Arguably saving the best for last, Michelle Obama absolutely stunned last week at her final state dinner in a shimmering rose gold chain mail Atelier Versace gown. The flashy pick was no doubt a nod to her Italian guests of honor.
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She had another golden moment in September at the Phoenix Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C. Her strapless Naeem Khan ballgown was polished off by a bevy of coordinating bangles.
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Michelle has always been more than willing to embrace fresh faces in the fashion world (just think back to her bringing Jason Wu into the sartorial spotlight at the onset of her term). For the state dinner for Singapore’s prime minister and his wife in August, she sported a crisp Brandon Maxwell strapless gown topped off by a set of statement earrings.
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It was a blush-colored Naeem Khan off-the-shoulder gown for the first lady at a Nordic state dinner in May. An open gold cuff punctuated the piece.
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In April, she took the haute couture route for her final White House Correspondents' Association Dinner as first lady in a decadent Givenchy creation. The embellished sheer overlay really upped the glitz factor.
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Giving a lesson on how to do tonal dressing, Michelle arrived at Kensington Palace for dinner in style in April decked out in a neutral sweater tucked into a complementary lacy skirt, capped off by nude sandals. That slightly darker rosy coat jazzed things up even further.
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She opted for her go-to designer Naeem Khan once again in Cuba this March, this time charming in a colorful floral embroidered long-sleeve dress. Basic black pumps finished things off.
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Michelle has a habit of really pulling out all the stops for the annual Phoenix Awards Dinner. For the 2015 go–round, she impressed in a brilliant blue Tadashi Shoji strapless patterned gown.
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She went matchy-matchy for the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles 2015 courtesy of Alice + Olivia. Michelle paired the brand’s geometric Giana Layered Cropped Tank Top with the matching Bryn Skirt for maximum effect (she looked just as flawless rocking the same outfit on a trip to Cambodia).
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Keeping all eyes on that scene-stealing graphic Duro Olowu skirt, Michelle simply added in a black tank for her arrival in Milan in 2015. She accessorized with gold earrings and black pumps.
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Mary Katrantzou was the source of the first lady’s colorful paisley patterned short-sleeve dress when she met with Prince Harry at Kensington Palace last year. She was in London to discuss expanding girls’ education across the globe.
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Michelle fittingly picked a pretty floral Thakoon dress that was like a work of art itself for the Whitney Museum of American Art ribbon cutting ceremony last year in New York City.
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Zac Posen’s sleek off-the-shoulder white dress was Michelle’s edgy selection for BET's Black Girls Rock! 2015 event. Sparkling drop earrings and silver pumps rounded out the look.
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We always love when Michelle takes a bit of a sartorial risk, like with this boldly patterned Kenzo long-sleeve dress boasting a full skirt and a statement belt for a visit to Japan in 2015. She balanced out the avant–garde piece with black pumps.
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Bibhu Mohapatra was behind the black and white dress Michelle wore to the 2014 Phoenix Awards Dinner. Its striped asymmetrical bodice panel really stole the spotlight.
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When you’re making an appearance at the 2014 grand opening of the Anna Wintour Costume Center at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, you’d better bring your fashion A game. Michelle did just that in this green embroidered Naeem Khan dress and nude peep-toes.
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Tracy Reese’s LBD with red poppy print was Michelle’s polished pick for the Let Freedom Ring ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial in 2013. Corresponding black pumps completed the look.
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For her second Inaugural Ball in 2013, the first lady looked ravishing in a red velvet and chiffon Jason Wu halter gown. A stack of bangles finished off the outfit.
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Making a simultaneously chic and toasty style statement, Michelle paraded down Pennsylvania Avenue earlier that day in a jacquard Thom Browne dress reined in by an embellished J.Crew belt. A Cathy Waterman necklace, purple gloves and Reed Krakoff boots solidified that this ensemble would go down in fashion history.
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Michelle got a little abstract at the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina in a colorful Diane von Furstenberg sleeveless dress. Black pumps featuring white cap-toes wrapped up the outfit.
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In another instance of the first lady making an ensemble multipurpose, she first wore this pricey J. Mendel jacket and white pleated skirt for a reception celebrating the London 2012 Summer Olympics with gold pumps polishing things off. She then slipped it on again for the taping of TNT’s Christmas in Washington the following year.
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While her teal Marchesa off-the-shoulder gown was striking enough for the 2012 black tie dinner at the White House in honor of the British prime minister and his wife, it was those colorful layered necklaces that really made this look a winner.
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This red hot J. Mendel one-shoulder gown ensured all eyes would be on the first lady at the BET Honors 2012 in Washington, D.C.
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The color play of this overseas look was truly fashion-forward. Michelle layered a blue coat over a purple dress for her 2011 meeting at 10 Downing Street.
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Michelle lit up the White House in Alexander McQueen’s grand silk red patterned gown at the 2011 state dinner for the Chinese president. Her black patterned wrap was the perfect glamorous finishing touch.
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When it came time for the 2010 Mexican state dinner, Michelle showed off her now legendary toned arms in a sleeveless electric blue Peter Soronen embellished gown with glitzy waistband accent. She kept the glitz going with a set of dazzling earrings and flashy sandals.
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Who can forget the delicate embroidered one-shoulder Jason Wu gown Michelle wore while making the ball rounds back in 2009? Certainly not the designer since it was this moment that made him a household name in the fashion industry and around the world.
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Michelle kicked off her day in style by sporting a chartreuse Isabel Toledo coat and matching dress for the swearing in ceremony. The olive gloves and green pumps were just icing on the cake.
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While most of the country is dealing with election fatigue and counting down the days until we can actually register our ballots, we’ve been slightly preoccupied with the impending loss of one of our most fashion-forward first ladies to date. In contrast to the two current presidential candidates, Michelle Obama is perhaps the most beloved political figure in the nation currently. We’re not only enamored with her brilliance and compassion, we’ve also fallen head over heels for her fashion sense.
If you need further proof that FLOTUS deserves the title of First Lady of Fashion, consider this: she is not afraid to recycle looks, she dresses to honor the countries she’s visiting or hosting at a state dinner, and she supports up-and-comers (Jason Wu and Brandon Maxwell, to name a couple). Michelle has her go-to designers like Naeem Khan, but she’s not afraid to push the envelope and get a little trendy from time to time. In honor of her term as first lady coming to a close, we cast our votes for her best looks while she’s been in the White House. Here’s hoping we just might see her back there one day…
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