Top relationship trends in 2015

Marsala. Ass-pocalypse. Phubbing. Brinner. Wellth. If you aren`t familiar with these words, you may have missed the top lifestyle trends this year. A recap...

Night divorce

Don`t get us wrong. People aren`t getting a divorce in the dead of the night. But quite a few are giving up the conjugal bed, and comfort that comes with the master bedroom. But it`s all done to keep a healthy relationship. Be it snoring, or waking in the middle of the night to check the mobile - individual habits that irritate partners are leading people to keep their beds separate. Couples are also changing traditional bedroom set-ups - you may find two mini rooms, with two beds, instead of the spacious bedroom with a huge king-size bed.

Phubbing

When you want to snub somebody by just looking at your phone, instead of paying attention to them, you are `phubbing`. The term caught the fancy of lifestyle trendsetters simply because `phubbing` is very hard to resist in the age of fingertip communication. Though considered a real epidemic, aside from being rude and inconsiderate, it`s definitely here to stay.

Divorce Selfies

Divorce selfies are the new trend, as ex-couples smile outside the courts to mark the end of their marriages. Some exes have even live tweeted the divorce proceedings. The selfies follow the trend of divorce ceremonies, where couples hire celebrants to guide them through the end of their marriage.

Love digitised

Digital platforms have become tools for flirting, wooing, even showing off romantic partners. People are using technology to flirt nearly as often as simply talking to their crush in person. A Pew Research Centre survey found that 50 per cent people befriended their love interest on social media. About 47 per cent said they flirted by `liking` or commenting on their crush`s content. The digital media has also been quite active for couples post break-up in 2015. Termed as `textual harassment`, stalking on social media and other troubling behaviour patterns between exes have been on the rise.

New Mr & Mrs

Though still restricted to a few well-known names in the glamour world, men from normal backgrounds, too, took their wives` surnames in 2015. It`s not a huge trend yet, but definitely a new one. For eg., Hollywood actress Zoe Saldana`s husband Marco Perego took her surname after marriage. -TOI