21 of Michelle Obama’s best style moments ever, from Jason Wu at Donald Trump’s inauguration and a Tom Ford gown to dine with Queen Elizabeth, to fashions from Versace and Alexander McQueen
- Michelle Obama, wife of former US president Barack Obama, just turned 59 but is looking as stylish as ever, rocking an edgy leather outfit to promote her book, The Light We Carry, last month
- Fashion writers consider the white Tom Ford dress she wore to a banquet with Queen Elizabeth her best look, but the mermaid-like Vera Wang gown that she met Xi Jinping in is also a strong contender
Michelle Obama, who turned 59 on January 17, has long been considered a fashion icon.
As a former first lady of the United States (FLOTUS), Obama attended a plethora of state dinners, red carpet events and shook hands with the world’s top leaders. Through it all, she has maintained her poise and looked elegant in every endeavour she has undertaken.
So here are 21 of her top style triumphs during her time as a FLOTUS and after, too.
1. A memorable fiery-red dress on election night, 2009
In 2008, Obama wore a memorable fiery-red dress on election night. She paired the Narciso Rodriguez dress with a simple black cardigan.
“The dress was utterly flattering with its black criss-cross waist,” Verena von Pfetten at HuffPost wrote in 2008. “And the elongating blend of red into black delightfully accentuated her statuesque stature. And mostly, it was interesting to look at.”
Von Pfetten added, “Which is something to be said with regards to the wallflower role to which first ladies are usually relegated – a role to which I’d imagine Michelle Obama would not take kindly, dress or no dress.”
2. A floor-length Jason Wu white gown at the inaugural ball, 2009
At the inaugural ball in 2009, Obama stunned in a floor-length white gown. Designed by Jason Wu, the dress featured organza flowers.
“No details of the dress were released before the balls and Wu did not know that Mrs. Obama had selected his design, which he intended to symbolise hope, until he saw it on television,” according to the Smithsonian’s website.
3. A controversial bright-red Alexander McQueen gown at a state dinner, 2011
At a state dinner with China, Obama wore a gown by British designer Alexander McQueen, despite expectations that she might wear a gown by an American designer with connections to China, The Daily Beast reported at the time.