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: Gaurav Gupta Haute Couture SS25, Ha, next week is Valentine's Day, United Colours of Benetton, Miso Ramen at Asian Noodle Garden

Gaurav Gupta Haute Couture SS25: Where Futurism Meets Timeless Elegance. As the fashion world continues to evolve, the spotlight shines brightly on Indian designer Gaurav Gupta, whose latest haute couture collection for Spring/Summer 2025 has left us utterly enraptured. Known for his innovative design philosophy that blends traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology, Gupta has once again proven why he is a formidable force in the haute couture arena. The Inspiration Behind the Collection: Gaurav Gupta’s SS25 collection is an enchanting ode to the duality of nature and technology. Drawing inspiration from celestial bodies and the cosmos, Gupta crafts pieces that feel both ethereal and visceral. The collection showcases a masterful understanding of form and structure, inviting viewers to contemplate the universe while indulging in the splendor of fashion. The overarching theme is a journey through space: Each garment is reminiscent of the textures and colors of distant galaxies. The use of iridescent materials, holographic fabrics, and intricate beading reflects the shimmering beauty of stardust, while layered silhouettes echo the multifaceted nature of the universe. It’s a celebration of femininity intertwined with avant-garde artistry.

Ha, next week is Valentine's Day. And if you don't have a Valentine? No worry at all, before 1995 no one in Ghana, apart from maybe the occasional expat celebrated Valentine's Day. Although it started in England in the 17th Century, its origins go back to the early days of Christianity when a certain Saint Valentine performed some miracles before being executed by the Romans. In its original form, Valentine's Day was expressed by giving some flowers or something else to a loved one. But today commerce has taken over and makes it seem obligatory to order a table for 2 with a 3-course meal, one glass of champagne, one soft drink, and a mini bottle of water for the price of 1100 GHS per person. Love is love? Send him the YouTube link for “Love Me Do” by the Beatles, he will like it and it is free. Any takings on more children born in November than in the other months? Nope, rather in April and May.

United Colours of Benetton (But in the USA it is spelled as “colors”) is a privately owned Italian clothing brand, famous for its brightly-coloured clothing and sometimes very controversial adverts. The founder, Luciano Benetton now 89, started the company in 1965 with his siblings, during Europe’s cultural revolution with transistor radios and pirate radio stations, op-art and pop art, op-art the Beatles and the Rolling Stones with Mick Jagger, aged 79 and Bob Dylan aged 82 (these last 2 are still performing live concerts today), Flower Power, hippies, Woodstock and Jimmy Hendrix. Mick Jagger By 2000 Benetton was present in 120 countries with 5000 stores, and the Benetton brothers had become billionaires. The controversial ads challenged social taboos such as sexuality, war, racism, and AIDS. The campaign's graphic, billboard-sized ads depicted a variety of shocking subjects, like a bloodied, unwashed newborn baby with an umbilical cord still attached, a light-skinned girl with blond hair hugging a dark-skinned boy whose hair was shaped into devil horns or a priest kissing a nun. Apart from the controversial adverts highlighting social issues, Benetton also founded the UNHATE Foundation launching a worldwide communication campaign inviting leaders and citizens of the world to combat the “culture of hatred”. The UNHATE poster series uses images of political and religious leaders, such as Pope Benedict XVI kissing Ahmed Mohamed el Tayeb, the Imam of Egypt's Al Azhar mosque but following Vatican protests, Benetton removed the ad. But from 2000 onwards, things went downhill, and the latest news is the closure of 400 shops. Reasons? Lack of vision. Like Burberry. After the Benetton brothers retired there was a constant change in policies, artistic directors, adverts direction, etc and sometimes one of the Benettons would temporarily return from retirement to try to redress the situation, in vain. Also, the Benettons diversified into roads, telecoms, catering, agriculture, car tires, and media. And right now it's tough in the fashion world with fast fashion stealing the show and big conglomerates like LVMH, Kering, and Richemont controlling a big chunk of the advertising world. Everyone is fighting for a piece of the $1,184 billion clothing market (that's about $148 per person per year, GHS 2350.) Let's hope the Colours of Benetton will survive, they made the world very colourful.

Miso Ramen at Asian Noodle Garden. (Bamboo Street, East Legon, Accra). Ramen is a Japanese noodle dish with Chinese-style wheat noodles served in a broth. Common flavors are soy sauce and miso, (a traditional Japanese seasoning, a thick paste produced by fermenting soybeans with salt and the fungus Aspergillus) with typical toppings including sliced pork, dried seaweed, bamboo shoots, and spring onions. And Ramen is what we wanted to eat, so we went to Asian Noodle Garden. Prices and service were reasonable, but they had no beef dumplings, and careful, fried rice noodles are not rice but noodles made out of rice. And be prepared to still wait for your dish whilst your companions have already finished theirs. An interesting experience in an Accra that is becoming more and more cosmopolitan and has more to offer than only Banku and Fufu.

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.