Sarkozy, Bruni Wed (Finally)

(NEWSER) - French First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy just loves her fleurs and she's often photographed arranging blooms in the Elysée Palace. Problem is, the flowers are costing French taxpayers $1,100 a day, and they want the spending nipped in the bud. The blooming bills were revealed in the first state audit of a French leader's spending habits since the days of Louis XVI. Carla and hubby Nicolas also blew $5,000 in late fees for tardy payments of electric and gas bills. More»

France's first lady brings rare mix to Elysée Palace

(NEWSER) - Michelle Obama just moved into the White House, but America’s first lady could teach a few things to her more veteran French counterpart, confesses Carla Bruni in Vogue. “I fell into my husband’s life from another world,” explains the model-turned-singer, who's been the French first lady for about a year. “Michelle Obama would probably have more advice for me than I have for her.” More»

From model to wife of French president Sarkozy, VF profiles multi-faceted Carla

(NEWSER) - Who could have imagined that Italian supermodel-singer Carla Bruni would find love with a right-wing French president? Maureen Orth takes a look at France’s First Lady in Vanity Fair: her education in art and architecture, admiration of women's-libbers Simone de Beauvoir and Françoise Sagan, and her husband's reaction to nude pictures online. ("Oh, I like this one! Can I have a print of it?") More»

Ex-supermodel's B&W image expected to fetch at least $3K

(NEWSER) - A black-and-white photograph of Carla Bruni will go up for sale at an auction next month, Reuters reports. Christie’s expects the portrait of Nicolas Sarkozy's bride to attract a final bid of $3,000 to $4,000, and the auction house's announcement of the sale on the eve of a state visit to the UK isn't sitting well with the subject, the Daily Mail reports. More»

Marries on-off beau in glitzy wedding at the Rainbow Room

(NEWSER) - Just six months ago she was France's first lady, but last night the ex-wife formerly known as Cecilia Sarkozy became the new wife of her on-again, off-again beau Richard Attias in New York's legendary Rainbow Room, reports the AP. The glitzy affair capped three days of parties and came just a month after Sarko got himself hitched to former model Carla Bruni. More»