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Home • Fashion

The First Lady's Fashion Evolution

Michelle Obama's fierce style transformation through the years.
By Celia L. Smith · Updated October 28, 2020
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First Lady Style: 2008

Mrs. O has never been one to shy away from color, and she gave us a taste in Maria Pinto’s classic knee-length dress and a matching Erickson Beamon brooch at the Democratic National Convention.

The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
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First Lady Style: 2008

Even back in 2008, Michelle Obama stunned us with her style — especially on the night her husband accepted his Presidential nomination, when she stepped out sporting designer Thakoon’s swirl print dress.

The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
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First Lady Style: 2008

Mrs. O stuck to her classic shift-style silhouettes throughout the Democratic National Convention and looked stunning every time.

The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
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First Lady Style: 2008

At the election night victory rally, the First Lady opted for a special selection — a vibrant red and black Narciso Rodriguez dress with cross-over satin panels.

The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
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First Lady Style: 2008

The First Lady knows what works: clean, classic silhouettes in splashes of color.

The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
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First Lady Style: 2009
In 2009, we saw more of Michelle Obama’s chic style unfold in the White House. Here, she sits pretty in lavender in the East Wing of her home.
The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
AP Image
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First Lady Style: 2009
Even a casual day finds Mrs. Obama in a fab ensemble. Here, the First Lady is clad in grey, complete with matching suede knee-high boots on her way to receive the White House tree with the family.
The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
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First Lady Style: 2009

The First Lady channels her predecessor Jackie O in classic black and white.

The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
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Firs Lady Style: 2009

Again, the FIrst Lady plays up her classic pieces, this time a collarless Chanel-style tweed coat.

The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
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First Lady Style: 2009

The First Lady makes even a simple little white dress in a body-skimming style look marvelous.

The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
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First Lady Style: 2009
Gradually Mrs. O began to polish her already sophisticated style. At the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Awards ceremony, the First Lady donned an origami pleated Moschino dress fabulously with flats and a matching brooch.
The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
AP Images/Susan Walsh
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First Lady Style: 2009

First Lady Michelle Obama is all smiles in another origami pleated ensemble at a White House event.

The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
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First Lady Style: 2009

Soon Mrs. O began to slide out of her signature shift dresses and into chic separates, like this layered blouse and cardigan with a fun printed skirt.

The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
Getty
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First Lady Style: 2009

The First Lady experiments with new styles at the International Olympic Congress in Copenhagen, wearing a gold pleated Rodarte cocktail dress with a trio of brooches trailing her neckline.

The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
Getty
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First Lady Style: 2009

The FLOTUS accessorizes with ease, topping her already chic shift dresses and ensembles with fab belts. This wide style matches exactly with her look for a flawless monochromatic moment.

The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
Official White House photo by Pete Souza
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First Lady Style: 2010
2010 was a year of classic elegance for Mrs. O, as illustrated by this luxurious silk ensemble.
The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
APimages
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First Lady Style: 2010
Mrs. O looked ravishing in this red Michael Kors gown, worn at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Phoenix Awards dinner.
The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
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First Lady Style: 2010
At the second White House State Dinner, Michelle Obama wore yet another breathtaking gown: a one-shoulder, metallic blue belted style by Peter Soronen.
The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
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First Lady Style: 2010

The First Couple arrive at a reception for the recipients of the 2010 Kennedy Center Honors in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Mrs. O in a dazzling Naeem Kahn gown.

The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
APimages
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First Lady Style: 2010
Accessories are key to any ensemble, and we start to see Mrs. O add fab statement necklaces to take her look to the next level.
The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
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First Lady Style: 2010
Mrs. O takes a break from her stunning solid shades and mixes it up in a printed dress and pop-colored cardigan at the festival of lights in Mumbai, India.
The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
APimages
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First Lady Style: 2010
This fit-and-flare dress style quickly became another First Lady fave. She pairs this sweet printed Tracy Feith style with another staple: metallic flats.
The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
Getty Images
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First Lady Style: 2010
Michelle Obama takes her elegant style with her while jet-setting with the President.
The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
Getty Images
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First Lady Style: 2010
Another note-worthy style moment for the First Lady was her pleated Dries Van Noten skirt, long-sleeve top and Alexis Bittar brooch worn in New Delhi, India.
The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
APimages
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First Lady Style: 2010
What’s Mrs. O’s solution to sprucing up a basic look? Belt it! And she does so fabulously at a Howard University game.
The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
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First Lady Style: 2011

Michelle Obama got slightly sexier and bolder for 2011, as shown by this off-the-shoulder multi-toned dress at the APEC Summit in Hawaii.

The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
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First Lady Style: 2011
At the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s gala, the First Lady bared arms in a strapless brocade Chris Benz dress.
The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
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First Lady Style: 2011

Obama’s floral print dress at the APEC Summit in Hawaii was her best-dressed moment of 2011. Our First Lady looks so radiant!

The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
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First Lady Style: 2011
Mrs. Obama loves her many shades of purple, and this flowy dress by Roksanda Ilcinic suits her perfectly.
The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
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First Lady Style: 2011
At the National Design Awards in Washington, Michelle Obama taps into her wild side, but in a softer way by sporting this Derek Lam leopard print dress.
The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
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First Lady Style: 2011

For a woman this powerful, incorporating bold power suits into her wardrobe is a given. In South Africa she wore a silk melon-colored suit and blue patent flats.

The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
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First Lady Style: 2011

The First Lady is on the move in metallic pleats after an appearance on The Gayle King Show.

The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
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First Lady Style: 2011
Over the course of the years, it was rare that we spotted the First Lady without a cardigan to complete her look. This time she stylishly cinched her wine-colored style with a crystal Alexis Bittar brooch.
The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
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First Lady Style: 2011
She transforms a basic LBD by Byron Lars into a sleek style with a wide leather belt and pointed flats.
The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
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First Lady Style: 2011
Holiday dressing knows no limits with First Lady Michelle Obama. At the Hanukkah reception at the White House, she sports an eye-catching metallic cobalt blue style by Rodarte.
The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
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First Lady Style: 2012

The First Lady kicked off 2012 in a bold blue Jason Wu gown at a dinner for members of the U.S. armed forces. This color set the tone of her style for the year.

The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
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First Lady Style: 2012
She followed up with a Marchesa teal stunner at a state dinner in Washington with jaw-dropping Tom Binns pearls to match.
The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
Getty Images
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First Lady Style: 2012
This year Mrs. O’s dresses were just as fab and bold as her gowns. In a JCPenney frock she looked like a million bucks!
The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
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First Lady Style: 2012
At a White House reception, Michelle Obama stuns in a lively yellow draped-front Rachel Roy dress cheerful enough to brighten up the East Room.
The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
SAUL LOEB/AFP/GettyImages
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First Lady Style: 2012

This rainbow-hued pixelated Preen shift dress shows just how fashion-forward Mrs. O has become while still maintaining her classic sensibility.

The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
AP
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First Lady Style: 2012
We adored this First Family moment, with Mrs. O and her girls sporting the season’s hottest trend, color-blocking, for Easter.
The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
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First Lady Style: 2012
This casual coffee shop chat in Virginia with the locals shows Mrs. O in yet another cool colorblocked ensemble.
The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
Alex Wong/Getty Images
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First Lady Style: 2012
The First Lady is a true blue fan. In the past four years she’s worn this shade on numerous occasions, here opting for a patterned Barbara Tfank style with matching patent heels at the University of Florida.
The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
ERICA BROUGH/Gainesville Sun /Landov
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First Lady Style: 2012

We blushed just as much as Mrs. O in this beautiful silk Tracy Reese dress and matching pink heels at the DNC in Charlotte.

The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
STAN HONDA/AFP/GettyImages
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First Lady Style: 2012

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, bolder or brighter, the First Lady steps out marvelously in a fluorescent pink Michael Kors dress suit at the recent presidential debate.

The First Lady's Fashion Evolution
EMMANUEL DUNAND