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Home • Celebrity

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time

Over the last 8 years, Michelle Obama has become a pillar of First Lady style. Taking chances, changing perceptions about what should be deemed appropriate and becoming one of, if not the most influential First Lady since Jackie Onassis — Mrs. Obama made her mark. As her time in the White House winds down, we're paying homage to the game-changing fashion moments she's delivered over the years. Behold, Michelle Obama's best style moments of all time.
By Dominique Hobdy · Updated October 26, 2020
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Michelle Obama Best Looks
Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
Leigh Vogel
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In Peter Soronen after a 2009 black-tie dinner at the White House.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
Pool
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In Jason Wu during the 2009 Neighborhood Inaugural Ball in Washington, DC.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
FABIANO/SIPA
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In a vibrant floral dress while attending the 2011 APEC Summit in Hawaii.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
Getty Images
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Michelle Obama’s Best
In a purple two-piece suit while leaving the UK for the G8 summit in 2011.
Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
WPA Pool
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Michelle Obama’s Best
In Ralph Lauren before a 2011 Dinner at Winfield House in London, England.
Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
Anwar Hussein
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In a Sophie Theallet dress while celebrating Independence Day in 2011.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
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Michelle Obama’s Best
In J. Mendel at the 2012 BET Honors.
Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
Leigh Vogel
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In a Sarah Burton for Alexander Wang gown as President Barack Obama welcomed Chinese President Hu Jintao to the White House in January of 2011.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In a silver beaded Naeem Khan dress as she poses alongside President Barack Obama, Angela Merkel, chancellor of Germany, and Joachim Sauer, Merkel’s husband at the 2011 state dinner.

 

 

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
Getty Images
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Michelle Obama’s Best
In Marchesa at the 2013 Kennedy Honors Gala.
Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In Naeem Khan dress while attending the 2012 White House Correspondents Dinner.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
Getty Images
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In a Jones New York dress while speaking at Florida’s Broward College in 2012.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
Larry Marano/WireImage
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In a jewel-toned Marchesa gown while welcoming British Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife, Samantha Cameron for the State dinner in March of 2012.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In Tracy Reese during day one of the 2012 Democratic National Convention.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
Alex Wong
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In Tracy Reese while commemorating the 50th anniversary of the march on Washington in 2013.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In Thome Brown during the presidential inauguration in 2013.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
Win McNamee
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Michelle Obama’s Best
In Naeem Khan while presenting the 2013 Oscar for Best Picture.
Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
The White House
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In Jason Wu during the 2013 Inaugural Ball.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
Taylor Hill
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Michelle Obama’s Best
In Marchesa while attending the annual White House Correspondent’s Association Gala in 2014.
Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
Pool
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In Laura Smalls while celebrating Cinco de Mayo at the White House in 2014.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
Pool
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In Prabal Gurung as she poses alongside President Barack Obama following the U.S.-Africa Business Forum speaking in 2014.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
Anadolu Agency
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Michelle Obama’s Best
In Michael Kors Collection during a preview of the 2015 holiday decor at the White House in 2015.
Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
Mark Wilson
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In a printed white dress while attending the The Grammy Museum’s Jane Ortner Education Award luncheon in 2014.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
Jason LaVeris
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In a citrine Kenzo dress as she lands at Tokyo’s Haneda International Airport in 2015.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In Michael Kors for the 2015 State of the Union address by husband US President Barack Obama at the US Capitol in Washington.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In Alice + Olivia during a visit to a school in Siem Reap province in 2015.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
Getty Images
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In Zac Posen while speaking onstage during 2015 ‘Black Girls Rock!’ BET Special at NJ Performing Arts Center in Newark, New Jersey. 

 

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In Missoni as she arrives at the United States Pavilion at the Milan Expo 2015 in Milan, Italy.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
Getty Images
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In a silk mermaid Vera Wang gown alongside President Barack Obama while awaiting the arrival of Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Madame Peng Liyuan, at a 2015 state dinner.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In Zac Posen while attending the 2015 White House Correspondent’s Association Gala.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
Getty Images
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In a printed floral dress while attending a speech by US President Barack Obama on US-India relations during a 2015 townhall event in New Delhi.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In Tadashi Shoji while attending the Phoenix Awards Dinner for the 45th Annual Legislative Black Caucus Foundation Conference in 2016.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
Getty Images
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In Tadashi Shoji as she speaks at the Joining Forces Invictus Games Event at Wells Field House in 2016. 

 

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
Getty Images
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In black and white eyelet dress while hosting National Student Poets Program With Hip Hop Artist Q-Tip in 2016.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
Mark Wilson
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In Brandon Maxwell while hosting State Dinner For Singapore in 2016.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
Chip Somodevilla
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In a floral a-line dress while hosting the ‘Broadway Shine A Light On Girls’ Global Education’ at The Bernard B Jacobs Theater in 2016.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
Bruce Glikas
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In Atelier Versace while attending the 2016 State Dinner.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
Mark Wilson
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In Naeem Khan while addressing the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 46th Annual Legislative Conference Phoenix Awards Dinner in 2016.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
Pool
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In Givenchy Haute Couture while attending the 2016 White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In Tanya Taylor while welcoming the Broadway cast of HAMILTON in 2016.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
Chip Somodevilla
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In a monochrome look paired with Jimmy Choo pumps while posing alongside US President Barack Obama, Prince Harry, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at Kensington Palace in London, England in 2016.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In a metallic gown with shimmery embroidery while attending dinner at the Kirchner Cultural Centre Buenos Aires in 2016.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
JUAN MABROMATA/AFP/Getty Images
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In a Jason Wu gown as she and President Obama welcome the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie in 2016.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In a floral a-line dress while unveiling the 2016 holiday decorations in the White House.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
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Michelle Obama’s Best

In Gucci while attending the 2016 Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.

Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
AP/images
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Michelle Obama’s Best
In a multi-colored wrap dress as she addresses troops with President Barack Obama at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kailua.
Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
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Michelle Obama’s Best
In a sheer floral dress while walking to board Air Force One at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
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Michelle Obama’s Best
In a floral top and cardigan with high waist trousers at Children’s Health System in Washington, DC.
Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
Paul Morigi
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Michelle Obama’s Best
In a navy blue lace dress after President Obama’s farewell address at McCormick Place in Chicago.
Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
Chicago Tribune
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Michelle Obama’s Best
In a graphic black and white dress while surprising guests during the “Thank You First Lady Michelle Obama” segment on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon..
Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
NBC
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Michelle Obama’s Best
In a black peplum dress with zipper details on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments of All Time
NBC
TOPICS:  Michelle Obama