How Michelle Obama’s Style Has Evolved Over the Past 8 Years Inline

Michelle Robinson married Barack Obama in Chicago in 1992 and wore an ivory off-the-shoudler gown. During Barack Obama’s first campaign, Mrs. Obama wore ladylike suits and dresses in solid colors. Here, she and the soon-to-be president celebrated in Chicago with daughters Sasha and Malia. For the Democratic National Convention, Obama repped her hometown in a turquoise dress by Chicago-based designer Maria Pinto. On Election Day in 2008, Obama wore a striking red and black dress by Narciso Rodriguez to celebrate her husband’s historic win. The creamy one-shoulder gown Obama wore for the inaugural ball made New York–based designer Jason Wu a household name. At an inauguration celebration, Obama embraced classic American style in a classic coat and matching skirt by Narciso Rodriguez. J.Crewis one of Obama’s go-to labels, but she wore it for the first time as First Lady at a women’s event at the White House. The marigold color made a bold, fashion-forward statement, especially compared to other female politicians’ staid pantsuits. For the reopening of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s American Wing, Obama showed her preference for bold, unexpected colors in a violet dress. A Junya Watanabe cardigan was an arty, refreshing choice for Obama at the Royal Opera House in London. Obama has donned dresses by New York–based designer Prabal Gurung several times over the past eight years. He designed the crimson dress shown here that she wore to the White House Correspondents’ dinner. Obama wore a cheerful cobalt blue frock by Tracy Reese for an official visit to Mexico City. For a state banquet at Buckingham Palace in London, Obama wore a stunning cream gown with matching gloves by Tom Ford. The fiery Alexander McQueen gown Obama wore for a state dinner with Chinese president Hu Jintao drew a bit of criticism from the American fashion community. Diane von Furstenberg, who was president the CFDA, even issued a statement expressing her disappointment that Obama didn’t choose a U.S.-based designer for the important occasion. Here, Obama mixed up her go-to A-line silhouette with a long-sleeved graphic number by Zero + Maria Cornejo. A statement coat goes a long way. Michelle Obama wore a plaid one by Thom Browne with hot pink gloves and sleek boots for the inauguration parade celebrating the president's second term. Later that day, Obama traded her coat for a sweeping red inaugural ball gown, again designed by Jason Wu. If you didn’t know Duro Olowu’s name before Obama became First Lady, you likely do now. She’s worn several dresses by the Nigerian designer, and she even enlisted him to decorate one of the White House rooms for the holidays last year. Obama went with a jade green dress by Naeem Khan when she spoke at the grand opening of the Anna Wintour Costume Center at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. For the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Phoenix Awards dinner, Obama wore a white gown with black detailing by New York–based designer Bibhu Mohapatra. Obama chose a graphic printed dress by London-based designer Mary Katrantzou for a Let Girls Learn initiative event in London. For her first official visit to Japan, Obama chose a nearly neon yellow Kenzo dress with an oversize belt. The choice was fitting for her trip—Kenzo’s founder, Kenzo Takada, was born and raised in Japan; he launched his label in Paris in 1970. At the White House Correspondents’ dinner in April—Obama’s last one as FLOTUS—she took a glitzier approach with this exquisite jeweled gown and overlay from Givenchy’s Spring ’16 Couture collection. This draped cobalt dress by Christian Siriano was a soft, womanly choice for the Democratic National Convention in July. No one’s immune to the Gucci effect! Obama wore a charming map-printed dress by Alessandro Michele for an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Obama has her pick of world-renowned designers, from Tom Ford to Ralph Lauren, but for a state dinner with Singapore’s prime minister, she chose a sculpted ivory column by up-and-comer Brandon Maxwell. Add Self-Portrait to the list of wallet-friendly labels Obama loves. Designer Han Chong custom-made this lace dress for her Broadway Shines a Light on Girls’ Education event. Can you imagine a more showstopping dress for Obama’s final White House state dinner than this rose gold chain-mail number by Atelier Versace?

How Michelle Obama’s Style Has Evolved Over the Past 8 Years Inline

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