Washington Gothic: Zapatero's Daughters Draw Inspiration From DC...See Which Washingtonians Have Gone Goth (PHOTOS, POLL)

When Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's daughters Laura, 16, and Alba, 13, were photographed last week, it looked like the teenage pair had hit their goth stride, wearing long black dresses, combat boots, and thick eyeliner. But the girls have nothing to be embarrassed about -- in fact, they're in good company amongst Washingtonians who dabble on the dark side of the color spectrum. Desiree Rogers, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and even Michelle Obama aren't afraid to give the goth look a go. Check out their gloom-and-doom inspired looks, and tell us who's the gothest and who's just a poser:

The Spanish First Family

Barack and Michelle Obama, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and his wife Sonsoles Espinosa, with daughters, Laura, 16, and Alba, 13, who appear to be in a goth phase.

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Comments

[Shawna1814]

Yes there is a difference between dark colors and goth - but come on these kids are clearly goth and clearly an embarrassment - and pls pls pls for the love of God STAND UP STRAIGHT! *sheesh* (and btw: Americans have a problem w/ obesity?)

[merger]

Our First lady is so beautiful and classy.

[LoveGuv]

*** PRINCECHARMED I'm a Fan of PRINCECHARMED I'm a fan of this user 3 fans permalink

You dont respect other countries

You dont respect other costumes

You dont respect others laws

You dont respect children rights

You dont respect poples privacy....

you cannot understand that photos of children in Spain are published when their parents permit it.

Royal babies are only photographied WHEN THEIR PARENTS PERMIT IT...
Tom Cruises baby photos are publishe WHEN HER PARENTS PERMIT IT...
Photos of children from other countries are published WHEN THEIR PARENTS PERMIT IT....
Photos of Sarkozy´s children, Obamas children are published WHEN THEIR PARENTS PERMIT IT...

ALL THE REST OF THE TIME THEY ARE NOT LEGAL, NO MATTER IF THE PARENTS ARE CELEBRITIES OR NOT...

i HOPE IT IS CLEAR...

You said it is the same in USA, well I´m seeing now Zpataro´s daughter´s faces in the cover of this magazine....

[LoveGuv]

PRINCECHARMED--the above post is rubbish!

Do you really think Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt gave permission for the Spanish newspapers to publish those paparazzi photos? NO. They published them because they had a telephoto lens and they are public figures.

You've made a complete fool of yourself by first claiming that it's always illegal to publish photos of kids and then finding 100 exemptions!

Zapatero brought his two daughters, posed for a photograph and never advised the WH not to publish them until AFTER they came out. He admitted that the mistake was on his part.

[PRINCECHARMED]

Well,

Bragelina send a photo of their babies to the media...(permission!!!!)

http://www.camina-conmigo.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Brad-pitt-y-angelina-jolie-con-sus-beb%C3%A9s-gemelos.jpg

Tom Cruise and Katie holmes sold their baby photos for million dollars. (permission!!!!)

http://www.adn.es/clipping/ADNIMA20080716_3120/5.jpg

Im not sure about this in the Spanish law, but I think that if you sell photos of your children, then youre giving permission to take photographs of them.

In fact, CHILDREN´S PRIVACY is being very discussed in Spain. A VERY POPULAR CELEBRITY IN SPAIN COULD LOST HER DAUGHTER BECAUSE SHE HAVE PROFIT OF HER DAUGHTER´S IMAGE A PRIVACY...

I´m not making the laws, and maybe they are not always well used. But I agree with the idea than children should be protected of their parents popularity if their parents decide it (there also limits here)

ZAPATERO HAS NEVER SHOWN HIS DAUGHTERS TO DE MEDIA. AND HE ASKED THE MEDIA NOT TO PUBLISHED HIS DAUGHTERS FACES. HERE IN HF YOU CAN SEE THEIR FACES....?¿?¿¿?¿?

This articule it is very interesting about MINORS AND PRIVACY.

http://images.google.es/imgres?imgurl=http://www.camina-conmigo.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Brad-pitt-y-angelina-jolie-con-sus-beb%C3%A9s-gemelos.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.camina-conmigo.com/famosos/belen-esteban-y-el-defensor-del-menor-de-la-comunidad-de-madrid/&usg=__fHmsfcBHf9Rx-QFOXXHi5xOW4E4=&h=400&w=300&sz=44&hl=es&start=19&um=1&tbnid=mnmsX1MjJeBB5M:&tbnh=124&tbnw=93&prev=/images%3Fq%3Del%2Bbebe%2Bde%2Blos%2Bpitt%26hl%3Des%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1

[Agentlady007]

I think there's something sexy about the Gothic look, but the dark eyeliner is not stylish, it just seems scary. The old raggedy boots are clunky and unattractive. The Gothic look mixed with a vintage boot however - like a granny boot -would be better IMO. I love the lace and tafetta dresses, but the black nail polish is for Holloween, and I think it repels people. ( I don't see too much gothic in these photos except the first photo with the girl on the far right. )

[shthar]

looks more like the 'black is slimming' phase

[ElsaIndy]

Given the request by their parents who are or were guests in our country that their children not be photographed, why is there a photograph of the children on the HP........!.........

Take it off.

[PRINCECHARMED]

Thank u ! I´m happy that some here can understand how offensive is this American media behaviour for us

[LoveGuv]

Would you be this upset about the pictures if the girls were better looking and didn't get their clothes from the Salvation Army store?

[KIVPossum]

Seems like when the parents allowed them to pose for the photograph they gave permission for the kids to be photographed.

[PRINCECHARMED]

Maybe they didnt know the Obama were making a circus of the G20 meeting...

[betweenextremes]

What did I miss? Halloween came early this year?

[KNadine]

I'm not in favor of messing w/ ppls kids, but seriously - What Were They Thinking??

[t iessa]

That "they're our kids and we love them?" You're in favor of "messing w/ ppls kids" enough to make a negative comment.

[LoveGuv]

That's why parents don't let kids do what they want! It's the parents' fault that these kids came out looking like that. It's inexcusable and Zapatero should be ashamed!!

You're one of the main people always talking about for the first family "represents the US." They weren't on vacation or just walking around the street. These people were representing Spain. It was an official function and the parents should have either said "put on a decent dress or stay in the hotel and watch a movie!"

Spare me your sanctimonious "leave the kids alone" BS. I'm not talking about the things they can't change. But everybody can put on a decent dress. They don't even look like they took a bath!

[KOSOVA]

The Spanish First Family is going in the funeral...!!!

[avam2009]

Have no problem with the colour choice - they are just kids, expressing themselves - and think the Spanish have it right in not allowing the Spanish media to publish pictures of the children (it is their father in politics - not them). But (!) saying that I must say these two children, given that they are privileged and Must have posed for pictures before, have the Worst posture ever. If I was their parent that's all I'd be thinking - shoulders back and a bit of zest! They look like they are a bit simple the way they are standing.

[PRINCECHARMED]

In Spain there laws that protect children from press and you are not allow to publish photos of children in the press, that is why Zapatero went with his family, what is normal in Spain!

He could never imagine that American people love to critizise children for their physical appearance... is that the way American threat their guest?

Congratulations and thanks for your hospitality!!!

This children has more personality than all the American Administration,

[LoveGuv]

There are no laws banning photos of children; however, if a parent requests that their kids' pictures not be published, that request will be honored by the media. Zapatero has requested that. Photos of Princess Letizia's children are published all the time.

[PRINCECHARMED]

Royals have different rights and different obligations in Spain than the rest of the people.

Royal family represents Spain all around the world, but Zapatero daughters they don´t.

Royal family is protected by law againts press abuses, and Letizia´s daughters are photographied only went Letizia allows it, and they are published only if their parents want it!

I have never seen Zapatero´s daughters photos never before..., because of terrorism, because of security, because of privacity, because they are 13 and 16 yo and they are protected by law, and because their parents didn´t wanted to show them...

Zapatero asked American not to published his daughters photograhs and they didn´t respect his decision! that is the important point... you should respect others culture and others sensibility...

I will be very angry if my daughters were shown all around the world..., I´m not even talking about the unrespectful way this children are been threated by American press, with all kind of insults...

I don´t think that is the way to threat a foreign politician visitor, and I don´t think Zapatero would allowed that to happen in Spain with Obama´s family...

[LoveGuv]

>>I don´t think that is the way to threat a foreign politician visitor, and I don´t think Zapatero would allowed that to happen in Spain with Obama´s family...>>

Yet, here are Obama's children on the front page of newspapers in Spain.

http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/hr_archive.asp?fpVname=SPA_EPC&ref_pge=lst

http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/hr_archive.asp?fpVname=SPA_EM&ref_pge=lst

http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/hr_archive.asp?fpVname=SPA_MH&ref_pge=lst

http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/hr_archive.asp?fpVname=SPA_PAIS&ref_pge=lst

[PRINCECHARMED]

Excuseme but Obama "used" their family to get more votes, Zapatero don´t

Zapatero asked the media not to publish his daugther photos, Obama don´t

That is an important question.

If children are in the newspaper or magazine IN SPAIN is because their parents allowed that.

You can get a magazine or a newspaper to stop being sell and retire pics of your children if you decide it. and you can get also a huge indemnization if your children pics are published without your permission.

I´m very happy that in your country you have another way of thinking about children, but RESPECT OURS!!

OF COURSE YOU CAN FIND CHILDREN PICS IN INTERNET, THAT IS VERY DIFICULT TO GET CONTROLLED, BUT THIS DOESN´T MEAN THEY ARE LEGAL....

[LoveGuv]

Sarkozy's son, Louis, in a Spanish newspaper.

http://www.hola.com/noticias-de-actualidad/15-01-2008/53530/

[PRINCECHARMED]

If Louis is on the Spanish press is because Sarkozy wanted, it is simple...

I bet u again to find another photo of Zapatero´s daughters before White House published it....

come on!

[LoveGuv]

http://www.euroweeklynews.com/2009091864216/news/mallorca/tearful-but-happy-goodbyes.html

These photos were published in a Spanish newspapers but the kids are Ethiopian so I guess they don't deserve protecting either.

[PRINCECHARMED]

I´M NOT SURE ABOUT ETHIOPIAN LAW ABOUT CHILDREN RIGHTS...

HERE YOU HAVE SPANISH LAW!!

http://noticias.juridicas.com/base_datos/Privado/lo1-1996.html

ENJOY IT!!!!

[KIVPossum]

O, I get it, if you wear black you are goth.

[Khirad]

Well, I think this is good - you go Zapatero daughters. For those making comments about an enduring subculture which has far surpassed most fads by decades and which you know little about:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeanie-finlay/things-i-learnt-on-ifcs-g_b_145335.html

For the elegant first lady: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFD42b7gdcg

And by the way, we would take Addams family comments as a compliment. After all, quoth Jourgensen, "everyday is Halloween"! Whatever it takes to keep the vapid spray tanned mundanes away.

[Khirad]

Pardon, YouTube link fix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFD42b7gdcg

[oldandweary]

Come on. These are young teen girls (maybe even imitating USA teen outfits). Some American teens wear some pretty dorky clothes, too, and I don't see the need to be mean-spirited and demean their, or any other young person's, style. Their Mom is considered a style icon in Europe (although this outfit isn't her best). Give them a break.

[NilesCrane]

exactly their mother has fantastic style, this is probably the worst ive seen her and its still more stylish then 90% of the first ladies out there...which begs the question, if your mother was stylish wouldnt you want to be stylish too?

My mother had and still has the best style of any woman I know and I grew up always wanting to look great no matter the occasion...maybe because these girls arent tall and thin like their mother that they think instead of trying to be stylish like their mother, they will go the opposite direction.

Havent you noticed that the most attractive arent goths? I sense a low self esteem here...

[oldandweary]

I agree entirely. There's something about the stooped shoulders and body language that says 'not feeling good about myself'. They will lose the army boots as they grow older and find their own appropriate style. Unfortunately, at this young age, the last thing they need is cruel public derision.

[americatoday]

HP why don't we see more of Desiree Rogers? she is fab.