State Dinner Arrivals PHOTOS: Who Was Best-Dressed? (PICTURES, POLL, VIDEO)

The red carpet was rolled out in Washington on Tuesday night as President and First Lady Obama welcomed Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur for their first official White House state dinner. Check out photos of state dinner guests as they arrived, and vote for who you thought was best-dressed! And read more about Michelle Obama's dress.

Check out our State Dinner Big News page

Katie Couric and Brooks Perlin

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WATCH:

Pooler Nia-Malika Henderson of POLITICO offered some style superlatives:

Pooler stood patiently for two hours and saw State Dinner arrivals in booksellers area, and there was too much fabulousness to describe in detail here. So here are the greatest moments and a few broad details.

Lots of saris tonight (and probably one too many pantsuits according to some witnesses who will not be named here), and lots of people who didn't quite get the "stand here and pose" thing down.

Best Sari goes to Semonti Stephens who wore one of the dresses from her Spring wedding. A red number with gold jewelry from Calcutta.

Best Wardrobe malfunction goes to Bob Casey whose cumberband slithered from his waist to the floor.

Best Look goes to Speaker Nancy Pelosi who when Robin Givhan asked her "Is your gown Armani?"...Pelosi shot her a disapproving stare and rolled her eyes a bit--i.e. Pelosi to Givhan: Drop Dead. (No answer to Givhan's follow up question which was "What was that look?!")

Biggest Celebs: Steven Spielberg, Alfre Woodard and Blair Underwood (together but not an item). Also, fyi, some stars are shorter, more wrinkled, not as hot in person. Underwood. Hotter.

Honorable mention for biggest star: Gayle King, sans bff Oprah Winfrey.

Best Dressed Billionaire: Mayor Michael Bloomberg sporting red bow tie.

Best attempt at self-deprecation goes to NBC's Brian Williams who strolled in before movie mogul David Geffen, said "hello press," and then: "I grew up a busboy in New Jersey so I have to resist the urge to clean up."

Best random uttering about a guest: Oh my god, a real housewife! (See Real Housewives of DC for more info)....

Best shout out to colleague: Helene Cooper "Tom Friedman you better stop!"

Want more Michelle Obama style? Visit the Michelle Obama Style Big News page.

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Comments

[jonez]

10:40 PM on 12/17/2009

hey, no Salahis ?

[yemaya]

06:33 PM on 11/30/2009

The Obamas win, then the Syamalan's second. What a stunning couple!

[yemaya]

06:31 PM on 11/30/2009

gupta's body language is very telling. both hands in pocket ahead of wife while her right hand clutches his elbow. sorry, I hate the guy

[Marina56]

05:27 PM on 11/30/2009

The First Lady was the belle of the ball. Katie Couric came in a close second - I love the colors of her dress and shawl together. I didn't get a close look at Hillary's gown, but what I saw of it was lovely. I really, really liked the coordination of the shawl and gown worn by the wife of the Mass. governor.

[Aesthete]

03:18 PM on 11/30/2009

Michelle Fenty looked stunning. I love the color.

[PallinAround]

09:29 AM on 11/30/2009

Gov. Granholm looked stunning. The Prez's half-sister needed a lot of serious help. Not a good look on her body type.

[TwoCentsIn]

03:12 AM on 11/29/2009

Michelle O and Katie Couric were the best-dressed.
Someone suggested that Michelle should have draped her shawl on her shoulders.
No. She would have looked shawl-shocked.
It's appropriate to wear the shawl inside as a drape; outside as a wrap.

[treetracker]

05:17 PM on 11/28/2009

So apparently Timmy's mom failed to teach him the proper way to escort your spouse is by either holding her hand or her elbow, perhaps even an arm at the back of her waist...not speeding down the aisle with your wife racing to catch up?

Lame, Timmy, very, very lame.

[MassInsanity]

04:49 PM on 11/30/2009

You beat me to this comment, I was going to say how I hate it when husbands walk in front of their wives...how rude timmy! But, couldn't expect anything less from HIM, I guess....

[Ihaveadream]

04:34 PM on 11/28/2009

Why did they have to have outside in a tent in November? Isn't the East room of the WH big enough?

[ReesieKitty]

05:10 PM on 12/01/2009

It's a heated tent and has been used for lots of other State dinners and official functions when the guests can't mingle comfortably in the East Room. Also, sometimes the East Room is set up for dancing or entertainment after dinner, so they set the dinner somewhere like the tent.

[Bartholomie]

08:15 AM on 11/28/2009

Katie Couric looked the most stately, and was the best dressed person in these photos. Her colours were subdued, simple and yet outstanding. The gown was obviously not from an Asian designer, but the shawl had that flavour, so it created an interesting presentation for the camera. She wouldn't need the shawl while having dinner, but she knew she would be photographed going into the event, and chose something that would photograph well. She's accustomed to the spotlight, knows how to use it. Well done.

[impatient]

08:18 PM on 11/28/2009

Nope. Michele Obama was esily the most elegant and best dressed there.

I thought Rebecca Olson looked ridiculous.

[GOODREASON]

03:19 AM on 11/28/2009

Who wants to be invited to the White House, dress in black tie, only to have to spend the time in a tent, just outside of the White House!!!

[xlntcat]

03:53 PM on 11/28/2009

I doubt that you have anything to worry about, however, this is hardly a first. Don't keep up. do you.

[helpusa]

03:04 AM on 11/28/2009

Sorry, I was commenting on someone who says Dr. Gupta's wife was not attractive and I think she looked and is lovely.

[helpusa]

03:03 AM on 11/28/2009

I thought she was lovely and how very pretentious of you and SHALLOW AND MEAN.

[justmakingcomments]

11:02 PM on 11/27/2009

The couple that made Obama's security 'null and void' get my vote.

[xlntcat]

03:58 PM on 11/28/2009

Let's all hope that the FBI has you in their sights.

[mssreader]

09:00 PM on 11/27/2009

Kati Couric but no Jill Biden. I don't get it? She's only the VP's wife for heaven's sake.

[xlntcat]

04:01 PM on 11/28/2009

I don't get it either. I think that Jill Biden is lovely and do not understand why the VP was not included. The Biden's are both photogenic and Mrs. Biden has a great sense of her own personal style.