A Matter of Style

Q1. See if you can pick which of the following photos is of:
(a) The wife of the French President
(b) The wife of the Australian Prime Minister

Ok – no prize money for that one.

We are all born with different natural assets. It mostly depends on what comes up when the genetic dice are rolled, combined with what we do with ourselves once we’re dragged kicking and screaming into the world, and how we present all of that in one package.

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy seems to have rolled double sixes in the genetic stakes, but in addition to that (in an almost sterotypical French way) she exudes style and class.

Style is “what you do with what you have”. It’s a major determinant of first impressions.

Therese Rein is a self-made business success. But on the world stage it’s style that drives first impressions, not professional history. And I think that’s independent of gender.

It may be unfair, but that’s how it is.

As Australia’s first lady, I hope Ms Rein gets some good style advice. She’s an intelligent women, married to a brilliant man. Considering the resources available to both of them, I don’t think it’s unreasonable for us to expect a bit more.