Travel and Style Abroad
Sunday, March 8, 2009 at 3:04 PM 
Jacqueline Kennedy in front of the Taj Mahal, May 15, 1962; Photograph by Cecil Stoughton
The White House has announced that President and First Lady Mrs. O will make their first overseas trip since moving to the White House - visiting England, France, Germany, Turkey and the Czech Republic for a series of World and NATO summits from March 31 to April 5. This seems like a fitting time to look back on the influence Jackie Kennedy had while travelling overseas as First Lady. We turn to one of our all time favorite books, "Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years" for insight:
"Jacqueline Kennedy used clothing as theatrical device, dressing in subtle complement to her host nation. When she visited Versailles the Parisian couturier Givenchy was given due credit as the the author of her fresh but regal ensemble. For a trip to Mexico Cassini created a collection of outfits for her in appropriate "sun colors." And for the tour of India and Pakistan Jacqueline Kennedy assembled a wardrobe from various fashion houses with the panache of a costume designer. Its vivid palette was that of Mughal miniatures, and the reflective fabrics conferred an additional brilliance."
Mrs. O's style is increasingly known for its range and multiplicity, the result of a woman who dresses for herself, not a calculated image. While not a constant, there have been times when Mrs. O has undeniably used her style to send a thoughtful message - first to mind are the optimistic lemongrass ensemble worn on Inauguration Day as well as the Kai Milla design worn on the recent evening Stevie Wonder was honored at the White House.
This first overseas trip presents a similar opportunity for Mrs. O, particularly when visiting nations where fashion is so deeply entrenched in the country's culture. As Mrs. Kennedy displayed, attention to nuanced wardrobe details can pay dividends in such cases. Will Mrs. O charm the British in Alexander McQueen? Enchant the French in Sonia Rykiel? Perhaps even bring her Azzedine Alaia belt out of the archive? The thought of Mrs. O and Carla Bruni Sarkozy in the same room is almost too much for our fashion loving mind to handle. Needless to say, we have much to look forward to in the weeks ahead. We'd love to hear your thoughts on Mrs. O's overseas trousseau.
Misc
Reader Comments (58)
I can't wait to see what happens and hope she will compliment the countries she visits with their designers as well as continue her support of USA designers and most importantly be herself as usual.
Regarding Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, have to say that despite reports to the contrary, I really do not think she dresses attractively - she dresses well but the clothes seem to be wearing her. She looked better as model. Now, she does not look like she belongs in the fabulous couture gowns she has every opportunity to wear. In this respect Mrs O will certainly outshine her.
To compare them is natural, but, as we all are Mrs. O sets her own statement's.
Her family life, husband, children, living in mom and a mirage of good deed's.
Social circle building is key to her goal's to make the White House a place where
people can come. Her life in front of our country has given us a since of welcome, into her daily routine's and who she spends her time for. It is obvious for the next shot, her pictures are plastered like everywhere.
I would need a ton of glamour support to pull off the look's she wears.
Her style is one of a woman who knows exactly what she is doing. I love her.
She has inspired me and I will be my best always, she leads an era, very well.
After reading this post about Mrs. O’s upcoming trip abroad I started rummaging through some old books I have collected through the years. If you can find them on an old, used book site, I
think you might enjoy them.
Mrs. Kennedy Goes Abroad by Jacqueline Duheme
Dressing Diana by Tim Graham & Tamsin Blanchard
In Kennedy Style by Letitia Baldridge
Yes, Mrs. O, Jackie Kennedy, and Princess Diana have three very distinctive personalities. Mrs. Kennedy started the trend of what I would consider “Diplomatic Dressing”, but Diana perfected it. She understood that her appearance was a representive of her country. Chic, but in the style of the country of her host. It is yet to be seen if Mrs.O can pull it off with the panache of Diana. I would say that if the recent gift protocols blunder during the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, the administration has some ground to recover.
Mrs. O better bring her A game if she is gong to France. Contrary to what CoutureCoco and others maintain Carla Bruni always look spectacular. Are you serious: "Her clothers weat her!" Have you seen the womanm's recent pics? Go to gettyimages and see that gorgeous lavender suit she wore to Mexico! Great cut, understated jewelry, cute kitten heels, and that purple bag just pulled everything together. Her being a former model is a deginite asset, especially with her posture. She popularized the flats look even before Mrs. O became known for being a flats girl (partly because her hubby is short, which really is a shame for her). I say Mrs. O should bring it up a notch because on the world stage, people will not be judging her (and judge they will) for her amazing intellect or her aadmirable charitable work, but on the outfits she wears. However, Mrs. O has one starting advantage on Ms. Bruni, which she should capitalize on, she has the ultimate accessory in Barack Obama. So I say Michelle, stand tall, wear them heels, and those gorgeous sheath dresses you are known for and knock'em dead. By the way, one of Mrs. O's looks that I LOVE that she has not duplicated enough is the purple dress with black belt she wore when her husband became the presumptive nominee in Minessota last year; it was the most perfect I had seen her look: hair, makeup, dress, shoes, accessories. If she goes that route for her trip, whe will beat Ms. Bruni hands down.
While I think the european press will surely compare Mrs S to Mrs O, after all Mrs S is the darling of the european fashionn press and Mrs O is becoming a darling here of the fashion press, I think Mrs O can hold her own.
As much as its said Mrs S being a model does play a part in her style... No not every model has style but being around high fashion designers, stylist, photographers etc,..does give you knowledge of clothes other people don't have.. ask Kate Moss....... I think Mrs S day-time style is very chic but honestly doesn't seem like her..She seems more like a jeans and t-shirt person...and it looks liks she playing a role.. The gowns she wears are faboulous and suit her much better..
And that's where Mrs O has an advantage. She looks confident and comfortable in everything she wears...
Miz C - I think you said it all - Barack Obama being the ultimate accessory! HE will be looking gorgeous for sure and much taller than poor Mr. S.
And micaro9 expressed perfectly that Carla looks her best in jeans and T-shirts. I haven't seen her most recent pictures but was thinking about her visit to England recently.
So, this one time when I visited the Taj I wanted to take cute pictures (naturally). But I ended up almost falling in the reflection pond and embarrassed myself in front of TONS of tourists from all over the world who had been waiting to visit this sacred place. I only wish I could have looked as classy as the lovely Mrs. O... :)
Love from,
AshleyL.
www.ashleylaurencheney.blogspot.com
I think the press in general will report on whatever they think will sell papers. They'll make up snubs and dislikes, irritations and slights, stuff that doesn't necessarily have a grain of truth in it, so long as it shifts copies. And they'll use cleverly edited photo's to "prove" they are right.
For myself, I will be watching news footage to see how people really get along. Stills can be misleading but body language is always real.
For the record and in my opinion, I haven't yet seen Carla Bruni Sarkozy look extraordinary. She often looks to me like she's wearing what she's been told is appropriate, which is a shame. I think she should wear what she wants and have some fun. But then, she's always claimed not to find clothes that interesting and after a career in modelling I can understand that!
I'm so looking forward to this trip - I'm going to try ang get to somewhere where I can take pics, that's for sure.