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Home · Fashion

State of The Union Style Through The Years

How First Lady Michelle Obama’s recent State of The Union style stacks up to the others.

By Celia L. Smith · January 21, 2015October 27, 2020
01
2015

First Lady Michelle Obama broke her dress streak at this year’s State of The Union Address when she showed up chic in a Michael Kors skirt suit. The classic tweed look with a twist: an origami neckline and exposed zipper, showed even while laying low from the spotlight these days, she hasn’t missed a beat.

Getty Images
02
2014

Last year’s address saw the First Lady in a forest green frock by Tunisian born, French-bred designer Azzedine Alaia. The pleated dress with matching bolero was a pretty safe style choice, but what wasn’t was her decision to wear a non-American designer––something she had been criticized for in the past. Then again, fashion is all about taking risks, no?

Win McNamee/Getty Images
03
2013

In 2013, the First Lady was wooed by Jason Wu, the designer who helped make her transition into the White House (note the Inaugural Ball) a chic one. She opted for a color blocked confection of sparkles in her go-to fit-and-flare silhouette. What’s not to love about this look?

04
2012

Boldly proclaiming her love for this patriotic shade of cobalt blue, the First Lady is a standout in Capitol Hill in a silk twill sheath by Barbara Tfank delicately adorned with an Alexis Bittar brooch.

05
2011

Just weeks before the 2011 State of The Union address, Oscar de La Renta commented on the First Lady wearing European designer, Alexander McQueen, to the State Dinner. Mrs. O came back with a chic response: a pale blue Rachel Roy shift dress with Lucite bangles and a black and white ribbon in honor of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

06
2010

Michelle Obama didn’t veer far from the plum palette she wore the year prior when she sported this Isaac Mizrahi number. A pretty, classic statement that she would eventually build on in State of The Union Addresses to come.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
07
2009

The FLOTUS’ started out playing it safe at the State of The Union Address in a Narciso Rodriguez silk wool sleeveless dress (the same designer she wore on election night) in a modest plum hue.

Getty Images

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