The XX Factor: What women really think.

To Bow or Not To Bow

Dana! Speaking of Michelle's sartorial choices, what do you think about the brightly hued and be-bowed outfit she wore yesterday to meet the Sarkozys? According to the Guardian, she had bow-laden "fashion face-off" with the similarly statuesque Carla Bruni Sarkozy.

Today, the two fashion titans clashed in sartorial battle in Strasbourg, as the US and French presidents met ahead of the Nato summit. Michelle wore a black coat with a floral pattern of pink poppies. The collar was ruched and tied loosely around the neck. It was rather lovely. Teamed with low kitten heels in black patent leather, the look achieved exactly the right balance of cheeriness and glamour. Carla, on the other hand, has gone for a cropped-sleeve coat in a soft grey, which is one of her favourite colours: she wore it a lot last year. And that's part of the problem - it feels like we've seen it all before. Despite the matching pussybow, compared to Michelle, Carla actually looks a bit washed out and (we can't believe we're about to say this) prim and proper. A flash of colour or a fashionable statement accessory could have taken this outfit to another level - but that's just not Carla's style.

Below is a video of the two first ladies in action yesterday. Both women are tall enough to pull off those giant, floppy "pussybows," but I am hoping against hope they do not become a trend. Such a large bow would make any petite woman look like an overgrown Shirley Temple.