PHOTOS Jeez, even the Daily Mail is giddy!!

[Jackeens]

There were riots on the streets and bloodshed in the City. But in Downing Street, any doubts about Britain's love affair with the Obamas were firmly swept under the ermine-trimmed carpet.

In the rarefied world of Buckingham Palace and amid the splendours of Whitehall, the U.S. president and his wife were greeted with all the pomp and ceremony Gordon Brown could muster.

A battalion of photographers were on hand to document every single glamour-drenched second of a summit which at times appeared to be one rather arduous photo-call.

Even Brown himself looked a little starry-eyed as the President and his wife embarked on a frantic diplomatic merry-go-round, bolstered by a traditional British fry-up.

The day finished with a little bit of Obama magic, courtesy of wife Michelle. In a moment of astonishing spontaneity, the First Lady was caught on camera with her arm around the Queen. It seems the special relationship may be alive and well after all.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1166652/In-pictures-The-pomp-pageantry-Obamas-visit.html

Their photos:

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Although.....

After the G20 wives wowed us with their style prowess yesterday, Michelle Obama and Sarah Brown appear to have stumbled in the glamour stakes with today's choice of clothing...

Yesterday's dazzling J. Crew outfit may have won her praise from the hard-to-please fashion press - but the bizarre cardigan sported by Michelle Obama at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden today was rather less well-received.

The First Lady kept her famous toned arms covered in the asymmetric creation by Japanese designer Junya Watanabe, which featured a garish argyle pattern and was embellished with yet more sequins.



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1166336/Meet-Fluffies-thats-First-Ladies-understand-fashion--style-falters-day-G20-summit.html

[Botany]

1. Making me proud the Obamas

The Queen likes Michelle.

Nothing phony about her arm around Michelle.

I think the little girl Michelle was hugging was at a
cancer hospital. :cry:

[Demoiselle]

3. Wow. Embracing any Royal used to be a No-No.

A silly rule, yes....but remember the mini-flap among the Brits years ago when the Reagans welcomed Prince Charles and Diana to the White House and Nancy Reagan put her hand on Diana's back in that classic, "come into my house" gesture and Diana shrank from her touch a little and the British papers tut tutted about Nancy's gaffe?
Obviously, I do.(No, I'm not suggesting we throw a pity party for Nancy.)
I am constantly thrilled at how elegant and warm and utterly irresistible the Obamas are.

[Wednesdays]

10. That might have been more about what Di thought of Nancy

than about any breech in protocol.

Surely Diana wouldn't have reacted in such a way to someone she had warm feelings about--particularly if it was a woman.

[renate]

19. yes, Diana was a big toucher and hugger

Although she was usually the one instigating the hugs etc. And I also remember that she was shocked one time when she was wearing a low-backed dress and the host at the event she was attending put his hand on her bare back to guide her. Still, she wouldn't have been offended by the breach in protocol--she must just not have liked her.

BTW, I'm noticing that the British press (online, anyway) is treating Michelle's touching the Queen as an endearing thing and a sign of the positive impression the Obamas are making. It's the US press who's going "OMG!!!!!"

[Cha]

26. The US "press" is OMG..that's

how they roll. They don't have the Obamas' back.

[grace0418]

20. You know, it's funny. I think the whole idea that there would be another human being

that no one is allowed to embrace or touch bizarre. But when I imagine Nancy Reagan making that gesture (even in a welcoming way) and Michelle Obama putting her arm around the Queen, the difference is clear to me. I was a kid when Reagan was in the WH, but Nancy always seemed so brittle and cold and rich-lady-condescending to me. Michelle is the exact opposite, and I feel like even the Queen of England can see that Michelle is warm and genuine and means no disrespect. You can just sense that with people, I think.

I know I've been in situations where someone put their arm around me, or hugged me, and I thought "what is this person up to, or what are they trying to prove?" It's almost like a power game. But with other people you just know it's how they are. I wonder what it is that causes us to sense that difference in people. Is it body language, or chemical signals, or intuition?

Anyway, how can you not want a hug from Michelle? Okay, yeah, I know a lot of freeper types think she's the devil, but their effed up so they don't count. :)

[roguevalley]

27. you can see the warmth in the Queen's eyes. I love the pictures of

probably grand babies on the lady's purse. Too cute. :)

[patrice]

2. Love the "gingham" skirt/sweater-set and teal dress/argyle sweater combos!!

This brief lapse into utter superficiality brought to you by . . .

: - ) ME ( - :

[MADem]

4. The person who looks the most comfortable in that pic is the filmmaker in the pink sari

She's carrying some sort of pocketbook/lunchbox thing with pics of kids on it (likely relatives). She's the one I'd want to chat with!! The poor lady to her left, cut out of the "Who's Who" shot, looks like an unhappy sausage, poor thing.

Is it me, or is the fashion nowadays to wear clothing that is too tight, reveals every possible flaw, and wrinkles easily?

I can't keep up with this stuff!

[patrice]

5. I like how the Korean lady is dressed.

Looks like a beautifully embroidered kimono.

[Wednesdays]

12. At first glance, I thought she was Japanese wearing a kimono, too

But kimonos nearly always have an "obi" (the wide sash around the waist).

What she's wearing is more likely a traditional Korean dress, and I agree that it is stunning.

[csziggy]

24. The Korean traditional woman's dress is the Hanbok

http://www.koreaaward.com/korea/image01.htm

"The hanbok is characterized by its simple lines and the fact that it has no pockets. The women's hanbok comprises a wrap-around skirt and a bolero-like jacket. It is often called chima-jeogori, chima being the Korean word for skirt and jeogori the word for jacket. The men's hanbok consists of a short jacket and pants, called baji, that are roomy and bound at the ankles. Both ensembles may be topped by a long coat of a similar cut called durumagi."

"Today's designers are increasingly seeking inspiration in the hanbok and other costumes of their ancestors to create fashions with a uniquely Korean flair that can meet the demands of today's lifestyles. They are incorporating the lines and cut of the hanbok and other ancient clothes and accessories in their designs and employing traditional fabrics such as hemp and ramie. In fact, many department stores now have boutiques specializing in such clothes and shops specializing in a new generation of hanbok for everyday wear are springing up nationwide."

[patrice]

7. P.S. Susie Orbach's book Bodies may be making the rounds.

At least amongst American women, the look you describe may be a subtle FU.

[MADem]

15. To the fashion industry, or the culture?

I don't notice it in my everyday life, but I see these famous ladies on the world stage, and the Hollywood types on their red carpets, and I think to myself "You could find something that looks better at the Goodwill" on more than one occasion!

Then again, I don't know fashion, I don't "get" it, and I don't understand it, so it's not for me to gripe, I guess.

[patrice]

30. Actually, I'm with you on this. What I notice of that scene these days DOES often look

wrinklely and ill-fitting.

[patrice]

8. I WANT to know: Is the argyle sweater buttoned crookedly? That could be a designer's aesthetic

statement.

My daughter, the (successful) visual designer, almost always includes a "flaw".

[MADem]

14. That's very Islamic, you know.

See, only Allah is perfect, so you gotta put a mistake in there somewhere.

When you're looking at first quality carpets, it's sometimes a challenge to find the "mistake." It's like Where's Waldo on steroids!

[patrice]

29. Daughter says things about the dynamic qualities of the "right" flaw.

Makes for a more active engagement, can also lead in more interactive stuff, such as web design.

[BrklynLiberal]

17. I also wondered if it was buttoned incorrectly....

http://www.mrs-o.org/

Mrs. O wears a Jason Wu dress and an asymmetrical Junya Watanabe cardigan. We recognize the green Jimmy Choo “Glacier” pumps from the Inauguration.

[RebelOne]

25. I think it looks that way because the other side is

scrunched up under her hand.

[patrice]

32. It's an asymetric design, i.e. intentional. I like it very much.

Quite a statement, actually: Fresh, also classic (argyle) but non-conformist in its asymetry, playful, not stuffy, fun . . .

[grace0418]

11. She directed Bend it Like Beckham and Bride and Prejudice. I enjoy watching the dvd

extras with her because she seems very real, very funny, very sweet and everyone in the cast seems to love her.

[MADem]

13. I liked both of those!! No wonder she apealed to me! nt

[Jennicut]

6. The thing about Michelle is her warmth just shines through

that is really what makes her beautiful.
The Queen and Michelle....very cute.

[patrice]

9. It's her warmth + you can see she's excited about what's going on.

Like most of us would be.

She physically and clearly expresses an emotional experience that many of us can match.

[bdamomma]

18. Michelle's warmth and just being genuine.

I like her.

[Wednesdays]

16. That group photo: what classy-looking women

Even if there are some among them with political leanings we despise, at least they all appear dignified and well-educated. And Michelle Obama has that aura about her as much as any of them.

I'd chew on razor blades before I'd watch the Stepford Wife represent us among this group again. :grr:

[otohara]

21. Picture #2 - What Building Are Brown & Obama In?

anybody know?

[Jackeens]

22. It's the Foreign Office - looks amazing

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_and_Commonwealth_Office

[otohara]

23. Thanks For All You Do

I love your threads Jackeens. :toast:

[JayMusgrove]

34. Yes, she works hard for US!!!!!!!! I love her pictures, too! oh and notice

how in the picture #8 or so.........Michelle Obama is in the exact middle of the spread???????

Is this all an American photo shoot for Michelle??

She deserves nothing less.

[AyanEva]

35. It's absolutely gorgeous, isn't it?

If I was a millionaire, my house would totally look like that. LOL

[AyanEva]

36. I love Michelle's weird blue cardigan outfit.

I couldn't pull it off but I love it on her. What I don't love is that weird green skirt/cream sweater combo. Too many different prints and I think the shoes are snakeskin or something. I like each piece individually but together it's kind of awful.

[Hope And Change]

28. K & R!

[DesertRat]

31. I love all the photos except that last one....

I think that Michelle's sweater is ugly and ill fitting and Sarah Brown's outfit is way too tight...

[JayMusgrove]

33. There's a lot of opinion about Michelle's outfit.

Evidently she likes it. Good enough for me.