It has been billed among the major face-offs regarding the NATO summit, and it also had nothing in connection with troops in Afghanistan or relations with Russia.
No, it was the breathlessly expected minute on Friday whenever two of the very most scrutinized ladies on earth — Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy — finally met, into the grandeur of an 18th-century palace in Strasbourg, France.
Just on a daily basis earlier in the day, the airwaves was in fact filled up with dissections of Mrs. Obama’s conference in London with Queen Elizabeth II — the way the two had fused, despite just what some in Britain implied ended up being a mild faux pas from the lady that is first section of draping her supply shortly all over monarch.
All respect that is due the queen. But abruptly on Friday that tale seemed so, well . yesterday.
“Fashion Face-off,” published Britain’s Guardian paper associated with the conference between Mrs. Obama and Bruni-Sarkozy, spouse of French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Other people called it a “Style Summit” between “the very first women who Lunch.” ladies’ Wear everyday had written within an online change that the “much drumrolled First Lady fashion showdown” had verified that both females had been “sticklers because of their pet designers.”
Perhaps the Hollywood entertainment site E! on the web posted a product on “European summit fashion” — undoubtedly a primary. (It included: “Yeah, we never ever thought we would say that.”)
The conference began with a friendly “Bonjour!” from Mrs. Obama given that partners approached one another, then a double-cheek that is french-style between your females.
Then it had been time for the presidents to greet the spouse that is opposing. While Sarkozy and Mrs. Obama kissed, one other set didn’t, resulting in a debate that is vigorous the blogosphere: Did Bruni-Sarkozy abruptly 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.
Since the focus really was on fashion. And also for the record, the ladies failed to look extremely various. Each wore an elegant but proper layer with a bow during the neck — for Mrs. Obama a black colored silk quantity flecked with fuschia flowers by Thakoon, certainly one of her favorite developers, whoever ivory tweed layer she wore to board Air Force One in Washington.
Heels vs. flats When it comes to French first woman, it had been a grey layer by Dior, additionally a well liked. Both ladies eliminated their coats inside to reveal 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 to prevent towering over her spouse.
And also for the night later on in Baden-Baden, Germany, the 2 additionally seemed remarkably similar in posh knee-length dresses that are black.
Slideshow: Michelle Obama’s effortless design One fashion specialist thought both females seemed elegant, but that Bruni-Sarkozy, a previous supermodel, could have nicely toned along the flash just a little in extra.
“I’d choose a small color with that breathtaking tailoring,” stated Sasha Igleton, deputy fashion director of Glamour mag. However, she recommended, the French first woman may have now been purposely toning down the glamour. In terms of Mrs. Obama, Igleton specially liked the “gorgeous” fuschia gown.
Although both ladies that are first hailed for his or her feeling of design, these are nicaraguan brides typically generally in most ways greatly various. The Italian-born Bruni-Sarkozy, 41, had been a celebrated supermodel and is still a songwriter and singer. She dated Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton, posed famously into the nude, and raised eyebrows in by releasing an album with lyrics mocking her reputation as a man-eater and comparing her lover to a drug july.
Mrs. Obama, 45, is just a Princeton and Harvard-educated attorney whom was raised on Chicago’s south part and had been a medical center administrator until she stopped working while her husband campaigned for president.
Her appeal in the home is continuing to grow extremely because the election, and she is now viewed as a fashion symbol whom, with one sporting, could cause a product of clothes to sell down — as she did having a champagne J. Crew cardigan this week.
Fashion distraction Her first European journey has brought countless evaluations to Jackie Kennedy. And it’s really well well worth recalling it was Mrs. Kennedy’s first presidential day at France in 1961 that led her husband to introduce himself as “the person who accompanied Jacqueline Kennedy to Paris.”
But for some, most of the focus on Mrs. Obama’s fashion and magnificence, though overwhelmingly positive, can be a regrettable distraction from her other endeavors.