Video: Michelle's standout G20 style

I know, you're fed up with reading about Michelle Obama. But let me just tempt you towards one last, tiny detail: the First Lady's falsies. Michelle Obama is normally so natural looking, it's surprising to find something about her that is so unapologetically fake.

Those eyelashes weren't even trying to look real.

No, they were full-on, all-out diva lashes, the kind you normally find on D-list celebrities or in drag-act dressing rooms. The allure of the long lash is well-documented. They define and sexualise the gaze, making the eyes appear bigger (and therefore younger). Gazing up at someone through luscious lashes is considered an act of seduction; it's even entered the vernacular: “you batted your eyelashes at him”.

Given that Mrs Obama's intention was to seduce Europe, she chose those lashes well, making no attempt to conceal the artifice. She did not, for example, opt for lash extensions which give the most natural finish. These are bonded to the wearer's own lashes, a painstaking process that nevertheless yields fantastic results. You can choose various degrees of amplification, from just a few extra lashes to a full-on fan. Suzie Lung (tel 07957 771503) does a mean set, or try Vaishaly (020-7224 6088).

What Mrs Obama is wearing is a classic set of full falsies, much like Mister Mascara's Eyelash kit, £8.63 (www.beautique.com). There is one other option, available to Mrs O in America, but not yet over here: Latisse. Developed by Allergan, this prescription treatment is derived from drops used to treat glaucoma patients which have been found, in some cases, to increase the length and thickness of eyelashes. There has been some controversy over possible side-effects, but that is unlikely to stop women from trying it. In the UK, the best topical treatment is LashAlive (£79 for a nine-month supply, see www.lashalive.co.uk), a mixture of oils designed to stimulate growth. Last, but not least, never underestimate the power of a good mascara. Shu Uemura Precise Volume Mascara, £17.50 (020-7235 2375) has a revolutionary new gel texture, which makes layering easier and clump-free.

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