Table of contents for August 2024 in Harper's Bazaar India

Our bodies are far more than skin deep. They are the vessels that carry our life’s journey, the canvases on which our identities are painted, and the very core of our being. My relationship with my body has evolved over the years, marked by moments of discovery, acceptance, and transformation. While it’s not always perfect, I am so grateful for how my body shows up for me more times than I can imagine. It carries me through draining pilates sessions, intense edit meetings, and tiring red-eye flights, sometimes fuelled only by power naps and iced lattes. And it is forgiving on the days I decide to binge on butter chicken and garlic naan. That brings us to our theme—‘Body and Beyond’—for our August issue. As we strived to ensure it…

With days leading up to the FDCI India Couture Week, I came across an Instagram post by Amit Aggarwal that said, “We don’t do normal”. Having read and written about the designer and his signature aesthetic from the time Aggarwal was described by the media as the ‘new wave’ in fashion back in 2017-18, to marvelling at his inventive approach to couture at present, I head toAggarwal’s Noida-based atelier to feed my curiosity. Over rounds of single-shot espressos on a Saturday morning, I caught up with the designer amidst the couture week ‘madness’, who looked unassumingly calm, to comprehend his idea of‘normal’ and get a preview of his new Couture’24 collection, Antevorta (personifying the Roman goddess of the future). Aggarwal’s distinct design vocabulary, his affinity to present form, shape, and…

With Chloe’s boho revival sweeping the fashion scene, string jewellery is once again gracing jewellery boxes around the world. In India, the charm of red mauli threads and taweez necklace strings has kept string jewellery relevant for centuries. But imagine the laid-back cool style of the ‘90s cords and the playful elegance of Victorian-style ribbons. It’s your answer to dressing up and dressing down. Slide on a pendant, mix and match your charms, wrap it around your neck multiple times, tie it into a bow, or let it dangle as a single strand. The possibilities are limitless.…

Contemporary Indian attitudes have long maintained a dichotomous view of the female form. We appreciate it when we see it/them on temple walls (think Khajuraho). We appreciate it when paintings depicting it fetch millions in auctions (think Souza). And we certainly appreciate it when we think of ancient Greek and Roman sculptures. But when it comes to teaching it or embracing it in contemporary situations, we shy away from acknowledging the same female body enough. Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (MSU) houses one of the most prestigious fine arts departments in the country. However, after a few incidents where outsiders entered the university and disrupted nude drawing classes, live nude drawing was removed from the syllabus. For two reasons, one is the fear of offending those who have nothing to…

She is a Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter. She is one of the power puff girls in Shah Rukh Khan’s gang in Jawan. She is also the wide-eyed trainee journalist Juhi Shergill in The Broken News. And now Sanjeeta Bhattacharya is basking in the success of her latest single Ratiyaan—her 15th independent track. Ratiyaan was born out of a restless night and a hook that kept playing in her head, Bhattacharya tells Bazaar India. “It speaks of forbidden love. A kind that leaves you obsessed but you can’t express it and every moment without them feels like forever.” Bhattacharya’s intent with Ratiyaan was to blend her Indian classical influences with a contemporary pop element, using languages that resonated with her upbringing in Delhi—Hindi, Urdu, and Punjabi. For the 28-year-old, music is…

I wake up early on a Saturday morning, partly whining about the hectic work week I have had earlier, to get on a telephonic chat with Isla MariaVan Damme or fondly known by her sobriquet, Loulou, to many. Barely 30 seconds into the call and she refers to me as “darling”, and sounds more enthusiastic than I have ever been in my 37 years of existence (not an exaggeration). Loulou is 79, a frees-pirited designer, stylist, and hotelier, who has no plans of retiring from work anytime soon. What keeps her going? It’s the first thing I ask. “It’s just my willpower,” she laughs out loud and adds, “I have not been well the past month, but I still work. I usually wake up at 6AM, visit the flower market,…

It’s February 7, 2019. Twenty-two-year-old Trinetra Haldar Gummaraju films herself from a hospital bed in Bangkok. Fighting through an anaesthesiainduced post-op trance, she tells the camera, “It’s done. It’s actually done.” The pride in her voice and the bubbling relief it houses has nothing against the 12-hour-long procedure she’s just been through. “I feel tipsy almost. My brain is not communicating super effectively with my mouth. It’s taking a while to form sentences. My throat is fucked. My chest feels like an elephant is sitting on it,” the video continues, “but it’s done. No more penis. No more tucking. No more stuffing. It’s quite a relief. Painful…painful but such a relief.” This video series on YouTube documenting her surgical transition is how I first got to know Trinetra. Through her…

Trigger Warning: This article talks about eating disorders. “Oh, these carbs are gonna be the death of me,” groaned my friend when she saw the platter of garlic bread that was in front of us…I nodded in agreement. But at the same time, I also thought: so many of my conversations with friends tend to be about how someone has gone vegan, someone else has started a new diet, or a third friend “simply can’t eat dessert without feeling guilty.” None of these women would identify themselves as suffering from an eating disorder, but the signs are slowly showing. In our world, eating disorders are mostly limited to Anorexia Nervosa (AN), which causes an obsession with weight and food, and Bulimia Nervosa (BN), marked by bingeing followed by throwing up…

As I approach my late twenties, some of my friends have been asking me to tell them about my wedding plans a year in advance only so that they can get on Ozempic to fit into their outfits. The much sought-after drug has taken over the world so much that even American television host Jimmy Kimmel couldn’t resist joking about it in this year’s Oscars monologue. Social media posts of celebrities like Khloe Kardashian, Mindy Kaling, and Julia Fox often have their followers guessing if they’ve been using weight loss injectables. The demand for these has seeped into the upper layers of society and no one’s making a secret of it. Dr Roshani Sanghani, American board certified endocrinologist, attributes the rise in the demand for weight loss injections to the…

And the body hair stands out, doesn’t it? It’s probably what drew your attention to this page. This photograph of Julia Roberts wearing Vivienne Tam with unshaven underarms at the Notting Hill [1999] premiere became one of the most iconic and talked-about red carpet moments. But why is body hair considered a political statement for women, to the point where celebrities who keep it face critique and scrutiny? They are often reminded of their hairy faux pas and labelled unladylike. As with every issue of Bazaar India, where we champion and embrace women in all their forms—we hope that people move away from the collective hysteria about body hair, which wrongly equates hairlessness with being attractive.…

SAMAR RAJPUT, STYLIST “I was in my mid-20s when I realised the importance of looking after my body. Over time, I learned that each body is unique and responds differently to various workouts, diets, and lifestyle changes. For the past year, I’ve dedicated myself to calisthenics and being mindful of my nutrition. This has helped me achieve a level of satisfaction with my body that I hadn’t experienced before.” RADHIKA SOMAIA, WRITER “‘Treat your body like a temple’, my mother used to tell me growing up. It wasn’t until I entered my 30s that I truly understood what she meant. I’ve grown to love the process of looking after myself. I’ve had to unlearn and relearn a new way—the long game of self-love and self-care. It’s a process, but I’m…

The rise of the body positivity movement has been a breath of fresh air. We’ve seen a shift in the media landscape, with diverse body types gracing magazine covers and runways. But for all the progress, there’s a glaring omission: men. Fashion’s body positivity movement has largely focused on women, leaving plus-sized male bodies feeling invisible and trapped in a space that is anything but welcoming. As someone who has never quite fit the mould of the chiselled superhero physique often splashed across magazines and high fashion shows, I’ve always felt a disconnect between those images and my reality. Even after I have shed a substantial amount of weight and fit into standardised store sizes over the years, I can’t seem to forget what a frustrating exercise shopping used to…

The perpetual desire to seek the best in class is the result of a complex interplay of evolutionary imperatives, social dynamics, psychological needs, and cultural influences. In the world of luxury, high jewellery stands as the ultimate expression of opulence, artistry, and exclusivity. It is where the boundaries of creativity are pushed, transforming humble, precious and extremely rare materials into breathtaking works of wearable art. At the centre of each high jewellery creation is the design, often inspired by natural elements, cultural influences, or a reflection of contemporary themes, which may be derived from science, technology, art, or a designer’s vivid imagination. Let’s delve into a selection of recent high jewellery collections to uncover the profound artistry embedded in these exquisite masterpieces. Louis Vuitton’s latest high jewellery collection—titled Awakened Hands,…

Mushrooms, beyond the alluring psychedelia, have been a rising motif in contemporary accessories. As we embrace a slower lifestyle where wellness reigns supreme, the healing and spiritual properties of fungi come to the fore. From colourful enamel necklaces to diamond encrusted funghi earrings, nature’s whimsy knows no bounds, as the ugly pretty shape of shrooms inspire jewellery designers of today.…

Sports comprises the highest of highs, and lowest of lows, and exemplifies the very things that make us human—grit, passion, determination, and endurance. Yet, for all that it does, sports has been a largely male-dominated field for much of its history with little to no space for women to belong. Then, when women finally paved the path, the male gaze on them heightened, and for the female athletes themselves, the pressure to conform, getting mired by misogynistic and objectifying headlines, and navigating through myriad stereotypes, took precedence over loving their body—until it didn’t. The past decade has witnessed a reclamation of the female body like never before. Bazaar India speaks with women athletes, sports psychologists and journalists to explore the evolving landscape of body image, its psychological impact, the role…

Whether or not you are an avid reader, you likely saw Coco Mellors everywhere on social media. Her debut novel, Cleopatra and Frankenstein, gained significant attention—courtesy the vivid oil painting of her lead character Cleo that made the book even more intriguing. However, the praise extended beyond its cover—many found Mellor’s writing style remarkably realistic and after its release in 2022, the book was widely recognised by various publications as one of the year’s most captivating books. Born in northwest London, Mellors is the youngest of the four siblings. She moved to NewYork at 15, thanks to her father’s job, where she later went on to earn her Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree from NYU. Mellors then moved to Los Angeles where she lived for three years, working as…

Bodies—something that all of us, especially women, look at everyday and dissect piece by piece. We scrutinise, criticise, and sometimes struggle to embrace the very vessel that carries us through life. This month’s book suggestions will offer you a new vision that celebrates the many ways our bodies tell our unique stories. From the raw, tender transformations of a woman’s body after pregnancy, the strength and resilience of differently-abled bodies, the complex narratives surrounding contraception, to the courageous journeys of gender transitioning, I hope each book beckons you to love yourself a little more everyday. In The Grammar of My Body: A Memoir, author Abhishek Anicca offers a deeply introspective narrative on living with disability and chronic illness. Through his essays, he explores themes of self-care, dignity, and desire, particularly…

GASTRONOMICAL DELIGHT Experience authentic Japanese, Indian, Western, and Thai-Indonesian cuisines at 360° restaurant at The Oberoi, New Delhi. The refreshed menu artfully intertwines these international flavours, telling stories of past and present journeys. Alongside classic Oberoi dishes, enjoy a focus on organic, sustainable, and healthy eating, with plentiful vegetarian and vegan options. The menu features innovative reinterpretations of classics and express lunch offerings, creating a memorable dining narrative that celebrates shared meals and cherished memories. THE ONITSUKA UNIVERSE Hôtel Onitsuka Tiger in Champs-Élysées, Paris, is celebrating its 75th anniversary from July 22 to August 17. From fashion to art and food, visitors can enjoy a host of immersive events. There will be performances by artistes like Grammy Award-winning pianist Yuja Wang and singer-songwriter Maïa Barouh. An exhbition of 75 archival…

People are obsessed with my age. Not because I’m old. But because I look like this while I’m ageing. If there is one thing I’ve learned about Malaika Arora—and I can say this with absolute certainty—it’s that she uses the phrase, “I’m not going to be apologetic about it”, far too often, and truly means it. In fact, had someone read my interview transcript, they would confirm she says that at the end of every other response. That’s how unabashed she is about her approach to life and self-acceptance. And she encourages all women to do the same—take up space and be their authentic selves. A GIRL’S GIRL, ALL THE WAY “Over the years, our perception of women in terms of looks, stardom, and their success has changed,” says Arora.…

She is intense, high on energy, and game for every pose, said my colleague who was at this cover shoot when I asked them about Aruna Singh Tanwar. Days later when I was about to get on a call with the 24-year-old taekwondo player and India’s medal hope in the upcoming Paralympics in Paris, the millennial in me was mentally preparing (and secretly hoping that the caffeine in my system would give me the right kick) herself for a sprightly conversation with a Gen Z. But little did I know that the person I would speak with would pleasantly surprise me with her calmness and clarity—both in her thoughts and words. Tanwar’s maturity is almost precocious, one can say. “Life has taught me so much—the experiences, the taunts, and the…

As the curtain closes on the Autumn/Winter 2024 and Spring/Summer 2025 fashion season across countries, the key trends draw inspiration from unique narratives, personal expressions, and celebrate art and creativity in all it’s glory. SOCIAL MESSAGE Fashion has long spoken about socio-political issues to draw attention to important causes. Take A$ap Rocky’s AWGE show on American Sabotage for instance, it intertwined art with activism to challenge the status quo. Adrian Appiolaza’s collection for Moschino was infused with wit and the message of universal peace and love. STYLE MEETS PRACTICALITY Matteo Tamburini’s debut collection for Tod’s bridged the essence of quality and practicality with leisure, seamlessly blending formal and informal into one. Matthieu Blazy’s collection for Bottega Veneta offered elevated essentials like peacoats, tailored trousers, and oversized shirts—highlighting practical yet polished…

It’s a refreshing change to watch the standard skincare routine go from CTM (cleanse, tone, and moisturise) to CMP (cleanse, moisturise, and protect). Sunscreen is finally having its moment under the sun (pun intended) and the immense innovation in the category is to thank for that. “Older formulations of sunscreen often relied on thick mineral oils, which left a white cast on the skin,” explains Dr Vanita Rattan, globally renowned dermatologist and CEO, Skincare by Dr V. “Today, modern SPFs incorporate minerals such as zinc oxide in micronised forms, making them sheerer with no white residue.” We dive into what’s new about sunscreen and why we now love applying and reapplying it. GOODBYE, WHITE CAST Earlier, common UV filters included chemical agents like oxybenzone and octinoxate, informs Dr Rattan. “But…

WATCH… EMILY IN PARIS SEASON FOUR After Netflix unveiled the trailer, the show promises an abundance of glitz, glamour, and enchanting oh là là moments, inviting you into a Parisian adventure. This season will be divided into two parts, each featuring five episodes. The first part will premiere on August 15, followed by the second on September 12. INDULGE IN A DETOX… WITH THIS BODY POLISH A blend of luxuriousness—Murshmallow’s product has pure coconut milk and vanilla. Infused with Dead Sea salt to effectively detoxify and exfoliate dead skin cells, it also features beneficial ingredients such as bakuchiol, hyaluronic acid, and resveratrol, among others that work together to give you a radiant skin. STOCK YOUR STATIONERY… WITH PERSONALISED NOTEBOOKS, JOURNALS, AND PLANNERS Muddy Jumpers offers an exquisite collection of products designed…

No one understands the importance of time quite like a sportsperson—every nanosecond counts and precision is paramount. Only a true pioneer in watchmaking with a legacy of collaborating with sporting events can encapsulate this pressure. Since 1932, Omega has served as the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games. This year, the Swiss watchmaker has once again put accuracy and precision at the forefront by releasing two exclusive Paris Olympics 2024 edition watches. Commemorative casebacks for both timepieces highlight the Paris 2024 logo and Olympic Rings. A timepiece to mark the countdown to the historic Summer Games, the special edition Seamaster Diver 300M Paris 2024 is crafted in stainless steel and 18-carat moonshine gold. The exclusive 42 mm timepiece features a gold bezel with a diving scale, a white ceramic dial…

VARSHITA THATAVARTHI Model Apart from being a breathtaking Sabyasachi muse, Varshita Thatavarthi seems to nail every campaign she is part of. Whatever fashion demands of her, she seems to give in completely while standing her ground. But owning herself didn’t come easy to Thatavarthi. “I didn’t always have a healthy relationship with my body,” recalls the model. “As a South Indian kid growing up in Delhi, I was often bullied in school for my skin colour. That really took a toll on me as a child and made me very conscious and insecure from the beginning.” In her late teens, Thatavarthi was diagnosed with hypothyroidism—a deficiency of thyroid hormones that can cause excessive weight gain. “I have battled body weight issues for a while now and despite being an advocate…

SOHRAB KHUSHRUSHAHI Celebrity fitness trainer and founder of SOHFIT The likes of Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor swear by Sohrab Khushrushahi, whose 21-day and 40-day fitness challenges have become a rage on social media. But for the celebrity trainer, fitness is not a number game. “Many people treat fitness as a luxury, I treat it as a necessity,” he tells Bazaar India. In his younger days, the desire to look a certain way was one of Khushrushahi’s motivations to train, besides getting better at cricket, a sport he began playing at the age of 14. “I use to play cricket seriously at the U-14, U-16, and U-19 levels. Fitness became a part of my life and helped me get better at my sport,” he recalls. “People have begun understanding how…

It was the winter of 2022 when the global pandemic was finally receding, and Johann Hari, the author of the book Magic Pill, went to a party. He felt chubby and “slightly self conscious” because he had gained weight—approximately “a stone and a half since the world shut down,” as Hari narrates in his book. The party he was going to was thrown by an Oscar-winning actor, and as the author walked in, he wrote, “I felt disconcerted. It wasn’t just that nobody has gained weight. They were gaunt. Their cheekbones were higher, their stomachs tighter […] everyone suddenly looked like their own Snapchat filter, clearer, and sharper.” As Hari later realises, the reason was nothing but the blockbuster weight loss drug, Ozempic. Semaglutide is a medication used to control…

Filmmaker Kiran Rao’s latest movie, Laapataa Ladies (2023), is all heart. Not only does it tug at the heartstrings with its small-town narrative about switched identities and serendipitous discoveries of self, but it also stands out for its title lettering, designed by Ek Type, a collective of type designers spearheaded by their focus on designing contemporary Indian typefaces. Conceptualised and designed by Noopur Datye, the lettering for Laapataa Ladies was done in English, Hindi, and Urdu. The lettering was so appreciated that the collective decided to use it to create a new font called Abah. Girish Dalvi, a faculty member at IDC School of Design, IIT Bombay, and co-founder of Ek Type, emphasises the importance of understanding and appreciating the shapes of letters in typography and type design. He tells…

LEO JULY 24-AUGUST 23 Celebrate every small achievement at work this month. Don’t let small obstacles bring you down. In relationships, convey your insecurities, and your partner will help you through it. Singles in the house, have fun and keep the child-like energy intact. ARIES MARCH 21-APRIL 20 This month, a travel or big investment is round the corner, but make sure to keep a tab on your savings! For those in a relationship, you might feel you’re contributing more than your partner. Clear communication will aid to sort things. For singles, one tip: trust your intuition but don’t shy away from meeting new people! TAURUS APRIL 21-MAY 21 You are likely to have leader-like energy on the work front. But make sure you keep your colleagues on your side,…

My most vivid memory of Masaba Gupta dates back to 2010. For my school farewell, I desperately wanted to wear the same orange-bordered net sari with handprints that Sonam Kapoor had worn at Masaba’s first store launch. It was a non-negotiable. Over the past decade, I’ve had numerous conversations with Masaba and always felt comfortable around her. She commands attention whenever she enters a room, and it’s clear she knows people will talk about her. Yet, she remains steadfastly focused on her goal. When I ask Masba to describe herself in three words, she promptly replies, “agile” and “chameleon”. After a brief pause, she adds, “assertive”. All of these qualities are evident in her design journey, a path she embarked on after exploring various interests. From studying music in London…

Kolkata’s Thakurbari, the ancestral home of the Tagore family, has not only been a cradle of literature, music, and art but also a beacon of fashion. Central to Thakurbari fashion is the quintessential Bengali sari. Jnanadanandini Devi, beloved bard Rabindranath Tagore’s eldest sister-in-law, played a pivotal role in shaping the sartorial identity of the region in the 19th Century. The timeless elegance and cultural depth of Thakurbari’s sartorial choices have transcended generations. Actor Swastika Mukherjee recreates five different looks from that time for Bazaar India. A NEW SILHOUETTE The Brahmika sari was originally popularised by Jnanadanandini Devi, wife of Satyendranath Tagore. The style of draping was inspired by the Parsi Gara sari worn by Gujarati and Parsi women. “Tagore family played a pivotal role in the entire fashion scenario of…

From décor and food, to outfits, there are a hundred things to plan when it’s a wedding. But the biggest piece of the planning puzzle is the venue. After all, the backdrop is not just a prop in the show, but a protagonist in the celebrations, ensuring that you get the Pinterest-worthy wedding. Enter The Leela Ambience Gurugram Hotel & Residences. From grand baarat to intimate receptions, the hotel’s array of venues and impeccable services bring your wedding dreams to life. This property provides every necessary feature for an unforgettable celebration—from dramatic entrances to decks offering breathtaking views of the night sky. Whether you’re looking for awe-inspiring moments or serene, scenic vistas, this wedding venue has it all. The newly renovated Pearl Ballroom serves as the perfect backdrop for families…