Now that US president Barack Obama is in Kenya, there is an instant air of pride and utter excitement in Kenya’s countrymen and women. Since we are all about the -weak in the knees- kind of love stories, weddings and everything blissful, we will certainly not bore you with political talk. I bet many of you would like to know the love story between the leader of the free world and his stunning wife; Michelle Obama.

The couple first met when 25 year old  Michelle Robinson was working at a law  firm as an adviser to 27 year old Barack  Obama, who was at the time a summer  associate from Harvard Law. Her first  impression of him was not so pleasant, but after  spending a lot of time together, an interest brewed for Obama, who even after his advances were rebuffed several  times, his persistence scored him a first date with Michelle. “I asked her out. She refused. I kept asking. She kept refusing.”I’m your adviser,” she said. “It’s not appropriate.” Finally, I offered to quit my job, and at last she relented.” President Barack Obama is quoted as saying in an O magazine interview.

They visited the Art Institute of Chicago, had lunch at the museums courtyard, took a long walk down Michigan Avenue to a movie theater where they watched a drama flick; Do the Right Thing and later went for some ice cream.

                                                                                                                                     

“On our first date, I treated her to the finest ice cream Baskin-Robbins had to offer, our dinner table doubling as the curb,” Barack Obama said in a 2007 O Magazine feature. “I kissed her, and it tasted like chocolate.”After their date, it was clear that they were seemingly head over heels for each other. “We clicked right away…by the end of the date, it was over…I was sold,” Michelle has been quoted saying. To commemorate their special moment, a plaque lies at the very same spot they shared their first kiss.

 

Michelle and Barack tied the knot on October 3, 1992. “Barack didn’t pledge riches, only a life that would be interesting. On that promise he delivered.” Michelle has said. President Barack Obama’s beautiful wife walked down the aisle in a stunning off shoulder, sweetheart neckline satin gown paired with a princess length veil and opera gloves.

“Sometimes, when we’re lying together, I look at her and I feel dizzy with the realization that here is another distinct person from me, who has memories, origins, thoughts, feelings that are different from my own. That tension between familiarity and mystery meshes something strong between us. Even if one builds a life together based on trust, attentiveness and mutual support, I think that it’s important that a partner continues to surprise.” President Barack Obama on his love for Michelle (Ian Kerner, Ph.D. “5 Love Lessons We Can Learn From the Obamas)

Credits:

Huffington Post

NBC Chicago

www.Instyle.com

 

Gone are the days when it was an abomination for a pregnant woman to wed. It has over the years become a common thing to wed during pregnancy so much so that there are wedding gowns being designed everyday for the pregnant bride.
A pregnant bride deserves to enjoy her big day without worrying about anything and below are tips on how to ensure that you breeze through your day radiantly and comfortable.
What Trimester is Best to Wed During?
If possible, try to get hitched in your second trimester. By this time, the pregnancy is much easier, your morning sickness should be easing up or entirely gone by then. Another advantage is that getting married in your second trimester will be much more comfortable as your belly will not be in the way.
Choosing your Wedding Gown
• The first thing you need to do is to inform your designer or bridal shop attendant of your pregnancy if it is not already noticeable and how far along you’ll be on the day of your wedding as this will help on the particulars of alterations and when they will need to be made.
• If you are buying a ready-made gown, try and make the purchase on a date much closer to the wedding date, to be sure of a comfortable fit and minimal alterations. If it is a tailored gown, ensure that your dressmaker bears in mind your belly’s growth rate and dynamics when making the dress so as to allow room for alterations that will preserve the design of the gown.
• Every body type has a particular design that will compliment it. However, pregnancies make most body types similar. With that in mind, the best looks for pregnant brides are empire waist-line gowns, princess cut gowns or A-line gowns. Avoid tight fits, small waists, and anything figure-hugging.
• The dress’s accents work best on your shoulders and bust as they will draw the eye away from your belly.

Tips on Comfort
• Comfort comfort comfort. Make this your first priority.
• Avoid corsets, tightly laced bodices, or any other constricting gear. Flow is the go for a woman with a bun in the oven, swollen feet and aching joints.
• Choose dresses with light fabric as it will ensure ease in movement. Bulky and heavy dresses will only add strain to your body and can be restricting.
• Ensure that you have on very comfortable shoes. Flats are the best way to go for a pregnant bride.

Wedding Accessory Tips
Accessoriez such as jewellery, the veil and the bouquet remain unaffected. A pregnant bride can have the usual accessories so have no worries.

Wedding Ring
For the wedding ring however, it is important to note that your finger size will also increase along with the rest of the body. There are two choices a bride can choose from when it comes to the wedding ring.
1. Either have a mock ring made for the wedding ceremony and later put on your real wedding ring which fits your usual sized finger after the pregnancy or
2. Have your wedding ring made to fit your finger at the time of your pregnancy and have it altered afterward.
Food Menu
Plan the menu ahead of the wedding keeping in mind what you need to eat and what you cannot eat. This doesn’t mean that your guests, the groom and wedding party get affected; it just means you need to find alternatives for you as well. So ensure that you have your own little menu on the side.
Honeymoon
• You deserve double the ultimate pampering. With the wedding planning and baby growing contributing to your exhaustion ensure that you find a destination that is easily accessible and that promises much peace, quiet, relaxation and pampering.
• Be sure that your insurance covers any pregnancy complications or even giving birth.
• Make sure that you have cash with you in case there is trouble with visa’s credit cards and debit cards as approval from certain banks may take some time when in foreign countries
• Also, know where hospitals are in case of an emergency.
• Another way around this is to simply postpone the honeymoon until after the baby is born.

Remember the hat feature we did about the royal wedding? Remember the elegant, grand and overtly stylish hats worn by the nobles and the gentry? Would you believe me if I told you that hats in similar style are available here in Kenya?

Some of us have had the distasteful experience of seeing someone else with a hat just like yours especially at a wedding. Sometimes, even the mother-of-the-bride has this horrific experience when she, of all people should be exceptional.

Well, worry no more because Drop of a Hat has literally come to the rescue. Every single hat is unique and has absolutely no replica. Drop of a Hat will be showcasing their classy, tasteful hats at the highly anticipated Samantha’s Bridal Wedding Fair.

DROP OF A HAT

Drop of a Hat is a local bespoke hat business, designing exclusively elegant, stylish hats for the fashion conscious lady. Using mostly locally sourced materials, all the hats are handmade and finely hand stitched leaving no detail to chance. The name; Drop of a Hat came about when Chloé Mitchell made a list of suitable names all with the word –hat- and got friends to vote for their favourite. Drop of a Hat was the most voted hence it became the name of the brand.

Chloé Mitchell’s Bio

Taught by Rose Cory, the appointed milliner of the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen mother, Chloé Mitchell, founder and CEO of Drop of a Hat, kicked off her career after inheriting her great aunt Dora’s antique flower stamen business, a stable and solid foundation to pursue her new found passion of becoming a milliner. Mitchell founded Drop of a Hat -a couture millinery- when she relocated back to Kenya after advancing her skills with Louise of Louise Pocock Bespoke Millinery in the Cotswolds, UK.

Mitchell is involved in charity work and  is currently working with a young handicapped girl, whom she has trained to hand stitch. Mitchell is making plans to work with and to use materials made locally by handicapped persons.

About the Hats

With the use of materials such as rabbit fur felt, wool felt, straw and sinamay, the hats, which include fedoras, fascinators, fashion sun hats, turbans, buttons and headpieces are of high quality with a grand and fine finish and provide a wide variety for both men and women. With prices ranging from Ksh 3,000 to Ksh 24,000, every client is catered to and can boast a bespoke hat with no –one- hat looking like the other; complete with a name as Mitchell names every one of her hats.

Drop of a Hat caters to all styles and occasions and the elegance exuded by the one-of-a-kind hats is sure to make heads turn in every instance. below are pictures of some of Drop of a Hat’s pieces…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HAT ETIQUETTE

Hats have over the years gained popularity in fashion, reaching an unrivaled high after Kate Middleton strutted her hat fashion with almost every outfit she wore and while there are guidelines, proper topper protocol is by far the most complicated out there.

Women’s Hat Etiquette

• Fashion hats should only be removed in an office, if blocking anyone’s view at the theater or at a wedding, or if you so wish.
• Anything attached to the hat band, for example a flower, should be on the right-hand side.
• Women can keep their hats on throughout, indoors or outdoors, be it at a wedding, a funeral, a tea event, in church or at a polo event and can stay on even during the national anthem.
• Large-brimmed hats are inappropriate for night time as they are only to be worn out when it’s sunny.
• Small-brimmed or no-brim hats can however be worn at night time and in restaurants as well.
• Fashion hats are not worn with evening or ball gowns; fascinators, small veil hats, fancy combs or cocktail hats are.

Men’s Hat Etiquette

• Men should remove their hats in-doors i.e. offices, church, classrooms and also when the national anthem is playing.
• Anything placed on the hat band, should be on the left-hand side.
• Men should tip or remove their hats at the presence of a woman especially when being introduced for the first time. It is however unnecessary to tip your hat for women you are acquainted to.

Etiquette Exceptions

• Any religious head coverings are exempted from the etiquette rules and can be kept on wherever, whenever.
• Any hats or head coverings worn to cover results of any illness such as hair loss or albinism are also exempted from hat etiquette rules.