Ladies Night at the G20: A spouse's dinner with a difference
Ladies Night
Last week in London, while protesters bashed through glass and wiped blood off their faces and while world leaders tried to figure out just what kind of medicine an ailing global economy needed, a special ladies night was happening nearby.
Well-dressed and glamorous, the wives of the G-20 leaders joined Sarah Brown for an evening at No.10. The spouses' dinner, it was called. The male spouses of the Argentine and German leaders did go to London—it’s too emasculating for men of that generation to be spouses. Conventions, professional meetings and summits often have spouses' programs--but something totally different was going on this night. This wasn’t just an evening of be-suited middle-aged political widows sitting down to salad with dressing on the side.
Rather, the party had a kind of Sex and the City vibe. Accomplished women were dining together without a man in sight. (There was a cute one in the kitchen-- Jamie Oliver was cooking was the sexiest part.) Although the clothes and shoes were SITC fabulous, it’s unlikely the discussion was focused on men, dating and erotic adventure.
Some of Britain’s most interesting and accomplished (and photogenic) women were also invited—upping the glam quotient. Model Naomi Campbell, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling and film director Gurinder Chadha (from pop-feminist movie, Bend it Like Beckham where girls kicked ball) were the big boldface names Americans would recognize. There was also a psychologist, a tech entrepreneur, a paralympian. There was also a black athlete honored by the name “Dame” for her services to England. The sexy quotient was increased with the presence of broadcaster Emma Freud—best known for the old show Pillow Talk in which she interviewed subjects in bed while wearing pajamas and being related to the Austrian who discovered just how much sex ruled us.
Unlike other dowdy wife fests, this one almost got more attention than the be-suited and serious affairs of the world’s leaders. And Carla Bruni Sarkozy wasn’t even there! Of course, the outfits were more photogenic: the athlete “dame “showed off a tattooed back and mesh-backed dress.
What was actually noteworthy about the event is that it was a celebration of accomplished women sitting down to break bread. It says, even though only two of the 27 running the world may be women—at the moment—we still have a lot of talents and a lot to offer. The dinner accepted the gender apartheid of such political events, but managed to celebrate myriad female achievements. While of the G20 spouses may be relegated to wifedom—for the moment—and traditional roles as political wives, there’s a whole world out there of women doing great things. And they make great dinner partners.
Submitted by Editor on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 12:14
Last week in London, while protesters bashed through glass and wiped blood off their faces and while world leaders tried to figure out just what kind of medicine an ailing global economy needed, a special ladies night was happening nearby.
Well-dressed and glamorous, the wives of the G-20 leaders joined Sarah Brown for an evening at No.10. The spouses' dinner, it was called. The male spouses of the Argentine and German leaders did go to London—it’s too emasculating for men of that generation to be spouses. Conventions, professional meetings and summits often have spouses' programs--but something totally different was going on this night. This wasn’t just an evening of be-suited middle-aged political widows sitting down to salad with dressing on the side.
Rather, the party had a kind of Sex and the City vibe. Accomplished women were dining together without a man in sight. (There was a cute one in the kitchen-- Jamie Oliver was cooking was the sexiest part.) Although the clothes and shoes were SITC fabulous, it’s unlikely the discussion was focused on men, dating and erotic adventure.
Some of Britain’s most interesting and accomplished (and photogenic) women were also invited—upping the glam quotient. Model Naomi Campbell, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling and film director Gurinder Chadha (from pop-feminist movie, Bend it Like Beckham where girls kicked ball) were the big boldface names Americans would recognize. There was also a psychologist, a tech entrepreneur, a paralympian. There was also a black athlete honored by the name “Dame” for her services to England. The sexy quotient was increased with the presence of broadcaster Emma Freud—best known for the old show Pillow Talk in which she interviewed subjects in bed while wearing pajamas and being related to the Austrian who discovered just how much sex ruled us.
Unlike other dowdy wife fests, this one almost got more attention than the be-suited and serious affairs of the world’s leaders. And Carla Bruni Sarkozy wasn’t even there! Of course, the outfits were more photogenic: the athlete “dame “showed off a tattooed back and mesh-backed dress.
What was actually noteworthy about the event is that it was a celebration of accomplished women sitting down to break bread. It says, even though only two of the 27 running the world may be women—at the moment—we still have a lot of talents and a lot to offer. The dinner accepted the gender apartheid of such political events, but managed to celebrate myriad female achievements. While of the G20 spouses may be relegated to wifedom—for the moment—and traditional roles as political wives, there’s a whole world out there of women doing great things. And they make great dinner partners.
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