Carla goes curly but is upstaged by Spain's real princess in glamour showdown
27th April 2009
As if Michelle Obama wasn't enough of a fashion foe, now Carla Bruni is having to contend with a Spanish challenger.
The First Lady of France touched down in Spain today turning heads with a new curly hairstyle.
But all her efforts may have been in vain as she was outdazzled by Spain's Princess Letizia.
Neck and neck and cheek to cheek: Carla Bruni and Princess Letizia of Spain greet with a kiss at Zarzuela Palace in Madrid
Ms Bruni even upped the ante with a quick change from a business-like monochromatic pencil skirt and collared shirt combo to a fitted navy dress with a nod to shoulder pads and trademark low-heeled shoes.
But she was no match for the princess's form-clinging Royal purple and sky-high heels.
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Ms Bruni coupled her new do with a fitted navy dress and her trademark low heels as she met with the Spanish Royal family later in the day - but was it enough to take on Spain's Princess Letizia, clad in towering heels and deep purple
The 41-year-old First Lady's new wavy tresses are in stark change to her usual straightened, sleek locks - no doubt mindful of her impending meeting with one of Europe's most beautiful royals.
Appearing to draw inspiration from another famous First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Miss Bruni looked a picture of fashion perfection as she stepped off the plane at Madrid's Barajas airport.
Official line-up (from left to right) Princess Letizia, King Juan Carlos, Nicolas Sarkozy, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, Queen Sofia and Crown Prince Felipe
And her husband didn't seem to mind the change as he kept his eyes firmly on his beautiful wife as he greeted the Spanish King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophia.
In a fitted black dress, smart black heels and white top, Miss Bruni sported a wide smile as she and her husband landed in the Spanish capital today.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy and wife Carla Bruni arrive in Spain for a two-day state visit with the French First Lady sporting a smart new haircut
The couple are in Spain for a two-day visit, during which they will also meet Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.
The couple were greeted at the airport by Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos and were formally received by the King at the El Pardo palace, where visiting dignitaries traditionally stay.
Ms Bruni looked a picture of elegance as she arrived in Madrid this morning in a tight-fitting dress, black heels and a white top
As befitting a fashion icon voted the most attractive First Lady in the world last April, Bruni changed for the official luncheon at the Zarzuela Palace.
However, she found a little competition in the glamour stakes in the form of Princess Letizia, wife of Crown Prince Felipe, who who was wearing a bandage dress and pink heels.
After lunch, the French couple were taken on a tour of the Prado museum to see works by Velazquez, Goya, El Greco and others.
Tomorrow, Sarkozy and Zapatero will hold talks on co-operation in combating the armed Basque group ETA and issues such as Afghanistan and the fight against piracy in waters off Somalia.
Mr Sarkozy couldn't take his eyes away from his beautiful wife as he met Spanish King Juan Carlos (centre right) and Spanish Queen Sofia
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