First Lady: style meets politics

A First Lady will always come under scrutiny from the fashion press. Take the arrival of Carla Bruni-Sarkozy in London last March, who's descending down a plane at Heathrow in a demure grey suit caused a media frenzy - images of which are still being circulated in the fashion tabloid press today.

It comes at no surprise, then, that at a time when a political campaign is at its peak, such as the race for the US presidency, campaign images are scrutinised by media hawks, analysing every inch of fabric, the length of a dress, the cleavage shown, the accesories worn, of those running for office. And not just of its frontrunner Hilary Clinton, but also Michelle Obama. The latter's grooming and wardrobe habit have been making headlines in the States, just as Ms Bruni's outfits are still the talk of the town. Obama's streamlined silhouette and fondness for pearls, parallels with former occupants of the White House, women like the first Bush and Jacqueline Kennedy, says the Herald Tribune.

"Everyone knows that people respond to the way you look when you run for office," André Leon Talley, an editor-at-large for Vogue told the IHT. "A black Camelot moment is the right moment for the Obamas," he added. "And so the faux pearls, the A-line dresses, the Jackie flip are obviously all part of how her image strategy has evolved."

When Obama and his wife triumphantly took the stage in St. Paul to claim the Democratic presidential nomination, Barrack Obama dressed in one oacrisp, neutral suit that have made him a GQ darling, whilst Michele Obama wore a bespoke sleeveless purple silk crepe sheath.

"When you are operating at a national and even global level," said Mikki Taylor, the beauty director and cover editor of Essence magazine, everything signifies. "No gesture is too small from now on," Taylor said. "It's all information. We're all taking something from this look."

"Every woman I talked to was saying how she has this confidence that is empowered," Taylor said. "The purple dress, the legs that I have to believe were bare and not wearing the prerequisite suntan stockings, all say, 'I'm here to do business.'"