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, Titi, this week's subjects: The Fashion Forecast 2025 is in review, LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy) and sport, Cancer and the Radio Waves, and Mahama and the Barbeque Law

The Fashion Forecast 2025 is in review. Joyful Nostalgia: As trends often come full circle, 2025 could see a resurgence of styles from the early 2000s and late 90s. Think bold prints, bright colours, and statement accessories reminiscent of pop culture icons from that era. Chunky sneakers, low-rise jeans, and platform sandals are expected to make a comeback, appealing to a sense of nostalgia and fun. Additionally, Y2K aesthetics will likely inspire fresh collections, encouraging self-expression through playful outfits. Gender Fluidity in Fashion: The movement toward gender-neutral fashion is gaining momentum, with 2025 marking a deeper integration of androgynous styles on the runway and in retail. Unisex collections will blur traditional gender lines, fostering a more inclusive fashion industry where individuals can express their personal style without the constraints of gender norms. This shift will challenge the binary classifications of clothing and encourage creativity and individuality, allowing consumers to curate their wardrobes based on preference rather than societal expectations. As designers embrace this evolution, we may see a rise in innovative silhouettes and versatile pieces that appeal to a broader audience, reflecting a cultural transformation towards acceptance and fluidity in self-expression.”

LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy) and sport. The French Louis Vuitton fashion Moët Hennessy conglomerate, good for an annual turnover of $21.7 billion and owning 75 fashion and luxury good brands such as Dior, Givenchy, Celine, Marc Jacobs, and Fendi has tried to stay in the limelight through whatever means, they've been buying complete football clubs and gotten stars like Pharrell Williams on board. And 2024 was the Olympic games in Paris at a cost of $8.2 billion and of course they took the opportunity and became the main sponsor. The House of Berluti designed the dresses of all French athletes who won 16 gold, 26 silver and 64 bronze medals, and these medals were donated by LVMH, and made by their Chaumet company. But now things start backfiring, the medals are rusting and falling apart and the winners are sending them back. This is not the type of limelight LVMH was aiming for, but after sweatshops and child labour scandals, the press is delighted with this new episode. I am curious to see how LVMH will handle this one. (postscript: LVMH claims their company Chaumet (high-end jeweler, suppliers of royalty) was only the designer and rather blames the producer, which is the Government owned Paris Mint (they make all the French coins), who blame new European Union regulations on bronze varnishing, banning the use of chromium trioxide. Blame the Blamer?

Cancer and the Radio Waves, pesticide residues, nano plastic particles, what's next? One time a hot subject was cancer caused by magnetic fields and radio emissions from high-tension electricity transmission cable lines. Eventually, no concrete proof to associate cancer with these cables came up, though generally one is not allowed to build under them, but I think that is more for when the cables break. Then, in 1973, mobile telephones were introduced (in Ghana in 1992, 027, Mobitel), which came with huge telecommunication towers and everybody holding a small transmitter, so back to the radio waves and magnetic fields and cancer. Again no links between these devices and cancers were established and the producers of these communication towers and phones were clearly told to limit the emissions to safe levels, which generally they did. Despite that there are limitations and it is thought that you should keep your phone at least 2 inches away from you. Which typically you don't do when you make a call. And men are advised not to keep their phones in their trouser pockets, some claim that testicle cancer cases are up. Same for hot laptops, not to be put on your lap (despite the name), near your reproductive parts. It is also suggested that you don’t keep your phone next to your bank card, there's a magnetic strip on that card that can get damaged by the magnet of your phone speaker, so the next thing is your card does not work, so no cash from the ATM. In the developed countries some claim to be allergic to radio waves and these unprovable allergy cases are slowly gaining recognition. The victims either move to the countryside where there are fewer communication towers or shield their houses with aluminum foil and other materials. Do we care?

Mahama and the Barbeque Law. Our previous parliament voted virtually unanimously for the introduction of the (LGBTTQAP+) (lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, asexual, pansexual, etc) law, which would even have made it illegal for 2 females to kiss each other goodbye in public. Our previous President refused to sign this BBQ thing into law for unknown reasons, and His Excellency John Dramani Mahama has now indicated that the proposal has expired and that he would rather try to teach children in school what is done and what is not done. And his new Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Her Excellency Agnes Naa Momo Lartey is singing the same tune and promises to imbibe Ghanaian values into the curricula. I am happy that this issue is now out of the way, what you do in your own bedroom is your own business, as long as both partners agree and no minors are involved. And if the Bible condemns certain behaviours then that still gives no one the right to start enforcing these things on people who maybe do not believe in the Bible or have a different interpretation. Hooray.

Lydia...

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 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.