Michelle Obama's conquest of Europe

[IDemo]

As the president seeks to rebuild ties, the first lady is unveiling her own foreign engagement, blending a high-wattage celebrity with a message of self-reliance and personal possibility.

By Christi Parsons
April 5, 2009
Reporting from Strasbourg, France -- So far on her trip to Europe, Michelle Obama has hugged the queen of England, double cheek-kissed the glamorous first lady of France and electrified the celebrity-obsessed tabloids.

When she talked to students at a school for underprivileged girls in London, though, her message was about her working-class childhood and her success gained through strong values and hard work in school.

In other words, she may be wearing Jimmy Choo kitten heels these days, but the first lady pulled herself up by an old-fashioned pair of American bootstraps.

In President Obama's first official visit overseas, he is preaching a new foreign policy, calling on Europeans to set aside negative feelings toward the U.S. in favor of an era of friendship and cooperation.

And Michelle Obama is unveiling her own policy of foreign engagement, one that blends a high-wattage celebrity with a message about self-reliance and personal possibility -- a story of special resonance on a continent where no minorities have risen to such prominence.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-michelle-obama5-2009apr05,0,6697503.story

[Tarheel_Dem]

1. A big old KKKKK&RRRRRR! (nt)

:kick:

[Djinn]

2. why does every article/thread/post about M.O

have to refer to what she's wearing or whether or not she's aesthetically pleasing?

The fashion press pronounced her every bit the equal of Bruni, with whom she seemed to have formed a friendship during the NATO summit here

Who gives a crap if some over paid writer who spends their time around dresses that cost more than my flat think she's the "equal" of Bruni or not?

I can't believe a woman of her talents is being steadily reduced to a charming, pretty clothes horse

[pacalo]

3. Are you old enough to remember Jackie Kennedy?

For me, Michelle Obama brings back those memories of Jackie's style, beauty, class, & grace. I was only 9 years old when John & Jackie Kennedy moved into the White House, but I was quite impressed even at that age.

I don't begrudge the cost of a first lady's clothes, but I do like to see them choose their clothes well, which Michelle definitely does.

We have a local newswoman you would love (as I do). For about 10 years now, she has worn an outfit every Monday that she purchased at the local Goodwill Store & she'll take a moment to urge women viewers to shop there, too.

[Djinn]

4. why do you care what they wear?

it's not a cost issue for me, if she deliberately only wore the same ratty old tracksuit she bought 20 years ago I'd still view it as irrelevant.

Why are people still so impressed/unimpressed by what a woman looks like in this day and age.

[Omnibus]

5. Part sexist, part cultural.

Part of the issue is that women have a broader range of ACCEPTABLE outfits in formal situations in our culture. Part of it is that there's a larger pressure for women to be "fashionable" in our society. I don't like the latter part, but it's true. The public pays more attention to female attention to fashion than it does for males, and so reports on female apparel more than males. Part of it is a sexist trivialization of women, too, and part of it is a trivialization of presidential spouses.

For the record, I don't like the lack of options for a male in formal occasions either, and would like to see that changed as well. I'd also like to see fashion considered irrelevant for political heads of state.

I can't wait until we DO get a "First Gentleman". How would Bill Clinton have dealt with that if Hillary would've won? It could help us realign how we report on the First Spouse, in a potentially hilarious and eye-opening way, and I can't wait to see it. Maybe 4 years of a First Gentleman will finally break the back of our obsession with outer appearance.

[MiniMe]

6. After 8 years of dresses that look like they are made from curtains,

it is a welcome change.