First Ladies Michelle and Carla leave Sarah Brown in the shade in glamorous co-ordinated outfits at D-Day remembrance day
07th June 2009
If there is such a thing as a political First Wives Club, Michelle Obama, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy and Sarah Brown were certainly it yesterday.
But while America and France's First Ladies upped the glamour stakes in co-ordinated dresses of a similar hue, complete with high-waisted belts, Britain's Sarah Brown opted for a frumpy green checked dress.
The trio walked on stage several minutes ahead of their husbands in the company of D-Day veterans, earning a huge cheer from a thrilled crowd at the official commemoration.
Line up: Sarah Brown, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy and Michelle Obama attend the remembrance day held at Omaha Beach at Colleville-sur-Mer, France, yesterday
All displayed supreme confidence in front of 9,000 veterans, their families and VIP guests – but then Mrs Obama and Mrs Brown have both made solo appearances in support of their husbands and Mrs Sarkozy is a former supermodel.
They all seemed as much at home with each other as they did in the public eye – warm, respectful and above all friendly.
There were shouts and groans of disappointment as the trio took seats in the front row of the audience. The seating plan meant they disappeared from view for the majority of the ceremony.
Mrs Obama took her seat first, dazzling in a white shift dress influenced by the pared down New York style of Calvin Klein or Donna Karen, coupled with a matching knee-length coat. She had modernised the look with a silver buckled belt and teamed the elegant but functional dress with a livelier pair of silver shoes, thought to be Jimmy Choos.
Mrs Obama and Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy wore matching outfits of a similar colour
By her side was Mrs Sarkozy in a classic cream dress, likely to be from her favoured French designer Dior, with a black swing coat.
And, not perhaps in the same league as the the Presidents’ wives, perked up her green checked outfit with brown and cream jewellery.
They talked with animation and affection until the start of the proceedings, their black, brown and red heads often intimately tilted towards each other, all equally involved in conversation.
The First Ladies share a lighter moment during the D-Day commemorations
They sat as a trio in the front row and talked with animation and affection ahead of proceedings
The ladies join in with a round of applause during the ceremony
Despite political and cultural differences, all are wives of world leaders and the mothers of young children raised in the public eye.
It was Mrs Brown who proved most up-to-the-minute with technology – using the social networking site Twitter to keep followers informed on the day’s events.
At around 11am she updated her site with the message: ‘Just attended very moving service for D-Day Remembrance in Bayeaux Cathedral – so many British veterans here to pay tribute.’
Snap: Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy both opt for belted cream outfits
Carla Bruni-Sarkozy takes a moment as she watches from inside the prefecture in Caen
She showed humility by taking a photograph for a veteran with his camera. The previous day Mrs Brown had used Twitter to thank those backing her husband in the political crisis.
To one supporter, who had written: ‘I think you are both doing a great job, don’t let the b’s get you down,’ she responded: ‘Thanks for your lovely message.’
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but I suppose everybody has their off days.
