Jill Biden.

I wonder how Professor Biden really feels being propelled into the spotlight and being expected to follow her husband around as a fashion statement never uttering a meaningful word that would be heard. Instead it is the photo opportunities that we will see. Angela Merkel's husband (can't recall his surname, but not Merkel as that was her first husband's name and she retained it) can escape this sort of thing.

Just such a lovely natural and happy photo of the ladies and Wilbur in the beach (BBC website)

I'm 71 and if someone tells me I look good, I grab the compliment. I have had untold problems with my appearance and it's been very hard.
I don't take it that they are dismissing my personality, intelligence etc. OK I'm not in the public eye but who doesn't love a compliment.

An earlier poster mentioned stilettos, was she wearing them on the beach?!

I think it's fine to say someone, man or woman, looks good (in your opinion) but patronising to qualify it by adding the words, 'for their age'...

It’s about context isn’t it? The partners were photographed as light relief from the serious business of the summit, they were on a beach, barefoot, with a baby. In that situation their appearances were bound to be commented on rather than their other achievements - if Jill Biden had been addressing a conference it would have been a different take altogether.

I do think that appearances matter though, we all subconsciously judge people (and ourselves), and appearance is part of that. Speaking personally I think it’s less about people’s physical attractiveness though than if they look well groomed, as that’s a sign that they value themselves. Both women looked good yesterday I thought.

I like the way Camilla looks and I wish Charles had married her first then everyone would have loved her. Sad she is seen as the other woman still.

I saw a photo of Camilla yesterday which made me comment to DD, ‘Wow! Love the dress.’

I can’t see why there has to be a problem with admiring somebody’s style, especially if they’re your age. Achievement doesn’t have to be their defining feature.

(I'm more Angela than Jill.)

Agree Maw It was nice of your students to take the time to comment.
Its sounds like your students were being genuine, and I am glad you thought it was nice of them to comment.

Jill Biden does look good, though - very classy.

I'm not sure about the practice of using spouses as photo opportunities - we don't see Mr Merkel frolicking barefoot on the beach.

Odd that she still uses her first husband's surname.

Is Prof Sauer there - it might be good to see him with his trouser legs rolled up, paddling with other spouses!
However, I'm inclined to agree about spouses and photo opportunities.

Woke

AAARRRGGGHH!!!!

Mary Beard.

How sad that admiring is being taken to mean judging.
That what is meant as a compliment is construed as a criticism.
That to praise one quality is seen as ignoring others.
Do we have to go down this “woke” path?
As a secondary teacher I rather liked it if the students said “You look good today, Miss”, I did not feel insulted, my privacy was not invaded and my intellectual capacity not compromised.
I think appearance is important - I would rather look at Justin Trudeau in a sharp suit than Dom Cummings in a crumpled t shirt and jeans. Trudeau looks the business, Cummings doesn’t give a flying ?
In fact other than Dom Cummings, name me any figure on the political,stage, male or female, who makes no effort with their appearance?

I thought that she looked like a lady who was comfortable in her own skin and I loved the way she paddled with Carrie. I know it was a photo op but out of all the ones they could have used, it was certainly a lovely relaxed one in a situation where it is so frenzied. She was a breath of fresh air.

Nannapat1

Her slenderness and ability to wear high heels suggest someone in good health who takes care of herself which is worthy of a little admiration surely.

Nope - if she was fat and frumpy, would you admire her less?

Do you admire people just because they are in good health?

Ah, Michelle Obama.

First Black First Lady. Distinguished lawyer. Campaigner against poverty and for women's rights.

I liked her frocks.

Her slenderness and ability to wear high heels suggest someone in good health who takes care of herself which is worthy of a little admiration surely.

All this negativity about Melania is surely irrelevant and rather sad. Poor woman isn't in the spotlight any more, and is only being criticised because of who she was married to. I liked Barbara Bush, what you saw was what you got. Joe's wife is very smart, beautifully dressed and seems a nice lady, but you know, all these comparisons are a bit tedious and a bit shallow.

The one who always stood out to me was Michelle Obama she always looked great and of course President Obams .

I don't think that comments about the appearance of any politicians or their spouses are relevant at all, in almost any circumstances.

All of the older women in my family are "slim", and none of them had to work at it, its just how they are built. So I personally think that complimenting someone on a feature over which they have no control is not appropriate. And, in truth, it doesn’t matter if she is slim or not, it just means that the people doing the complimenting think that being slim is a praiseworthy state of being. Even though you may have no control over it .

The fact that we still think that commenting on people’s physical attributes is even worthy of mentioning, whatever their sex or gender, just says to me that we have a long way to go. I especially like to be told that we're making a mountain out of a molehill.

Merkel and I share a body type. I like her choice of working wardrobe. But I'm much more interested in talking about her background in physics and what her track record is as Chancellor of Germany.

Blimey! Ladies get their knickers in a knot on here quickly. As some might say, take a chill pill.

Does, not dies.

What do we think of Merkel?

Hmmmm, well, in my expert opinion, I think she looks better in the pastel coloured, shapeless, boxy jackets than she dies in the primary coloured ones. I didn't know she had eyeslashes, so can't say.

So... What about the negative comments that were aimed at Joe Biden and his odd face? He's the most powerful man in the world so is it acceptable to make comments on his appearance; particularly his face, which he cannot actually do much about?

Agree totally lemongrove smart, stylish, and also looks very relaxed.