The United States First Lady Michelle Obama joins twelve other first ladies of world leaders in a portrait in the July 2009 issue of British Vogue.
The ‘First Wives Club’ portrait was shot by Mario Testino during the G20 summit in April 2009.
The featured first wives are, from left to right, as follows: Ban Soon-taek (United Nations), Laureen Harper (Canada), Chikako Aso (Japan), Gursharan Kaur (India), Kim Yoon-ok (South Korea), Michelle Obama (US), Sarah Brown (UK), Margarite Zavala (Mexico), Svetlana Medvedeva (Russia), Emine Erdogan (Turkey), Theresa Rein (Australia), Margarida Barroso (European Commission), and Pimpen Vejjajiva (Thailand).
The issue also features an elegant black and white shot of Michelle Obama by Mario Testino. The rest of the images in the gallery (5-10) show British First lady Sarah Brown with the guests at the Royal Opera House during the shoot.
Iconic Political Portraits
'First Wives Club' in British Vogue July 2009 Issue
Trend Themes
1. Political Portraits - There is an opportunity for disruptive innovation in the field of political portraiture, exploring new ways to capture and present the essence of world leaders.
2. First Wives Club - The concept of bringing together the first ladies of world leaders in a collective portrait presents a disruptive innovation opportunity to celebrate and empower women in positions of influence.
3. Collaborative Photography - Collaborative photoshoots involving multiple world leaders offer a unique opportunity for disruptive innovation in photography, capturing the dynamics and relationships between political figures.
Industry Implications
1. Art - The art industry could explore innovative approaches to political portraiture, merging traditional techniques with contemporary concepts to create impactful and thought-provoking pieces.
2. Publishing - The publishing industry can examine the trend of featuring collective portraits of first ladies, providing a platform for discussions around global leadership and women's influence.
3. Fashion - The fashion industry can tap into the First Wives Club trend by showcasing fashion-forward ensembles worn by the first ladies, creating new opportunities for collaborations and partnerships.