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Cowry Shells, Natural Hair and Fringe: A Modern Take on African Elegance

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There are outfits that simply look good, and then there are looks that make a statement about where beauty comes from.

This fringe resort dress, paired with a sculptural afro threaded with cowry shells, does the latter with striking ease.

At the centre of the look is the hairstyle. The full natural afro is shaped into an elegant updo, with delicate cowry shells woven through the hair like jewellery.

Across African communities, cowry shells have carried associations with prosperity, femininity, protection and identity.

Here, their presence feels less like decoration and more like a deliberate styling choice—turning natural hair into a canvas for cultural expression.

The cream fringe dress brings a softer rhythm to the ensemble. As the fringes move, they add texture and fluidity, giving the outfit a relaxed resort sensibility without losing its sophistication.

Its warm neutral tone also allows the richness of the wearer’s complexion and the sculptural hair to command attention.

Stacked wooden bangles complete the look, reinforcing its connection to natural materials and handcrafted design.

There is little need for excessive jewellery or elaborate styling. Every element has room to breathe, creating a polished aesthetic that feels rooted rather than overworked.

That balance is what makes the outfit compelling. It challenges the idea that African-inspired fashion must be loud to be recognisably African.

Sometimes, heritage speaks through a shell placed carefully in an afro, an earthy colour against melanin-rich skin, or a handmade accessory worn with confidence.

The look ultimately makes a simple but powerful fashion argument: authenticity can be luxurious.

Natural hair, cultural symbols and African-inspired styling do not need to be softened or disguised to fit contemporary fashion.

They can occupy the centre of the frame—and set the tone for what modern African beauty looks like.

Fashion & Style

Dressing for Your Shape: How Strategic Styling Can Transform Everyday Fashion

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Great style is not always about chasing trends or buying the latest designer outfit. Sometimes, it comes down to understanding how different cuts, colours and patterns work together to create a silhouette that feels comfortable and confident.

For people with an apple-shaped body, a few thoughtful wardrobe choices can open up fresh possibilities for personal style.

The Power of Shape and Structure

An apple-shaped figure typically carries more fullness around the midsection, with the shoulders and upper body often appearing broader than the hips.

Rather than hiding the body, strategic styling can create balance while allowing personal taste to lead.

A peplum top paired with white-leg jeans, for example, can introduce definition around the waist while adding structure to an everyday outfit. Wrap dresses offer another option, using adjustable fabric and diagonal lines to draw attention towards the waist.

Structured V-neck tops paired with bootcut jeans can also create visual balance between the upper and lower body.

For occasions that call for something more polished, ruched dresses in solid colours provide texture and shape, while dresses with darker side panels can create a subtle contouring effect.

Patterns deserve consideration, too. Strong horizontal lines may emphasise width in certain areas, whereas diagonal details can guide the eye across the body and create a different visual effect.

These are styling suggestions, not rigid rules: fabric, fit and individual proportions all influence how an outfit looks.

Confidence Beyond the Clothing

For Ghanaian fashion lovers, where tailored outfits, colourful prints, occasion dresses and contemporary streetwear all have a place in personal expression, these principles offer another way to approach the wardrobe.

A peplum blouse can work for a professional setting, while a wrap dress can transition easily from a social gathering to an evening event.

Ultimately, dressing well is less about fitting a body into fashion rules than finding clothes that make the wearer feel at ease.

The best outfit is one that works with your proportions, reflects your personality and lets confidence take centre stage.

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Fashion & Style

Christian Louboutin’s Kumasi Visit Puts Ghana’s Footwear Craftsmanship in the Spotlight

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Christian Louboutin is famous for turning a flash of red beneath a heel into one of fashion’s most recognisable luxury signatures.

Now, the French designer’s reported visit to Kumasi is raising a bigger question: could Ghana’s Garden City become a new meeting point for international luxury fashion and local craftsmanship?

Louboutin met Lady Julia Osei Tutu, wife of Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at her private residence on October 12, 2026, following his attendance at the Akwasidae Festival at Manhyia Palace.

Accompanied by members of his team and representatives of Studio Dream, the designer’s visit has drawn attention to discussions about a possible Christian Louboutin outlet in Kumasi.

The significance extends beyond luxury retail. Kumasi has a longstanding reputation for craftsmanship, commerce and creative enterprise, while Ghanaian shoemakers and leatherworkers contribute to a wider fashion industry built on practical skill and entrepreneurial ambition.

An international luxury brand exploring a presence in the city invites questions about how global fashion houses might engage with local talent.

Could such interest create opportunities for Ghanaian artisans, strengthen professional networks or bring greater international visibility to the country’s footwear makers?

For now, these possibilities remain speculative. No confirmed announcement establishes a production partnership with local manufacturers, and the reported discussions centre on the possibility of an outlet rather than a footwear factory.

Still, the encounter offers a compelling fashion story. Louboutin’s presence around Akwasidae, an important Asante royal festival, also places the visit at the intersection of luxury branding, cultural heritage and traditional authority.

Whether Kumasi eventually becomes a retail destination for the red-soled heels or something more, the conversation highlights an opportunity: Ghana’s creative industry deserves attention not only as a source of inspiration, but also as a potential partner in the global fashion business.

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Twenty Years, One Red Carpet: BellaNaija Celebrates Two Decades of African Culture in Style

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Some birthdays are marked with cake. BellaNaija marked twenty years with a runway.

On October 2, the Nigerian media powerhouse gathered some of the country’s biggest names for its BN20 High Fashion Icon Grand Red Carpet Experience, and the theme was never going to allow a quiet night.

Guests arrived ready to interpret “icon” in leather, velvet and architectural gold.

Veekee James set the tone early in a custom oxblood leather coat-gown by Abbas Woman, its exaggerated shoulders and sculpted hips crowned by an oversized black hat.

Mercy Eke chose icy glamour instead, drifting down the carpet in blue velvet with cobalt detailing and pearl-inspired embellishments.

Osas Ighodaro brought structure and shine in ivory and gold, while Mide Iwasokun delivered the night’s most theatrical moment: a white Komeh Swish gown with a fan collar and a cascading ruffled train that refused to go unnoticed.

The roll call read like a living archive of Nigerian pop culture. Mercy Eke, Rita Dominic, Ini Edo, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Denrele Edun, Mai Atafo, Idia Aisien and Blessing Nze shared a room that blurred the line between guest list and guest book.

That was the quiet achievement beneath the flashbulbs. When BellaNaija launched in 2006, social media had not yet reshaped culture, and African fashion and entertainment were still fighting for global attention.

Two decades later, the platform has grown into a brand that no longer simply covers the culture, it helps shape it.

For anyone watching from Accra, Nairobi or London, the message landed clearly: African storytelling has arrived, and it dresses exceptionally well.

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