M.A.G. blog, signed by Lydia

The MAG weekly Blog by Lydia, every Friday 1700 hrs. Nr 56 14th July 2023

A MAG is a Modern African Girl, so no subject is taboo. My purpose is to share things which may interest a MAG.

This week's contributors: Lydia, Doré Fasolati, this week's subjects: Sweaters are your best friend , 233 Jazz Club and Grill, Changing Hubbies Character, Sponsors for sports events.

Sweaters are your best friend. Sweaters are meant to keep you warm in the cold. A sweatshirt is also meant to keep you warm, although that's not its only purpose. Along with keeping one warm, they also absorb sweat. This makes them a go-to choice for athletes and fitness enthusiasts hence becoming a mainstream everyday item. The first traces of the knitted sweater as we know it come from Muslim knitters employed by Spanish royal families in Europe during the mid-13th century. A painting titled Our Lady Knitting by Tommaso da Modena (circa 1350) depicts a red sweater being stitched with needles.

The MAG weekly Blog by Lydia, every Friday 1700 hrs. Nr 55 7th July 2023

A MAG is a Modern African Girl, so no subject is taboo. My purpose is to share things which may interest a MAG.

This week's contributors: Lydia, Doré Fasolati, this week's subjects: Jumpsuits, Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, Migraine.

Jumpsuits The first jumpsuit was designed in 1919 for parachutists jumping out of planes. The jumpsuit was also adopted by pilots and professional divers in their own fields of work. As a result, the term 'jumpsuit' was invented. It was adapted for factory workers (the famous blue overalls).

The MAG weekly Blog by Lydia, every Friday 1700 hrs. Nr 54 30th June 2023

A MAG is a Modern African Girl, so no subject is taboo. My purpose is to share things which may interest a MAG.

This week's contributors: Lydia, Doré Fasolati, this week's subjects: Puff sleeves fashion, Abortion, Places to hunt future husbands, Never say die, Full moon.

Puff sleeves fashion Puffed sleeves have been making a huge comeback over the past years! There are so many variations on this sleeve to choose from—from big puffs with

lacy, sheer, satin, or organza beautifully designed gorgeous puff sleeves, smocked square shape back, and elasticated sleeves on the shoulders and cuffs, this easy-to-wear dreamy outfit is trans seasonal.

Here’s how to wear chic puff sleeves outfits with certain body types.

The MAG weekly Blog by Lydia, every Friday 1700 hrs. Nr 53 23rd June 2023

A MAG is a Modern African Girl, so no subject is taboo. My purpose is to share things which may interest a MAG.

This week's contributors: Lydia, Doré Fasolati, this week's subjects: Celebrating one year, Oldie but Goldie, Make-up ingredients, African cuisine, Espadrilles, one or two, Unkept promises.

Celebrating one year. On the 24th of June, 2022 it is one year ago that I launched this blog, and I want to thank all of you who have supported me and given me positive criticisms. A year goes by fast, but writing 52 blogs took more of my time than I had anticipated, but so it be it, and I continue. Amen. A few things stand out in this past year. The old fashion guard who so strongly influenced the 60's and 70's, causing a real revolution then, are going home one by one and their efforts have mainly been taken over by huge multi-billion conglomerates. The internet continues to change the fashion landscape, and internet sales are up a steady 10 % per annum for a few years now, and Covid gave that one a big push as well, and the first big brick-and-mortar casualties are showing. As Darwin said, the one who can adapt most will survive, not the strongest or the most intelligent. The Internet also influences what we buy, either because it has become fashionable on social media, or because of price, and some have made huge inroads into this fast and cheap fashion market, with some Chinese leading the pack. Which goes straight against the latest trend word, sustainability. The world is slowly waking up to fashion being the number 4 biggest polluter and it is becoming trendy again to wear second-hand clothes and to repair. Which has it's own problems again, Ghana is a big importer of the Obroni Waawu, for economic rather than for environmental reasons, but has to throw a big apart away because it is unusable, even for the poorest, and this ends up in our gutters. The supply countries have picked this up and are looking at bans on exports, seemingly not aware that many Africans simply cannot afford new. And, another side of sustainability is quality, and also this side is growing, with sales up for the big and exclusive brands, even our own Woodin and GTP still continue kicking. But the big brands seem to be running out of creativity, leaving space for the younger and more enthusiastic ones. Ghana is missing out there, our fashion schools are overflowing but we have 3 fashion weeks competing, rather than coordinating and pooling resources and getting the world to come and watch. And place orders. And like our music industry which is almost completely corrupted (payola), our model industry seems corrupted on a different level, the organizers insist on taking unfair advantage of the girls, and that for almost no pay or no pay at all. I am often thinking on how to put Ghana better onto the world fashion map. Think with me. A last one from last year: warnings about cancer-causing and hormone-changing chemicals in our cosmetics and foods (or clothing) are popping up more and more frequently. Take heed.

Oldie but Goldie

The MAG weekly Blog by Lydia, every Friday 1700 hrs. Nr 52 16th June 2023

A MAG is a Modern African Girl, so no subject is taboo. My purpose is to share things which may interest a MAG.

This week's contributors: Lydia, Doré Fasolati, this week's subjects: Fashion for unpredictable weather, Looking for a partner, Rockefellas Sushi-Korean-Continental Restaurant, The Little Paris Gh.

Fashion for unpredictable weather

Search engines can’t get it 100% right all the time with the weather forecast which is why lately you need to get prepared for any kind of weather. It could be scorching hot and the next minute it is heavy downpours. For the next month or so, here’s how to beat the weather by its game without looking tacky or underdressed.

As a general rule of fashion, your layers of clothing should start thin and become progressively thicker as you move away from the body. So, start with a T-shirt or a tank top, laid over with a denim jacket and jeans. The outer layers should also be looser so you can actually move.

The MAG weekly Blog by Lydia, every Friday 1700 hrs. Nr 51 9th June 2023

A MAG is a Modern African Girl, so no subject is taboo. My purpose is to share things which may interest a MAG.

This week's contributors: Lydia, Doré Fasolati, this week's subjects: Espadrilles and aging, Looking for a partner, Bisphenol .

Espadrilles and aging

Espadrille is a sandal usually having a fabric upper and a flexible sole, which means they need care and attention as well if you want your entire shoe to stay in top condition. But not all espadrilles are made of the same materials.

Depending on the type of material used, your shoes may require different types of care. Shoes like the ones shown here are probably complicated to take care of. But not impossible. If your espadrilles are starting to look worn and dirty, take a minute to freshen them up. Instead of tossing them in the washing machine, you'll need to clean them by hand so the jute doesn't unravel.

The MAG weekly Blog by Lydia, every Friday 1700 hrs. Nr 50 2nd June 2023

A MAG is a Modern African Girl, so no subject is taboo. My purpose is to share things which may interest a MAG.

This week's contributors: Lydia, Doré Fasolati, this week's subjects: Espadrilles fashion, Joëlle Ciocco, Healthcheck, Slimming.

Espadrilles fashion

Espadrilles are and will be the only shoes you will need in summer or our dry season; considering our hot burning climate

Espadrilles should be quite tight when you first try them on. One of the characteristics of this footwear is that the cotton upper will eventually stretch and comfortably mold to your feet. If they are loose when you purchase them they will most probably slip off your feet shortly afterwards.

The MAG weekly Blog by Lydia, every Friday 1700 hrs. Nr 49 26th May 2023

A MAG is a Modern African Girl, so no subject is taboo. My purpose is to share things which may interest a MAG.

This week's contributors: Lydia, Doré Fasolati, this week's subjects: .

Espadrilles.

Many young people might wonder what these are!! Espadrilles, also known as alpargatas, are versatile shoes featuring a lightweight, braided sole made of a natural fiber such as jute or grass. The soft nature of jute fabric, natural support in the sole, and rubber finishing makes espadrilles a shoe your feet will love. Espadrilles are ideal for summer and tropical climates because of their stylish jute rope and the fact that many espadrilles are open-toed, but they can be closed-toe and airy as well

The words espadrille and espardenyas both derive from esparto, the Mediterranean grass traditionally used to make their braided soles. This translates to many different styles of espadrilles though, but it's the esparto rope that makes it an espadrille. From flat slip-ons, to wedges, to sandals and more

The espadrille initially began as a piece of peasant footwear, worn by both men and women in farming communities in the Pyrenees mountains. However, they have also traditionally been worn by priests, miners and infantry. They were created as a simple and functional shoe, being cheap to make and easy to wear

Espadrilles are understated and comfortable yet elegant, they help to keep feet cool in the searing summer heat. Their rope soles and jute canvas come in handy for walking on the burning-hot sand of Mediterranean beaches while injecting a healthy dose of chic style and glamor. Check out our next edition for espadrilles fashion tips….. Sickle cell disease. Because we have a lot of malaria in this part of the world we have developed some sort of resistance against this, in the form of a mutated gene. But too much of that mutation causes sickle cell disease. 2 % of Ghanaian children are born with this disease, the great majority die before 5. Treatment of the symptoms is possible but takes a lot of time, and money, and those who survive normally don't reach 60 years of age anyway. Most of us happily get married without even knowing our sickle status, neither do we know our HIV status (I know of a 14 years old girl who became HIV positive because the nanny was using her tooth brush, you can have HIV whilst still being a virgin). Enter my friend X. He gets married and they have their first one. Celebration. Then they get twins, more celebrations. The twins are now 2 years old and recently diagnosed with sickle. End of celebrations. He is spending the little money he earns and all the time he has on lab tests and medicines. Prayers will not help, sickle cannot be cured. Permanent misery for my friend. 2% of children may not be a great number, but it is 1 out of 50. Maybe test to know your status and insist that suitable marriage candidates do same? Some people get triplets........ Sickle 2, and glaucoma Of course my sickle friend complains about the cost of the treatment for his kids, various expensive vitamins are prescribed. But these things are commodities and for example Vitamin C 100 mg can be bought at 30 pesewas a tablet, the same thing is sold in a beautiful box for GHS 10 per tab. But then you get soluble tablets, that create lots of foam whilst dissolving, and tiny, very expensive bubbles. But the effect is exactly the same. And my glaucoma friend (yes, I have lots of friends) is taking eye drops, very expensive indeed, and tries to boost his immune system with STC30, a stemcell based supplement, quite expensive as well, about 900 ghc a month. I checked on that product, there is no scientific proof that it does anything at all. My advice, look over the shoulder of your doctor, use search engines to check on products and treatments, and make sure you do the right thing, at the right cost. Nadia... do not forget to hit the subscribe button and confirm in your email inbox to get notified about our post. I have received requests about leaving comments/replies. For security and privacy reasons my blog is not associated with the major media giants like Facebook or Twitter. I am talking with the host about a solution, for the time being, you can mail me on wunimi@proton.me I accept invitations and payments to write about certain products or events, things, 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.

The MAG weekly Blog by Lydia, every Friday 1700 hrs. Nr 48 19th May 2023

A MAG is a Modern African Girl, so no subject is taboo. My purpose is to share things which may interest a MAG.

This week's contributors: Lydia, Doré Fasolati, this week's subjects: .Rain Fashion, Sidewalk fashion, Poverty fashion.

Rain Fashion

It’s the rain season again and we definitely must enjoy it too. One must be thinking of how best to operate without getting soaking wet and hot at the same time due to the short hours of rain. Checking our weather app before leaving the house is something we, unfortunately, had to learn the hard way. We can’t even count the times we’ve been caught mid-rainstorm dressed in something fuzzy or — gah! — white, and those memories of soaking wet shoes and socks are still so clear in our minds.

Avoid wearing light colours like white and beige because they become transparent. Instead, flaunt bright colours like red, green, blue, indigo, yellow and stand out of the crowd.

If you tend to feel unmotivated and lazy on rainy days, it's worth adding a matching set to your closet. Now, your outfit is already put together for you (minus shoes), and you'll have less stress while getting ready in the morning.

You can also try some denims pants and jackets with a darker colored T-shirt and a stylish black rainboots to go in case the sun comes out unexpected, you can still rock them.

Wearing lightweight clothing with a pullover is another way to get through the rainy day; you keep warm while feeling comfortable at the same time. Sidewalk fashion. Someone recently wrote about sidewalk fashion in Mali, and this is indeed something I had wanted to write about for a long time, our sidewalks are like catwalks. Out of necessity a majority of our ladies end up buying imported second hand clothes, and sometimes little jewels can be found in there. It's a pleasure to see a girl hawking oranges and wearing a dress which can be worn to a charity ball. But the more interesting part is the combinations which are sometimes created, and my sketch book is full of design sketches which I literally picked from the street. Majority of those in the developed world have the money to buy what the consumer fast fashion houses propose, and walking on their streets I rarely turn my head, there is little real originality. Sharply contrasting with home here where anything goes. Poverty fashion. We are a developing country, 57 % of our population is under 25 with hardly a job in sight, so people want to join the armed forces, or become musicians, simply out of despair. It is said that poverty is the mother of invention, and inventions we have, like that mobile car washing plant I see visiting offices where there is no water. Or the many different packages of dried mangoes or chocolate coconut mixtures for sale. Many of our unemployed ladies try to become seamstresses, and in order to differenciate themselves from the crowd some try to create fashion, sometimes with very good results. Some of the stuff you see offered for sales on the streets is really nice. Unfortunately the sowing quality often is way below what is acceptable, but the same can be said for many of our “recognized” creators/tailors. It seems that quality is not something which has priority, quick money is. Nadia... do not forget to hit the subscribe button and confirm in your email inbox to get notified about our post. I have received requests about leaving comments/replies. For security and privacy reasons my blog is not associated with the major media giants like Facebook or Twitter. I am talking with the host about a solution, for the time being, you can mail me on wunimi@proton.me I accept invitations and payments to write about certain products or events, things, 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.

The MAG weekly Blog by Lydia, every Friday 1700 hrs. Nr 47 12th May 2023

A MAG is a Modern African Girl, so no subject is taboo. My purpose is to share things which may interest a MAG.

This week's contributors: Lydia, Doré Fasolati, this week's subjects: Scents and seduction night, Man Ray, Le Petit Oiseau Restaurant, UNESCO .

Scents and seduction night

When the day begins to wind down, you need your scents to help you wind down, too. People have been using essential oils for thousands of years to induce calm and relaxation. As modern research continues to support their use, more and more people are using aromatherapy to manage stress and create a quiet, peaceful mood. Even if you sleep well already – and especially if you don’t – there are several scents you can try that are perfectly suited for the evening hours, helping you release the stress of the day and get ready for sleep.