Fashion/Style: Bring on the bling, bling...

Try beaded jewellery The latest style in the trend industry is jewellery. A longer version, without jewellery, as meant to be worn for perfection purposes for grownup women and girls, may be considered a mess in the beauty world. “Jewellery is best described as a style fascination,”’ says Pamela Umutoniwase, a jewellery seller in Kigali’s downtown, with lots of volume rather than being dead straight. Although the hot fashion trend was previously sported by celebrities including Hollywood’s Angelina Jolie, and Bollywood’s Aishwarya Rai, it is now worn by all women and girls across the world. Once you are obsessed with to jewellery, it’s almost hard to leave the dressing room without any. It is like getting addicted to drugs, many people even put on more than one jewellery, and will not bather to see whether they match. While fashion experts have noticed that women’s desire and obsession for the trend has risen, to an extent that some women can forego buying items for the home, but instead buy several jewelries to match her wardrobe. According to Andrew Bizimungu, a fashion boutique assistant in town, the beaded jewelry is selling like hot cakes. “Beaded jewelry have been getting noticeable compliments in recent days. They are so attractive and designed in different styles, colours and sizes to flatter the wearer,” Bizimungu says. However, there is long standing debate that it’s not always the fashion designers and celebrities who introduce the new trends in fashion. But they instead modify old fabrics into new and more fashionable trends to match with season. Sandra Uwitonze, 39, says that the impact the beads revolution can be traced back through the previous recessions of the 20th century. The trend was first noted in the 1930s depression, when women said they wanted to cheer themselves up by looking smart in the downturn. To create a subtle yet sophisticated look, the jewelry must match with the attire and then with the make-up. Some of the jewelries like beads play an important role in the African culture. Indeed two key functions of jewelry in traditional African culture are worthy of mention. Every bead and gem has a story how it came into existence, the road it traveled, what it represents, its healing properties and the mystique behind it. Africans have always loved Jewelries. According to the tradition of beads, they have survived the centuries and have gathered a wealth of history, for example romance and mystery around them and have been used to decorate and enhance individuals throughout the entire stages of their lives. In Rwanda, like else where in many other societies, jewelries have all along been known to be one of the traditional pieces of accessories that add to the overall look of a woman. But, today brides during marriages as well as other women and girls are always known to wear jewelries as a prime accessory whether they are attending to any event, or at home. It’s actually one of the basics that they can hardly go without. Jewelry is loved by many people, because it adds an extra beauty and elegance. Meanwhile, the culture is no longer for ladies only as it used to be. Today, men, too, have embraced the trend for accomplishments. They wear bracelets, rings and necklaces. Unfortunately, some people make mistakes while wearing jewelry by exhibiting heavy jewellery without any occasion is definitely a fashion disaster. Meanwhile, some women, like the Masais accompany their ethnic look by wearing heavy jewelries and many bangles. lindaonly2005@yahoo.com