The Writer’s Flight

Lease designer and premium brands from companies that offer attire you can return after wearing for a while Namrata Kohli   Rented clothes save wardrobe space and keep customers in sync with changing fashion trends. (Adobe stock photo) It is the Uber of fashion: rent clothes that you desire but cannot afford to buy. Thanks to startups it is now possible to wear designer and premium brands at a fraction of the cost. “Renting designer wear upgrades the wardrobe, be it a Salvatore Ferragamo bag or a super expensive Gucci co-ord. Rental fashion gives us the leverage to try out new outfits without shelling out much from our pocket," says Akshra Dalal, director at JD Institute of Fashion Technology. "According to a recent report published by Allied Market Research, the global online clothing rental market is estimated to reach USD 1,856 million by 2023, registering a compound annual growth rate of 10.6% from 2017 to 2023. The trend is catching up f...

Change your lifestyle and invest in these accessories to shield your skin and digestive system Namrata Kohli Invest in the right-for-rain monsoon apparel and accessories  Credits: Adobe Stock When you pray for the rain, prepare to deal with the mud and the filth that comes with it. Invest in the right  monsoon  apparel and change your diet and lifestyle. Cotton clothes suit the humid weather allowing the skin to breathe. Lightweight synthetic clothes made of rayon and polyester are good, too. You may feel sticky and humid, so go for flowing rather than body-hugging or too-long clothes. Capris over full pants and bicycle shorts over jeans are a sensible choice for the rainy season. Eschew closed shoes that take time to dry and may harbour germs, and go for flip-flops instead. Bata’s floaters, which cost Rs 550-700, are popular as they are waterproof. Melissa recently launched its Real Jelly collection ranging between Rs 3,999 and Rs 4,999. “The best footwear...

If they do not get registered with us then we have got enough or more power to take action against them under section 59 and 61 of the Act. Namrata Kohli   Anand Kumar, chairman of Delhi Real Estate Regulatory Authority. The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act protects the interests of home buyers and sets rules for the sector.  Anand Kumar , chairman of the Delhi Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA), told  Namrata Kohli  in an interview how the system works. RERA registration is like insurance for homebuyers, he said. Here are edited excerpts from the interview. You have brought nearly every important stakeholder under the ambit of RERA, be it the builder, the project, the broker. But the buck actually stops with the development authorities. Shouldn’t they be held accountable and register with RERA? Anybody who is into the real estate development sector, whether it’s a development authority like  Del...

Imagine you had a place to exercise, relax, spend time with family and let your worries float away. We are talking about building a swimming pool at home By Namrata Kohli  With the right architectural intervention and petite, new-age pool designs, it is possible to lap-up happiness on any budget now and create a nice swimming pool at home  Credits: Adobe Stock   Building a pool opens up a world of possibilities for an individual – the health benefits of swimming are immense and floating around in a pool will help in clearing your mind plus it’s an enjoyable way to spend time with your family, hold pool parties with friends.  People looking to buy houses will always see a residential swimming pool as an added bonus for a home and it can shore up the value of your property. Says Gurugram based architect Rachna Agarwal, Founder Studio IAAD, “A well-designed outdoor swimming pool doubles as a fluid centerpiece for the home and converts the backyard into a decadent escapa...

On 21 March, 2022, Sadhguru embarked on a lone motorcycle journey across Europe, Central Asia and Middle East trying to build a global consensus for policy-driven action to save soil from extinction. While on a 100-day, 30,000 km motorbike mission to save soil, Sadhguru halts at New Delhi on World Environment Day June 5 th , 2022 to talk about growing desertification Namrata Kohli in an exclusive with Sadhguru You have brought the world’s attention on soil. But why soil amongst other ecological issues? We have all been fed upon the breasts of our mothers. The soil is the mother of our mothers. The soil is the very source of our body and our life. It is important that the whole of humanity raises voice to their governments so that at policy level, decisions are taken to save soil. We need to protect the soil, for ourselves and for those who are yet to be born. United Nations has warned us of how rapid soil degradation could lead to a severe global food crisis. They said something...

It is the sanctuary at home, plan carefully when you decorate it and mind details in picking accessories Namrata Kohli   This sprawling bathrrom is infused with natural light and trees. (Photo: Adobe Stock) The bathroom is a sanctuary to think, be curious and just left alone. The place should be designed thoughtfully and carefully. To create a comfortable and classy bathroom, choose each part of it with attention: the toilet, the sink, the shower or tub, shelves, vanity mirror. Automated accessories give a sense of luxury to otherwise usual bathroom designs. Rahul Mistri, principal designer at  design  studio Open Atelier Mumbai, suggests ways to transform mundane spaces. “Spruce up your bathroom surfaces by adding murals or abstract illustrations on full length walls or ceilings as per personal preferences. This can add significant value and drama to your confined spaces in comparison to the common hack of adding frames,” he says. "Expand the visual and sensory quality o...