​Shopping online is efficient. It is also, at times, a bit spiritually flat. You click, zoom, add to cart, and hope the fabric behaves in real life the way it did under studio lighting and a persuasive caption. The appeal of good designer stores lies elsewhere. It is in the atmosphere, the materiality, the way a space frames what it sells and tells you something about the brand before you have even touched a sleeve. These new designer stores across India lean into that idea, turning retail into something slower, more immersive and a little more memorable than another parcel at the door.. Dhruv Kapoor. Courtesy of the brand. Dhruv Kapoor opened its first flagship in New Delhi in January, taking the brand’s distinctive visual language into an immersive physical setting. Located in Chattarpur, the store pairs raw marble with micro-concrete floors and mirror-finish walls, creating a space that feels sleek without turning cold. Lighting, scent and sound have all been carefully calibrated, which sounds faintly like the setup for a futuristic spa but, in this case, works to elevate the experience. Alongside seasonal collections, the flagship houses the tailoring, separates, accessories and lifestyle pieces that make up the brand’s wider vocabulary.. Where: The Corridors, 100 Feet Road, Chattarpur, New Delhi. AM:IT by Amit Aggarwal. Courtesy of the brand  

​My nighttime routine is sacred. There’s skincare, a magnesium supplement, and now, the addition of navel oiling. I stumbled upon it a few months ago, courtesy of my algorithm. My feed had morphed into a highlight reel of influencers dropping castor oil into their belly buttons before bed. The promises were buzzy: better digestion, less bloating, clearer skin. Friends and family echoed the benefits with their own success stories. I was intrigued. So I tried it, hoping for a low-effort gut reset.. Though I discovered the practice through creators in the West, a quick Google search told me navel oiling is deeply rooted in Ayurveda.. “Navel oiling, also known as Nabhi Purana in Ayurveda, is an ancient self-care ritual that involves applying warm oil to the navel (nabhi),” explains Dr Ipsita Chatterjee, Ayurveda expert. “The Nabhi Marma is a vital energy centre for digestion, circulation and overall well-being.”. There are two types of Nabhi Purana: curative and preventive. “Preventive navel oiling is the one that is advised as a general wellness practice,” says Dr Vaishali Shukla, MD, Ayurveda. While it can be done at any time of the day, it is recommended at night for maximum absorption. “Put 2-3 drops of warm oil in your navel and massage it gently in circular motions for a few minutes,” she says.. So, that’s exactly what I did. I got a bottle of cold-pressed, hexane-free castor oil, as recommended by Dr Chatterjee. Every night, I’d use the dropper to place a few drops into my navel and massage it in. Castor oil is thick, viscous and can stain your clothes. So you should patch it up with a cotton ball or castor oil patch to keep it in place, then go to bed.. The changes were almost immediate. Within a few days, my digestion improved noticeably. Bloating reduced. For people dealing with constipation, bathroom breaks can become predictable in the best way.. “The navel connects to the digestive fire (Agni), helping with gut health and nutrient absorption,” says Dr Chatterjee. “It also reduces bloating because the navel is a key Vata marma (an Ayurvedic energy point) and oiling helps reduce bloating, dryness, and joint pain.”. A few weeks in, I noticed another shift: my skin. Acne-prone and perpetually dehydrated, it began to feel calmer, clearer. “Navel oiling deeply nourishes Rasa Dhatu (nutrient plasma), preventing dryness, pigmentation and acne,” Dr Chatterjee says. “Additionally, it detoxifies the body to eliminate toxins and enhances circulation.”. Dr Shukla adds that it also “supports reproductive health and relieves menstrual discomfort. Some people believe it could help cyst reductions for those with PCOS or fibroids. However, in my clinical experience, I have not seen a significant improvement in these conditions.”  

​Lime is a difficult colour to carry, and in silk, it tends to take over entirely. Aditi Rao Hydari’s Raw Mango sari does not try to temper that. The mulberry silk holds the colour in a single field, with the surface broken only by small zardozi florals placed at intervals rather than packed together. Along the edge, a narrow kiran border runs cleanly, catching light in short flashes.. The blouse is cut in the same lime tone with puff sleeves and a clean neckline; it does not introduce a second idea. That variation comes almost entirely from the jewellery by Indriya Jewels. A close-set choker sits tight at the neck, while the earrings extend outward with a mix of drops and cuffs, widening the frame of the face.. The eyes are defined and slightly extended, the brows are shaped but not heavy, and the lip sits in a soft nude pink.. Rao Hydari’s soft spot for a classic six-yard from Raw Mango has been long-documented, sporting them everywhere from red carpets to weddings, including for one of her own ceremonies.  

​When you’re a reader, you find a way to read anywhere. Hiding your novel inside a heavy textbook during Math class. During lunch at work, forsaking conversation with your colleagues to meet your favourite characters. During your commute, you risk motion sickness to pore over one more page.. Some remain lifelong readers. Others get pulled into lives that leave little time for reading. Some get so enamoured by how words flow on the page that they dream of becoming writers themselves one day. But that dream usually melts away as real life sets in. Writing—especially professionally—can seem like an intimidating world to enter. There are no formal apprenticeships, no one you can shadow and no clear pathway to follow. Instead, there is only the perennial advice: read deeply, put pen to paper and actually write.. But how does one nurture their writerly ambitions when entire novels are being written by ChatGPT, published authors are being pulled up for plagiarism and readers are a dwindling breed? Any writer can assure you that their aspirations are purely fuelled by hope. And it is for these hopefuls that Vogue India is launching the Vogue Writers Club.. Taking place for the very first time, Vogue Writers Club is designed as an intensive programme featuring a series of online feedback sessions and workshops. These sessions will offer participants the opportunity to hear directly from award-winning authors and creatives, as well as the editorial team at Vogue India.. The programme is officially open for submissions starting April 15, 2026. To apply, participants must submit three pitches across fashion, beauty and culture in any combination. The pitches must be run-on features only (no listicles or interviews). A quick Google search is advised to ensure your proposed pitches aren’t already published features on Vogue.in. All participants must be over 18 years old and hold an Indian bank account. ChatGPT usage—even in your pitches—will result in instant disqualification. Submissions will close at midnight on April 26, 2026.. Once all entries are received, 30 pitches will be chosen by the Vogue India team, following which shortlisted participants will be contacted via email. These participants will then be given two weeks to develop one of their pitches into a full draft. After being reviewed by Vogue India editors, ten finalists will be selected to officially participate in the programme.. The finalists will attend four online workshops scheduled for the month of June 2026. Across these sessions, participants will receive editorial feedback, take part in discussions with leading voices in the publishing and creative industries and gain insight into Vogue India’s editorial process. Selected participants must attend all sessions. Missing more than one workshop will result in disqualification.. The final ten features, shaped based on feedback and edits provided by Vogue India’s editors, will be published on Vogue.in at the end of the programm  

​You have been in this state of pause for a while now, Taurus. And this liminal state stems from your early year experiences—a part of your past that has unknowingly shaped your future. There is good news and bad news. The good news is that you don’t have to do it alone. The bad news is that you don’t have to do it alone. Take a break. It’s mid week and your emo flare ups are not simply whimsical, they are energetic. You may feel burnt out, let down, diminished or any other emotion that is not ‘bright’. And this is okay, Aries. When something feels off, it may be the best idea to let things simmer and sit, perhaps even unfold at their own pace. You are ready to move on, but do you clearly know—from what? Libra, you may have been in a leadership role or a place in life where everyone looked up to you for solutions, but part of you is done with being the pillar that is relied on, right? New ideas, new partnerships, new contracts are all here for you, Leo and may be for some of you this might also signal venturing alone in a direction you have been eyeing. Whatever the case, your long term outlook is what is keeping you tightly wrapped to your rope in all the good ways.. Read on for what the stars have in store for you, and make sure you check out your sun, moon and rising signs for the complete picture.. Take a break. It’s mid week and your emo flare ups are not simply whimsical, they are energetic. You may feel burnt out, let down, diminished or any other emotion that is not ‘bright’. And this is okay, Aries. When something feels off, it may be the best idea to let things simmer and sit, perhaps even unfold at their own pace. Be aware of your personal thoughts and reactions. When you feel like you might topple over the edge, simply take a bathroom break or go get some sun for at least 60 seconds. Mental fog is best cleared with the wind and natural air–so if that is an option, make use of it. Things will end well, for now just let your emotions not run your day.. Cosmic tip: Balance and temperance are best medicines for a chaotic day.. You have been in this state of pause for a while now, Taurus. And this liminal state stems from your early year experiences—a part of your past that has unknowingly shaped your future. There is good news and bad news. The good news is that you don’t have to do it alone. The bad news is that you don’t have to do it alone. You struggle to reach out for help and support and this is the very learning stemming from your current cyclical experience in your life. There is only one way to bring this to a sense of closure. Assess what works for you and what needs to shift. Then go ahead and slowly incorporate those changes.