affair recovery. For some, “knowing you’re keeping it a secret not just from your partner, but in this case, also your colleagues, can increase excitement around the situation.”

There are also more straightforward factors at play, like the sheer convenience of being around this person so often. “It’s called the proximity effect,” Dr. Nickerson explains. “We’re drawn to those we see more often, which is why that familiarity and comfort can quickly grow into something more intimate.” Add to that the built-in camaraderie of shared stress over upcoming deadlines, say, and day-to-day triumphs of a project gone well—and you’ve got a “team” bond that can mimic true romantic closeness.

Heeled flip-flops are back—with The Row championing their sleek, stripped-down reinvention. Elevated and unfussy, they’re proof that even the simplest silhouettes can feel fresh again.

The spring/summer 2025 collections were full of flip-flop hybrids, as seen at Alaïa, Miu Miu and Dior, which are more elevated than your usual pool or shower shoe. Miuccia Prada, always one to push boundaries, presented a thong court pump at Miu Miu as her answer to the ugly shoe of 2025, while the likes of Toteme have leaned into a sleeker, more minimalist aesthetic that is very aligned with Jennifer Aniston’s low-key ’90s aesthetic.

When it comes to styling, the opportunities are so much broader than with a rubber Havaiana, which work in very few contexts outside of the beach. In fact, there aren’t many occasions where you can’t make a heeled flip-flop work – Vogue editors have been wearing heeled thong sandals to formal dinners, important work events and summer weddings, while they will also pair well with more casual pieces in your weekend rotation.

The street-style crowd have been taking a very Carrie Bradshaw approach to the shoe, pairing thong kitten heels with Adam Sandler-style track shorts, jorts and sports jerseys. The low heel and simple straps makes them more relaxed than your typical high heel, but the added lift provides a dollop of extra polish, making them a “so wrong it’s right”, off-kilter addition to sportswear. It can also pay to lean into a retro aesthetic and style them with other late ’90s/ early Noughties comebacks, such as knee-length capri pants and baggy cargo pants.

The only circumstance where you might want to avoid these is at the home of the original flip-flop: the beach (sinking into sand is never a good look). Having said that, Hailey Bieber – a fan of the heeled thong – recently wore a pair to a poolside Rhode event in Mallorca, leaning into OTT Euro style in a head-to-toe lemon Pucci Iride print. It’s not often that you find a shoe that looks just as good with a floor-sweeping evening gown as a string bikini.

To see just how versatile this summer’s trending shoe is, keep scrolling for seven ways the street-style set have been styling the chic heeled flip-flops.

Track shorts + jersey top

Raimonda Kulikauskiene/Getty Images

Boho blouse + jorts

Edward Berthelot/Getty Images

Capri pants + white shirt

Valentina Valdinoci

Cargo pants + sports top

Christian Vierig/Getty Images

All black + silver accessories

Szymon Brzóska

Linen trousers + short-sleeved shirt

Edward Berthelot/Getty Images

Maxi dress + rope necklace

Edward Berthelot/Getty Images

Also read:

5 reasons why the T-shirt dress is your easiest style solution, every time

How to wear grey jeans like a street style expert

The return of the sarong, fashion’s oldest new silhouette

In the era of fast fashion, Genelia Deshmukh’s recent appearance for an event in Hyderabad in a Gaurang Shah lehenga is a rare reminder of the power of provenance. Understated and steeped in story, her floral look is timeless, intentional and deeply rooted in India’s textile heritage.

Instagram.com/geneliad

Drawn from Shah’s collection ‘रंangरaas’, the lehenga set merged old-world elegance with modern romanticism. “The silhouette is traditional, consisting of a fluid lehenga, a structured blouse with traditional buta detailing and a soft dupatta,” shared Shah. “The design is inspired by the Mughal gardens of the Taj Mahal—the symmetry, the floral layouts, the calm elegance. You’ll see those elements reflected in the way the motifs are placed and how the garment moves,” he added.

That lyrical reference is translated as painterly flowers that bloom across the skirt like miniature murals, while the pale gold-beige base offers a gentle counterpoint to the more vivid pops of pinks, oranges, yellows and greens.

The pastel lehenga was made from hand charkha Khadi Jamdani—one of India’s oldest and most intricate textile weaves, hailing from the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. “What makes it special is the technique, where the motifs are inserted during the weaving process, not after. It’s slow, detailed work. Jamdani weaving is like drawing with threads,” Shah explained.

Cosmic tip: Embrace the unknown.

What you have been nurturing is now finally ready to nurture you. Sag, your angels advise you to be a little cautious with respect to money and other similar matters. Staying vigilant will ensure that you are on top of your game while also maintaining this sense of security and safety. Not everyone needs access to everything. And you, of all the people, know who needs to stay put where. Let your roots be well grounded while you enjoy your fruits, but keep some stashed away for later as well.

Cosmic tip: Channel your energy with focused intention. Keep the mere takers at bay, even the ones that drain your energy.

A new cycle is beginning for you shortly, Capricorn. You are entering a phase where you are mothered and being mothered as well. You did all you could, you embraced the brightness of life, and you also focused on things as a learning curve instead of hassles. And this has led you to these hunting grounds where everything feels rewarding and abundant. Your family, your loved ones, your support system, even etheric love pouring in from across the realms, are here for you. Your job in one phase of your life is complete. New gear up to embark on a new chapter.

Cosmic tip: Celebrate life and your achievements.

It is not time to seek help, but to help yourself. Aquarius, when the cosmos supports you, what else do you want? Sometimes we cannot have it all at one go, and then what becomes important is how willing you are to prioritise your life and approach the things that are cardinal to you. This is your time to hit reset and let your passions take flight. This is your time to make your way into your own list of priorities, too. This is your time to begin working on what you know in your gut is what you need to be focusing on. Temporary adjustments and minor setbacks are all going to be taken care of. Ask your angels to help and stay open to receiving their assistance.

Cosmic tip: Work on your ideas for long-term happiness and growth.

When you choose, the wheels of fortune turn in your favour, Pisces. Your indecisions may have stalled projects and delayed movement in the past; however, look at you today. That tiny moment where you decided to take charge is the moment when things began to shift for you. Sure, everyone has those moments of brain fog, but most defining moments are those that follow after, when work needs to be done and action needs to be taken. Pisces, let go of the need to know everything all at once. Just begin by taking care of what is already in your hands.

Cosmic tip: A new seed needs your love, fresh air and some water.

For a recent outing, Natasha Poonawalla delivered a lesson in archival fashion with a daring twist. She stepped out in the iconic Dior newspaper-print dress from Galliano’s Autumn/Winter 2000-2001 collection– a piece synonymous with fashion satire and early-aughts media commentary. But in true Natasha fashion, she didn’t stop there. A bold 1998 crystal Maasai necklace layered over the monochrome print brought a rich contrast of cultures and eras. The result? An unexpected crossover between early‑noughties irony and modern-day glamour.

Hailey Bieber made a case for the Capri comeback, and she did it in true It-girl fashion. At a recent Audemars Piguet event in the fog-veiled Swiss village of Le Brassus, the model and Rhode founder stepped out in a slate-grey Saint Laurent ensemble that felt part boardroom, part runway. The suit’s proportions were key– a sharply tailored blazer with padded shoulders and a deep neckline, paired with cropped, slit-hem capri trousers that skimmed mid-calf, neither retro nor radical, just precise. Gold hoop earrings, barely-there black sandals, and a pair of ultra-narrow sunglasses rounded off the look with restrained glamour.

If Shah is Alice, her workspace is her wonderland, with a shrine for her sitars, a selection of handcrafted metal chairs and a conference table with upward-facing cubbyholes. She believes in thinking through making, but what about when she isn’t doing either of those things? “Then I’m soaking up golden hour,” she grins, pointing to her desk and stool, both handcrafted from paper pulp. “I spend most of my free time here playing the sitar or reading in the library upstairs,” she adds, gesturing upwards to a glass-roofed mezzanine—or what she likes to call “my treehouse”. Never mind that she’s getting married and moving to Amsterdam in a few months. “This move is a way to expand into new geographies,” she says. “As for this studio, it’s taken on a life of its own.” Behind her, a fantasy carousel begins to turn, winking in agreement.

This story featuring Priyanka Shah appears in Vogue India’s July-August 2025 issue, now on stands. Subscribe here.

Also read:

The chair Rihanna plonked herself in at Design Miami was made by an Indian artist

25 home decor items that look more like art, less like furniture

From Shillong to Chennai, Goa to Delhi, meet the new guard of design in India

Indian designer Ashiesh Shah’s debut at Paris Design Week has given us new decor goals

There are fragrance houses that follow the zeitgeist. And then there is the House of Creed—a 264-year-old perfumery that has operated on its own timeline. Passed down through seven generations, the House of Creed has built its legacy not through scale or speed, but through rarity and a dedication to scent as memory.

Now, that legacy arrives in India.

“Bringing the House of Creed to India is both an honour and a natural next step in the House’s journey,” says Erwin Creed, who visited Delhi to mark the moment. “We’ve always taken a considered approach to expansion, waiting for the right moment and the right audience. India’s rich cultural tapestry, its appreciation for artistry, and its evolving luxury landscape make Delhi an inspiring setting.”

For Erwin, fragrance is personal before it is professional. “I grew up surrounded by perfume, often mixing perfumes in our little kitchen with my grandmother and my father,” he recalls. “Inspiration often begins with a journey, a place, a moment or an emotion that leaves a lasting impression.”

The same intimacy that began in a family kitchen now defines how each perfume is crafted. Every fragrance is compounded by hand in the House of Creed’s factory in Fontainebleau, France. Ingredients are sourced from long-standing partnerships with growers around the world—from Calabrian bergamot to Indian jasmine. “We seek out ingredients sustainably from the most remote places like the red vanilla bean from Madagascar,” says Erwin. “Not for the sake of it but because of the sheer quality.”

“We specialise in rare ingredients, often being the first to hand-select the finest parts of a harvest,” he adds. “Staying true to the Creed family values means taking our time, never compromising on quality and allowing each fragrance to unfold through an uncompromising artisanal approach.”

When he’s working on a new formula, Erwin avoids wearing any scent at all. “It interferes with my nose when I’m smelling a lot of the exciting things we are working on.” The process demands patience and precision. Each ingredient is assessed on its own terms, whether it’s the sharp brightness of bergamot or the warmth of sandalwood, before becoming part of something larger.

The boutique at The Chanakya in New Delhi reflects that same philosophy. It offers intimacy: personalised profiling sessions, a gifting ritual that turns the bottle into a keepsake and a setting designed to feel both elegant and unhurried. “It’s a celebration of the House of Creed’s legacy and craftsmanship,” says Erwin.