No, it was the breathlessly expected minute on Friday whenever two of the very most scrutinized ladies on the planet — Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy — finally met, into the grandeur of an palace that is 18th-century Strasbourg, France.
Just every single day earlier in the day, the airwaves was indeed full of dissections of Mrs. Obama’s conference in London with Queen Elizabeth II — how a two had fused, despite just just just what some in Britain implied had been a mild faux pas in the very first woman’s element of draping her supply shortly round the monarch.
All due respect to the queen. But instantly on Friday that tale seemed so, well . yesterday.
“Fashion Face-off,” had written Britain’s Guardian newsprint of this conference between Mrs. Obama and Bruni-Sarkozy, spouse of French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Others called it a “type Summit” between “the initial women who Lunch.” ladies’ Wear day-to-day had written in an online improvement that the “much drumrolled First Lady fashion showdown” had verified that both females had been “sticklers due to their pet designers.”
Perhaps the Hollywood entertainment site E! Online posted a product on “European summit fashion” — undoubtedly an initial. (It included: “Yeah, we never ever thought we would say that.”)
Then it had been time for the presidents to greet the opposing spouse. While Sarkozy and Mrs. Obama kissed, one other set would not, ultimately causing a strenuous debate in the blogosphere: Did Bruni-Sarkozy instantly turn shy and steer clear of a customary kiss from the U.S. president?
Or had been it Obama whom hesitated? Or, much more likely, did Bruni-Sarkozy anticipate that Obama MAY hesitate, and hesitate herself thus? Or did Obama . well, never head.
Considering that the focus was on fashion. And also for the record, the ladies would not look extremely various. Each wore a fashionable but coat that is proper a bow during the neck — for Mrs. Obama a black colored silk quantity flecked with fuschia plants by Thakoon, certainly one of her favorite designers, whoever ivory tweed layer she wore to board Air Force One out of Washington.
Heels vs. flats When it comes to French lady that is first it absolutely was a grey layer by Dior, additionally a popular. Both ladies eliminated their coats inside to show coordinated dresses — Bruni-Sarkozy’s in grey, and Mrs. Obama’s in fuschia. Mrs. Obama wore heels that are kitten and Bruni-Sarkozy wore flats — apparently in order to avoid towering over her spouse.
Slideshow: Michelle Obama’s effortless design One fashion specialist thought both ladies seemed elegant, but that Bruni-Sarkozy, a supermodel that is former might have nicely toned down the flash only a bit excessively.
“I would choose a small color with that gorgeous tailoring,” stated Sasha Igleton, deputy fashion director of Glamour mag. On the other hand, she recommended, the French first woman may have now been purposely toning down the glamour. In terms of Mrs. Obama, Igleton particularly liked the “gorgeous” fuschia gown.
Although both very first women are hailed due to their feeling of design, they truly are in many ways vastly various. The Italian-born Bruni-Sarkozy, 41, had been a celebrated supermodel and is nevertheless a songwriter and singer. She dated Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton, posed famously within the nude, and raised eyebrows in July by releasing an record with words mocking her reputation being a man-eater and comparing her fan up to a drug.
Mrs. Obama, 45, is really a Princeton and Harvard-educated attorney whom was raised on Chicago’s south side and had been a medical center administrator until she stopped working while her husband campaigned for president.
Her appeal in the home has exploded extremely because the election, and she actually is now viewed as a fashion icon whom, with one sporting, could cause a product of clothes to offer away — as she did with a champagne J. Crew cardigan this week.
Fashion distraction Her first trip that is european brought countless comparisons to Jackie Kennedy. And it is well well worth recalling as”the man whom accompanied Jacqueline Kennedy to Paris. it was Mrs. Kennedy’s first presidential visit to France in 1961 that led her husband to introduce himself”
But for some, most of the focus on Mrs. Obama’s fashion and magnificence, though overwhelmingly good, is a distraction that is unfortunate her other endeavors.