First Lady, Glamor Icon?

After eight years of Laura Bush's conservative -- some might say dour -- style as First Lady, the US is setting itself up for a turn toward a sophisticated style set by either Cindy McCain or Michelle Obama. Either way this country shows stylistic promise, although the two have distinctly different takes on the trends, McCain with a nod to high-end couture characterized by a conservative look punctuated with bright colors, while Obama offers a more forward, experimental look. Think McCain = Oscar de la Renta, and Obama = Maria Pinto (a Chicago designer whose work pushes the limits while maintaining a clearly Midwestern sensibility). The poised, refined image these women exude will clearly become a part of the next administration's public image, but both have also shown that they aren't merely interested in taking the sideline role that Laura Bush assumed, a powerful message about the state of women in the realm of American politics. Regardless of the outcome on Tuesday, America is set to have a new glamor icon in office for the next four years.