The Dress That Had Us All Talking

The question on almost every woman’s and even some men’s minds on Saturday was: “What will Monica wear?”Majority definitely expected a white dress with a train long enough to curtain all government offices, but our first lady to-be gave us all a wonderful surprise with her traditional-inspired dress incorporating traditional Owambo pieces.

Her dress was inspired by her personal belief that people must live in and absorb the influence of a modern western influenced world, but at the the same time make a conscious effort to embrace our heritage.

“As an African, I have come to accept the duality of modern society where, during the week, we live in a urban, modern world where we speak English and wear smart clothes and on weekends or holidays, we shed the clothes and the English and adapt to a rural or township life. My choice of a traditional-inspired dress was part of that duality where there were western influenced aspects of the wedding merged with traditional aspects,” Monica said.

To get the perfect dress, Monica had to find the designer who would best grasp her idea. After speaking to a number of designers and seeing some sketches that were just too extravagant and did not have the cultural inspiration she was looking for, she decided on South African designer Marrianne Fassler.

“I wanted a simple, elegant dress in which I could feel beautiful, a dress which reflected who I am and not what people expect me to be. Marianne Fassler listened closely without saying a word, smiled indulgently at my requests and within five minutes, drew a sketch that so accurately translated my vision that I had no doubt she was the right designer.”

The two bridesmaids dresses were designed by Namibia’s very own Taati Sibolile whose energy and passion impressed Monica.

“Her creativity, attention to detail and work ethic left me in awe of how young Namibians are much more focused then we give them credit for,” the newly-wed bride said.

Although she wishes she could take credit for the groom’s outfit, Monica says she only saw the president-elect’s suit on the day of the wedding.

“We laughed as both of us veered away from what was expected,” she said.

We are glad we have such a stylish first couple and we wish them nothing but happiness, laughter, love and lots of beautiful memories.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.

The Namibian uses AI tools to assist with improved quality, accuracy and efficiency, while maintaining editorial oversight and journalistic integrity.