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Samantha Cameron, Michelle Obama and the sartorial special relationship Samantha Cameron, Michelle Obama and the sartorial special relationship
(about 17 hours later)
Catwalk season might be over, but Washington has gallantly rushed in to fill the vacuum. This week, DC is playing host to a fascinating geopolitical fashion show featuring an all-star cast and headlined by Michelle Obama and Samantha Cameron. So far, the sartorial themes of Camerobama fashion week are polite nationalism and the delicate art of wardrobe mirroring.Catwalk season might be over, but Washington has gallantly rushed in to fill the vacuum. This week, DC is playing host to a fascinating geopolitical fashion show featuring an all-star cast and headlined by Michelle Obama and Samantha Cameron. So far, the sartorial themes of Camerobama fashion week are polite nationalism and the delicate art of wardrobe mirroring.
Cameron has proved herself skilled at both. On the South Lawn on Wednesday she wore a neatly tailored, tricoloured dress by the relatively established British designer Roksanda Ilincic, which chimed perfectly with Obama's pale, neatly tailored suit by US designer Zac Posen.Cameron has proved herself skilled at both. On the South Lawn on Wednesday she wore a neatly tailored, tricoloured dress by the relatively established British designer Roksanda Ilincic, which chimed perfectly with Obama's pale, neatly tailored suit by US designer Zac Posen.
This championing of homegrown talent while mirroring her host's well documented style was also in evidence on day one during a mini-Olympic event. In a triumph of colour-blocking, Cameron chose a bright pink top, again by Ilincic, and a belt by another of her favoured British designers, Emilia Wickstead. She has worn the top on home turf already, testing it out at an event which closed London fashion week, so she knows it works in photo ops with stylish women. With that, she wore ankle-length trousers by Joseph, a wardrobe staple among fashion cognoscenti, with shoes by the very British and very Middleton-endorsed LK Bennett. It was flattering, appropriate (despite inevitable "oo-er, heels at a sports event" comments in the media) and, crucially, the look was not overpowered by Obama's mustard cashmere cardigan – although she was as ebullient and as natural as we have come to expect. Her embellished knitwear was by the US designer and wife of Mick Jagger, L'Wren Scott, which she wore with wide Gatsby-esque trousers that suited her tennis moment perfectly. This championing of homegrown talent while mirroring her host's well documented style was also in evidence on day one during a mini-Olympic event. In a triumph of colour-blocking, Cameron chose a bright pink top, again by Ilincic, and a belt by another of her favoured British designers, Emilia Wickstead. She has worn the top on home turf already, testing it out at an event which closed London fashion week, so she knows it works in photo ops with stylish women.
With that, she wore ankle-length trousers by Joseph, a wardrobe staple among fashion cognoscenti, with shoes by the very British and very Middleton-endorsed LK Bennett. It was flattering, appropriate (despite inevitable "oo-er, heels at a sports event" comments in the media) and, crucially, the look was not overpowered by Obama's mustard cashmere cardigan – although she was as ebullient and as natural as we have come to expect. Her embellished knitwear was by the US designer and wife of Mick Jagger, L'Wren Scott, which she wore with wide Gatsby-esque trousers that suited her tennis moment perfectly.
There had already been further evidence of SamCam's able wardrobe mirroring – this time with her husband – on their arrival at Andrews air force base. Next to the besuited PM, the hot pink would doubtless have been captioned "Samantha dazzles next to dull Dave" but the cropped Burberry trench saved that analysis.There had already been further evidence of SamCam's able wardrobe mirroring – this time with her husband – on their arrival at Andrews air force base. Next to the besuited PM, the hot pink would doubtless have been captioned "Samantha dazzles next to dull Dave" but the cropped Burberry trench saved that analysis.
Evidence of Cameron's deft fashion foreign policy came on day two when it was revealed that the Camerons had given a Jonathan Saunders scarf to Michelle Obama. Saunders is the toast of London fashion week, known for his use of colour and print. Cameron has worn the brand already, and between women with an interest in fashion the gift counts as first-class diplomacy.Evidence of Cameron's deft fashion foreign policy came on day two when it was revealed that the Camerons had given a Jonathan Saunders scarf to Michelle Obama. Saunders is the toast of London fashion week, known for his use of colour and print. Cameron has worn the brand already, and between women with an interest in fashion the gift counts as first-class diplomacy.
But the real question from the visit is not the tiresome "who looked best?" but rather "do they plan?" Was the colour-blocking choreographed or a happy accident? It's likely that the latter was true on day one – or rather, Obama went true-to-form spontaneous while Cameron performed a smart wardrobe second-guess. It's less plausible that the synchronicity on the lawn was accidental, more likely that the cooler tailoring had been mentioned before the event. But the state dinner on Wednesday night was another matter. With such an event planned to the minute, it's possible to imagine some discreet BlackBerrying between Cameron's right-hand woman, Isabel Spearman, aka Bells, and whoever Obama's 12 or so Bells are, to ensure the result was a complement, not a clash.But the real question from the visit is not the tiresome "who looked best?" but rather "do they plan?" Was the colour-blocking choreographed or a happy accident? It's likely that the latter was true on day one – or rather, Obama went true-to-form spontaneous while Cameron performed a smart wardrobe second-guess. It's less plausible that the synchronicity on the lawn was accidental, more likely that the cooler tailoring had been mentioned before the event. But the state dinner on Wednesday night was another matter. With such an event planned to the minute, it's possible to imagine some discreet BlackBerrying between Cameron's right-hand woman, Isabel Spearman, aka Bells, and whoever Obama's 12 or so Bells are, to ensure the result was a complement, not a clash.