Lydia's Weekly Lifestyle blog is for today's African girl, so no subject is taboo. My purpose is to share things that may interest today's African girl.

This week's contributors: Lydia, Pépé Pépinière, this week's subjects: Exploring the Bold Silhouettes in the Gen Z Era, Diamonds are Still Forever, Dining with the Stars in Paris, and The Pub

Exploring the Bold Silhouettes in the Gen Z Era. When it comes to incorporating colour- blocking silhouettes into your wardrobe, the key lies in finding the right balance between boldness and cohesion. Start by choosing a colour palette that speaks to your personal style, whether you prefer energetic primary colours, sophisticated pastels, or earthy neutrals, there are endless possibilities to explore. Experiment with layering contrasting pieces to create a multi-dimensional look, or opt for a monochromatic base and add a pop of colour with a statement piece. Don't be afraid to mix and match different textures and fabrics to add depth and visual interest to your outfit. Accessories also play a crucial role in enhancing colour-blocking silhouettes. Choose shoes, bags, and jewelry that complement the colours in your outfit without overpowering them. For a cohesive look, pick accessories in neutral tones or metallic finishes that tie the different elements of your ensemble together. It is clear that applying colour-blocking silhouettes into your wardrobe will take a serious effort, where one has to carefully weigh the many options and settle on a few only, applying the above-outlined rules consistently, but the results will be stunning and rewarding.

Diamonds are Still Forever. There was a bit of a tremble when artificial diamonds first came onto the market, but prices and demand for the artificial ones are now down. What is the difference? You will not see the difference, only experts do. There is naturally a certain amount of impurities in natural diamonds, so in fact, every natural diamond is unique and has its own impurity signature. Diamonds are expensive because they are scarce, so if you need to trade-in the natural one you'll get more for a scarce thing than for something which is available in any quantity you want. Be careful when you buy diamonds, a diamond of the same size may be worth 100 times less than something which looks the same. Colour and clarity are the main price deciders and of course carats (weight) and cuts (a round diamond is more costly than a rectangular one). A bit of a diamond can easily cost 1000s of Dollars, so make sure you buy from a fully trustworthy source.

Dining with the Stars in Paris. I wrote earlier on how one of our own Ghanaian superstars made so much presence in a restaurant that she in fact upset all the other guests (blog nr 72, 3rd November 2023). Most find it difficult indeed to stay normal if from nowhere they became famous and they then start to exhibit arrogant and unpleasant behaviour. To cheer up the crowd tennis superstar Serena Williams decided to visit Paris during the Olympics. Paris is famous for many things, the Eiffel Tower, the musea, the River Seine (currently a bit cleaned up), and her 121 Michelin starred restaurants, (More about Michelin later, they indeed make car tires as well). These starred restaurants are so much in demand, that especially in central Paris one may have to book 6 months ahead to get a table, and then be prepared to pay an easy 200 USD per head, that is if you take it easy on the wine. Star Restaurants is a multi-million business, with 12 cooks in the kitchen and another 40 or 50 staff or so to wash the plates and peel the onions. And if you manage to book you are given a very precise time to arrive and to depart, if you are more than 5 minutes late you lose your slot. They’ll have 3 dinner groups on one table at the same evening, one after the other. Crazy? Maybe, but so it is done. Serena was obviously not aware of this, or thought she could get away with it, and walked into an empty, starred restaurant and? Was turned away because all tables were already pre-booked. And she found the need to tell X (10 m followers) that she had been humiliated. Not that the restaurant would care a sh...., the insiders would immediately understand the problem, but they apologized anyway and mentioned that they had not recognized her. No wonder, if you look different every day.

The Pub, Kotoka International Airport, Departure Hall C3 has not changed. In blog 60, 11th August 2023, I already mentioned that staff in this pub tries to outsmart stressed passengers, and they are still on it. This time my companion bought a nice Club draft beer at 38 GHC, not really expensive for an airport, and he immediately paid with a GHC 50 note, expecting to be given his change. But the gentleman serving was in no hurry to bring change, and when the beer was finished we had to loudly ask if change was coming. “Yes yes” was the answer, and then it became silent again. “How about it”, we eventually asked, still louder, and then indeed we were given a crumbled 10 GHC note and a bucket full of coins. Are they suggesting that asking for change is not done at airports, and that eventually that change had to come from the very depth of his pockets? With a beer price of 38 GHC, you'd better have some Cedi coins handy. So they have not changed but changed from overpricing (last time) to short-changing. A change indeed and a place to watch, and a shameful memory of Ghana for those foreigners leaving.

Lydia...

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