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Cindy McCain and Michelle Obama: Different styles, similar jewelry

Cindy McCain and Michelle Obama: Different styles, similar jewelry.3 hours ago.NEW YORK — Cindy McCain and Michelle Obama are at theopposite ends of the style spectrum. McCain is very proper inbrightly coloured dresses with matching jackets; Obama is moredramatic in bell sleeves with an occasional flash of cleavage.."There's no way they could be sisters and exchange clothes," saysimage consultant Ginger Burr. They do, however, have a sharedaffinity for bead necklaces, particularly pearls - and the chunkierthe better..Obama, just named to Vanity Fair's International Best Dressed Listalongside the likes of Carla Bruni-Sarkozy and Sarah JessicaParker, wore a single strand of large white pearls around her neckwith a purple dress and funky black belt when her husband claimedthe Democratic nomination..McCain paired earth-tone South Sea pearls with a brown jacket and,on another day, wore a funky baroque necklace with uneven-shapedpearls to complement a navy suit.."A chunky necklace needs a confident woman to carry it off," saysRae Ann Herman, Glamour magazine's accessories director. "Beads arestatement pieces.".She's not surprised, though, that McCain and Obama have taken towearing them because they both seem to be more style-conscious thanthe public is used to seeing in its president's wives - save JackieKennedy, another pearl wearer.."To me, pearls are Step 1 on what to wear if you want to become afirst lady," says stylist Mary Alice Stephenson. "Both Michelle andCindy are channelling Jackie O: They wear streamlined clothing withpearls.".Herman thinks the potential first ladies are taking cues from therunway, noting that chunky jewelry has made inroads with thefashion crowd over the past year.."We've seen so much statement jewelry - bigger necklaces, biggerbracelets, bigger earrings - and it always trickles down to allprice points," she says..They are also showing that they're savvy: "You use accessories tomake your wardrobe more exciting. If you're not buying new clothes,then you're investing in new jewelry, even if it's costumejewelry.".By choosing pearls and beads instead of diamonds, Stephenson adds,Obama and McCain are avoiding questions about cost..She thinks they may have learned from Hollywood stars theimportance of incorporating a"Wow!" moment into each day's outfit- and that it's best to wear it from the waist up. The added bonusof the necklace is that it draws onlookers' eyes toward the face.."You can look severe and bare if you're not wearing a necklace,which makes you look feminine and elegant," Stephenson says..Burr says that McCain sometimes successfully uses necklaces tolighten and brighten her face- counteracting some criticism thatshe looks too uptight..However, Burr didn't like a round, multicoloured pearl necklace that McCain paired with a green dress with a boat-shaped necklinethat served as the starting point for open pleats down the bodice.."A necklace should fit into the neckline of the dress. The greenwith the mixed pearls looked good, but the neckline is too high andthere's too much detail around it," she says..That said, pearls do look good on McCain, she says.."Some women default to pearls when they don't know what else to do.I don't think that's happening with her. She's using the necklaceto complete an outfit and give insight into her personality.".Burr recalls seeing Obama in black beads - a sign that she likesclothes with a little more drama and flair. She also likes to seeObama in white pearl earrings, but not necessarily necklaces.."I'm not sure if pearls are the best choice because I don't thinkof her as being traditional," she says.