First Lady Melania Trump has finished her first solo trip. This trip encompassed Ghana, Malawi, Kenya, and Egypt and is slated to highlight her “Be Best” campaign along with promoting women and children’s health. She visited orphanages, hospitals, a game reserve in Kenya, and finished up with a tour of the pyramids and Sphinx in Egypt.  And, of course, all eyes were upon her style choices.

Ghana:

A two-day trip that included schools and visits to historical sites.

Malawi:

During her visit to Malawi, 1.4 million books were donated and she spent time at a school.

Then it was on to Kenya where she fed baby elephants and danced with young children.

Last night I saw this photo.

I immediately thought of “Out of Africa.”

But nooooo… the critics just had to flap their jaws.

Melania Trump wearing a pith helmet on her trip to "Africa" is more than a silly sartorial choice. It's a reflection of her outdated understanding of Africa. (Also, she was photographed in safari attire multiple times on this trip.) #FLOTUSinAfricaBingo https://t.co/aCnkOnPBF8

— kim yi dionne (@dadakim) October 5, 2018

She wore safari attire during a trip to Africa??!! Oh. The. Horror. Evidently, being informed by people in the know that safari attire is actually RECOMMENDED when out in the bush, is something that escapes the critics.

Wonder why everyone dresses in khakis when going on safari? Well, it’s because you want to blend in with your environment. Especially if you’re going on a walking safari. Chances are, if you book a multi-day safari, you will be walking at one point or another. We’ve even ridden horses on safari. The more you blend in with your surroundings the better chances you have of not disturbing the wildlife.

Instead we have snide commentary.

“It’s like showing up to a meeting of African-American cotton farmers in a Confederate uniform,” Matthew Carotenuto, a coordinator of African Studies at St. Lawrence University, wrote on Twitter. “Historical context matters.”

Really? Wow. Someone needs to get over themselves and realize that sometimes an apple really isn’t a banana! But of course, he has to throw this out to the Twitter masses

Melania completes the stereotype trifecta–elephants, orphans and even the pith helmet…..#FLOTUSinAfrica2018 @africasacountry @AFP @AP pic.twitter.com/TkgFb3w4yY

— Matt Carotenuto (@matt_carotenuto) October 5, 2018

If Matt has been on a real African safari I’ll eat my hat. Once again, it is highly recommended that you wear neutral clothing when in Africa!

Wear beige, green, and brown colored clothes. They are the staple colors of safari wear because they blend into the environment. This provides a better game viewing experience. Wearing bright colors such as red is said to scare off animals, and make you stand out. This may or may not be true, only the animal gods know for sure.

It doesn’t and shouldn’t matter that the folks Melania Trump met with wore colorful clothing. Those she met with wore clothing that reflects THEIR culture and also at times wore ceremonial dress for the occasion of interacting with the First Lady.

After Melania wrapped up the Kenya portion of her trip, it was on to Egypt. To me it seemed she had a little Indiana Jones vibe going on here!

As a matter of fact…

Okay so yesterday it was a colonial pith helmet. Today Melania Trump is modelling herself (in Egypt) as fictional Raiders of the Lost Ark character and fellow Nazi collaborator Rene Belloq

We're definitely being trolled here.#FLOTUSInAfrica pic.twitter.com/ynbk35EAQI

— Rob (@UmbertoBagg) October 6, 2018

You know, I wouldn’t put it past her to troll everyone given the ‘SHE WORE HEELS TO A HURRICANE!’  idiocy.

For those engaged in hand wringing over a freaking hat, knock it off. You’re over here in the United States with your knickers in a twist while the media and those in Africa are like ..Whatevs.

Guess what guys. Sometimes a hat is just that. A HAT. Deal with it.

Feature Photo Credit: Doug Mills/The New York Times