Go Green: The Chinese first lady's style screams brotherhood

Published April 21, 2015
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives with his wife  Peng Liyuan. —Reuters
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives with his wife Peng Liyuan. —Reuters

China's first lady Peng Liyuan may not be as flamboyant as Modi when it comes to her attire but there's no doubt she chooses her clothes with care.

During Chinese president Xi Jinping's visit to Pakistan, the first lady made a decisive statement about Pak-China relations through her attire — and the statement seems to be: go green!

As the presidential couple arrived in Pakistan, Peng Liyuan chose to wear a plain white jacket over a deep green dress with a light green scarf to go with it, accessorized with a brooch. The look was very Benazir, minus the shoulder pads and headscarf.

Sporting pulled-back hair, Liyuan's choice of colours reflected the spirit behind this breakthrough visit between the two states.

The first lady drove the point home by wearing another green outfit later, as she accompanied her husband to see a cultural show with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his wife Kulsoom Nawaz, Asif Ali Zardari and his daughter Asifa.

Attending the cultural show—Photo courtesy: Maryam Nawaz's Twitter account.
Attending the cultural show—Photo courtesy: Maryam Nawaz's Twitter account.

Green seemed the colour of the moment as Liyuan chose to wear another green outfit today, at the Presidency.

China's first lady Peng Liyuan at the Presidency.
China's first lady Peng Liyuan at the Presidency.

Liyuan wasn't the only figure who let her outfit match her sentiments on this diplomatic tour. Pakistani federal minister Ahsan Iqbal sported a green tie as China's first couple arrived, and later, Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq wore one too.

Ahsan Iqbal (L) and Sardar Ayaz Sadiq (R) wear green ties.
Ahsan Iqbal (L) and Sardar Ayaz Sadiq (R) wear green ties.

Amid all this patriotism, Pakistan's leading ladies disappointed. Kulsoom Nawaz was mostly seen in drab shades of pink and beige — surely something brighter would've signified solidarity more effectively.

Liyuan is probably the most high-profile political spouse in China after revolutionary leader Mao Zedong's wife. This isn't the first time Liyuan's style has been analysed — she's developed her own signature style for state visits and has attracted attention for it.

China's President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan arrive at the Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane as he takes part in the G-20 Summit—AFP
China's President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan arrive at the Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane as he takes part in the G-20 Summit—AFP

But it seems that she is quite fond of dark shades especially black and blue.

On her visit to Russia.— Photo courtesy: Huffington Post
On her visit to Russia.— Photo courtesy: Huffington Post
With US first lady Michelle Obama.—Photo courtesy: scmp.com
With US first lady Michelle Obama.—Photo courtesy: scmp.com
French President Francois Hollande greets President Xi Jinping and first lady Peng Liyuan at the Elysee.—Photo courtesy: scmp.com
French President Francois Hollande greets President Xi Jinping and first lady Peng Liyuan at the Elysee.—Photo courtesy: scmp.com

Peng married Chinese president Xi Jinping in 1987, and has been ranked 57th in Forbes's list of the world's most powerful women last year.

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