Michelle Obama vs. Hillary Clinton: Style Showdown! (PHOTOS, POLL)

Two powerful women, two very different styles -- but do their different styles work?

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sponsored the International Women of Courage Awards on Thursday in Washington to honor women from around the world who have made an impact in the realm of women's rights. The pair greeted the award recipients and thanked them profusely for their dedication and service.

And because we're sartorially minded, we couldn't help but note that both Mrs. Obama and Mrs. Clinton pull off their very different styles with aplomb. While Michelle sparkles in a white sheath dress and shiny shoes, Hillary sticks with her favorite blouse and pants combo in basic black. (Both donned brooches -- Michelle's was by Miriam Haskell.)

While both women add their own flourishes to their outfits, we think both styles work equally well for the international stage.

But differing fashion senses aside, there's no shortage of mutual admiration between the pair; the first lady spoke highly of her colleague at the event, saying:

"I have to start by thanking Secretary Clinton not just for that very kind introduction, but she has been an outstanding -- should I say that again? -- an outstanding Secretary of State. And she has been an inspiration to women and girls around the world. She is a role model for me in so many ways. I don't think she realizes how what she has done has made what I am doing partially possible. So with all the respect and admiration that I can give to her, I will be wherever she needs me to be, whenever she needs me to be there."

Mrs. Obama and Mrs. Clinton gathered at the state department on Thursday to honor the International Women of Courage Awards, which honored 10 women from 10 different countries who have played a significant role in the struggle for women's rights. Among those honored were Maryam Durani, an Afghani who has survived multiple attempts on her life and Zin Mar Aung, a Burmese civil society activist who spent 11 years in prison.

Check out pics below of FLOTUS and Secretary Clinton greeting the award recipients, and tell us whose personal style you prefer in our poll.

Quick Poll

Whose personal style suits your tastes more?

Michelle's!

Hillary's!

VOTE

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PHOTOS:

Comments

[purplewg]

03:07 PM on 05/08/2012

Funny the white woman wearing black and black woman wearing white. Look at MO's facial expression in pic #1. I wonder what was said? Maybe, "when are you going to another NASCAR race"?

[YellowRoseOfTX]

09:09 AM on 04/12/2012

That's HIL-arious! Hilary looks like old dumpy granny... her stringy no style hair (about six inches over-due for a cut and style), her frumpty-dumpty pantsuit (seriously?! Do real women wear matching pantsuits anymore --- and wear do you buy those "Geranimals for grown women"???? Sears?). No there is no Style throw down here. Just an embarassing mismatch. I don't care Mrs. O's style and all the fuss made over her, but she leaves Hilary in the dust!

[viciousvirago]

12:45 PM on 05/21/2012

You try traveling all over the world all the time and coping with a huge workload, being Secretary of State, then tell me if you could do it.

Yes, she's aged. So what, so do men and we seem never to criticize them. Give her a break. She should not be judged how she looks. She's far too intelligent for that.

[jclaireburke]

04:07 PM on 03/12/2012

Come on, why are women always pitted against each other and in such a superficial way? These two ladies are lovely, intelligent and accomplished, period.

[Itz her]

04:04 PM on 03/11/2012

I love both!!

[TRACYBURTON]

08:27 PM on 03/10/2012

2 smart women from IL + very successful in their own right...if they were men...this topic would not have been brought up.

[Know-some-secrets]

07:44 AM on 03/11/2012

Yes, women generally are far more interested in fashion and commenting, often negatively, about what other women are wearing. Most people of either gender don't care much about what men wear.

[Salukeitis]

05:53 PM on 03/10/2012

HILLARY-MICHELLE IN 2016

[NevaforLeadership]

09:20 AM on 03/10/2012

Michelle Obama hands down. Weight matters.

[beawild]

06:50 PM on 03/10/2012

Yeah, because looks are so important in our SOS................

[Know-some-secrets]

07:46 AM on 03/11/2012

I wonder if that contributes to Hillary's constant complaints about being exhausted.

[NevaforLeadership]

09:14 AM on 03/11/2012

Without a doubt.

She was more than exhausted after her campaign as well.

The job of SofS involves so much travel and background research, let alone administrative matters, that the incumbent needs to be in really good physical shape, more so, because it seems to be a no-win job. I may be wrong about this, but I don't recall a SofS -- democrat or republican -- that has really made a difference or changed the game. HC has pretty well been sidelined by fast-moving situations in the Middle East and North Korea. That must take a psychological toll on top of a physical toll.

Anyone who has followed my comments on these threads knows that Hillary Clinton is not my favorite person. I remember thinking during her campaign that she will never be able to be president because she is physically (versus chronologically) too old.

I have followed her career for a long time. As SofS her divisiveness seems to have dissipated somewhat. Maybe that's because she is exhausted.

A man with incredible strength of character gave her the job. Let's hope she comes through in support for him during the election.

[sdanca4]

09:14 AM on 03/10/2012

They both smart, strong, intelligent, fashionable, leaders and role models for the kinds of girls our future needs. So they both are Gorgeous and right for me.

[mssueme]

03:58 AM on 03/10/2012

Has anyone noticed how the hateful, Fox news right wing posters have all gone. I assume they have been instructed to try and drum up support for the GOP candidates rather than obsess about Michelle.
They both look great and are great role models.

[beawild]

11:55 PM on 03/09/2012

Why do women always have to be pitted against each other? They both have different interests in clothes. Michelle cares about fashion and Hillary has never given it much of a thought. So what?

How about writing about the accomplished women who they were honoring?

[Know-some-secrets]

07:25 AM on 03/11/2012

Why do women pit themselves against each other so often?

[racebaiter]

04:34 PM on 03/11/2012

The answer grasshopper.......... is in your question.

[Gmoney1]

05:00 PM on 03/09/2012

jackie O and michelle - all the rest were blah!

[Genisa]

03:32 PM on 03/09/2012

Michelle has BEAUTIFUL skin.

[Adonijah]

12:23 PM on 03/09/2012

And the Survey says: Both ladies look great!!!

[Adonijah]

12:13 PM on 03/09/2012

BOTH ladies look nice!

I love the black and white contrast.

[seventeengeese]

11:58 AM on 03/09/2012

FLOTUS always look fabulous.