By Emily Waldorf

Carla in purple Hermès (her preferred couturier) at the Elysée

I can’t stop listening to Carla Bruni-Sarkozy’s new album, Comme Si de Rien N’Etait.  It is upbeat yet soothing and wildly addictive.  I particularly adore the track that she sings in her native Italian, il vechhio e il bambino.  Her music is fresh and contemporary with a touch of the ethereal and the baroque.

I wanted to call attention to Carla’s musical talents, but of course, everyone has by now seen the cover of the September issue of Vanity Fair featuring the stunning première dame de France dressed in riding boots and breeches, lounging on an 18th century style settee with the caption:  “Carla Bruni:  The Next Jackie-O?”  Do ArtsÉtoile readers think she is the next Jackie-O?  I do, she encompasses the elegant simplicity of the American First Lady, plus she is an artiste.   

Although her former unabashedly libertine lifestyle has raised some eyebrows, the French have been won over by her composure, elegance, and class.  Whatever you think of the controversy surrounding Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, you will undoubtedly be seduced by her music.

• See slideshow of Carla on the catwalk

Carla on the catwalk