Samantha Cameron and Michelle Obama were both impeccably dressed as they stood alongside their powerful husbands for the official photo last night at the White House state dinner in Washington, DC.
The Prime Minister’s wife wore a dress by London-based Italian designer Alessandra Rich.
Sam’s gorgeous blue lace ¾-length-sleeve belted dress from the Spring 2012 collection was paired with black heels from Next.
The First Lady opted for a gown by British-born, American-based designer Georgina Chapman, by donning Marchesa.
Michelle’s off-the-shoulder silk gazar draped column teal gown was teamed with a stunning Tom Binns statement necklace.
This portrait neckline with a statement necklace is a familiar look for Mrs O, as she sported a similar look back in May last year for the Royal dinner.
I think they both look outstanding. I love the modern electric-blue gown on Sam and Mrs O looks so effortless, classic and regal.
On this occasion I couldn’t pick a favourite.
Can you?
Credit: AlessandraRich.com & Mary F. Calvert/ZUMAPRESS.com
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Michelle, definitely! And President Obama is looking handsome as well
<– 10 years ago, no one thought they would be saying that about a president lol
Mrs. O’s necklace is way too heavy for her. It kinda remind me of those Myanmar women with those gold heavy jewelry around their neck.
I agree. While I love the dress, my eyes went immediately to the necklace. It almost looks like her head is thrust forward by the weight of it.
+1
SamCam, hands up. Michelle looks fantastic, but I’ve seen this look a hundred times before, from her and others. Samantha’s dress is refreshingly dfferent.
i agree completely!
I agree. Did they coordinate? They both wore blue the other day as well.
They all look handsome, husbands included, but Samantha is my favorite.
SC no doubt! (MO looks OK too but it’s SC that steals the spotlight, for me)
I love the Alessandra Rich. I think it is more modern. Michelle is gorgeous too, but more conservative.
Sam wins hands down its just STUNNING!!!!!
Mrs O dress is beautiful but i just hate the neckless with the dress.
I’d pick Michelle because of the stunning necklace. She looks fantastic as always. Plus I don’t like Samantha’s hair.
Love xx
Michelle wins for me. Her look is flawless. This was a state dinner and Samantha’s hair looks like she’s running errands for day. Her dress is okay but her styling let her down. In all the pictures I’ve seen of her, her hair looks the same – even for the royal wedding last year.
They both look great! I like Cam’s gown matches her eyes. Blue is her colour!
I prefer Samantha Cameron, her dress is modern and beautiful. Michelle Obama’s dress is beautiful but not particularly interesting and the necklace is a bit too much with that dress. I would see it with a daytime outfit. I think that the two women are both very tall, but sometimes Michelle Obama has an unflattering posture, like she tries to look a bit less tall.
I like SamCam better. Being from Aus I don’t know much about her…is she popular in the UK like Michelle is in the US?
SamCam’s dress is different not something you normally see a head of state wearing and for this she has a slight edge. However, Mrs O looks equally fantastic but she has worn this style of dress before. Both husbands also look dapper.
Sorry neither are doing it for me. I usually love Marchesa, but on this occasion it is just okay for me. I much prefer the styling of the similar Ralph Lauren she wore in May.
Definitely Samantha. She looks so modern and refreshing. I don’t like the upper part of Michelle’s dress, but I love the necklace
After going back and forth, I’m giving the edge to the FLOTUS. I think Ms Cameron’s hair and the leather belt make the look a little too casual for me. The dress looks like a maxi dress being worn to a get together, not a state/official dinner. The pattern is also a bit too close to reminding me of chintz. Thankfully, the streamlined simplicity and the thin belt counter that effect. What a great picture!
SamCam gives me a 70s Emmily Lou Harris vibe and its refreshing while Michelle looks is safe conservative with gorgeous statement AFrican inspired necklace
SamCam for me. I love the hair and makeup
Michelle hands down, really don’t like the high neck line on Sam Cam, doesn’t look evening at all.
Michelle is definately the winner for me if nothing else for the extra polish and flawless fit. Sam looks exactly the same with a complete lack of styling. I don’t love that print and if only she had added a more special belt, I could think about forgiving the other things, I’ve seen her looking better.
It’s lace actually….I like the dress a lot although it doesn’t scream state dinner, does it?
I agree with you, though, for someone who is in the fashion business (or used to) she displays a curious lack of styling nous. I also think she always looks awkward, as if she’d really rather stayed at home with her children. She just looks a little awkward, or maybe she’s just shy.
I agree with everything you said!
I like both ladies looks,but due to her bad posture I’ll go with SamCam this time.
Michelle Obama looks exactly the same as she did at the Royal Dinner except in blue. The same style of dress, same neckline, and same type of necklace.
I noticed the bad posture too.
I think Sam should have worn her hair up and I don’t care for her dress. Michelle’s necklace is too heavy looking. I love her gown though.
I have another options for them. For Mrs. O, she should remove the necklace, coz the dress is stunning, that it doesn’t need another accessories. As for Sam, she should remove the tie-like from her dress, coz she reminds me of a junior high student. If they done that, i couldn’t pick the winner as you do.
Michelle wins it for me.
Think they both are off: Sam cam’s belt is wrong: MO@s posture is awful and the necklace completely at odds with the dress and neckline
Michelle! If you see the dress from different angles you definitely see how beautiful it is. SamCam looks pretty though.
They are both disappointing…Samantha’s print looks too peasant-y for such a format event, and Michelle ruins her look with that horrific necklace…very distasteful to me. But then, I have never been a fan of Michelle’s fashion, as I tend to disagree with her choice in accessories.
The FLOTUS and Prime Minister Cameron win for me
Sam’s dress looked better in Next’s presentation
I actually like both dresses. However, I feel Sam’s dress would have been more suitable for a Cocktail party, not a formal event. I love Michelle’s statement necklace, it’s doing what it’s suppose to do, make a statement. I feel the necklace adds an extra flare of POW! to the ensemble. But as mentioned in earlier comments, I too think FLOTUS’ shoulders were ill-postured (is that a word?)
I prefer Sam Cam’s look, but is it just me, or is it not quite formal enough for the occasion? I know it’s full-length and lace, but the thing about Alessandra Rich dresses is that they manage to make very girly or very formal details look a bit sporty. This is what is so amazing about her designs, but I think they might have mislead Sam on this occasion. It rarely gets more formal than a White House state dinner. Michelle’s look is far more appropriate, with the amazing necklace adding some fashion pow.
Neither wins.
I don’t like the way the front of SamCam’s dress is twisted. You’d think she’d have straightened it before having pictures taken. The dress is lovely, but a little informal (despite the length) for a state dinner.
FLOTUS is lovely, but it is nothing new. The necklace is a little big.
Mrs. O looks a bit like she hired out as a display rack in the necklace section of a cheap department store. It looks like a bunch of necklaceS piled on — perhaps to cover her cleavage? Not good.
Mrs. C’s dress is interesting and just fine, though I think wearing her hair up and sporting a touch (just a touch!) of sparkle in earrings would have
brought the look up. In any case, SamCam wins this one hands down.
Oh! I should have added that on this occasion the men beat the ladies by a mile!
Sam Cam wins! Fab look.
I really LOVE Samantha’s style. She is so modern and unpredictable
Michelle’s dress is quite deja vu, I don’t really like the neckline, and that over-cooked necklace is giving her bad posture. Samantha’s look is rather quirky but I much prefer it as it is fresh and original.
Michelle looked amazing on camera. I was pleased to see print worn on a formal occasion.
michelle!
Li Bing Bing wore the same dress as Samantha Cameron to the Oscars viewing party so maybe you can do a Who Wore it Better post
thanks. This is already on my list