Sole Sisters

Ever since the American sneakerhead subculture was co-opted by the mainstream and luxury fashion industries, global Instagram feeds have been filled with images of Nikes, Yeezys, Balenciagas, or whichever brand has dropped the season’s It shoe. But to sneakerheads, they are more than the latest fad. A number of women are in the vanguard of the burgeoning movement here in India, and Rushmika Banerjee speaks with five of them to get some diverse viewpoints on what makes this footwear staple an aspirational commodity.

Social Butterfly

Her Instagram captions — wittily concise or an expertly selected emoji — present an intriguing combination of millennial insouciance with profundity that is beyond her years. The enigmatic yet instantly relatable Sobhita Dhulipala’s inner self emerges as Richa Kaul Padte peels back the layers of everyone’s new favourite ‘webtertainment’ celebrity, on the heels of the actor’s upcoming Netflix release, Bard of Blood

Watch This Space

The internet, especially its various gateways to self-empowerment, has proven to be a boon for a country as diverse and socially stratified as India, but its work is far from done.

The Story Of Us

In popular culture, adopted offspring are often represented as being burdened by the debt of gratitude. Emphasising that, in actuality, it was her adopted twin daughters who gave her a life to look forward to, Lakshmi Iyer feels that mainstream entertainment should be more sensitive about reflecting the lived experiences of adoptees to ensure that they do not trigger trauma or perpetuate inaccurate narratives.

Power Up

Living up to their moniker, smartwatches can track your heart rate and travel plans or pay for a cup of coffee while, of course, perfectly keeping time. Verve zooms in on a few of these up-to-the-minute multitaskers

Under The Influence

The perks of cyber popularity can undoubtably be intoxicating, but they are exponentially rewarding when you leverage the web to engage in constructive social criticism and open up dialogues. Verve’s follow list includes these eight prolific posters who are leaving a legacy that goes beyond the likes…

Petal Pushers

Event designers Amit Lata and Karan Singh Parmar, the duo behind the company Twelve Tomatoes, have successfully transformed many clients’ fantasies into reality with their imaginative floral decor. A curious Zaral Shah gets some answers about how their profession has been altered by the ever-present influence, pressure even, of social media

Back To The Roots

The green revolution has turned the wheels of fortune in favour of India’s long-standing tradition of massaging the scalp with herb-enriched oils. Aparrna Gupta traces its triumphant comeback.

Bespoke Blends

British master perfumer John Stephen, who makes scents for the British aristocracy — including the Queen of England — talks about his olfactory journey and the power of smell.

Guarding the Galaxy

She possesses the rare quality of altruism in an otherwise cutthroat world of politics. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, executive director of UN Women, speaks to Nittal Chandarana about gender-based discrimination

Scapes

A tasteful amalgam of opulence and relaxed panache, Swati and Digvijay Sinh Kathiwada’s Mumbai home is an art lover’s haven. Simone Louis engages in a tête-à-tête with the charismatic royal couple

Where Fairy Tales Come Alive

Step into a romantic time gone by, when you visit Germany’s numerous castles, their turrets and towers seemingly scraping the sky. Imagine the knights and ladies of yore as you walk through ancient halls and rooms, as did Apeksha Harihar, who describes a few of them

Two's Company

They make as charming a pair off-stage as on the rare occasions when they share the limelight. Actors Shruti Vyas and Namit Das, known for their comic timing and command of the craft, speak to Nittal Chandarana about their journey.

A Stylish Upgrade

Following recent innovations in its ambience and amenities, the Phoenix Marketcity mall is the place to go-to for an unmatched shopping and recreational spectrum.

Rendezvous With Sir Ian Mckellen

Parmesh Shahani recounts the four days that he spent with the Shakespearean actor and Hollywood superstar.

Pointing Towards A Star

Art is a life form; it must adapt or die. Affirming that the contemporary miniature might be a compass that shows the way, Waswo X. Waswo hopes that artists nevertheless remain tuned to the breezes, the scents, and the stars that shine.

Dialogue With Drapes

From the organic shapes in her oil paintings to her asymmetrical garments on the ramp, abstraction is integral to Payal Khandwala. Her sartorial language remains unique, discovers Saumya Sinha

LSD In India!

Parmesh Shahani ruminates on tech-mediated love, sex and desire in today's society.

Tel Aviv the Ultimate Nightlife Destination

A Nightlife scene that competes with New York, paris & amsterdam. Dozens of parties, night clubs, stylish restaurants & bars, amazing beach parties, nonstop art and music festivals. All this fabulous nightlife awaits you in tel aviv, branded as the ‘party capital’ of the Middle East.

Regal Panache

A paean to Empress Josephine, Breguet’se Perles Impériales Haute Joalleri watch combines the allure of jewellery with the technological expertise of watchmaking.

Between Action And Cut

She’s a conventional beauty, one who has been quite unconventional in her real-life choices and her reel roles. An actor who doesn’t shy away from challenging herself, Aditi Rao Hydari — who’s already worked with industry stalwarts like Mani Ratnam, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Sanjay Leela Bhansali — is a self-confessed dreamer who loves chasing her aspirations in the “magical” world of cinema. On the eve of the release of the much-awaited Padmaavat, the petite performer gets up close and personal with Huzan Tata

Unplug And Recharge

Arianna Huffington, media mogul and co-founder of the Pulitzer-Prize-winning Huffington Post is on a mission to root out work-life imbalances from society. As the luminary gears up for her latest venture, the expansion of Thrive Global to India, a start-up that offers corporate wellness programmes, Saumya Sinha catches up with her to discuss the burnout epidemic that is spreading across the globe and how to solve the problem

The NY Look

How do you get the right look when in New York? Michael Paterson takes you through, step by careful step….

True To Form

Whether it is her eye for utilitarian design, her repertoire of vintage collectibles, or her soulfulness when it comes to fashion, space and jewellery, tehzeeb lakhani places a premium on form and functionality.

Across The Easel

My curiosity went through the roof the moment I laid eyes on the new cover of Macbeth from the Pelican Shakespeare series.

An Indian Inheritance

I’m from Belgium, where everything is grey for the better part of the year. Where people are nice, but so ‘classic’.

Soles With Style

People tend to think that beautiful clothes are the product of a solo designer. but there’s usually a whole team behind that person.

High On Heels

No ordinary flats can produce the seductive gait achieved by a pair of gravity-defying stilettos. Viseshika Sharma traces the history of our most-loved footwear.

Roads and Romances

Head from the noisy streets of Mumbai to the arresting vistas of Kashmir with our pick of reads.

Going Solo

Is travelling alone a growing trend among women? Madhu Jain asserts that it is best leftto those who are self-reliant, who relish their own company and are not uncomfortable eating alone in a restaurant.