Won't you cry for me Argentina?

Oiy, what a mess has Argentina gotten itself into with this fashion disaster! The newly elected president - the wife of the outgoing president (sound a little too familiar) - always has her signature big hair and a canvas-worth of makeup, plus wears what seem more like costumes than suits. So, without further ado, here is Madame President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner:

Not too horrible, right? Just combining red and orange sheen, but that's not REALLY that bad since it fits her well. And the next one is very cute - for a Hollywood starlet on the red carpet...

It's like she's wearing white to a funeral, or something. To quote Michael Kors, "It's very Mother of the Bride."

And last but certainly not least, presidential pantylines...

I am sad to say it's all a little too much like Hillary (with a better figure, of course).

– AP Photos

Wasn't Obama on the cover of this one just a couple months ago?

Thanks for the tip. Another great pol making the cover of the magstands - I guess we're moving even further into the year of political celebrity. At least this one doesn't look too Photoshopped.

Obama, Sarkozy top Esquire’s best dressed list

Who says all politicians (and the journos that love them) dress poorly and frumpy?

Esquire’s September issue, on newsstands next week, features 25 “best dressed nominees,” and there are some names you wonkish types might recognize.

Sen. Barack Obama leads the field at No. 4, followed by French President Nicolas Sarkozy (No. 6) ((though I'd have to say he has hands-down the best-dressed family)), Afghan President Hamid Karzai (No. 10), NBC’s David Gregory (No. 13) and Rep. Rahm Emanuel (No. 21).

Or, at least, so says the Yeas & Nays' guys.

– Photos compiled from AP

K Street, here's a new propsal to lobby for

Take heed D.C. officials, it's hot outside! Mark Kleiman rather sarcastically comments on the EU's proposal to ban neckties in summer:

... The excuse is energy conservation; men with open collars (and no jackets) presumably can tolerate warmer offices, saving on air-conditioning.

Whatever.

Getting rid of that ugly, expensive, and uncomfortable badge of middle-classness will certainly improve the quality of EU decision-making by improving the oxygen supply to the brains of the Eurocrats, and perhaps making them less pompous. ...

Who would have expected such a great blow for hippie/Boomer/Angeleno culture to come from Brussels, of all places?

– AP Photo/Thierry Charlier

State meetings: Why-are-we-meeting-with-Macedonia edition

There are four fashion statements I'd like to compliment in this photo (best viewed if you click on it and make it large):

1. First off, I love Condi's peep-toe pumps, which have been showing up all over the White House lately (the first lady wore a pair yesterday, too). Finally, there is some exception to the stiff rule of no open-toe shoes. Peep toes are a great summer shoe - allowing a little air to flow while maintaining modesty and class (plus you can show off your pedicure). It's nice to see that politicians are trying to stay somewhat on top of the trends.

2. Just look at that bootylishousness (sp?) on the Secretary of State!

3. I know that skinny ties are trying to become a fashion trend for men, but I just love the big knots you get from thicker ties. The diagonal-stripe number on the Macedonian Foreign Minister, Antonio Milososki, just looks so chic (just ignore the fact his jacket is two sizes too big for him).

4. Not really fashion, but I just check out the decor of the State Department. I love the combination of the eggshell paint and all of the crystal. I guess that's where all our tax dollars are going...

– AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

A final goodbye to the Blairs

So they weren't the most fashionable sextet in the history of political families, but I think this was a nice way to go out. Leaving their London home for the last time, the Blairs looked put together - though what in the hell is Cherie wearing?!? Is it that cold in England in June that you need a full-length raincoat? (With matching fuchsia shoes!) I do have to say, the boys clean up nicely, and when did Nicky get GQ hot? (He's old enough now that I can say that. I wonder if he plays with Harry? They're about the same age...) Anyways, this is just a posting to say goodbye.

– AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis

Introducing the new British first lady

British women often get stereotyped as being unattractive, and while there are so many Brits who are gorgeous, I do have to say the fashions of the new Prime Minister's wife are no better than her predecessor.

While I understand the choice of red and white for Sarah Brown due to her gorgeous light auburn hair, what I don't understand is why she would do such an injustice to her body by wearing either of these frocks (I just had to get the word in!).

While belts are good to accentuate the waist, the pockets and large loops on the cream suit below just add width where it is not needed. Plus, this picture doesn't show it, but there is a front slit! At right I have to give her mad prop for wearing bright red, 3+-inch stiletto peep-toe slingbacks, but the rest of the outfit is so matronly. Very Chico's-esque.

– AP Photos/Matt Dunham and Martin Rickett/PA, respectively

Euro trip: The weekend's best and worst

The Good











The Ehhh











And the What-Were-You-Thinking

Good versus evil, Day 5

As the Summit came to a close and the Bushes headed out of Germany and into Poland, Laura had a bad day - at least fashionwise.

The first look, as she was boarding Air Force One, had some much potential when I first saw the blazer. Then, of course, I saw a couple full-body shots and was appalled. The pants clearly didn't fit her (see example A) and the shoes (example b, inset) were completely inappropriate for anything but a summer beach party. Oh Laura...

Look two, after she got into Poland and was posing for cameras, was the photo equivalent to good versus evil. Laura, in her black pantsuit and flats!, looked like the polar opposite of Polish first wife Maria Kaczynski, in her uber-chic, off-white suit with amazing detailing and a terrific pair of beige pumps. The only thing the two seem to have in common is the same taste in dogs! The Russian presidential pooch, Titus, sure looks a lot like both Barney and Miss Beazley, who are all very good examples of classic, regal pets.

– AP Photos/Jens Meyer and Gerald Herbert, respectively

First ladies dressing, Day 4

Wow, they clean up well!


The first ladies (and gentleman) of the G8 Summit leadership looked pretty good while posing for the cameras. I really love Cherie Blair, who seems to be channeling Jackie O with her clean lines, classic bag and flipped shoulder-length hair. Her neighbor, Margarida Sousa Uva, shines with a chic, youthful but classy look. Her mod skirt is light and flowy and matches perfectly with a very simple fitted white jacket. Truthfully, the only two spouses I think could have done a little better are Flavia Franzoni Prodi - who has all the Italian designers in the world she could have fill her wardrobe - whose pink scarf is the only redeeming factor of her grandma-ish suit and Mr. Joachim Sauer who could have pulled out a full suit instead of this blah blazer.

For a quick reference to see who I'm talking about: Left to right, Laureen Harper wife of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Russia's First Lady Ludmila Putina, the wife of Italian Prime Minister Romana Prodi, Flavia Franzoni Prodi, U.S. First Lady Laura Bush, the husband of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Joachim Sauer, Cherie Blair, wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Margarida Sousa Uva, wife of EU Commission President Jose Manue Barroso and Akie Abe, wife of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pose for a group picture during the program for the partners of the G8 leaders at 'Burg Schlitz' a palace in the village Hohen Demnzi about 62 miles southeast of Heiligendamm on Thursday.

– AP Photo/Markus Schreiber

New first lady is a true French beauty

I came across this interesting and witty insight into international political fashion on one of my favorite blogs, A Serious job Is No Excuse. I'd like to think this is the type of thing I'd write about on this blog, but have never really thought to venture out into foreign heads.

... I came across these snaps of Cécilia Sarkozy, the wife of newly-elected French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, at his inauguration last month.

All along I'd been told President Sarkozy's socialist challenger, Ms. Ségolène Royale, was the hot one to watch on the French political scene, but after being only mildly impressed with her "scandalous" bikini photoshoot and then of course completely dissuaded once she failed to secure a win in the runoff election, I now turn my attention instead to the fickle-icious comings and goings of the extraordinarily well-dressed and self-absorbed beauty, Miss Cécilia.

She may be a lithe 5'10" former model who only sort-of dabbled academically in a little of this and a little of that; she may have allowed France's most powerful man to follow through on his now well-known plan - a plan he concocted while in attendance of his future wife's first wedding - to woo her out of those pesky 'til-death-do-us-part-etc.-etc. vows; and she may be the woman who instead of ending her sagging second marriage to one of France's most high profile politicians takes up with yet another man in a very much out-in-the-open affair that includes vacations to Cannes and New York and frequent hand-holding alfresco lunches in Paris.

Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

The sophistcated, figure-flattering style, the thin ankles, the good haircut, the genuine smile and alluring feminine wiles - it looks like Hillary might have found her perfect complement. ...

OK, well I definitely don't agree with that last line - Hillary's style is not nearly as impecable as Sarkozy's and she could never even try to pull off that gorgeous knee-length, cap-sleeve dress. To read the entire entry, click here...

Laura watch, Day 3

For all the amazingly positive things she did yesterday, Laura went barreling downhill while in Germany today. Her two outfits were completely inappropriate for both her position as first lady (she needs to represent!) and for the situation she was in.

The first, a poop-brown pantsuit with a leopard-print camisole (you read it right). That's really all I need to say, right? This oh-so-wrong ensemble was worn as she made a speech promoting America at a German public library and then on a tour of the Schwerin Palace museum. For such cultural events, maybe you'd think to leave the animal print at home? Maybe not... I do have to give at least a couple points for her jewelry. The woman is pretty decent about bringing together outfits with good accessories. She had on a beautiful gold-toned, single-strand beaded/pearl? necklace with matching earrings. If you need to classy up leopard, I guess that's the way to do it.

The second was to meet the German Chancellor Angela Merkel (yes, it's a woman!) and her husband for diplomatic talks (aka dinner and photo ops). What a mess! The first lady - wearing what appeared to be a mother-of-the-bride all-white suit - was totally shown up by madame chancellor. The only thing she has going for her is that she has on a terrific pair of nude-colored slingbacks (yep, she did it again. And as a total aside, I love skin-colored heels as they give the appearance of longer, slimmer legs.) Merkel had on a very nice camel-colored, double-breasted blazer and simple black slacks. She looked comfortable and very presentable.

What's in store for the rest of the week? Keep checking back.

– AP Photos/Markus Schreiber and Oliver Multhaup, respectively

The Bushes take Europe, Day 2

Day 2 for Laura was such an amazing improvement! So far today (and that'll probably be it for costume changes), she has sported two beautiful outfits that are respectable, classic and chic - and funny enough, both jackets had flipped-up collars. (We saw both military-inspired and flipped collars in recent collections by Oscar de la Renta, the first lady's favorite designer.)

The first, which she wore while meeting with Czech first lady Livia Klausova, touring Prague's Castle gardens and totally showing up her counterpart, was a very simple fitted cream jacket worn with black pants and a single strand of pearls. It was elegant but not overstated. As for Klausova, though I don't care for her long suit jacket or floral scarf, both her three-strand necklace and embellished clutch are gorgeous.

The second, which she wore as her travel outfit leaving the Czech Republic on her way to the G8 summit in Germany, was a military-style suit - like yesterday's disaster - but fit her perfectly. The jacket was cinched in at the waist and totally accentuated her figure, and the skirt has just a little slit in the front making it modern and young (while age appropriate). Just to show that she's a real woman, a fantastic moment came when she had to fix her slingback which came off while climbing the stairs onto Air Force One. I just love that she's actually wearing slingbacks! (and that Bushy just stands there watching her fix it...)

– AP Photos/CTK, Michal Krumphanzl and Michal Kamaryt, respectively