A New Maria for Mrs. O
Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 12:02 AM 
Photo credit: (Top) Flickr user Barack Obama / Creative Commons; (Bottom) Flickr user Barb Patch
The much buzzed about WWD designs were not only a delight to study, they also put another Mrs. O designer on our radar. When the accompanying article alluded to Maria Cornejo as one of Mrs. O's "favorite designers", our interest was immediately piqued.
The Chilean-born designer, perhaps best known for her modern, minimalist aesthetic and sophisticated draping, has a boutique on Mott St. in New York that we often pass by and peer into with curiosity on our nightly walk home. Though her label, Zero, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the designer is likely best known to the public for her collaboration with Keds in 2006 (this is how we first became familiar with her at least). Eager to learn more about this pairing, further research uncovered an early November article from Canada's National Post in which Cornejo comments on Mrs. O's high-low approach to fashion:
"One day she wears a designer, then she'll wear Gap," gushes Maria Cornejo, the New York-based designer whose architectural clothing Obama has worn on the campaign trail. "[It's] actually how real people dress."
Not only is Maria Cornejo an exciting and progressive new addition to Mrs. O's designer repertoire, the connection has also helped to answer a nagging question. From Madison, WI, to Philadelphia, PA to The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Mrs. O was often seen wearing two versions of a tailored, three-quarter length sleeve jacket this fall. A signature Mrs. O look in the final months on the campaign trail, the designer was unknown to us until now: Maria Cornejo.
The black jacket in evening raffia hails from the Spring/Summer 2009 Zero collection, while the blue jacket in textured wool (also worn with a matching skirt for the Daily Show appearance) is from the Fall/Winter 2008 collection. Often paired with perfectly coordinated patent leather belts, we were surprised to learn these accessories weren't the work of the designer as well (but that would be too easy!). From these pieces, it's clear that Maria Cornejo is as much a master at tailoring as she is draping, and well-deserving of her new and covetous position on Mrs. O's fashion roster. Though to date "Maria" has meant only one thing to us in the realm of Mrs. O's style, we'll gladly make room for another.
Photos used with kind permission from Zero + Maria Cornejo / Photographer Monica Feudi
Zero + Maria Cornejo in Designers, Outfits
Reader Comments (10)
Maria Cornejo pieces are gorgeous! Great story.
Wow, another example of Mrs O wearing the clothing better than the models in the runway photos.
The fit on her is cleaner and her whole look is more pulled together.
She certainly seems to have an instinctive and innate sense of style.
Im just loving the Mrs O is totally doing her own thing and not going with the classic all too well known designers, and brancing out to newer exciting designers
I still want to see her in tracy reese though (I love tracy!!)
I think it's fascinating how Mrs. O has championed so many Latino designers to date: Maria Pinto, Narciso Rodrigutez, Isabel Toledo, now Maria Cornejo. And maybe others of whom we're not aware yet.
Did Cornejo also design the navy blue suit (I think it was navy blue) that MO wore on either the Daily Show or the Colbert Report during the campaign?
She looks great in those shots! Although her pose in that particular moment of the second shot is a little goofy, hehe.
Kristan
http://jbu.phuzzymath.net/
yea.. the daily show outfit was maria's
@gbs
Maria Pinto is ITALIAN NOT hispanic!! She used to work at her families Italian restaurant when she was a teenager.
I do not believe navy or black are the most inspired colors for Michelle's beautiful skin. She can wear most any color, and I would like to see her in separates, not all the same color. The blue jacket with the peplum is perfect. And she wears it with a skirt of a different color. When she wears a dress all one color she looks like a flat wall, and even worse from the back. A pencil skirt with a flare at the knee in camel. Or skinny pleats starting above the knee. A fitted jacket, black and white houndstooth, A white silk blouse with soft ruffles around a deep v. Lengthen the neck with long skinny layers of necklaces.
Oh hellll yeah! These looks are smokin'!
I'm giddy about having a super stylish First Lady! I've never witnessed one in my lifetime, till now. ^_^
I don't think Mrs. O has a bad color, but I do agree, that this color isn't her best.