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 Next Big Trend: Elevated Comfort in Fashion, Who really makes the fashion? and Soft boiled eggs

The Next Big Trend: Elevated Comfort in Fashion. As we transition into the new season, fashion is set to embrace a refreshing trend that strikes the perfect balance between style and comfort: Elevated Comfort. This movement is all about blending chic aesthetics with the practicality of loungewear, allowing fashion enthusiasts to navigate their daily lives effortlessly while still looking fabulous. The Essence of Elevated Comfort Elevated Comfort takes inspiration from the growing demand for versatile pieces that can transition between home and outings. These garments are designed to feel as good as they look, with soft fabrics, relaxed silhouettes, and thoughtful details that elevate the everyday wardrobe. The Essence of Elevated Comfort Key Elements of the Trend Soft and Sustainable Fabrics: Expect to see luxurious materials such as organic cotton, bamboo, and cashmere blends dominating the collections. These fabrics not only provide comfort but also align with the eco-conscious mindset that is becoming increasingly important to consumers. Relaxed Silhouettes: Oversized sweaters, wide-leg trousers, and flowy maxi dresses are at the forefront of this trend. The idea is to offer a looser fit that allows for ease of movement without sacrificing style. Fashion-Forward Loungewear: Think chic joggers paired with tailored blazers or stylish cardigans layered over simple tees. Brands are blurring the lines between home wear and street style, making loungewear acceptable for any occasion. Monochromatic Palettes with Pops of Colour: While neutral tones will reign supreme for a sophisticated look, don’t be surprised to see bursts of bright colors or unexpected prints making an appearance. Accessories can also play a pivotal role in adding personality to an outfit. Functional Details: Expect to see smart features like adjustable waistbands, pockets, and breathable panels in designs. These elements enhance both the functionality and style of everyday outfits.

Who really makes the fashion? England, France and Italy come to mind, few will think of Japan. In Tokyo you could see a man with a pink mohawk in a camouflage bomber jacket, a woman dressed like a bag of candy and a woman in a floral kimono stand by the same bus stop. Paris Fashion Week these days has Japan Day or Rei Day, when “Comme des Garçons' designer Rei Kawakubo and her acolytes Junya Watanabe and Kei Ninomiya present their new collections. Many creators now wear Japanese origin outfits, a geometric or asymmetrical shirt; generously cut pants; and maybe some Maison Margiela Tabi shoes (which, despite having been created by the Belgian designer Martin Margiela in 1988, are based on a Japanese split-toe sock dating to the 15th century). Japanese avant-garde is linked to the country’s postwar (second world war, 1939-1945) era, a period of suffering and humiliation. Japanese people don’t want to be elevated versions of themselves, they want to be someone else altogether, which is why kawaii culture, or the embrace of cuteness and childlike innocence, and other forms of cosplay have proved so enduring there. But what the world sees as avant-garde is often an extension of Japanese traditions and customs, link Issey Miyake’s famous pleats to the art of origami, and some is a copy of the costumes worn by performers of Noh, a 14th-century theatrical genre. The Japanese avant-garde has become an incubator for other incubators, particularly in Belgium where in the mid-1980s, the Antwerp Six—a group of Belgian designers that included Ann Demeulemeester, Dries Van Noten, Walter Van Beirendonck and Dirk Bikkembergs, (who once said there’s “nothing so boring as a ‘nice and neat’ look”) built their own fashion community around Japan’s deconstructed aesthetic. The admiration was mutual: Subsequent generations of Japanese designers would look to the Antwerp Six, especially Demeulemeester, for inspiration and taste. This blog is too short to go into too much depth, let me just show you some more pictures and you will realize how important Japanese designs are towards today's fashion. ANREALAGE Fall 2018

COMME DES GARÇONS Spring 1997

ISSEY MIYAKE Spring 1995

JUNYA WATANABE Fall 2006 Men’s

KANSAI YAMAMOTO 1973 with David Bowie

KENZO Spring 1986

MICHIKO KOSHINO Spring 1996

NOIR KEI NINOMIYA Fall 2019

SACAI Fall 2012

TOMO KOIZUMI Fall 2019

UNDERCOVER Spring 2019 Men’s

YOHJI YAMAMOTO Spring 1999

Soft boiled eggs. Like most of us I like my egg well boiled, 8 to 12 minutes. But a friend of mine insists on her egg yolk still being soft, horror. Finally I allowed myself to be convinced to at least taste that soft egg yolk. Guess what. Rarely have I had such a punch of flavours, and I was quick to swallow the second egg as well. I've cooked my eggs wrongly all my life. I asked for the secret. She explained that she weighs the egg and cooks it 1 minute for every 10 grams of egg, so a 45 grams egg cooks 4.5 minutes. She does not keep her eggs in the fridge and only uses eggs from free range chicken, organic and they should be fresh, not more that 5 days old. She brings a large amount of water to the boil (so that it continues boiling continuously after she put the eggs in), and uses a stopwatch. She adds a bit of vinegar to make the peeling easier (fresh eggs are more difficult to peel), and after the required minutes puts the eggs in cold water so to immediately stop the cooking process and cool the egg down so that you can handle it. Then peel, try not to break it, bite off the top, swallow the still warm top and egg yolk, then swallow the remaining part as well. Try, like I did. and will do forever from now on.

Lydia...

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