Geometric Gem
Monday, November 19, 2012 at 8:45 PM 
The first lady hosted an award ceremony for the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities in the East Room of the White House today. The ceremony recognized arts and humanities education programs that benefit underserved youth.
For the occasion, Mrs. O wore a geometric print dress from Zero + Maria Cornejo, first seen in 2009, here. 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. On a shoe note: Check out Mrs. O's ankle strap pumps!
Update (11/22): With so much enthusiasm for the first lady's shoes, I thought it was only appropriate to provide a close up view. Several readers (and blogs) have credited Zara, which has a look-alike ankle strap style available here. The catch: Mrs. O's version has a criss-cross open heel.
Zero + Maria Cornejo 
Reader Comments (44)
Wow...sexy shoes! Hmm....I dont know if I am feeling the shoes with this dress. Does anyone recall her wearing dark nail polish in the past
Love the dress. Could have done without the belt. The shoes are banning. Got to find out where they are from.
Wow...sexy shoes! Although, I am not feeling the shoes with this dress.
Does anyone recall her wearing dark nail polish in the past?
the shoes are zara. i have them, only $49! love that michelle is wearing them.
here is a closeup picture of here shoes I saw on some blog for you ladies...
http://obamadiary.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/shoes.jpg
Love the pumps! Nice change! Love the dark nail polish with this dress. Wish her favorite belt was a little lower--could be the picture. But the pumps look very nice on her!
here is a better picture of Mrs. Obama's shoes from a site I saw them on earlier today for you interested ladies http://obamadiary.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/shoes.jpg
I love the shoes. They look like Zara vamp heels.
Thumbs down on the shoes...this is a style few can wear and Mrs O is going to incite many who shouldn't to try it...
Omg.....she is just straight the bomb......I LUVVVVVV shoes......so now I'AM looking for those okkkkkk.....MRS. OBAMA YOU ARE MY SHERO!!!!!!
The belt is not doing the dress any favors. The print is uninspiring and cut evocative of 1970s polyester. I know Mrs. O can do better.
Absolutely love the shoes !
Love the look but belt appears too high...her figure or ???? Still love the Obamas, YES!
I love this dress and remember it well. The shoes look fantastic on FLOTUS. I also read the article on the Daily Beast regarding Mrs. O's fashion etc. I am really upset. I am boycotting the Daily Beast because the author of the article was very negative on how popular FLOTUS is, and what a wonderful taste level she has. She totally dismissed the impact FLOTUS has had on the US Fashion Industry and what a joy it is to see Mrs. O representing this country with such intelligence and elegance. No more Daily Beast for me!
I am not sure I like this dress with the famous belt placed where it is. Regardless it is still a pretty dress and the colours compliment her very well. The pumps look cute on her.
I love the look!
@ Debra Williams and Jestina (London, England), I love those shoes too!
Boo to The Daily Beast! Love the shoes.
The black ankle straps are perfect. A departure from the usual kitten heels. Love them.
I have NEVER seen Mrs. O look inappropriate. Always stunning, always beautiful, always comfortable and always perfect for the occasion! A real, confident, intelligent woman and First Lady to look up to!
As an unabashed FLOTUS-phile and a self-proclaimed shoe-nista ... this look is a double-shot of Oh-My-My! I'll be on the sewing maching this weekend knocking off that dress and in the mall getting the shoes REAL soon! You rock, Mrs. O!
FLOTUS has turned Fashion.... who wears jackets these days? No one. The must-be is cardigan... says who? FLOTUS. Look at the anchors on all stations, they are all working had for Michele's shoulders. Its now the shift, the cardigan, sleeveless dresses and tops... Lets hear it for FLOTUS.
mrs. o's dnc tracey reese dress is available at anthropologie's right now
http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/clothes-dresses/26637728.jsp
Loving this casual yet edgy look from Mrs. O! I can't recall her ever wearing an ankle strap pump before so this is an unexpected, yet nice change. I also see that she's still rocking her dark mani!
Are the shoes from Zara?
http://www.zara.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/us/en/zara-us-W2012/269191/982006/BASIC%20ANKLE%20STRAP%20HEELS
ooh, great shoes!
Simple, casual elegance. A lady through and through. There is no wondering why President Obama loves this woman. (As my grandfather used to say: "You lucky rascal, you!") She glows confidence and style, and strikes me as someone who is utterly comfortable in her own skin and clothing. (And that's not easy to pull off all the time.)
Pls share detail on the black shoe.
Thanks for doing such a wonderful job. I have visited your site for the last 4 yrs and I have enjoyed every minute.
Shoe is fun, fashionable, looks comfy - day to evening and very very good to
have for the holiday season. I can visualize that shoe with many different gowns during the festive season.
I have been following your blot from day one and I have enjoyed every minutes. Thank u! Love the dress and I am on the web searching for the shoe.
Love,love those shoes.. I could literally steal them off her feet.
I just love her style
Found the shoes she's wearing! They are Zara pumps and they only cost $49! This First Lady ROCKS! Seriously!
She makes a pair of $49 shoes look a million dollars. Wow.
http://www.zara.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/us/en/zara-us-W2012/269191/982006/BASIC%20ANKLE%20STRAP%20HEELS
Love the look, simply fab.
That does it! That belt again-oh noooo! Put it on the dog and let it be freed from our fashion consciousness.
The shoes were dead on!!! However, stop with the aline attention. No belts high up.
I love Michelle Obama, and I love the shoes, her hair and make-up, but I think this dress is really unflattering. It makes her look pregnant, and the pattern on the fabric is tasteless. This one's a mistake, in my opinion.
The shoes are a nice change, I like the look. I agree with many others who have commented on the dress regarding the ill-placed belt. The high placement of the belt is not flattering.
don't be ridiculous Mrs Obama is not wearing a pair of $49.00 cheap shoes
actually I have shoes like the ones she's wearing in the photo
FYI..mine are by Valentino they cost $1,000 to
$1,500..beautiful shoes..they are a nod to ballerina.. look
great on sleek and tone legs..FLOTUS wears the shoes well.
Thanks Mrs. T for posting the close up of these terrific shoes!
I am putting this stlye on my shoe list when I go shopping.
Mrs. O. usually dresses much more tastefully than this. The belt makes her look as if she's expecting, and ankle-strap shoes should not be worn by any woman who has more than very thin calves. These shoes cut women off at the ankles and make them appear much shorter than they are.
Whoa, easy Thumper! You don't like the belt, we get it. But "put it on the dog"..... really?
The shoes are snazzy, that's for sure. Good looking out for the fashionistas that spotted these. You ladies rock!
They cant be the same shoes. The back of Mrs. O's is different from the Zara one.
Mrs. A the UPDATE says Zara has "look-alike" anke strap version. That does not mean its the same shoe.
@Adear - I am referring to comments in the post suggesting it is the same shoes. Not Mrs. T's post. I totally agree with Mrs. T's post and even she made the same comment that I made. Thank you.
@Mrs, A ,
Ok, point taken. Thank you.