The MAG weekly Blog by Lydia, every Friday at 1700 hrs. Nr 144 21st March 2025
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: Today’s Trends vs. the Iconic '90s Vibes, Is Oeko-tex-certified period underwear safe? Omega-3 supplements, How to boil an egg, and Mother's Day
Today’s Trends vs. the Iconic '90s Vibes. Fashion is a cyclical beast, constantly reviving and remixing styles from decades past. Today’s trends often evoke nostalgia, drawing inspiration from the bold and eclectic looks of the 1990s. Let’s dive into the fashion landscape of today and compare it to the unforgettable styles of the '90s.
Athleisure: Then and Now: 1990s: The '90s saw the rise of grunge and hip-hop culture, with brands like Adidas and Nike becoming staples. Think oversized windbreakers, baggy cargo pants, and chunky sneakers. The look was effortlessly cool, blending comfort with attitude.
Today: Athleisure has taken a prominent place in our wardrobes but with a modern twist. High-waisted leggings, sleek sports bras, and fitted tracksuits dominate the scene. Brands like Lululemon and Alo Yoga have elevated athletic wear into chic street style. Today’s athleisure combines functionality with fashion, allowing for seamless transitions from workout to brunch.
Denim: The Fabric of Choice: 1990s: Denim was a statement in the '90s, with styles ranging from baggy jeans and overalls to distressed shorts. Iconic pieces included the classic mom jeans and denim jackets adorned with patches and pins.
Today: Denim is just as versatile now, but the cuts are more tailored and varied. High-waisted straight-leg jeans and flared silhouettes are back, alongside the ever-popular denim-on-denim look. Brands are now experimenting with sustainable materials, making today’s denim not just a style choice but an eco-conscious one.
Colour Palettes: Bold vs. Subdued: 1990s: The '90s were characterized by bold colours and patterns—think bright neons, funky prints, and the iconic colour-blocking trend. This era embraced individuality and self-expression through fashion.
Today: While vibrant hues still make a statement, there's a noticeable shift toward neutral palettes and earthy tones. Soft pastels and muted shades dominate contemporary fashion, reflecting a more minimalist approach. However, brands are mixing in vibrant accessories and statement pieces, allowing for personal expression in a more subdued way.
Is Oeko-tex-certified period underwear safe? Oeko-tex is an international standard that guarantees that your product is made responsibly from organic cotton while protecting natural resources. Sounds good, eh?
Few will look deeper into this, but maybe you should. Oeko-tex as such means nothing, something should be written behind it, like OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 which is the highest Oeko-tex standard, the product has been tested for harmful substances.
But it says nothing about how it was produced (did it create pollution, was labour working safely and reasonably remunerated, etc), or OEKO-TEX® ORGANIC COTTON, which only says the cotton used was organic, but says nothing about any harmful substances in the end product or how it was made, and there are a few more nice sounding standards. But they don't have one standard that covers all. So just pick one and as a producer you pay to get certified, and after that, you can label your product as Oeko-tex certified and the customer thinks she bought a safe product. Recently a European consumer organization took a deeper look into Oeko- tex-certified period underwear. This in itself is a bit of a tricky product, it is not easy to produce something that is fully leakproof and at the same time does not create an ideal environment for all sorts of infections. No problem, a total of 200 biocides were detected, products that block unpleasant smells or stop infections, some of which have been classified as carcinogenic and/or as endocrine disruptors, causing decreased fertility and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, reduced infant and fetal growth and developmental issues in children, and linked to cancers such as kidney, prostate and testicular cancer, ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease, suboptimal antibody response/decreased immunity, obesity, dyslipidemia (abnormally high cholesterol), and higher rates of hormone interference, what not. And all that literally right at your doorstep. And if all this is not misleading enough, there is also Eko-tex, a company that cleans industrial towels.
Omega-3 supplements. Of late there is a lot of talk on Omega 3 fatty acids, and there is Omega 6 and Omega 9 as well. They all play a role in our body, but unfortunately the average person gets too little Omega 3, and too much of Omega 6 and 9. No problem, take an Omega 3 supplement, and indeed right now these are selling like hot cakes. Problem solved?
Of course not, there is no pill without a corresponding side effect, often many side effects. First of all Omega 3 as such does not exist, rather there are three main omega-3 fatty acids, i.e. alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). ALA is found mainly in plant oils such as flaxseed, soybean, and canola oils. DHA and EPA are found in fish and other seafood. So which one does your omega-3 supplement contain? And what should be the ratio anyway? And what is omega 3 supposed to do in the first place? Omega-3s are thought to benefit the heart and blood vessels by reducing triglycerides (cholesterol, necessary but you don’t want too much of it), lowering the risk of arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat), slowing plaque buildup in arteries (veins), and slightly lowering blood pressure. And make you feel optimistic. Well, that's the theory, but like with everything else, too much of anything is never good, and we now start seeing cases of omega-3 poisonings, giving irregular heartbeats, hearing problems, dizziness, diarrhea, constipation and frequent farting. So what to do? Many are saying that supplements are only good for the pockets of the producers and the sellers, although for elderly people this may not entirely hold. I rather suggest one spends the money on a balanced diet and leaves out fast food which is excessively overpriced anyway. Veggies, fruits, lean meat and fish and eggs, beans, and not too much carbohydrates like rice and bread. Bon appetite.
How to boil an egg. Sounds funny? Go on the net and you’ll find many different methods proposed to achieve the ultimate goal: a perfectly boiled egg. The issue seems to be that egg white cooks differently than egg yellow, so to get both perfectly cooked, the yellow soft but hard enough, but the white not yet rubbery is hardly possible since both are sitting in the same eggshell. The most convincing method I read was to put the egg in boiling water for 2 minutes, then in ice water for 2 minutes, repeat 8 times. Indeed, in this way the yellow could continue to cook, deep inside the egg whilst the cooking of the white would constantly be interrupted. I haven’t found those spare 32 minutes yet and anyway I don't dare to try it for breakfast (sorry I am late, I was cooking an egg), if I do I’ll let you know. But I will first seek advice from my local kosuo ne meko seller.
Mother's Day: Say it with flowers, Mother's Day is coming. But we found there is a little hick, the imported flowers we patronize here, like roses and lilies are full of love and full of poisonous pesticides (a total of 70 different ones were detected). Women working in flower shops have more miscarriages and premature childbirths and malformed children. Yeah. So depending on what you have in mind for Mum or Grandma, either go for local or for imported.
