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Fashion, Politics Unlikely Mix

Carla Bruni's outfits something of an obsession, though there's a flip side

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 8, 2008 2:57 PM CDT

(Newser) – Move over, Hollywood—these days, fashion designers are dying to get their wares on a new kind of celebrity: politicians. The last time Carla Bruni and Nicolas Sarkozy visited London, Dior issued no fewer than five press releases on their outfits, and Louis Vuitton has even hired Mikhail Gorbachev as a model. But not everyone thinks the trend is chic, reports W in a look at political stars.

“When powerful women start using glamor and style, things usually end in tears. Marie Antoinette—hello!” says the creative director of Barneys New York. “[Political figures] should strive to be unremarkable and uninteresting in their style choices.” But relative frumpsters draw fire, too—notable Hillary Clinton's pantsuits and a British tab deriding Angela Merkel's vacation bathing suit as "big in the bumdestag."

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev appears in a Louis Vuitton ad.
Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev appears in a Louis Vuitton ad.   (AP Photo/Annie Leibovitz, Louis Vuitton, HO)
The proportions of Hillary Clinton's pants are terrible, says Lagerfeld. Someone should fit them--seriously.
The proportions of Hillary Clinton's pants are "terrible," says Lagerfeld. "Someone should fit them--seriously."   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Michelle Obama is handsome woman, but with no fashion image yet, says Karl Lagerfeld. %u201CThat will come with the function, I hope.%u201D
Michelle Obama is "handsome woman, but with no fashion image yet," says Karl Lagerfeld. %u201CThat will come with the function, I hope.%u201D   (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
In style-obsessed France, first lady Carla Bruni's clothes are watched assiduously.
In style-obsessed France, first lady Carla Bruni's clothes are watched assiduously.   (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)
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