Last week, President Obama and his wife Michelle began their European extravaganza, travelling to countries such as England and France. One of their first stops was in England to have tea and “crimpets” with the Queen of England. Although the U.S. has just elected its first African American president, and it is in fire financial straits, the press was not focused on the politics of the week. The main focus of last week’s European trip was how the First Lady measured up in her fashion choices.
Are we so passed the excitement of politics that headlining news is if Michelle Obama covered her muscular arms? I am not sure if the problem is President Obama’s PR people or if it just the press’ obsession with celebrity gossip and fashion. I honestly heard more about how Michelle measured up against the French president’s wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy than what President Obama actually accomplished in France.
Fashion Face-Off: Who owns the "Red Carpet"?
I know that Jackie-O was famous for her fashion, and it was a huge part of her husband’s presidency. But I think it is a little ridiculous that our president is making his first big trek around the globe in his new position, and the press care more about what his wife is wearing.
On the other hand, it is good PR for the president and his wife if she continues to satisfy the press with her fashion choices. The problem with appeasing the press, however, is that one wrong dress or outfit could mean weeks of bad PR for the First Family. For some reason, the press have begun to use Mrs. Obama’s fashion choices as a measure of how the First Family will succeed in the White House. The dress she wore when Obama gave his election victory speech generated a few weeks of negative press for the family, as the press wondered if she would continue to make bad fashion choices.
Thankfully for the Obamas, the First Lady continues to dress perfectly in J. Crew sweaters and designer dresses. For the president’s sake, let us hope that she does not make another fashion faux pas. One wrong dress could mean the start of World War III and an even bigger economic recession.
