Michelle Obama blew past Carla Bruni, former model and wife of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, to grab fashion magazine Elle’s first place in the “political chic” category of its annual “best-dressed” list. Probably not one of our first lady’s key goals for her first year in office, but for the American designers shown off by Mrs. Obama, like Naeem Khan — who provided the gown for last week’s U.S.-India state dinner — the attention from the Parisian arbiters of style is very welcome.

As has been generally Mrs. Obama’s first year as first lady. Her husband and the large Democratic majorities in the Congress have struggled to get anything right. The sole significant legislative accomplishment they are close to is a nightmare of taxes and rationing.