This week's contributors: Lydia, Pépé Pépinière, Titi. This week's subjects: Rain, But Make It Fashion, Fashion airline uniforms, Migraine, Market economics for beginners, and The pub at Accra International Airport

Rain, But Make It Fashion: The Accra Girl's Guide to Dressing for the Intense Rains. If you've lived in Accra long enough, you know the weather has a personality of its own. One minute the sun is giving “vacation in Santorini,” and the next, the skies open up like they're making up for months of drought. Welcome to the rainy season, where looking fabulous and staying dry becomes a daily balancing act. Start with breathable fabrics that dry quickly. Cotton blends, lightweight knits, and moisture-friendly materials will keep you comfortable even when the humidity decides to join the party. Save those heavy fabrics for another day—they'll only leave you feeling weighed down. When it comes to shoes, your white sneakers deserve a day off. Instead, reach for chic loafers, waterproof flats, stylish ankle boots, or durable sandals with good grip. They're practical enough for those unexpected puddles while still looking polished for the office. Because in Accra, even when it's pouring, the corporate girlies still show up looking like the forecast called for fashion. Fashion airline uniforms. Rebranding a product costs a lot of money and is risky, you want to end up with more customers, not less. Sometimes it may be necessary, like when Barclays sold their African activities to Absa Bank. They spent 1 billion Dollars (thousand million) in Africa to make people aware that Barclays was now Absa, and that the customers would get an even better service than before. (hu hu hu), and that included software changes and other internal issues. But you may also rebrand to draw attention to a product. With slogans like “new, better, more”. That’s nice for toothpaste, but how do you rebrand and airline so that you are in the news once again? Take British Airways. They have about 250 planes, to repaint one would cost about 200,000 $, total bill for rebranding is 50 million dollars, that is for the planes alone. Now here’s a clever one, all these people in and around the planes wear a uniform, in a certain colour and a certain style. These uniforms wear out anyway and need to be changed, so rebrand by changing these uniforms. And get a fashion celebrity to dress in it and make a lot of noise about it. And be politically correct, go with the times. The last time that BA changed their style they brought in a gender neutral style, so stewards and captains were free to choose skirts, (the Scottish were already doing that) and the girls were allowed to wear trousers. Though I haven't seen any of their male crews wearing skirts, I think they pulled that one back and left Virgin Airlines to carry that baton, but it did give them a lot of publicity. At that time I wondered if our upcoming BBQ Laws (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer-LGBTQ+) will allow cross dressing anyway. The British Airways collection was designed by British-Ghanaian fashion designer and master tailor, Ozwald Boateng OBE, (born 1967) with the help of more than 1,500 colleagues from across the business who were involved in the end-to-end process, including design workshops, prototype feedback and wearer trials. The fee he charged was not disclosed but formed part of BA's 5 Bn Pounds investment over 5 years, and Ozwald is estimated to earn 10 million $ upwards yearly.

Migraine. A common ailment that is still poorly understood. And the additional bad news is that medication only suppresses it in about 1/3 of the cases. But certain things can be “triggers”, and it may help if you know your triggers so you can try to avoid them. To find out your triggers take note of the following, daily, for the next 2 months, day of week: Monday, Friday etc. Attack? No, if yes, start and end time, pain level 1-10, any prior vision problems, tingling, speech problems? What? Hours slept, sleep time – wake time, Quality: Poor, OK, good. What food, and breakfast, lunch or dinner skipped? Water drunk, 1,2,3 ltr?Coffee, alcohol, chocolate, aged cheese, processed meat (sausage etc), MSG salt, how much? Stress level, 1-10? Work, family, money, other? (all, haha). Exercise, type? Phone Screen time?, Period/flow day? (1-7) weather pressure drop, hot, cold, windy, storm. Medicines taken, dosage, time. It may sound amateuriastic, but after 2 months you’ll hopefully see a pattern.

Market economics for beginners. I have that habit of keeping things. Like the spoons and sometimes forks from take away and delivery foods. Then someone complained that cats were digging up her garden and destroying what she had planted, so I figured that putting forks upside down among her seedlings might keep the cats out. I went into my collection of kept plastic cutlery and got the forks out. 51 of them (2 were wooden). But the interesting part was that there were 20 different types. Ranging from white plastic to transparent to black, some even silver or gold coloured, long and short dents, reinforced handles, decorated handles, 20 different types. To me that means that 20 different companies or people are trying to sell their plastic forks into the market of takeaway and delivery foods. Serious competition there. The lesson is, if you think this market needs something, maybe big size plastic zips for sports wear (I couldn't find any), try to find it and see what you find. Many may already be selling what you are trying to introduce, and you’ll have to fight hard to find your place. Or get stuck with the goods. So before preparing to market, study the market first. Sounds obvious?

The pub at Accra International Airport. That’s when you already have checked in and after immigration and security. I prefer The Pub on the right after check in rather than the one on the left (they are both called Pub), the one on the left has bad memories with me, overcharging and no change. And it is nicely quiet at The Pub. The samosa was nice (45 GHC FOR 3), I ordered a second portion, but the chicken pie didn’t have much chicken in it. Water goes for 10 GHC, club mini at 35 and vodka also 35 a shot. They also sell jollof and waakye at 140-150 GHC.

Lydia...

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I accept invitations and payments to write about certain products or events, things, and people, but I may refuse to accept and if my comments are negative then that's what I will publish, despite your payment. This is not a political newsletter. I do not discriminate on any basis whatsoever.

This week's contributors: Lydia, Pépé Pépinière, Titi. This week's subjects: Soft Power Dressing for the Accra Girl, African cultural heritage for sale, free of charge, And what to do if your baby is an idiot? Beans and blue zones, and Jollof Goat, delivery from Nyonyo

Soft Power Dressing for the Accra Girl. Who said corporate fashion has to be stiff, stressful, and smelling faintly of printer ink? Enter the kimono — the effortlessly chic fashion piece quietly transforming office wardrobes from “HR-approved” to “main character energy.” Why the Kimono Works for Corporate Wear. A kimono adds instant sophistication without trying too hard. It’s that magical piece that says: “I closed deals today… but I also know the best cocktail spot in Osu.” The “I’m Busy but Stylish” Hack The beauty of kimonos is that they make lazy dressing look intentional. Running late for work? Throw a kimono over: A plain midi dress Sleeveless top and pants Pencil skirt and tank top Suddenly everyone thinks you planned the outfit for days. Fashion is funny like that. Kimono Length Matters Short kimonos = playful Friday office energy Mid-length kimonos = polished everyday chic Long flowing kimonos = dramatic “don’t disturb me unless it’s important” energy. Choose wisely depending on your mood — and whether your office AC is fighting for its life. Fashion memo: So next time your wardrobe feels boring, skip the predictable blazer and reach for a kimono instead. Because spreadsheets are temporary. Style is forever. African cultural heritage for sale, free of charge. Great was my surprise when I saw a woman dressed as per attached photograph. In a mini village in the French countryside, 600 km from Paris. I’d be very surprised if she had visited family or friends in Ghana and brought this as a souvenir. And it was different, it was printed, not woven. So what are we going to do? Those involved in the production of these local garments, be they kente, adinkra batakari or the recently launched bambolse are quite a few and are earning a little bit of money from it, through local sales and from a few cheap sales at a local tourist market. Whilst a dress as per picture, rightly marketed, should retail for at least 1000 GHC in Europe. But there’s a bit of light in the tunnel. Since September 2025 our kente is WIPO protected (World Intellectual Property Organization), meaning whoever produces whatever can not call it kente unless it is kente made in Ghana. And this WIPO thing is UN recognized (just hoping that Trump does not blow up the UN). Ayeeko to the people behind this, it must have been a lengthy and frustrating process, these things are not done overnight. And pray they will also seek protection for our adinkra, batakari and bambolse. And anything we do officially overseas, cultural events, things organized by our embassies and everything else should show our heritage. Put Ghana on the map. Not only in the knock out.

And what to do if your baby is an idiot? You've taken all the precautions, no sickle or noted madness in your or his family, you did not take alcohol or certain medications during pregnancy and you ate healthy. And still, disaster, your child is born with Down Syndrome or something else which will make it never perform normally in society and which will make it need constant care. Fact is that abnormal children is happening more often these days than 30 years ago. Figures are difficult to get, Down Syndrome is about 0.15% (15 per 10,000), but if you add other problems you get to about 1.5 %, 15 per 1000 (per thousand), or 8000 “abnormal” children born every year in Ghana). You are the mother, so you are going to give that care. So here you are, you are now doomed. Till you die. Is that fair? Or should you rather put the child up for adoption, relinquishment? And continue with your life? Or send it to the village where people are more used to have abnormal children live amongst them, care for them, than in the cities? In some of the far-off villages they still have their own way to solve such problems, at night the child is taken away by ghosts or similar, and not seen again. Food for thought? Anyway, eat healthy during your pregnancy.

Beans and blue zones. Blue zones are areas in the world where many people become an easy hundred years old. Famous are Loma Linda in the USA, Costa Rica, Sardinia in Italy, Ikaria in Greece and Okinawa in Japan. Apart from healthy life styles like lots of walking and moving and busy social lives researchers have of course looked at what these people eat. What really sticks out is that the average blue zoner eats 5 times more beans than the rest of the world. Ghanaian doctors mostly do not recommend beans. It is true that they can be a bit heavy to digest if you are not used to them, so take it easy in the beginning. A little more after a few days and so on. And soak them for at least 24 hours before cooking to get rid of the oligosaccharides, a form of sugar we find difficult to digest, and phytic acids which block iron and zinc absorption. Throw the soaking water away. Beans are also good against constipation, but here again, go easy in the beginning or you may even be misdiagnosed with appendicitis (I know of such a case). An odd fact is that Cubans, who are poor, live about as long as Americans, who have all the modern health gadgets. The staple in Cuba is beans, maybe with a side dish of some rice and veggies. And some fish or meat. Maybe time to re-evaluate our rice with chicken or chicken with rice?

Jollof Goat, delivery from Nyonyo. More bone than goat meat, and the rice not sufficiently cooked, and the oil had a funny taste. Anyone know of an evaluation list of food delivery providers?

Lydia...

Do not forget to hit the subscribe button and confirm in your email inbox to get notified about our posts.

I have received requests about leaving comments/replies. For security and privacy reasons my blog is not associated with major media giants like Facebook or Twitter. I am talking with the host about a solution. for the time being, you can mail me at wunimi@proton.me

I accept invitations and payments to write about certain products or events, things, and people, but I may refuse to accept and if my comments are negative then that's what I will publish, despite your payment. This is not a political newsletter. I do not discriminate on any basis whatsoever.

This week's contributors: Lydia, Pépé Pépinière, Titi. This week's subjects: The Corporate Kimono Era, Prada has bought rival fashion brand Versace, The Ban on Drumming, Your Blood Group, and Restaurants

The Corporate Kimono Era. The Accra corporate girl is no longer dressing like she’s attending a board meeting from 2007. We’re layering, flowing, and serving elegance with movement. And honestly? The kimono understood the assignment. Whether it’s silky, structured, printed, or neutral-toned, the kimono gives your outfit personality while still keeping it office appropriate. Think of it as your blazer’s cooler, artsier cousin. The Power Styling Formula: The “CEO but Fashionable” Look Pair a long neutral kimono with: Tailored trousers A fitted camisole or bodysuit Pointed heels Minimal gold jewelry Result? You look like you own shares in three companies and still make it to brunch on time. African Print Kimono = Boardroom Royalty: Ankara kimonos over monochrome outfits? Elite behavior. A black dress or all-white set instantly comes alive with a bold print kimono. It’s corporate chic with cultural confidence — exactly the energy Accra girls are bringing to the office lately. Makola meets management. Corporate fashion in Accra is evolving, and the kimono is leading the soft-power revolution. It’s stylish, breathable in this Ghana heat, versatile, and effortlessly elegant. Prada has bought rival fashion brand Versace for $1.36bn, but this is more than just business as usual. Gianni Versace, born in 1946, started Versace fashion house in 1978, together with his sister Donatella. Donatella Versace In 1990 Gianni met Andrew Phillip Cunanan, though the family has always denied this. Cunanan was a notorious person with many ID’s, and amongst others dealing in and using drugs, and mostly living off elderly wealthy men. In 1997 when Gianni was 50, Cunanan shot Versace twice and fatally. And he murdered a total of 5 people before then shooting himself. Versace’s sister, Donatella then became creative director but could not keep this $500-million turnover company, with its flamboyant reputation for clothes in unconventional materials and offbeat designs going, and eventually Versace amassed a very high pile of debt. Donatella, now 69 has since stepped down as creative director but will remain an ambassador for Versace. She will be replaced by Dario Vitale, who is a former design director for Miu Miu.

The Ban on Drumming. (May 4-June 4 2026) left those who like life music in the dry. +233 Jazz and Grill Bar (Dr. Isert Street, North Ridge, opposite GBC, Accra) was open throughout the period, but without the music, and without the customers. So I went there on the 4th of June, Chris and the Zoom Band were doing their evergreens again, and I ordered my usual kebab. Dry. Maybe it had been there all that time. And the lettuce leaves in the Greek salad were dry as well, for the same reason? But the second kebab was juicy again, back on track. And I wondered how +233 were paying their staff throughout the period, with hardly any income. And how did the artistes survive? 2 Zoom members had called me during the ban for a loan, one claiming the mother in Cape Coast was not well, the other one claiming same for the wife, in Accra. Traditions……

Your Blood Group. As much as you want to know your sickle status before you get married (friend of mine didn’t, first baby was ok, then they had twins, both are sicklers, good morning) you also want to know your blood group. Why? You’re not planning to donate blood? No, but you may need blood. For example before or after an operation, and that may well be an unscheduled operation like an appendix or a car accident. Hospitals don’t have blood? Well, not always. For the most common blood groups like A+ (55%) B+ (22%) and A+ (20%) often they have, but the not so common ones like AB, O-, A-, B- (all between 2 and 4 % of the population only) don’t assume that they have. So if you’re in one of those uncommon groups it is good to know people who have the same group as you. I’d prefer to have blood from someone I know rather than from an unknown donor who may have had unprotected sex the day before he donated and hence might have creeped through the screening process the hospitals are supposed to apply. HIV infected blood is only detected from 10 days onwards after the infection occurred.

Restaurants. There's a lot of restaurants in Accra, or shall I call them eateries, and majority have impressive rankings if you look at them through one of the search engines. The reality is drastically different. Poor service such as QR code menus only (and outdated), waiters not knowing what is available, lack of attention from waiters, long waiting times, no change, no proper napkins (tissues only), poor quality food, clogged salt dispensers, grossly overpriced junk food (the cost of a beef burger is not more than 40 GHC) and so forth. There’s also the more upscale restaurants with beautiful interiors and menus and with waiters in uniforms and booking registers at the entrance where classics like pepper steak and sole meuniere are served, and unfortunately most of them are not worth even half the money they are charging. Real cooks hardly take things from packages or cans or use the microwave and they make their own sauces and use fresh ingredients. And cook. Internationally professional cooks study at least 2-3 years and then do a few years of attachments in the better restaurants before anyone would hire them. There are indeed 6 month courses where you can obtain “certified cook”, but don't think much of it. And some really never learn. At the end of the day it is best to ask friends, but there again one still has to be careful, some are happy with any rubbish as long as they can say they were there.

Lydia...

Do not forget to hit the subscribe button and confirm in your email inbox to get notified about our posts.

I have received requests about leaving comments/replies. For security and privacy reasons my blog is not associated with major media giants like Facebook or Twitter. I am talking with the host about a solution. for the time being, you can mail me at wunimi@proton.me

I accept invitations and payments to write about certain products or events, things, and people, but I may refuse to accept and if my comments are negative then that's what I will publish, despite your payment. This is not a political newsletter. I do not discriminate on any basis whatsoever.

This week's contributors: Lydia, Pépé Pépinière, Titi. This week's subjects: The Corporate Girlie’s Guide to Lingerie-Inspired Fashion in Accra, Quality clothing? China, the other side of the coin, Anemia, and Au Grand Ecuyer

The Corporate Girlie’s Guide to Lingerie-Inspired Fashion in Accra. Before HR starts sweating, let’s be clear: We’re talking lingerie-inspired fashion — chic, polished, and office-appropriate styling that whispers elegance instead of screaming bedroom playlist. The Golden Rule: Suggest, Don’t Shock: Corporate lingerie styling is all about subtlety. We are inspiring curiosity, not starting emergency office meetings. Keep it classy by: Layering strategically Avoiding overly sheer fabrics Choosing neutral tones for work settings Keeping hemlines and fits polished Because the goal is fashion editor energy, not “the office group chat discussing you before lunch.” Confidence Is the Real Outfit: The beauty of lingerie-inspired corporate fashion is the balance of strength and softness. It reminds us that power dressing doesn’t always have to be stiff blazers and black trousers every single day. Sometimes power dressing is: Silk instead of cotton Lace instead of plain basics Confidence instead of playing safe. And the Accra girlies? Oh, we know how to do both business and beauty effortlessly. Now excuse us while we strut into the office looking like the CEO of elegance. Quality clothing? What to look for? Look for signs of wear, if already the item has snags, premature peeling or bubbling on the fabric, likely caused by friction from people trying on the garment, it's probably not a quality purchase. Turn the item inside out. Does it look as good on the inside as it does on the outside? If so, it's a good indication you've got a decent quality garment. Look for quality hemming, button holes, buttons, are the button holes at the right place for the buttons? What about the zip, does it look quality? Does it run smoothly? Is it stitched in and invisible? While the piece is inverted, lightly tug at the seams that join the panels of fabric together. They shouldn't be loose or show any big gaps when you pull at them. Consider the material. It should make sense for the purpose of the garment. For example, if you're buying a sweater, choose one with a material that will keep you warm, like wool. If you're buying summer clothes, choose fabrics that will keep you cool, like linen. If you're buying swimwear or sportswear, you'll likely need a synthetic performance or technical fabric. Don't conflate durability with quality. If a garment falls apart in the wash, it's not necessarily a bad piece of clothing. Silk or clothing with beading and embroidery, may need handwashing. Read the labels. What material is it? Are there proper washing instructions?

China, the other side of the Chinese yuan coin (also called renmibi). China, superpower, super copier, factory of the world, making robots, electric cars and the iPhone. Right now they are building the longest bridge, the deepest tunnel, the highest building, what not. They have moved from the 3 years of hunger (1959-1961) when about 40 million people died of hunger (Ghana has about 36 million people) to a country that is now economically challenging the world order (where the USA claims to be on top). So a loud Ayeeko is not out of place. But? Europe has about 6 % unemployment, the USA 4.3 %. And the Chinese? Similar figures, except for young people, 16% cannot find a job. So they go for anything they can get, like delivery services for those who are busy with their job. And here is the interesting part. Those who have a job work so hard and so much that they don't have time to make friends. So if they want to have a nice dinner they hire a companion. Someone who does not have a job. Or to go to the cinema. Or to go hiking. It’s a big business, 200 million people, 14 % of the Chinese population is available for rent. To do shopping for you or to go shopping with so you don't have to feel lonely.

Anemia. The latest (2022) Ghana Demographic and Health Survey claims that 40 % of Ghanian women of reproductive age have anemia. And amongst pregnant women it is 50 %. Some regions have higher figures, like 70 %. What is it? Your blood mainly consists of red and white blood cells (and a host of other things), the red blood cells carry oxygen to where it is needed to get energy (organs, cells, muscles), we get oxygen by breathing. Anemia is insufficient red blood cells (RBC in your lab results). Anemia symptoms often include headache, dizziness, palpitations (the sudden, abnormal awareness of your own heartbeat), pallor (an unnatural paleness or loss of colour in the skin), tiredness and out of breath. And low birth weight children. How come? Assuming you are not “sick” (not suffering from illness such as malaria, sickle cell, or severe blood loss) you mainly get anemia by not eating sufficient iron rich food. What is iron rich food? Beans, beef, (chicken) liver, chickpeas, dark chocolate, eggs, lentils, oats, pumpkin seeds, sardines, spinach, tuna. Trick: add vitamin C to every meal, like bell pepper, tomato, orange or lemon for better iron absorption, avoid tea, coffee, milk, yogurt and cheese 2 hours before meals, they block iron absorption. And don’t overcook those green leaves.

Au Grand Ecuyer. Ring Road, opposite Fire Service Headquarters, Osu, Accra , popularly called the French restaurant, though they sell many local and African dishes as well, is one of my favourites. They sell a very good local tasty tender beef steak at 200 GHC, no need to import from Argentina or Australia, it comes with potato chips, mashed potatoes or green beans (you could choose others) and if you want with black pepper sauce. Popular is attiéké (also spelled adjèkè, acheke) with tilapia, you mostly will not be able to finish this huge fish and have to go for take away. Their shrimp avocado salad is also nice and fresh, they add tomato on request. There’s more, much more there, prices are a bit reasonable.

Lydia...

Do not forget to hit the subscribe button and confirm in your email inbox to get notified about our posts.

I have received requests about leaving comments/replies. For security and privacy reasons my blog is not associated with major media giants like Facebook or Twitter. I am talking with the host about a solution. for the time being, you can mail me at wunimi@proton.me

I accept invitations and payments to write about certain products or events, things, and people, but I may refuse to accept and if my comments are negative then that's what I will publish, despite your payment. This is not a political newsletter. I do not discriminate on any basis whatsoever.

This week's contributors: Lydia, Pépé Pépinière, Titi. This week's subjects: Lace Under the Blazer (1), Louis Vuitton, Chanel and the others in the high value fashion range now for everybody? Contemporary Modern Art Masters, and Funny food at Fairway

Lace Under the Blazer (1). Gone are the days when lingerie belonged strictly behind closed doors. The modern Accra corporate girl knows that a little satin, lace, and confidence can absolutely clock in at 8 AM and still make the boardroom her runway. Slip Dresses, But Make It Executive; That silky slip dress sitting in your wardrobe? Layer it with a structured blazer and suddenly it transforms from “date night in Cantonments” to “creative director at the strategy meeting.” Add: Pointed heels A sleek tote bag Gold jewelry Your serious LinkedIn face Boom. Corporate chic. Lace Details Are the New Power Move; A camisole peeking subtly under a tailored suit? Elite behavior. The trick is balance. If the top feels soft and feminine, the tailoring should be sharp. Think: Lace cami + wide-leg trousers Satin blouse + structured pencil skirt Corset-inspired top + oversized blazer It’s giving soft power. And honestly? Accra fashion girls are mastering it beautifully. Satin at 9 AM? Absolutely. Satin fabrics move differently. They catch light. They create drama. They make even a quick coffee run in Osu feel cinematic. A satin button-down tucked into high-waisted trousers is the kind of outfit that says: “I replied to all my emails and I look expensive.” Dior, Chanel and the others in the high value fashion range now for everybody? Yes and No. Recently the big ones increased their prices by an easy 50-100%, so they would make more profit, they have shareholders to satisfy (and you were the victim). But many (about 50 million in the case of Dior and Chanel) turned away and went for cheaper brands. Prices are now down a bit, but many of those who turned away have realized they can get the same thing, or something closely similar much cheaper, and stayed there. So now the big ones are starting to offer some of their entry level products like scarves, belts, earrings, headbands at prices starting from “only” 500 USD plus and make collaborations through the likes of Zara and H&M. So that you too could have the real thing. John Galliano, UK fashion Guru who has designed for Dior and Givenchy now works with Zara, and Stella McCartney works with H&M. More to follow.

Contemporary Modern Art Masters. If we think of art auctions, those where paintings go for millions of Dollars, names like Christie and Sotheby may come to mind. But there are many others, like Rago Wright, an American auction house operating more in niche markets. Not fetching all those millions, but still. I am mentioning this because our own Amoako Boafo also was represented in this year’s spring auction in May. Here’s a few examples of what was offered for sale: Sam Gilliam, Sun Woman (1970) An abstract hanging sculpture made of draped and folded fabric-like material is suspended against a plain gray wall. Sam Gilliam, Sun Woman (1970) Amoako Boafo, Girl in Yellow (2019) A painting of a young Black person wearing a bright yellow top against a plain white background. Amoako Boafo, Girl in Yellow (2019) $70,400 Amoako Boafo catapulted to fame in 2019 following a residency at the Rubell Museum, Miami, and headlining feature at Art Basel Miami Beach. In 2020, he undertook a high-profile collaboration with Dior, and his name became at the forefront of artists to watch. Boafo’s work has already been acquired by major collections like the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art among others. Miyoko Ito, Adam and Eve (1957) An abstract painting composed of overlapping geometric shapes in deep blue, black, brown, green, and muted pink against a warm golden-yellow background. Rounded and angular forms suggest two standing human figures facing each other. Miyoko Ito, Adam and Eve (1957) $281,600 Drawing from the creative vernacular of Cubism and Surrealism Maria Martins, Impossible (1946) A surreal bronze sculpture depicts two abstract humanoid figures facing one another against a dark gray background. Maria Martins, Impossible (1946). Est. $150,000–$200,000. Sold for $3.17 million. A key figure within the Surrealism movement of the 1940s Magdalena Abakanowicz, Small Figure with Polygon (1993) An abstract sculpture featuring a rough-textured, leg-like human form balanced upright on top of a geometric metal wheel structure. The pale, elongated figure appears headless and incomplete, standing on a delicate framework of thin dark rods arranged in polygonal shapes. Set against a dark gray background, the sculpture casts angular shadows that emphasize its fragile, precarious balance. Magdalena Abakanowicz, Small Figure with Polygon (1993). Sold for $70,400. Pioneering Polish sculptor and fiber artist. And all that for only 70,000 $. So if you haven’t made up your mind as to what you want to do in future, consider becoming an artiste, or an auctioneer (they typically earn between 15 and 30 % of the sales value, so in the case of Amoaka about 150,000 GHC). How much did you say you earn in a year?

Funny food at Fairway. (5th Circular Road, Opposite Alisa Hotel, Accra) If you are looking for something unusual or celebratory to eat, try Fairway. I went to buy Tahini (a smooth paste made from ground sesame seeds), not every place sells that, and then stumbled upon goat butter, which even in Europe its difficult to get. 400 GHC/kilo. Or organic certified wild rice at 295 GHC/Kg (discounted, was 425), Al peperoneine spaghetti 500 grams at 165 GHC (spaghetti with hot pepper), or a mix of different pastas, 2kg at 525 GHC. You can find strange things here but need a full wallet. Yes, I am talking Fairway in Accra, Ghana.

Lydia...

Do not forget to hit the subscribe button and confirm in your email inbox to get notified about our posts.

I have received requests about leaving comments/replies. For security and privacy reasons my blog is not associated with major media giants like Facebook or Twitter. I am talking with the host about a solution. for the time being, you can mail me at wunimi@proton.me

I accept invitations and payments to write about certain products or events, things, and people, but I may refuse to accept and if my comments are negative then that's what I will publish, despite your payment. This is not a political newsletter. I do not discriminate on any basis whatsoever.

This week's contributors: Lydia, Pépé Pépinière, Titi, Leticia. This week's subjects: Sneakers for corporate days Part 2, Shein ignores creators copyright, Modern Day Threats, Urinary Tract Infections and the treatment (UTIs), and Cyril Restaurant and Grill Bar at the Bulgaria Cultural Centre

Sneakers for corporate days Part 2. Denim Days (Yes, It’s Possible) If your office allows denim, elevate dark-wash jeans with a structured top and blazer. Finish with neutral sneakers. It’s casual Friday, but make it fashion editor-approved. Keep It Minimal, Keep It Sharp Corporate sneaker styling isn’t about loud colours (save that for brunch). Stick to whites, blacks, beiges, or muted tones. The goal? Clean, polished, intentional. Grooming is the Real MVP Let’s be honest—dirty sneakers will ruin the whole vibe. Keep them spotless. Corporate sneakers should look fresh out of the box… even if they’re not. Confidence is Your Best Accessory Wearing sneakers to work isn’t just a style choice—it’s a statement. It says you value comfort, confidence, and a little bit of edge. And in today’s fashion-forward corporate world, that’s exactly the energy we love. So go ahead, lace up, step in, and own that office floor—one stylish stride at a time. Shein ignores creators' copyright. Shein has opened up to third parties to sell their products through the Shein platform. They do ask these “third party suppliers” to make sure that there is no copy right infringement, but do they really care? If told that something had been copied, only after a lengthy time consuming verification process do they take that product out of their offer, but compensation? And how would an individual designer in Ghana now sue Shein? Shein or the third party? And in view of the history of the Chinese copying anything and flouting any law as if it does not exist we are in for the worst. Anyway, see copying of your design as a compliment, if that consoles you.

Modern Day Threats. A girl has to be careful these days. A few years ago we had Balthazar in Equatorial Guinea who had sex with about half the countries' ministers' wives and filmed it and then all went viral. I read that the case is still under investigation. Indeed, be careful before you allow your boy friend to film you in all your glory, some can turn very wicked. Then we had that Russian man who went round picking girls up and having sex with them and filming it by keeping his camera spectacles on. And again posted it. He escaped, and as there is no exchange treaty between Russia and Ghana, even if we prosecute him he will still walk free, and the Russians will do nothing, he did nothing illegal there. And now the latest one, fasten your seat belts. There is a nice looking guy from Puerto Rico (part of the USA) in his 30's visiting many countries in Africa, he is looking for 5 wives, each from a different country. He obviously has money, travelling is not free. The advantage of course is that statistically he would only trouble you once every 5 days, but somehow I smell a rat. Be careful.

Urinary Tract Infections and the treatment (UTIs). These are very common, about 40 % of Ghanaian women in the cities get it at one time or another. You can even get it from hospital toilets (which can be surprisingly dirty). Untreated it can lead to infertility. So doctors take drastic action, or you can just visit a pharmacist who knows what to prescribe. In fact they don’t. Like with any bacterial infection there is a sensitivity test to be done, it matches the specific bacteria which has infected you against different types of antibiotics and suggests which one may work and which one may not. In other words there is no one cure that treats all. Because the pharmacist does not have this sensitivity report he simply gives a last resort antibiotic (normally only used if nothing else works against a certain bacteria), which will almost surely work, but due to over prescriptions of this last resort antibiotic this one will also soon suffer resistance and not work again. This is one of the fears in the medical world, that we’ll run out of working antibiotics. In the UK 2400 people died in 2024 because of this, in 2023 it was 2000 people. But back to our pharmacist here in Ghana. So they can prescribe ciprofloxacin, a last resort antibiotic, call it an overkill. And one of the reasons doctors want to refrain from using ciprofloxacin is that it can have quite some side effects, like nerve damage, seizures, hallucination, suicidal thoughts, and liver and kidney failure. The pharmacist likely did not tell you that, only the cost of the drug and how often to take it. Try AI and ask if ciprofloxacin is an over the counter drug (no prescription needed). Thank me later.

Cyril Restaurant and Grill Bar at the Bulgaria Cultural Centre. 10 Kakramadu Road, Cantonments, Accra, of course serves Bulgarian food, I like their potato chips with Bulgarian cheese, cucumber soup with yoghurt, bean soup and thripe soup, and there is much more. But they also serve Dutch specialties like bitterballen, stamppot and pork liver sausage. A limited choice of Ghanaian dishes is also on the menu. Vodka goes for 30 GHC a shot, an excellent Margarita cocktail costs 80 GHC. Cheese or plain hamburger is 80 GHC, calamari fingers 90 GHC, draft Club beer small 30 GHC, malt 30 GHC, chicken fried rice 100 GHC, tuna salad 80 GHC. The sound system is reasonable and the manager adjusts the music to the sort of visitors inside. Service is correct though some of the staff must be very clearly told what you want, but this is not unusual in Accra, even our President was complaining about it. Same street has The Tipsy Gelato ice cream and 80/20 burgers etc. The ice cream closes at 2200 pm.

Lydia...

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I accept invitations and payments to write about certain products or events, things, and people, but I may refuse to accept and if my comments are negative then that's what I will publish, despite your payment. This is not a political newsletter. I do not discriminate on any basis whatsoever.

This week's contributors: Lydia, Pépé Pépinière, Titi. This week's subjects: Sneakers in the Boardroom? Just for Shows, Stress, Is the world gone mad? Imported bottled water, and Full Moon this Sunday

Sneakers in the Boardroom? Yes, Please. Gone are the days when corporate fashion meant suffering in stiff heels from 8 to 5. The modern Accra girl is rewriting the rules—and sneakers are officially invited to the boardroom. Comfort meets chic, and honestly? We’re here for it. The Power Suit x Clean Sneakers Combo Nothing says “I mean business” like a tailored suit. Now soften it with crisp white sneakers. Think structured blazer, tailored trousers, and sneakers so clean they practically reflect your ambition. It’s giving CEO-on-the-move energy. Pencil Skirt, But Make It Cool Pair your classic pencil skirt with sleek, low-profile sneakers. Add a tucked-in blouse and minimal jewelry. The contrast between polished and relaxed? Effortlessly stylish. Bonus: you can actually walk fast to that meeting. Midi Dresses & Street-Smart Elegance. Flowy midi dresses and sneakers are the ultimate soft power combo. Whether it’s neutral tones or subtle prints, this pairing says “I’m graceful, but I’ve got places to be.” Anticipate for more style tips in next blog. Just for Shows. To buy a new Hermès Birkin bag is a long process. There are no published rules but typically you get told they are out of stock until you’ve bought regularly, for about 2 years, total goods worth between 30 and 50,000 $. Shoes, silk, jewelry, watches, and then maybe you are told that the bag happens to be available, at about 13500 $. That is entry level, they also sell some models for 60,000 and 250,000$, depends on the fine details. Or ask for customized, starting at 250k dollar or so. You can then immediately sell your 13500 dollars entry level bag as a second hand bag for 20,000 $ and more. But there’s a way around it, hire a Birkin bag, for about 800 dollars a month (9600 GHC). You can hire a second hand Birkin bag from one of the companies that is now springing up to provide this service, like Vivrelle, a luxury accessories rental company. Nothing new, people used to hire wedding dresses, or smoking for gala dinners. You can also hire jewelry or other accessories. And arrive in a hired top range car. Or you can just go to Makola and buy a bag for 150 GHC.

Stress. I regularly hear that someone is stressed. Ok, we all have money problems but being stressed does not solve them, rather looking for ways to control our budget and to get a better inflow may help. Maybe our smart phone is responsible. How did people in the past live? Sleep early, get up early, maybe listen to the morning news, no disturbing traffic jams to the work place, no mobile phone disturbances during the day or evening, simple food, no running from burger to fries, pizza and shawarma, no trends to follow, no friends to be connected on social media, just real friends you meet, no latest film to must have seen, just a a new dress for Christmas and highlife in the weekend. Life was relatively simple and these people did not complain that they were bored. And they were not stressed. But today we have a huge amount of information flowing towards us every hour, with instagram and tiktok accounts to be followed, trends to be studied, and things we don't really need to be bought. And we are stressed. Sometimes I read that very successful people only start to look at their phones late in the day, and forbid them for their children. We come from nature, we lived in a village where not much changed, the information coming to us was limited. And we were not stressed.

Is the world gone mad? Christie’s, the world's oldest and most successful art and luxury auction house (2025 sales 3.5 billion US Dollar), sold for 1.1 USD billion in just 3 hours 2 weeks ago. The surprising thing is what was sold. I can imagine that a painting of an old master, say a Rembrandt, or Michelangelo goes for a lot of money, these things are extremely scarce and have been valued already for centuries. But what was sold now? A Pollock (1912–56), called Number 7A went for 181 million Dollars. Constantin Brancusi’s bronze head, Danaïde (1913), fetched $107.6 million. And Mark Rothko’s nr 11 sold for 98 million. Time to go to the Ghana tourist market and start investing?

Imported bottled water. These waters typically are from long existing natural springs or, these days, also from boreholes. Sometimes they naturally contain carbon dioxide gas, giving the water nice little bubbles, sparkling water. Famous ones in Ghana are Pellegrini from Italy and Perrier from France. Somehow they’ve both ran out of bubbles and now add them, and this is (supposed to be) mentioned on the label. But a recently discovered problem is that many of these springs and boreholes are now polluted with the leftovers from chemical industries or the run off from agricultural pesticides and fertilizers. Some of these chemicals are the so called PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are a group of over 10,000 synthetic chemicals widely used for their water, grease, and heat-resistant properties. Known as “forever chemicals,” they feature exceptionally strong carbon-fluorine bonds, meaning they do not break down naturally in the environment or the human body. Many of them are carcinogens). A recent edition of a French consumer magazine mentioned that Pellegrini is passing the allowable limits, Perrier not yet (yet?). This is not a French/Italian competition, this French consumer magazine condemned more than half of the French brands as well. So maybe ordinary local Ghanaian water is our best bet, whether with added bubbles or not.

Full Moon this Sunday. This Sunday's full moon is the phase where the moon appears fully illuminated as seen from Earth, due to its position directly opposite the sun. It is the brightest stage of the lunar cycle and is visible all night, rising at sunset and setting at sunrise.

Lydia...

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I have received requests about leaving comments/replies. For security and privacy reasons my blog is not associated with major media giants like Facebook or Twitter. I am talking with the host about a solution. for the time being, you can mail me at wunimi@proton.me

I accept invitations and payments to write about certain products or events, things, and people, but I may refuse to accept and if my comments are negative then that's what I will publish, despite your payment. This is not a political newsletter. I do not discriminate on any basis whatsoever.

This week's contributors: Lydia, Pépé Pépinière, Titi. This week's subjects: Fascinator for corporate!!!, Menstrual Problems, and Ilona, Italian Restaurant

Fascinator for corporate!!! Let’s talk about how to bring a fascinator into the office without looking like you missed your way to a bridal shower. Hair matters. A lot. Low buns, slick ponytails, or soft waves keep the look polished and office-appropriate. You want “boardroom chic,” not “garden party chaos.” Placement is also key—slightly to the side, confident but not chaotic. Let’s talk accessories—less is more, babe. Skip the chunky earrings if your fascinator already has detail. Opt for simple studs or delicate hoops. Your goal is harmony, not a fashion argument. And of course, own it. The real secret to pulling off a fascinator at work? Confidence. Walk into that office like your outfit has a calendar invite. When styled right, your fascinator isn’t out of place—it’s ahead of its time. Because honestly, why should fascinators only come out for special occasions… when every workday is a chance to serve a look and be present!!! Menstrual Problems. What are Menstrual Problems? Menstrual problems are difficulties or symptoms that occur during a woman’s menstrual period. They can affect the amount of bleeding, the level of pain, or the regularity of the menstrual cycle. These problems may be caused by hormonal changes, stress, poor diet, medical conditions, or lifestyle factors. Common menstrual problems include menstrual cramps (pain in the lower abdomen during menstruation), heavy menstrual bleeding, irregular periods (periods that come too early, too late, or are missed), headaches during menstruation, nausea or dizziness, lower back pain, fatigue and weakness. Foods that can increase menstrual problems may include salty foods (may increase bloating and water retention), sugary foods like sweets, pastries, and soft drinks (may increase inflammation and fatigue), caffeinated drinks such as coffee and energy drinks (can worsen cramps and headaches), fried and very fatty foods (may increase inflammation and pain), highly processed foods such as instant noodles and packaged snacks. And foods that can help reduce menstrual problems are spinach, beans, lentils, eggs, fish, banana, avocado, dark chocolate (small amounts), nuts, ginger, turmeric, leafy green vegetables, tomatoes, milk, yogurt and cheese. We can also reduce menstrual problems by drinking plenty of water, applying a warm compress or heating pad to the lower abdomen, exercising lightly such as walking or stretching and getting enough rest and sleep and avoiding too much stress.

Ilona, Italian Restaurant, 1st Floor, Ayna Plaza, 3B Noi Fetreke St, Airport Residential Area, Accra. We were told for a good lasagna Ilona was the best so we booked a table for the evening. We could sit outside, on a sort of open covered terrace, or inside with the air conditioner. The set up is nice, spacious, Picassso style pictures on the wall, modern. Anytime I visit an Italian restaurant for the first time I’ll order a spaghetti carbonara, for me this is the testcase to see whether the cook knows what he is about or they are just opening packages and heating them in the microwave. Their linguini carbonara went for 260 GHC. For the lasagna their only choice was lamb lasagna at GHC 275. linguini carbonara Lasagna is slices of pasta with fillings between them, then in the oven with cheese. Main variations are beef, fish, and vegetarian.
Lasagna A tot of absolute vodka went for GHC 50, Ciroc is 90, a bottle of San Pellegrino sparkling water for 55 GHC and half liter of Heineken draft beer was at 75 GHC. Service was reasonable but a few too many waiters for too few things. The food arrived in no time, faster than you can cook pasta, and the lasagna was a sort of mash mash where the layers of pasta had been overcooked, you could not even cut pieces off it, a spoon was best. The minced lamb was rather tasteless. I am not a lasagna expert but for the carbonara I have my say. One softly fries diced onions in olive oil, then some garlic, then little cubes of smoked guanciale (salt cured cheek of a pig, if not available smoked bacon can do), the very lean fat from the guanciale will allow further frying and together with the onion and the garlic becomes the sauce, then add dry white wine which evaporates but which gives it extra flavour. Guanciale Take the ready cooked hot spaghetti, (be careful with the salt because the guanciale is also a bit salty), put a raw egg yolk through it, the heat of the spaghetti will soft cook the yolk which now becomes a lubricant for the spaghetti to “flow”. No cream needed. Add your sauce, some freshly ground black pepper and parsley and enjoy your spaghetti carbonara, or linguini carbonara. Add grated parmesan cheese according to your taste. I hope their cook reads this, he had added a bucket load of hot cream with a little molten cheese to the linguini and sprinkled a few pieces of thin dry fried bacon on top of it. And I think he forgot the salt. The cream made it extra heavy, I only managed to fall asleep after midnight. We did take away the uneaten half of the lasagna pudding because my friend has backyard chicken. This came with a nice paper bag and a carton container rather than the common polytene container, and they did not charge for it. A plus. Washrooms are neat and pleasant as well. Prices are inclusive of all taxes, but the bill took more than 10 minutes.

Lydia...

Do not forget to hit the subscribe button and confirm in your email inbox to get notified about our posts.

I have received requests about leaving comments/replies. For security and privacy reasons my blog is not associated with major media giants like Facebook or Twitter. I am talking with the host about a solution. for the time being, you can mail me at wunimi@proton.me

I accept invitations and payments to write about certain products or events, things, and people, but I may refuse to accept and if my comments are negative then that's what I will publish, despite your payment. This is not a political newsletter. I do not discriminate on any basis whatsoever.

This week's contributors: Lydia, Pépé Pépinière, Titi. This week's subjects: MET GALA 2, Fashion and politics, Premenstrual Problems (PMS), Derbies, The Rolling Stones, never say die, and Akyaa’s kitchen

MET GALA 2. Let’s get into the Fashion is Art… but maybe abstract? Hall of fame. Because when the theme is Fashion is Art, the line between genius and chaos gets deliciously blurry. And honestly, we’d rather see a risky misstep than another safe, predictable gown. Now let’s talk about fabric confusion. Because apparently, 2026 said, “Why choose one texture when you can choose all of them?” Feathers, latex, burlap (yes, burlap), and what looked suspiciously like recycled office blinds were all layered into one ambitious look. It was giving mixed media… but also giving “craft project at 2am.” Maximalism is fun, but even art needs editing. Of course, we cannot skip the “Message Overload” fits. Fashion as art often comes with storytelling, but one celeb decided to wear the entire thesis. Words, symbols, embroidery, LED scrolling text—yes, scrolling text—covered the outfit. By the time you finished reading one side, they had already passed you on the carpet. We love a concept, but darling, this isn’t a billboard on the Accra-Tema motorway. So here’s to the brave, the bold, and the slightly bewildering. You may not have nailed the brief… but you definitely gave us something to talk about. And isn’t that, in its own messy way, a masterpiece? Fashion and politics. Big runways have often been used to make statements. Cameras and global press are guaranteed, and animal rights groups have rushed runways to protest fur and leather, climate activists have staged walk-ons to call out fast fashion’s environmental impact and so forth. A 30-second interruption gets more coverage than a press release. Sometimes the brand itself creates the disturbance, to draw more attention. Australia fashion week now also had it’s share. Part of Australia originally was a colony where Britain sent it’s criminals, later additional colonies were created and eventually the Commonwealth of Australia was formed. But all that while there were the Aboriginals who had settled there 60,000 years earlier and had their own culture, and who claim that in fact Australia has always belonged to them and still does. But they were marginalized by “the invader”, like the red Indians in North America and at one time the blacks in South Africa. So to draw attention they have now created their own fashion show, a week before the “official” Australian fashion week, so a clever way to draw attention to their cause without being accused of disturbing anyone. And the show was worth looking at.

Premenstrual Problems (PMS) also called Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), are physical and emotional symptoms that you experience a few days or even two weeks before your menses begins. They occur due to hormonal changes in the body. Common problems are acne or pimples, anxiety, appetite and food cravings, bloating (feeling swollen in the stomach), breast pain and tenderness, Difficulty sleeping, feeling sad or emotional, headaches, irritability, mood swings, tiredness. Some foods can make it worse, like alcohol (can worsen mood and headaches), caffeine such as coffee, strong tea and energy drinks (may increase anxiety and breast pain), fatty or fried foods, instant noodles, processed foods (can increase bloating), salty foods such as chips, sugary foods such as cakes, sweets, and soft drinks (can worsen mood swings), so stay away from fat, sugar and junk foods. There are also foods that help reduce the problems, like avocado, bananas, beans, brown rice, carrots, cheese, cucumber. dark chocolate (in small amounts), eggs, fish, kontommire, lentils, oats, spinach and whole wheat bread. So eat healthy. And try it, maybe it helps. Drink plenty of water, do light exercise or walking, get enough sleep and reduce stress.

Derbies. Are horse races, typically the horse is 3 years old, when you can about expect the best performances. So the Royal Ascot I wrote about in blog nr. 174 on the 17th of October 2025 is in fact a derby, Meanwhile some of these simple horse races have become world events, there is the Epsom derby (the original one, in UK, since 1780), the Kentucky derby, (USA), the Melbourne derby (Australia) the Irish derby, the French derby, every country is now trying to make it’s own, and there are more. And for unknown reasons horse races are now associated with fashion. Maybe the galls inviting the girls to their races but the girls not really being interested has created a second race, who has the biggest hat and the men now wear derby hats, same thing as worn by Charlie Chaplin. It’s show business..

The Rolling Stones, never say die. This rock group was formed in 1962, 64 year ago, and is releasing a new album this year. You read that right, 1962. The group has had an enormous influence on music, but maybe more on culture. Until the 60’s boy’s hair was short and a necktie was compulsory almost everywhere. The Stones (and not only them) broke through this, and the youth followed. The results are there for all to see today, neckties are now mostly used to bundle goods, and any hairstyle is allowed. And sexual norms changed, you did not have to be married to have sex. And drugs were (unfortunately) popularised as well. Mick Jagger (vocals) and Keith Richards (lead guitar) are the 2 original surviving members, Charlie Watts passed in 2021.
Mick Jagger in the middle still wearing tie in 1962 Mick Jagger now 82 still jumps about on stage, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he will die in a way worthy a show man. Mick Jagger at 82 Both Jagger and Richards are worth about 500 million dollars. A song for a dime? (from their 1973 album “Goats Head Soup”, referring to the jukebox where you put in a dime (5 cents) to hear a song. The Rolling Stones, Foreign Tongues, features star-strudded guest collaborations with Paul McCartney, Robert Smith, Steve Winwood and Chad Smith and the lead single-In The Stars will be released on the 10th of July on CD's, vinyl and cassettes.

Akyaa’s kitchen. We ordered jollof beef delivered but had jollof with beef on top, a bit like shredded beef you get a the the Chinese. Not too much taste in the beef and quite tough as well, long chewing.

Lydia...

Do not forget to hit the subscribe button and confirm in your email inbox to get notified about our posts.

I have received requests about leaving comments/replies. For security and privacy reasons my blog is not associated with major media giants like Facebook or Twitter. I am talking with the host about a solution. for the time being, you can mail me at wunimi@proton.me

I accept invitations and payments to write about certain products or events, things, and people, but I may refuse to accept and if my comments are negative then that's what I will publish, despite your payment. This is not a political newsletter. I do not discriminate on any basis whatsoever.

This week's contributors: Lydia, Pépé Pépinière, Titi. This week's subjects: MET fails gone wild, Chanel, and +233 Jazz club and Grill

MET fails gone wild. The Met Gala is an annual fundraising gala held on the first Monday in May to benefit the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute in New York City. It is where fashion is supposed to transcend into art… but every year, a few looks accidentally transcend into confusion instead. And 2026? Oh, it gave us drama, ambition, and a handful of “what exactly am I looking at?” moments that we simply cannot ignore. With stars like Beyoncé and Rihanna gracing the 2026 Met Gala red carpet, Beyoncé's return after nearly a decade away became one of the night's biggest highlights, especially at an event where a single ticket reportedly costs up to $100,000. First up, the “Living Sculpture Gone Rogue” category. You know the look: structured, architectural, and bold—until it starts wearing the celebrity instead of the other way around. One star arrived looking like a walking installation piece, complete with jutting metallic extensions that made sitting, turning, or even waving nearly impossible. Art? Yes. Practical? Absolutely not. The Met steps turned into an obstacle course, and honestly, the security guards deserved an award too. Then there was the “Paint Me Like One of Your French Girls… Literally” moment. A celebrity showed up fully airbrushed in what seemed like a tribute to body-as-canvas artistry. In theory, stunning. In reality? Under the flash photography, the paint read less “ethereal masterpiece” and more “accidentally brushed against a wet mural.” The vision was there… the execution just needed a little less humidity and a little more sealing spray. And then there’s the “Is It Moving or Am I?” category. Kinetic fashion made a bold appearance, with pieces that spun, blinked, inflated, or shifted shape mid-carpet. One dress dramatically expanded like a blooming flower… and then refused to deflate. Iconic entrance? Yes. Smooth exit? Not quite. The after-party logistics must have been a nightmare. But here’s the thing about Met Gala “fails”—they’re rarely boring. In fact, they’re often the most memorable. Chanel. This is an interesting brand, not owned by LVMH or Kering or Dior who own the majority of the big brands amongst themselves. I’ll write about the original founder of Chanel in another blog, quite an intriguing story with lessons for today. Chanel is primarily known for perfumes, though today they do fashion and cosmetics/skincare as well. Chanel Nr 5 is their top performing perfume and also the world‘s top selling perfume. It was created in 1921 by Ernest Beaux, a French Russian national who was the former perfumer for the Russian Tsars (overthrown in 1917, so Beaux was probably looking for a job). And every 30 ml bottle of Chanel Nr 5 perfume (a “small” size bottle) contains about 1000 jasmine flowers, and about 80 other scents. And not just any jasmine, only jasmine from the Grasse area in France. The real connoisseurs claim that every flower partly takes its scent from the soil it is grown on, like wine. So jasmine from Grasse smells different from jasmine grown in Ghana. Jasmine, a tiny flower, opens at night and is harvested as the sun comes up, when the blooms are at their most fragrant. Each one is picked by hand; they're too delicate for machines. The harvest ends before the midday heat can damage the petals, which are kept covered with a wet cloth so they stay cool. The blooms are then rushed to an on-site factory where the fragrance is extracted using a 150-year-old technique developed in Grasse. Speed is essential. If the flowers brown, the scent changes and “they smell of bad fruit”. Jasmine is placed into a vat and steeped overnight, like tea and eventually the concentrated form of jasmine, called absolute, is sent to a factory near Paris where a few drops go into each bottle of Chanel No.5. Today Chanel No.5 is available in five main concentrations, offering variations from the intense, original parfum to lighter, modern interpretations. The primary concentrations include the Parfum (Extrait), Eau de Parfum (EDP), Eau de Toilette (EDT), Eau Première, and L'EAU. These range from rich floral-aldehydic blends to brighter, citrus-forward versions. A 30 ml bottle of Chanel 5 perfume (the concentrated form) sells for about $250-$300, the same but presented as eau de parfum about 10 times less strong goes for $100-$150 and eau de tolette again 10 times weaker goes for $80-$120. Let’s hope that climate change does not affect the Grasse jasmine cultivation as well.
Flower fields in Grasse And careful, Chanel nr 5 perfume stains.

+233 Jazz club and Grill. Dr. Isert Street, North Ridge, Accra, may be going over its top. They recently extended the seating and parking area and have more and more entrance fee events, (150 per person in our case). One could say currently it is the place to be. I like their sound system which is clear and never too loud to block your conversation. But their kitchen starts to suffer. The jollof beef fish was ok, but their beef kebab was over marinated and not juicy again, the pina colada (rhum, cream of coconut, and pineapple juice) is not that creamy any more and the bora bora cocktail (typically passion fruit juice, pineapple juice, lemon juice, and grenadine) tasted more like watermelon, apple and pineapple, and was watery. And though they have 2 vodkas at 25 GHC on the menu they don’t have these, prices start at 35 GHC (which is quite reasonable compared with other places). Their cocktails ranges from GHS 80-120 for a glass of Mojito, GHS 100-150 for their special cocktails and GHS 120-180 for their brandy-based Espresso Martini.

Lydia...

Do not forget to hit the subscribe button and confirm in your email inbox to get notified about our posts.

I have received requests about leaving comments/replies. For security and privacy reasons my blog is not associated with major media giants like Facebook or Twitter. I am talking with the host about a solution. for the time being, you can mail me at wunimi@proton.me

I accept invitations and payments to write about certain products or events, things, and people, but I may refuse to accept and if my comments are negative then that's what I will publish, despite your payment. This is not a political newsletter. I do not discriminate on any basis whatsoever.