Vanity Fair has released their annual best-dressed list, and world leaders' ladies have topped the charts. Among the sartorially superior are Michelle Obama, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, Sheikha Mozah of Qatar, Diana Taylor (girlfriend of Mayor Michael Bloomberg) and Princess Letizia of Spain, plus celebrities like Penelope Cruz, Brad Pitt, and Anne Hathaway.
President Barack Obama also makes his VF best-dressed debut.
The magazine applauds Mrs. Obama's Vatican veil, Bruni-Sarkozy's ballet flats, Sheikha Mozah's diamond-and-pearl evening belt, Princess Letizia's plum silk Felipe Varela dress, and Diana Taylor and Mayor Bloomberg's complementary clothes.
From the Vanity Fair press release:
VANITY FAIRBARACK OBAMA NAMED TO THE 2009 INTERNATIONAL BEST-DRESSED LIST FOR FIRST TIME; MICHELLE OBAMA MAKES LIST FOR THIRD YEAR IN A ROWPenélope Cruz, Anne Hathaway, Alicia Keys, and Kelly Ripa Make List for First TimeBrad Pitt Named to Men's List for Second Time; Angelina Doesn't Make Cut
NEW YORK, N.Y.--Vanity Fair names President Barack Obama to the International Best-Dressed List for the first time. The commander in chief joins his wife, Michelle, who appears on the list for the third year in a row. France's First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy makes the list for the second year in a row, as does New York City's de facto First Lady Diana Taylor. Taylor's partner, New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, is named to the list for the first time. Penélope Cruz, Anne Hathaway, Alicia Keys, and Kelly Ripa are all named to the list for the first time. Joining them are leading men Daniel Craig (for the second year in a row), and Brad Pitt. Pitt makes the list for the third year in a row. After making the list in 2007 and 2008 with partner Angelina Jolie in the couples category, he appears solo in 2009 as Jolie drops off the list. Liliane Bettencourt, Count Manfredi della Gherardesca, Catherine Deneuve, Lapo Elkann, and Renée Zellweger are all named to the International Best-Dressed List Hall of Fame this year. Vanity Fair's 70th annual International Best-Dressed List is below in full: INTERNATIONAL BEST-DRESSED LIST: WOMENCHIARA CLEMENTE, filmmakerPENÉLOPE CRUZ, actressKATHY FRESTON, writerAGNES GUND, president emerita of MoMAANNE HATHAWAY, actressALICIA KEYS, singer, songwriter, actressH.R.H. PRINCESS LETIZIA OF ASTURIASKELLY RIPA, co-host of Live! with Regis and KellyH.H. SHEIKHA MOZAH OF QATAR, wife of H.H. the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad binKhalifa Al Thani, unesco special envoy for basic and higher educationLIZZIE TISCH, private banker
INTERNATIONAL BEST-DRESSED LIST: MENTIKI BARBER, NBC correspondent, founder of Tiki VenturesARPAD BUSSON, financierDANIEL CRAIG, actorMATTEO MARZOTTO, entrepreneur, chairman to ENIT (the Italian state tourist board)BARACK OBAMA, president of the United StatesOGDEN PHIPPS II, private-equity investorBRAD PITT, actorROO ROGERS, environmental entrepreneur, co-founder of OZOlabALEJANDRO SANTO DOMINGO, investorCY TWOMBLY, artist
HALL OF FAMELILIANE BETTENCOURT, principal shareholder of L'OréalCOUNT MANFREDI DELLA GHERARDESCA, art adviser, curatorCATHERINE DENEUVE, actress and modelLAPO ELKANN, creative entrepreneur; founder and president, Italia Independent and Independent Ideas; founding partner and owner, LA HoldingRENÉE ZELLWEGER, actress
FIRST LADIESCARLA BRUNI-SARKOZY, singer and First Lady of FranceMICHELLE OBAMA, First Lady of the United States
FASHION PROFESSIONALSGEORGINA CHAPMAN, co-founder and designer, MarchesaTORY BURCH, designerMATHILDE MEYER-AGOSTINELLI, director of communications, Prada FranceDAVID LAUREN, senior vice president, advertising, marketing, and communications,Polo Ralph LaurenCANDY PRATTS PRICE, executive fashion director, Style.comRACHEL ROY, designerSTACEY BENDET, designer and founder, Alice & OliviaFRANCA SOZZANI, editor in chief, Italian Vogue and L'Uomo VogueALI HEWSON, co-founder, Edun fashion label and Nude skin care
SIBLINGSJANE LAUDER, general manager, Origins, and AERIN LAUDER, senior vice presidentand creative director, Estée LauderSTAVROS NIARCHOS and EUGÉNIE NIARCHOS, jewelry designer for Gaia Repossi
COUPLESPALOMA CUEVAS, jewelry designer for Yanes, and ENRIQUE PONCE, professionalbullfighterDIANA TAYLOR, managing director, Wolfensohn & Co., and MICHAEL BLOOMBERG,mayor of New York City; founder, Bloomberg L.P.NATALIA VODIANOVA, fashion model, and JUSTIN PORTMAN, artistSHELLEY WANGER, editor, Knopf and Pantheon, and DAVID MORTIMER,president, the American Assembly
FASHION ORIGINALSPETER BEARD, "escapist"DUCHESS OF ALBANICKY HASLAM, interior designerIKÉ UDÉ, artist, founder of Arude magazineBRUCE WEBER, photographer, artist, filmmaker The September issue of Vanity Fair hits newsstands in New York and Los Angeles on August 5 and nationally on August 11.