1. Michelle Obama—Her husband, Barack Obama, hasn't even been inaugurated yet, but the future first lady is already being called a fashion icon. The fashion industry is hoping that Obama's style could inspire women to keep purchasing clothes in these tough economic times. Designer Norma Kamali told ABCNews.com, "I think she will absolutely impact the fashion industry. She represents a real woman, a real woman's body, a real woman's lifestyle. She will purchase clothing that represents what women should be buying or wearing."
2. Carla Bruni-Sarkozy—The former model was one of 10 women who scored a spot on Vanity Fair's 2008 International Best-Dressed List. Designer Jean Paul Gaultier said of the French first lady, "There has to be a first lady in a place like the Elysée palace. Why not such a beautiful one?" Her personal style is praised as chic and elegant.
3. Cristina Fernández de Kirchner—In 2007, the former first lady succeeded her husband and became Argentina's president. Nicknamed "Queen Cristina" and sometimes called the "New Evita," she is known for her love of designer clothes and handbags and extravagant shopping trips to designer boutiques.
4. Imelda Marcos—The former first lady of the Philippines earned notoriety for her vast shoe collection and for taking shopping trips to New York while her country remained impoverished. In 2006, she launched her own line of jewelry and accessories.
5. Svetlana Medvedeva—The stylish blond is the first lady of Russia and a "patron of Russian fashion." She appears frequently in Russian celebrity magazines, sometimes on their "best-dressed" lists. Russian designer Igor Chapurin said of her, "She dresses extremely well; she has a look of elegance. She reminds me of other Kremlin wives."
Sources: BBC, International Herald Tribune, Time, Washington Post, CNN, Telegraph, Chicago Tribune, ABC News, Vanity Fair
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A .A of NY 9:50PM August 04, 2009