It was certainly a battle of the nudes at the China through the looking glass themed Met Gala 2015 award red carpet ceremony. From Beyonce in her embellished Givenchy Nude see through ensemble to Kim Kardashian in her stunning White Roberto Cavalli angelic piece which we believe has been her best red carpet appearance outfit of all time. So who wow’d the crowd at the awards show? Lets have a look below!
JLO
Just look at the stunner! At age 44 and she still looks as amazing as she did a decade ago! Her sheer Versace dress which shows off the side of her stunning body is perfectly placed with dragons to match the theme of the Gala event.
Keeping Up with KK
Kim Kardashian’s Roberto Cavalli dress covered in feather illusions at the end completely worked for us! This has been her best look to date for sure. Her simple yet elegant slick back ponytail did not only give her the classy figure but an overall heavenly finish.
All Hail Queen B
Bow Down everyone, Queen B and hubby have entered the building! More than an hour late the couple were the last couple and celebrities to make an appearance. B is wearing a custom made Givenchy nude gown covered in embellished crystals with an updo ponytail (which was apparently a last minute hair do change IN THE LIFT!)
Who rocked the Gala for you? You know our favourites so let us know yours!
Keeping our minds active and healthy is crucial to not only our mental health but our happiness and success. As we get older, our risk of dementia increases, so it’s important to combat against symptoms such as memory loss and improve our mental agility. A healthy mind can also make us feel more positive and relaxed, improve our concentration and regulate our emotions. So why not see if you can incorporate some of our tips below into your lifestyle.
GET PHYSICAL
It’s no secret that physical exercise improves both our minds and bodies. As well as improving your fitness levels, regularly playing sport or working out lets us interact with new people, challenge ourselves and of course release lots of endorphins. Studies have shown that people who exercise have better memories and cognition than those who stay inactive and those that work out to a high level can reduce their risk of dementia by as much as 40%.
BRAIN FUEL
Nutrients are our brain fuels. It’s easy to feed your brain with the nutrients it needs. Here are just three ways you can incorporate them into your diet.
Omega 3 fats (such as EPA and DHA): Scientists have made the link between low levels of DHA and Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss. You can keep your DHA levels up by eating lots of oily fish such as trout, salmon and mackerel.
Vitamin C: Vitamin C is thought to increase our mental agility so include fruits like blackcurrant and citrus fruits into your diet.
Vitamin K: Vitamin K boosts brainpower and cognition. You’ll find it in leafy green vegetables such as broccoli, spinach and Swiss chard.
MEDITATION
The discipline of meditation teaches us to empty our minds and concentrate on regular breathing. Whilst sitting in silence might seem strange at first, research has shown that people who regularly meditate have more control over their emotions, experience higher levels of concentration and are able to reduce stress levels. These key factors can also benefit other areas of our life such as our sporting ability. Did you know that research has shown that in competition, professional players show higher levels of concentration and self-control? With apps like Headspace and outlets like yoga, that incorporate many meditation techniques, there’s no excuse not to get involved.
It’s important to keep your brain challenged, especially as you reach the age of retirement and you no longer have work or education to keep you busy and mentally agile. Learning a new skill is a great way to grow brain cells and challenge yourself mentally. If you find yourself with lots of time on your hands, you might want to learn a new language or learn to play a musical instrument. For those of us with barely a spare five minutes, it could be something as simple as reading a book, sketching or listening to some new music.
Yemi Onibiyo: Creative Director of House of Arike. A London based brand.
The prominence of African print in today’s fashion in Africa and internally has given fabric a strong footing and it is now being used in very creative ways to design not just clothes, but home interiors.
Known as African Print or wax, Ankara, Kente, batik, and several other names in Africa, today’s designers have introduced the fabrics into interior designs using it for making chair covers, bed sheets, pillows cases, lampshades and several other pieces.
To get some inspiration on how to introduce some “Africanness” into your interior decoration, below are more examples of how you can blend the fabrics to create sophisticated designs for your home.
Do you see yourself incorporating any of these African print designs in your interior?
Meet the most fashionable dog in New York. Its name is Shiba Inu Bodhi, and he models men’s wear and reportedly earns a whopping $15,000 a month modelling for top brands. And that’s an annual income of $180K – more than a lot of people earn and will ever dream to.
Posting from the username, @mensweardog – Shiba’s journey to fame and money came when its owner opened an Instagram page for fun and started posting photos of the cute dog dressed up in her husband’s outfits.
The page quickly got a large followership and by the time it reached 190.000 fans, fashion labels started contacting the owner to use the fashionista dog as a model for their menswear. Shiba’s page has now gone viral.
Apart from its Instagram page, the most stylish dog in New York has a Tumblr page with a large following. Shiba is also the author of its own book titled “The New Classics”. In addition, it has a collection for Menswear Daily.
The page has now broadened its topics and teaches fashion lessons like tips for the modern fashionable male using Shiba’s style.
When a developer chooses an area to build in, it helps businesses and the area’s citizens tremendously. Community businesses thrive, and an increase in traffic brings a vibrant buzz to the area. It’s like dominoes; a developer helps jump start an area, and then all the surround areas see economic benefits that they would have never seen before.
There is a strong positive correlation between an area’s per-capita income and the degree that it is developed; locals see positive changes, and these changes attract more people to the area. Eventually, the area surrounding a development turns into a cultural hub, so it really kick starts a slow economy.
When a developer chooses a location, the surrounding areas see the following benefits:
MORE JOBS
A developer needs their buildings built, and this immediately brings construction jobs to an area. Once the developer’s project is up and running, people need to be hired to work there. This brings tons of extra jobs to the local economy, and it gives the developer a chance to provide jobs to people who need them. A developer’s project automatically creates a demand for jobs, and locals have a chance to fill them.
When more people have jobs, they pay taxes. This extra revenue can be reinvested by a city or town; they can use the extra income for things like infrastructure or parks. The town needs to hire people to take care of these new projects, and that means the unemployment rate falls even further.
ATTRACTS BUSINESSES
According to the Steve Wynn biography, a town with many job prospects attracts skilled job seekers. When there are lots of people moving into a town, local businesses spring up to meet their demands. These local businesses cause industries to expand, and it attracts even more residents; this increases everyone’s quality of life, and it turns an old town into a bustling center for growth and productivity.
TOURISM
If the developer works in the gaming industry, they’ll make a town a tourist attraction. For example, look at a town like Las Vegas; years ago, no one had even heard of it, but today, it’s a major tourist attraction that people from all around the world visit. Without someone developing this town, no one would have even heard about Las Vegas. The resident and tourists have major developers to thank for the town’s success.
A developer does a lot more than build a big building. When they choose a town to work with, they bring in jobs, businesses and potential employees; this boosts the economy, and it creates a bustling town that’s full of vibrant people and excitement. Local businesses and resident see nothing but positive changes when a developer chooses their area.
As part of Mother’s Day in several countries in Europe and around the world, this post is dedicated to the black women that are mothers and still manage to look good and fashionable while doing it.
MICHELLE OBAMA The American first lady two beautiful teenage daughters but still look very well toned and very fashionable. Michelle wears both big designers and upcoming designers. She also wears normal high street designs of which Top Shop is her favourite.
BEYONCE This multi-award winning singer and entertainer is one of the most stylish and fashionable celebrity mothers out there.
GENEVIEVE NNAJI The Nigerian actress and Africa’s Julia Roberts according to Oprah Winfrey is a very fashionable lady. The ever young Genevieve is a classy and stylish celebrity that needs little or no effort to look fashionable whether on the red carpet or on casual streetwear. And this iconic Nollywood actress is a mother of a girl that’s already a teenager.
KELLY ROLAND The new mum and mother of one is a very fashionable celebrity. Even during her pregnancy, Kelly Rowland did not allow her big belly to prevent her from looking stylish and fashionable.
JOURDAN DUNN As a black British supermodel, Jourdan Dunn eats and breathes fashion. This 24-year-old mother of one from London is effortlessly gorgeous and fashionable in almost any outfit. She’s a true supermodel with her fashion style, stature, and composure.
MERCY AIGBE Mercy Aigbe is another Nigerian celebrity that is very fashionable and frequently updates her Instagram page with her photos showing her fashionable style. She is a mother of two who also owns a fashion boutique and models some of her stocks as well as promote them on her Instagram page.
CIARA Musician and mother of one Ciara is still in good shape like a baby has not come out of her body. Whether on the red carpet or strolling out and about with her little one, the American star is always stylish.
IMAN Mother of two and legendary model, Iman is a very fashionable and stylish black woman that still turns heads on the red carpet at her age.
JENNIFER HUDSON
American actress and singer, Jennifer Hudson has put a lot of effort into looking good. The 35-year-old Chicago-born mother of one, who used to be in the plus-size took a great step and lost a lot of weight, making her one of the most worthy sexy and fashionable celebrity mum.
KERRY WASHINGTON
Kerry Washing is one of the most fashionable black celebrity mothers making it on our list. The 39-year-old New York-born actress is a mother of two and still very much in shape and dresses well. Kerry Washington’s fame has quadruple for starring in the ABC drama Scandal, by Shonda Rhimes. In the series, Washington plays the character of Olivia Pope, a crisis management expert to politicians and power brokers in Washington DC.
Take a peep at the Afrocosmopolitan Youtube channel and subscribe to it so you can get our video updates as soon as they are uploaded. You can also follow Afrocosmopolitan on Instagram and like our Facebook Page. We are also on Twitter, on Pinterest, as well as on YouTube. We cannot wait to connect with you and start interacting on another level. In the meantime, feed your eyes with various African celebrity styles and update your wardrobe with some of the looks.
Today is mother’s day in the United States, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, and so many other countries in Europe and around the world. As part of the celebration, many famous mothers letters were published on the Times Magazine. And one of them was from Victoria Beckham, the former Spice Girl group member who has three boys and a girl with her footballer husband, David Beckham.
In the letter, Victoria talked about so many things that mothers go through including making sacrifices for the sake of their children. And most importantly, she talked about how they make sure their children understand humility and “never, ever take anything for granted.”
“They are a wonder to me every day. From a teenage son through to a toddler daughter, each moment of every day is filled with different energies, activities, feelings and a lot of comedy. Being in a position where they live such a privileged life, it is important that our children understand humility, that they appreciate how their parents have worked very hard to create this life for the family and that they, too, have a responsibility to work hard, be respectful and never, ever take anything for granted.”
“Like so many working mothers all over the world, I feel the constant struggle to be the best mother I can, whilst setting a good example to my children to work hard. I travel for work when it’s necessary, and I miss them all the time when I am away.”
“I have always been a great believer that women should support women, and my admiration goes out to mothers everywhere, as they constantly put their own needs behind those of their children, embracing daily uncertainties and entering the new uncharted territories that each day brings, to be, in return, rewarded with joy and unending love.”
Private equity is a big topic these days, but a majority of investors might not be familiar with how these funds actually work. The term refers to a specific asset class that consists of a group of securities. Mutual funds and hedge funds invest in equity securities as well, but private equity funds are different in that they trade in securities that aren’t publicly listed on a stock exchange. Many of these equity funds also hold debt in companies that aren’t listed on any major exchange.
A brokerage firm that specializes in these specific types of securities usually starts these types of funds up. Venture capital firms and angel investors have also started up their share of private equity funds, but these are generally considered riskier investments than those managed by specialized private equity firms. Retail investors might want to consider a few things before they put their money into any of these funds.
Past Performance Doesn’t Predict the Future
The SEC has made sure to attach a warning about using past performance as an indicator on just about every investment, but this hasn’t ever stopped investors from doing just that. Any retail investor who wants to consider these funds would be better off looking at who runs them than what they might have done in the past.
It’s generally best to research large funds from big companies like Fortress Investment Group, which is known for its connection with top financial thinkers like Pete Briger. Most retail investors will want to avoid private equity funds that are managed by companies that are a bit negligent when it comes to listing their personnel.
Leveraged Buyout Profits
Investment managers often say that private equity funds are essentially a rebranding of the old leveraged buyout business plan. Leveraged buyouts are a major strategy that many of these funds use, and small retail investors should familiarize themselves with the concept before putting any money into a fund.
Private equity firms will often buy a majority of shares in an existing mature company. While private equity financing is often associated with venture capital, these buyouts provide a safety net if some of the new companies the fund is associated with go sour. People willing to put money into such funds might want to research the mature companies that the company bought into. Most investors will want to read up on all the exciting startups that private equity funds buy into, but looking at the leveraged firms is every bit as important.
Make sure that the companies that were involved in these transactions generate a positive cash flow. Mature companies that have started to bleed money will really start to drag the fund down over time.
Moving overseas used to be a long and difficult process. It involved sending away for a visa, finding employment and setting up a new situation for any children or other family members. As if waiting on the diplomatic process was not complicated enough, one had to consider how to move one’s home and its contents, too. People have been making journeys across the globe for thousands of years, but the question always remained: do we bring our things with us to our new home? Thankfully, the development of moving companies has made moving across the world slightly easier. Here are three things to know about moving your belongings when moving to an international location:
1. Maximize Your Space and You Could Maximize Your Cash
International moving companies often charge by bulk and not by weight, which is great news if you’ve ever tried to weigh an armchair on a bathroom scale. However, this means that you need to know how much space the things you want to bring with you might take up. Generally, you will be charged by whether or not you want a full shipping container or maybe even two or three shipping containers. This is a great time to prioritize your belongings and decide what is really important and what you can leave behind. This can save you a lot of money on shipping, and you can arrive in your new home with less baggage.
2. Prioritize Your Packing to Avoid Any Delicate Problems
Whether you are packing, or you have an agency to do the work, it is always best to clearly label everything, especially anything fragile or delicate. You need to give specific instructions for anything that is fragile and of high value, and it is best to take out the appropriate insurance to make sure everything gets to your new home in one piece. If you are packing without professional assistance, make sure to use plenty of wrapping supplies, custom printed packaging tape and appropriately labelled boxes so that everyone who handles your belongings knows to be careful with them.
3. Shop Around for a Moving Company
Before you settle on a specific moving company, make sure you shop around for plenty of price quotes and be aware of the different services each company offers. Some companies promise cheap rates but quite often these services move your belongings by ship, and it may take anywhere from 8 to 12 weeks for your things to arrive. Some agencies offer a door to door service where they pack your house up, ship it and then unpack your things at your destination. Think about your needs and shop around before you choose who will transport your belongings from your old home to your new home.
Good girl gone bad, Rihanna stole the night with her show stopping yellow ensemble to the Met Gala red carpet. Looking stunning, the ‘Umbrella’ singer wore the beautifully embroidered cape dress and accessorised it with a statement necklace.
Queen Rihanna, who showed her royal fashion style on the night, completed her look glamourous with a pair of golden pump shoes, and a golden crown.
Rihanna’s red carpet winning dress is a design from Guo Pei Couture, a Chinese designer that has been designer for over 15 years.
Right below is Rihanna in her glamorous costume. On the right is the gown on the runway.
