Friday
Sep252009
In Geometric Fashion
Friday, September 25, 2009 at 2:04 PM 
Image by Jewel Samad / Getty Images
First Lady Mrs. O is again hosting G20 spouses at the Pittsburgh Summit today. For this morning's group photo, Mrs. O chose a dress by Zero + Maria Cornejo, cinched at the waist with a Sacai belt.
The dress features Maria Cornejo's signature Shapes print in silk charmeuse fabric, in hues of amethyst, charcoal and cream. The print is inspired by the three basic shapes that Maria Cornejo's designs are derived from – the circle, square and triangle.
Click here to see the dress in a different cut. More to follow.
tagged Sacai, Zero + Maria Cornejo
Sacai, Zero + Maria Cornejo
Reader Comments (93)
@anna and loulou
I agree that Carla is "the epitome of sophistication and the quintessential classic woman" and as you said "It is uncharacteristic of French women to "push the envelope. Carla Bruni is dressing in the elegant manner expected of a woman in her position."
How do you feel about her being on vacation in a bikini with her husband, the French President, publicly rubbing her stomach. Is that "quintessential classic" for a "woman of her position."
Carla's shoes are... *gasp***! ... To die for!
Mrs. O's dress is cool. I have quite a few like that. Very easy for those mornings when I am running late and need something that doesn't need ironing but still looks cute. I see my least favorite belt is back, however for once it looks OK on the dress.
My point on Carla Bruni was not meant as a comparison with Mrs.O. I do believe that Mrs. Sarkozi's wardrobe is indeed too drab and lack the vitality that she has in abundance. look at the picture above, a woman as gorgeous as her shouldn't not look like an office clerk. All he outfits for the G-20 summit were from the neutral color pallet and it was boring.
I'm surprised to see Mrs. O with such a low neckline, but I love this look on her. Her hair also looks great!
I agree with all who say that Sarah Brown looks really nice. I like this large necklace trend.
already send one.i want to set-up a member registration
LOVE the dress from Zero+Maria Cornejo. I think that she should wear her all of the time. The clothes are timeless, chic and a little edgy. I wear them myself and have always thought that the FLOTUS would be exquisite in them! Bravo!!!
FLOTUS really stands out in this group photo. Smashing dress and her closed toe pumps were most appropriate here. With regard to Carla Bruni, a pop of color under her jacket with either a cami or contrasting blouse would have brightened her outfit. Also, Carla Bruni's open toe shoes do not seem to fit the serious suit she has chosen. Closed toe pumps would have been better, in my opinion.
The article on Daily Mail about Carla is here:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1216013/The-new-Jackie-O-How-Carla-Bruni-channeling-Mrs-Kennedy-bids-fashions-First-Lady.html?ITO=1490
Perfect. And in this case, the belt looks great!
Mrs. Obama and her husband will be attending the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Phoenix Awards Dinner at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center tonight. I can't wait to see what she wears.
Her beloved belt so works with this outfit. And see how her stance is so nice in those gorgeous pointy toe heels. The dress is also very pretty. I am not usually a fan of prints, but this look is well put together and Mrs. O pulls it off beautifully.
P.S. I also love Sarah Brown's bold horizontal line pattern and superb necklace. And I must admit that even for a diehard Carla Bruni fan like myself, she did look a little Blah. That two-toned suit did not do a thing for her! But the cream outfit she deplaned with a couple of days ago was flawless indeed.
Francesca - thanks for posting the Daily Mail link. I think it's the best look I've seen on Carla. She looks happy and gorgeous.
And may I just say to Looking Good and Chrystelle that I thought your posts were great and reflect much of what the regulars here are mostly about. While there seems to be agreement that a 100% positive love fest would be a bore, many agree that there is a line that should not be crossed - the one where people get downright mean about something as inconsequential as a belt and start bashing not only MO, but also one another.
I hope you both will be back soon and often!
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Michelle-Obama/ss/events/pl/050108michelleobama/im:/090926/ids_photos_ts/r810588473.jpg#photoViewer=/090926/ids_photos_ts/r2682566421.jpg
Just walking the dog and watching her daughters soccer game. This reminds me of something my mom (who's the same age as her) would wear if she were just running some errands. She's just like every other woman. I like seeing her just hanging out like this.
julie: How do I feel about Carla Bruni publicly rubbing her stomach on vacation? About the same as I do about Michelle Obama publicly wearing shorts exiting Air Force One.
Carla Bruni is heads and shoulders above any of these women, including Michelle Obama,when it comes to classic, impeccable fashion.
So she rubbed her stomach; maybe she had a stomach ache.
The print dress is v. flattering. I am not crazy about the belt. It has been worn so much that it is overexposed and detracts from her new fresh looks. It also seems a bit heavy-looking with this silk day dress.
Carla Bruni is in a black sheath dress with a dark jacket - in some photos it looks black; in this one it looks tobacco brown. May be black/brown tweed? In her arrival photo it was unbuttoned.
Well said, Chrystelle.
I personally do not see the need to drag someone else down in order to lift another person up. But I will say this, if Michelle dressed anything like Carla Bruni, I can guarantee that viewer numbers on this site would dwindle rapidly. No disrespect to Carla but before becoming first lady she had a fierce reputation particularly with men so I can completely understand her rather subdued attire. She always dresses elegant but for me I often find the grey and black outfits rather dowdy.
Michelle on the other hand will often receive criticism for her choice of outfits but no one can accuse her of playing "safe" and boring. Like Chrystelle said, her bold colours, her jewellry, brooches, shoes, dare I say it - high waisted belts. Well....... it just adds an air of excitement and clearly demonstrates that she is a confident self assured woman who enjoys experimenting and comfortably see pass vitriolic comments.
I for one, absolutely love this dress. As a woman of colour, Michelle can wear almost anything so I love the bright colours and bold patterns.
Call me crazy, but that "walking the dog" picture makes me smile. The jeans, the Converse look-alike sneakers (or maybe she really is wearing Converse), the iPod...it all looks just so normal and regular. It helps feed my fantasy that Mrs. O and I could be friends if we ever had a chance to meet.
And of course, her "dress up" ensemble later that same night is lovely. Can't wait to see the larger and better pictures that Mrs. T will have for us.
She's in another black cocktail dress. Kind of looks like it has some fuzzy stuff on it. Pictures on Yahoo are not clear enough to identify, but still are pretty good pictures. The president is wearing a tuxedo and black tie. A very nice looking couple.
He also gave a good speech. Did not find it televised anywhere, but the White House live streamed the audio. This is an important group to him and one that has not been backing him solidly on health care like they should be, and they gave him trouble during the election--Hillary leftovers--practically pumas, sone of them.. The leader is Barbara Lee from California and she has been extremely sharp-tongued with him. Was grating to have to listen to her introduction. In the end, though, Gregory Meeks gave the actual introduction.
She looks incredible! Love the cut of that black dress!
omg!!! the first lady looks gorgeous in her stunning dress!!!!
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//090927/480/248f8d625d654cfd99c385262237e7b8/#photoViewer=/090927/480/eabd350544d2431c91bc8804263d3ef7
Thumbs up on the dress. I see that the high-waisted belt look - which I normally don't like on the First Lady - has returned but it works for this outfit. The neckline is just a tad bit too low though. Hair and makeup are on point.
I like Carla Bruni's look, but I agree with others who argue that we've seen it many times before. She could mix a little color in her ensemble.
Sarah Brown must've fired her previous wardrobe designer because her clothes have significantly improved from this spring.
Mrs. O's cocktail dress that she is wearing at the CBC event is HOT. Effortlessly chic.
BTW...I really want Mrs. O's legs. Mine are skinny and lacking definition like Carla's. Mrs. O's shapely legs are a nice addition to her shapely figure. Lucky lady. I would embrace my curves just like Mrs. O does too.
I agree IVA, she looks classy with a fun, sexy twist. Simply gorgeous.
Check it out here:
Mrs. O's chic black dress
By the way, IVA, thanks for "Miranda". ;-)
FLOTUS looked simply stunning tonight at the CBC Awards dinner. Simply stunning. Bravo!
I love that Michelle takes a standard black cocktail dress and makes it fun. I love the feathers or whatever it is. She finds the standard black dress but one that really pops.
I really like the color and pattern of Michelle's dress. I think she looks fabulous as usual. Carla looks elegant, but understated. I have to say that Sarah is looking good on this trip. The chips are down on her husband's status and she dresses to impress considering many of her previous outfits have been uninspired.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8672178
This was from Tonight. 9/26/09 Congressional Black Causus
Exquisite!
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Michelle-Obama/ss/events/pl/050108michelleobama#photoViewer=/090927/480/eabd350544d2431c91bc8804263d3ef7
There's just something about the side swept bang partially covering one eye that screams hot, sexy and super-mysterious!
She always looks lovely, but with the bangs (even when the rest of her hair is pulled back like at the reception in Pittsburg), she looks absolutely ravishing...
Some of my very favorite Mrs Obama pictures from a while back...and they are not about fashion or style;
These simply capture the very essence, grace, beauty and all around loveliness of this unaffected and naturally magnificent woman (even when under much pressure and fire)-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fairangels/2905047095/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37751310@N08/3469482522/in/set-72157617142257575/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cursedthing/2939005571/
@loulou, read me comment again Carla was not rubbing her own stomach, her husband was. Yes, maybe she had a stomach ache.
For those (like me) who have wondered about Carla Bruni-Sarkozy's "natural look" and understated clothing in subdued colors, here is an interesting article about their recent lunch in New York. Photo shows her in a pale lilac twin set and jeans.
http://www.sawfnews.com/Lifestyle/60335.aspx
From the article:
She sticks to her no makeup, minimal jewelry look, because she believes makeup does nothing after 30. Her dresses are always no fuss, clean and crisp line of cut, with her favorite color being grey. She has never been seen in print since she became the first lady. Being flashy is just not her style. Wearing flats to the state dinners or charity meetings is a norm with the first lady which not only goes well with the shorter height of her husband but with her subtle sense of dressing as well.
Answers a lot of our questions.
I have a geometric blouse. Must wear more often!
Providing comments that compare women is counterproductive to what women as a group hope to achieve. It is also very archaic, especially with comments about a woman's "past." This is not Salem, 1600's.
Carla Bruni is an Italian living in France. For the baseline of fashion, no one does it better than the Italians and the French. No one will ever wear clothing better than they, its their history and culture; and not limited to the upper classes.
Our First Lady is an American, just as I am. She dresses in a distinct American style with her own signature. Mrs Obama is an American, representing Americans and is doing just fine.
Very appropriate, and great dres!! One that goes well with a belt indeed!
ThatotherMimi: What do you mean allowed??! First Ladies and leader's spouses don't wake up in the morning with a list of what they are "allowed" to wear. And who would have the cheek to give it to them? Given that they are grown-ups?! That kind of stops when you're 11 and have developed social skills, or at least it did in my world. So, your weird comment about open toed shoes being "allowed" is just that. Weird. Open toe shoes are not illegal in any country that I know of, and women may wear them to any event they like.
Separate to that comment, I really love Carla Bruny-Sarkozy's shoes, they are beautiful. And Sarah Brown actually looks REALLY good at this event. Amazing. Neutral coloured shoes, block colour on the bottom half at a flattering length, properly fitting top - at last. YEEEEHA!
I laughed out loud at desertwind's critique of everyone and everything. Thank you for that strange summation of politics in my country! For your information, even if Mr Brown WAS blind in one eye and losing his sight in the other, why would we care? He could do everything he needed to do if he was blind. The issue is that he was not elected. He just took over from Tony Blair when the media created a storm and got Tony ousted. And it's about time we had a general election anyway. And we don't really know what he's doing. Don't read all this rubbish in the papers and think it's true. It's often just the opinion of the editor.... it was ever thus.
I've seen a few comments here (desertwind and Willow) about Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy having to dress in a conservative way because of her colourful past. I think that's unnecessarily prudish and pointless kind of comment to make. Sorry to be blunt ladies but what colourful past??? She's been a hugely successful model (who doesn't care about being photographed in the nude because nudity is nothing to be ashamed of). Then she was and remains a successful musician. And now she's married to a world leader. Those are just facts, not titillation. You may feel that if it had been you, you would feel that that was inappropriate, or embarrassing, or that you had to slink about in dark suits so that people wouldn't remember what you did when you were younger. I think CBS is made of sterner stuff. Actually, I genuinely believe she doesn't care. In none of the interviews with her that I have seen has she expressed anything like regret or embarrassment. And why should she? She's beautiful, she's extremely clever, she's had two successful careers, she speaks 142 languages and thanks to her upbringing she's actually more adept socially than her husband. (Sorry Nicholas but you do look like a fish out of water sometimes and she just floats about being a diplomatic tour de force.) Plus, having no clothes on is nothing to be embarrassed about. So why worry? I think you miss the obvious point - she is dressing to be an ambassador for France in her role as it is NOW. She wears the quintessential French design house, Dior. I might wish that she mixed it up a bit, but she doesn't. She always looks flawless. She doesn't like messing about with hair and make-up so it's either up, or not. Mostly not. If you look at the way she dresses - and has always dressed - it's very pared down anyway.
Anyway. Back to Mrs O. LOVE that geometric print and the belt just tips it over into the perfect silhouette. Yumster, love it, nuff said.
Oh and someone asked whether, because Carla wasn't wearing hose, Mrs Obama had started a trend. Er, no, some of us haven't worn tights, stockings or opaques professionally (unless we felt like it) for something like twenty years so it's no longer the norm. Some people behave like it is, but it's actually simply a choice.
Posh I was being snarky with the appropriateness of open toe shoes. Joking on the fashion police who tear Michelle from limb to limb. I am of the there are no RULES ilk. The open toe comment was just snark for those who hunt and peck for anything wrong Mrs. O does like the rule one must wear resort wear at a RESORT.
I"m not a big belt fan but this one works. So does the very colorful dress.
I agree with the others.....and would like to see a litttle more pizaz from Carla Bruni.
Back to MO ..... hair and make-up are flawless.
Her posture in this picture is "proud"
Once again, we see Michelle Obama in an off -the rack looking dress by who??? We've seen this look on thousands of women for the last 3 years--couldn't her stylist come up with something a little more creative? I think all the fanfare about Mrs. Obama being in the same league with Jackie Kennedy has been generated waaaaaaaaaaaaay too early. Let's see her style progress, if it can, throughout their, hopefully very short stay in the White House. Then compare her today as she is then. The press will then say what a frump she was in 2009 and what an icon and a half she is in 2012. She is a politician's wife--since when does that qualify her as a style and trendsetter???
Bottom line is that Mrs. O's height provides her a great advantage in fashion and as per USUAL This Dress is fabulous and she is wearing it well!!!!!!
@Peggy -- nice try but your bias are showing ..... some of you people are just amazing [BY THE way she did not ask to be a trendsetter, she wears what she wants. You don't want to see her close your eyes]
Heck -- No one wants her to be the next Jackie Kennedy, I could care less. I want her to be the best Michelle Obama and who cares about the so called "standard" of beauty or fashion. Jackie sure did not look like me and she sure was not my mothers standard in the 60s. So frankly I don't care. Your icon will be there so don't worry, your world is not shattered.
I like Michelle Obama and I like the independent Michelle Obama. The real deal Michelle Obama. Yes, the off rack dressing and everything that goes with it. Not your standard but quite fine for mine. Love it.
I knew it from the get go, can't take it that this chocolate sister could be deemed oh my God "trend setter or beautiful" it ruins the whole standard of beauty thing right? Its awesome that the chocolate sister gets to make other little black girls around the world know you are beautiful, not that they did not know before. Just to proclaim it. And I love that it hurts some people and they can't take it. For the next 3 yrs actually maybe it will be 7 "so it will not be a short stay" you see that chocolate face daily.
Eat your heart out. If I could have looked at 43 other first ladies that don't look like me, I am sure you folks can deal with the first one that does not look like you, its not that difficult. Don't worry your jackie picture will still be there when its all said and done. Just like my mom's diana ross still there.