Thursday, July 7, 2016

Trendspotting: Night divorces to holidating

Change is definitely the only constant! And that's what trends are based on. While last year was all about a brinner (breakfast-meets-dinner), liquid lunches, marsala colour, relationship 'ghosting' and ass-pocalypse (yes, those internet-breaking derriere pics a la Kim Kardashian and Beyonce), this year has also thrown up some wild and fun fads. Here are a few of them...

FOOD
Sushi donuts: Love sushi? This is sure to please you. When an instagrammer and blogger posted a creation of a sushi-donut hybrid, little did she realise it would churn up such an online storm. She created a donut mould, pressed sushi rice into it and added sesame, wasabi, ginger, avocado and mayo. Voila!
Poke: We're not referring to your social media antics. Poke is an Hawaiian dish (pronounced poh-keh) that comprises raw seafood seasoned with salt, soya and green onions and served cold. It's taken off in a huge way in LA and is expected to explode in other major cities, too.
Seaweed: The world is waking up to seaweed this year. A staple of the Japanese diet for centuries, it is now jumping onto menus with a flourish. It's so healthy that foodies are hailing it as the new kale. The marine alga is high in nutrients and dietary fibre and is said to be able to reduce cardiovascular disease. So far it's been mainly used in sushi rolls, but it's set to go mainstream in pizza, in soups, salads and stir-fries.
Sane eating: Out goes the hysterical obsession for superfoods like goji berries and chia seeds. This year it's a return to food you know and love. Eating real foods — with carbs and fibre — coupled with exercising more, is the advice that's out there now.
Turmeric talk: Good ol' haldi or turmeric — that was once a medicine staple — has come out of its conventional shackles and gone stylish. The West is now discovering turmeric lattes, smoothies, desserts and vinaigrettes, packed with its antioxidant properties. Turmeric milk has also become the new hipster drink. Can we say, we told you so?
Naked dining: The buff is going big, this year. A new restaurant in London offers customers a 'completely natural dining' experience, where you eat minus your clothes. It's said to have a wait list of 40,000! Diners wear bathrobes, go to a changing room and disrobe fully if they wish. Cellphones are not allowed, neither is anyone under 18 or over 60. In Tokyo, tickets for naked nights are selling out, too. Is this going to give a new meaning to a 'return to natural eating?

TRAVEL
Bleisure: Blame the increasing slant towards a work-life balance for this, but today more millennials are combining business with leisure. A holiday that's more like a mix of work and play, bleisure helps you prioritise the itinerary, feel more productive and still chill out at the end of day. Anyone complaining?

RELATIONSHIPS
Night divorce:
Okay, this has nothing to do with getting a divorce at night. Rather, it's about parting from intimacy at night. That's right, couples are giving up their conjugal bed time, to sleep solo. They do this is to catch up on sleep, especially during a gruelling work week. Also known as a sleep divorce, it's about building excitement in the relationship.
Benching: Meet the new 'ghosting'. You may meet up with someone a few times, chat a little, but haven't made up your mind if you want to take it ahead. You ping once in a way so as to keep interest levels up. It's called 'benching' (to use a sports term), where you place a person on a bench in your mind. It's regarded as a power play that is wrong.
Holidating : A scenic locale may be just the catalyst for a romance. This is about people who end up dating seriously on their break, minus intimacy so as to avoid disappointments.

BEAUTY
Glitter tears:
Forget graphic eyes and rainbow lashes, the new fad is to wear glitter tears on the eyelids. They're also worn under the eyes to give the illusion of falling tears. They may be placed under the eyes or all the way down the cheeks.
Wavy lob: This year Cannes was full of the look and it's also been an A-list fave elsewhere. The wavy lob or wob, where the hair is worn shoulder-length in tousled waves, is the new fuss-free, chic style. You can try it in a deep side parting or on its own.
Double buns: Forget rainbow hair, the new fad is 'double buns'. Kendall Jenner wore the look to Coachella this year. Singers Gwen Stefani Bjork and Miley Cyrus have sported the do as well. It may bring out your inner Minnie Mouse, but it's easy to wear and has a fun vibe.

WELLNESS
Gong bath: A ritual where a gong is sounded for stress relief, a 'gong bath' or 'gong shower' uses sound vibration to heal the self and attain peace. Eastern instruments like gongs, tingsha bells and Himalayan singing bowls are used for this.
Forest bathing: Forest bathing also called shirin-yoku is about basking in the greenery of a forest area. Soaking in the environment there, is said to bust stress and rejuvenate you. This year, there have been forest bathing programmes across the world.
Kombucha: Hollywood loves this! Of late, Amanda Seyfried, Halle Berry and Lindsay Lohan have sipping on kombucha. This is a fermented sweet tea, made by adding bacteria and yeast to it and allowing it to ferment for a few weeks. It's said to boost the immune system and clean the gut.

FITNESS
Animal flow workout: Mimicking the movements of animals is actually a thing now. From strenuous crocodile crawls to frog jump-leaps and crab walks, the regimen is set to wake up the tiniest muscles. Trampolining: Go jump! We mean it. If you're bored of the treadmill, bounce on a trampoline. It does away with the usual impact risk that runners and joggers face on a concrete surface. The repetitive bouncing motion increases circulation, builds muscles and improves balance.
Aerial yoga: While its inception may have been last year, aerial yoga or anti-gravity yoga is now coming into its own. It has a person suspended from the ceiling in fabric rope. You use your body weight to twist and contort.
Rowing: It's being called the new spinning and with good reason! The exercise will have you imitate rowing movements to build the arms and core and release tension in the back. Rowing studios have popped up in the West in the last few months. We say it's time that happened back home, too.

FASHION
Skort: A flirty, ladylike twist to shorts, the skort is divided at the legs with a single front flap, like a mini skirt. Once seen on tennis stars, it's foraying into everyday fashion now. Wear the skort this monsoon for some panache.
Bay-kini: The bikini has gone that much more sexy with this one. Named after the Baywatch TV series-styled one-piece, the Bay-kini is a plunging neckline number with a high cut at the waist sides. Selena Gomez and Ariel Winter have worn one.
Athleisure: The trend may have had its roots in 2016, but athleisure is creating an even bigger boom this year, as well. Sweatpants, tanks, track tops, hoodies, bombers, jeggings and yoga pants are going de rigueur with a vengeance! Workout apparel is comfy, smart and apt for accessories. Ready to make athletic wear the accepted norm?
Bare shoulders: Showing off the shoulder was the year-start darling. It was hot on the catwalk and seen on dresses, cut-out pieces and tops. Amal Clooney, Blake Lively and Bella Hadid made the shoulder blades turn sexy with this one.

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