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: Happy New Year, Bow 🦋💝, Vivienne Westwood, The 'Mini-Crini, I said No, NO. NO, Full Moon.

Happy New Year To all my readers and thank you for the support and suggestions last year. I wish you good health, good decisions, good looks and good feelings. I've not promised myself any good things, I'll just keep going upwards

Bow 🦋💝

Bow dresses, bow shirts, bow sweaters, bow jumpsuits, and more have already begun popping up, proving we're well on our way to them taking over. There's really no wrong way to wear this trend — oversized, delicate, as an accessory, etc. Now, in 2023, as we recover from a party season that wasn't quite what any of us expected, they're a simple addition to signal to the world that you're ready to keep the party going. Even if it's all just in (or on) your head. To make the trend your own, how about a bow at the back of your dress!!! Considering the fact that there are a lot of events to attend this season, maybe a little something to spice up your outlook.

Get ready to turn heads as you strut your stuff in a super cute bow dress. Featuring a tie-up bow, long balloon sleeves, an invisible zipper in the back or side view, sleeveless or turtleneck. This dress will be cinched in with a bow-tie inset waist, cut in a flattering fit-and-flare silhouette with a gracefully arched high-low hem. You can’t go wrong with this……

UK fashion Icon Vivienne Westwood passes away aged 81.

Born as Vivienne Swire she dropped out from a jeweller and silversmith course at age 17 and became a primary school teacher, though still designing and selling jewellery. At age 21 she met Derek Westwood and a year later they married and she became Vivienne Westwood, a name she kept in all her further 2 marriages. She then teamed up with Malcolm McLaren in the early 70ties and they started selling 50's vintage clothing and laid the foundations for what later became known as punk, which essentially was an anti anything movement, including anti to the new born early 60's pop art and op art trends. Outside seams and labels were one of her creations. But the pair was serious enough all the same and from the 80's onwards they released several collections in Paris and London under the label Mc Laren Westwood and dressed several noise making bands.

The 'Mini-Crini,' 1985–87

The mini-crini was a combination of two conflicting ideals – the crinoline, representing a “mythology of restriction and encumbrance in woman's dress”, and the miniskirt, representing an “equally dubious mythology of liberation”.

After dropping McLaren she then continued her own path with the label Vivienne Westwood only, and, amongst others, designed the uniforms for Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic crew, an early attempt at sustainability, and the Academic graduation dresses of the prestigious King's College, in London Academic dress of King's College London in different colors,

Vivienne opened a number of stores and had some partnerships and in 2013, the pre-tax profits of her group were £5 million with sales of £30 million.

Vivienne Westwood store in Cardiff in 2014

In late 2015 the company opened a three-story outpost in Manhattan, New York City, and a year later she opened a shop in a new 300 m2 building in Rue Saint-Honoré, Paris, also housing the company's offices and showrooms. In 2015, Vivienne Westwood Ltd operated 12 retail outlets in the UK, and there were 63 Westwood shops worldwide including nine in China, nine in Hong Kong, eighteen in South Korea, six in Taiwan, two in Thailand, and two in the United States Her punk had turned into luxury fashion with punk influences. She was knighted a Dame in 2006. Don’t underestimate primary school teachers !! Incidentally, Frenchman André Courrèges, the man who invented the mini skirt, also died a few days ago, aged 92.

I said No, NO. NO.

How often do we get lured into doing or buying things which we don’t really want? The examples are multiple, ranging from staying a little longer so someone can get a ride, attending an event you are not really interested in, lending something to someone, (not only money, that's rather a gift), doing someone's job, keeping watch, carrying something, there are so many. A more severe example was when someone wanted to quit her job to go back to school but the boss demanded that she stay on longer because a colleague was schooling, and had to return first. So she missed a term. Or a sister coming to stay in Accra for a few days and demanding to share the room you have rented, then staying six weeks and not even contributing anything. So how do you say no? That's a tough one, and also a very simple one. By saying No. The other person will now come up with all sorts of arguments for you to agree to say yes, but you simply have to stick to your No. And don't start to give excuses, that gives the other one a chance to start shooting holes into your excuses, especially if they are lies. And you eventually agreeing to say Yes. Your No may upset the other person, but better for the other person upset than for you upset. There's is a business saying that goes like this: You want credit. I do not give. You angry. Me give credit. You not pay. I angry. I prefer you angry. The same can be held for you saying no to something you don’t feel like doing or buying. Think about this, and think about the cases where you said yes, for peace's sake, whilst you wanted to say no. And prepare your upcoming No. Once you get into the habit it is less difficult. And less angry.

Full moon again.

This happens every 29-30 days or so, and today is the first one of this year. Looks like we'll have a clear sky, so ideal for a walk along the beach. C U there

Lydia...

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