Art to combat the post-festive comedown

Consider this your sign to start collecting art

If you’ve ever wanted to own an original work by an established Indian artist without spending a bomb, CIMA Art Mela in Delhi is a good place to start. With works priced between ₹5,000 and ₹6 lakh, the fair brings together over 80 artists, including pioneers like Arpita Singh, Ganesh Pyne, and the late Jogen Chowdhury, alongside emerging talent and traditional practitioners from across India. It’s also a chance to discover your next favourite artist before everyone else does.

Meanwhile, 13-year-old Rudranil Mitra is giving established artists a run for their money with The Imaginarium also in Delhi at the IIC Annexe. His exhibition features 12 ceramic masks, fantastical stoneware sculptures, paintings on glass bottles, and even birds made from pencil shavings.

For a different take on the world, head to Bengaluru’s Gallery G for Beyond the Familiar, for a group exhibition featuring works by 16 artists across painting, ceramics, metal, and mixed media. Look out for Bharathi Senthilvelan’s colourful works inspired by childhood memories, Hemalatha Senathipathi’s copper and brass sculptures, and Rohini Mani’s explorations of gender and colourism. —Sheya Kurian

CIMA Art Mela will be on display at India Habitat Centre in Delhi till November 17

The Imaginarium will be on display at IIC Annexe in New Delhi till November 22

Beyond the Familiar will be on display at Gallery G in Bengaluru till November 30

Where to part with your money this November

Just when you thought you’d exhausted your festive shopping budget, a fresh crop of stores has arrived to test your financial discipline.

First up is Jade, which has traded its longtime Peddar Road home for a sprawling new 20,000 sq ft flagship in Ballard Estate. Calling it a store feels like an understatement. Beyond its new ready-to-wear, bridal, and occasionwear collections, the space houses Palimpsest, a museum-like setting for artworks created by the craft clusters of the Grassroot Artisans Project, and Jade Home, a new line of objects for sprucing up your home. There’s also a bookstore in collaboration with CMYK (the building was previously home to the iconic Smoker’s Corner bookshop) and Jade Café, so you could essentially spend an entire day browsing on a shopping trip that doubles as a cultural outing.

Across the Sea Link, over in Khar, Nebula by Titan has opened its first-ever boutique in India. Designed as a royal atelier, the store design goes heavy on old-world detailing through handcrafted brass and wood balusters, marquetry, gold leafing, and patterned flooring. Spread across two floors, the destination brings together a selection of watches by international brands on the ground level, while the first floor is dedicated exclusively to Nebula’s 18-carat gold timepieces. It’s the perfect spot for watch enthusiasts who believe buying a watch deserves a more ceremonial experience than a quick visit to a counter.

In Delhi, Public, NorBlack NorWhite’s new concept store at Dhan Mill, feels like a clubhouse for the cool kids of India’s creative scene. Alongside NBNW (obviously), you’ll find an eclectic roster of independent labels and makers, including Dilli Disco District, Gul Sohrab, Laturia Shop, Claymen, Project Qaafi, Digging in India Record Store, Offset Bookshop, and Pistabarfi, to name a few, and a special pieces from Lovebirds, Bharat Sikka, and Rkive City. The selection is designed to change, so you may stumble on something new every visit.

Also in the capital, Elie Saab has just dropped anchor at DLF Emporio—news that would make a subset of Indian brides very happy. Until now, getting your hands on the Lebanese couturier’s creations involved an overseas shopping trip or waiting for a trunk show. Now, there’s a permanent boutique that houses the maison’s ready-to-wear line, perfumes, accessories, childrenswear, as well as a private salon for one-on-one appointments.

And for those whose shopping radius extends to Dubai, Tarun Tahiliani has just opened its first store in the city, in the Jumeirah district. Designed as a series of gallery-like spaces divided by jaali screens, the boutique brings together the designer’s bridal couture, occasionwear for men and women, contemporary pieces, and accessories under one roof. —Chloe Chou

Addresses:

House of Jade: Botawala Chambers, Mint Road, Ballard Estate, Fort, Mumbai - 400001

Nebula Boutique: Linking Road, Khar West, Mumbai - 400052

Public: NorBlack NorWhite Studio, Dhan Mill, 60 Feet Road, Chhatarpur Village, New Delhi - 110074

Elie Saab: Ground floor, Shop EMP125, DLF Emporio, Nelson Mandela Marg, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi - 110070

Tarun Tahiliani: Plot No. 362-525 Jumeirah Road, Umm Suqeim 2, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Drama, drama, drama

A bilingual play exploring the Partition through a Sindhi family’s journey (Lillete Dubey’s Everything We Forgot To Say); a stage adaptation of Salman Rushdie’s memoir Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder by Naseeruddin Shah’s Motley Group; workshops by theatre veterans Ratna Pathak Shah, Kumud Mishra and Makrand Deshpande; screenings of award-wining stage performances, including the Bryan Cranston-starrer All My Sons and Sandra Oh’s The Misanthrope, are all playing at the ongoing Prithvi Theatre Festival. Now in its fifth decade, with Zahan Kapoor at the helm, the festival continues to bring together first-time productions, new plays by some of the oldest theatre groups, and a cross-section of Mumbai’s theatre community. —Tanvi Parekh

The Prithvi Theatre Festival is on from November 1–16. Book here

A charming book on chihuahuas and other tiny canines

There is one thing that small dogs and books have in common: they make for a perfect companion. If, like me, you’ve raised your small dog in the proper tradition—with a big attitude and a lot to say—and cannot fulfil the Paris Hilton prophecy (carrying your pup about like a sentient bag charm), this book is a fantastic substitute. Yap! A Short History of Small Dogs (Penguin Random House; ₹2,510) by Stephanie Howard-Smith chronicles the surprisingly storied history of small dogs.

With chapters focused on specific breeds and eras, Howard-Smith takes you through anecdotes of pups and their owners, conversations with animal historians, and adorable illustrations, setting them against the larger context of gender and class. There’s also the odd trivia—such as the ancient stomach-ache remedy of placing a small dog on one’s stomach. It is a deeply charming, well-researched social history of the petite companion we’ve long bred, that makes you wonder if the term “man’s best friend” could do with a little update. —Saniya Jaffer

A little (he)art for your wall

Some people wear their hearts on their sleeves, others put them up on their walls. Hatsu’s heart wall light is a charming way of making a statement without putting up yet another wall print. Its cobalt-blue body has a deep hollow in the centre that nestles a bulb resembling a glowing pearl. The piece can work both as a light source and a sculptural accent. Founded by siblings Saumil and Yashvi Suchak, Hatsu was built on the idea that everyday objects can have the refinement of art. —Sheya Kurian

Your November art fix is here

If your Diwali plans are winding down but your appetite for a good outing isn’t, Art Mumbai might be worth putting on the calendar. Returning to the Mahalaxmi Racecourse from November 12 to 15, the fourth edition brings together 94 exhibitors, including 73 Indian and 21 international galleries. Among the new international names are Perrotin, Richard Saltoun, Night Gallery, Rizq Art Gallery, and Niru Ratnam, all making their Indian art fair debut. They join returning galleries, such as Lisson Gallery and Galleria Continua, alongside Indian mainstays including Experimenter, Chemould Prescott Road, DAG, Nature Morte, among others.

There’s plenty happening beyond the exhibition floor, too. This year sees a larger focus on private and family-led art foundations, while the Speaker Series brings together voices such as Javed Akhtar, Lydia Yee, and Minal Vazirani to discuss the ideas and shifts shaping the art world. Four days, 94 exhibitors, and plenty to look at—not a bad way to spend a November weekend. —Tanvi Parekh

Art Mumbai 2026 takes place from November 12–15 at Mahalaxmi Racecourse; book here

Bags more precious than the items they hold

There are bejewelled bags, and then there are bejewelled bags by Cartier. Soir, its new collection of evening bags, draws on the maison’s long history of turning practical accessories into miniature objets d’art. For the limited-edition collection, Marlin Yuson, creative director of accessories and leather goods, looked to the legacy of Jeanne Toussaint, who oversaw Cartier’s accessories department in the 1920s. The lineup includes cushion-shaped, spherical, cylindrical, and rectangular silhouettes dressed up in emerald-green satin, navy velvet, golden lurex, and burgundy leather. Amethyst, green agate, golden obsidian, and hessonite garnet cabochons appear on clasps and as embellishments. There’s also a nod to Cartier’s archives in the polygonal clutches, which feature an articulated fastening mechanism used by the house since the 1920s. Be warned: they might just outshine the jewellery you’re wearing. —Chloe Chou

Available on cartier.com

Anita Dongre has an elephant in the room

The festive season is upon us, and so is elephant-themed everything. Enter: Anita Dongre’s Ellie grab bag, which brings the house’s signature elephant motif to life in a rather literal way. The clutch-sized accessory is made using Elevate, a naturally dyed, grain-based vegan leather developed by biomaterials company Uncaged Innovations. While the leather is available in black, plum, and olive options, all three versions feature a gold-plated brass elephant trunk that doubles as the handle and are finished with a viscose suede inner lining. A perfectly understated companion for all your festive parties and beyond. —Khushi Vora

Available on anitadongre.com

A watch brand reimagining Indian Standard Time

Founded by Karan Vaidya, IST 1947 is the latest name vying for real estate on your wrist. Named after September 1, 1947, when independent India adopted its own time, the brand draws on modern Indian milestones, translating them into watch designs. Vaidya grew up in the family behind The House of Rose, one of India’s leading luxury jewellery brands and watch retailers, giving him the watchmaking sensibilities he brought to IST 1947.

The debut comes with three collections: Arka, inspired by the ancient sundials at the Konark temple; Vanya, paying homage to wildlife sanctuaries across the country; and Vijay, which looks to five defining victories in Indian cricket. Each watch incorporates minute details from its inspiration. The Vijay watches, for instance, feature a bat-and-ball small seconds display and a crown textured like a cricket ball. All three collections are available exclusively on the IST 1947 website. While most of the watches have sold out, the Vijay collection is still up for grabs. —Khushi Vora

Available on ist1947.com

Bump into the desi Bryan Johnson at Mumbai’s Human Upgrade Fest

Health freaks, unite. A one-day immersive longevity and biohacking festival is taking place in Mumbai in mid-November, designed to scratch your itch to learn about healthy ageing, functional nutrition, recovery, and fitness. Discover biohacking technologies and new-gen health assessment tools alongside experts like Dr Marcus Renny, longevity physician, Tanya Malik Chawla, biohacker and founder of Biology by Design, and Dr Harshana Bijlani, celebrity skin expert. —Avani Thakkar

The one-day festival is on November 15 at The National Sports Club of India (NSCI), Mumbai, 10 am onwards. Tickets are priced at ₹1,490 onwards on bookmyshow.in

Khushi Kapoor nails her next gig

A new manicure or nail art appointment every other week? In this economy? It’s just not happening. But that doesn’t mean settling for naked nails. You can still get extra-long chrome-finish claws, clean French tips or a bold matte colour among other fun designs, thanks to press-ons, particularly ones designed by actor Khushi Kapoor. 

Kapoor joins new-age Indian nail care brand Nailinit as co-founder and chief creative officer alongside Shubham Singhal and Tanishq Ambegaokar. “I was very particular about wanting press-ons that would stick well and stay put, almost like acrylics but without the damage. I wanted us to think about the whole experience, including how you prep your nails and care for them,” adds Kapoor. The brand has also debuted a ‘lip balm but for your cuticles’ aka a hydrating cuticle oil to add to your nailcare routine. —Avani Thakkar

Available on nailinit.it

An It-girl amps up the glam for a limited-edition M.A.C collection

Diwali may have come to an end but your makeup kit can’t let its guard down just yet. Cue: end-of-the-year parties and getaways. For all your glam occasions, snag M.A.C Cosmetics’ cult status products, like Ruby Woo and Timeless Taupe matte lipsticks and Skinfinish Highlighter, now reimagined in gold packaging, alongside five limited-edition kits, just for the party season. It-girl Tania Shroff, who also fronts the campaign and hosted a fabulous M.A.C party to ring in the collaboration last month, can’t stop raving about the lip liner in the shade Chestnut. —Avani Thakkar

Available on tirabeauty.com while stocks last