The Stunning Style Transformation Of Michelle Obama

Even before Michelle Obama officially entered the White House in 2019 as the first lady of the United States, all eyes were on her impeccable style. During Barack Obama's 2007 campaign, she looked every bit the future prez's wife in pearls and demure necklines. However, as she stood next to Barack on election night the following year, fans saw her in a daring black-and-red Narciso Rodriguez dress that hinted at more bold sartorial choices to come.

Michelle has come a long way since her college days when she attended Princeton in the early '80s. Back then, her style was more casual, but she still had a cool-girl vibe. In a throwback pic shared on Instagram, a young Michelle is wearing a denim jacket over a red sweater, probably not knowing that she would one day be the FLOTUS.

Now, Michelle has a bevy of high-fashion she can choose from, but she doesn't just go for expensive pieces. While visiting Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show" in 2008, she was asked how much her outfit cost (via CBS News). "Actually, this is a J. Crew ensemble. You can get some good stuff online," she quipped. That comment alone made her a superstar in many eyes, and whether she's buying clothes off the rack or getting dressed up in couture, Michelle has had some stunning style transformations over the years.

While Barack Obama was an Illinois senator from 2005 to 2008, Michelle Obama had plenty of practice being surrounded by politics. When he announced his presidential bid in 2007, Michelle looked cool and collected, albeit a little cold as she waved to fans. "I'll never forget the day that Barack announced his candidacy for president in Springfield. February 10, 2007 was [bitterly] cold — about 12 degrees. It was the kind of day where you might think twice about leaving the house if you didn't have to," she recalled in an Instagram on that fateful day's 15th anniversary in 2022. Dressed in a black, wool coat and hat, she added a pop of color with a purple scarf with strands of pearls around her neck peeping through.

Throughout Barack's campaign, Michelle was often seen wearing pearls, which perfectly embodied her classic style, much like fellow White House icon Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis. Her 'fits were much simpler then but almost always had a splash of color and a certain flair. Before working with her current stylist Meredith Koop, the FLOTUS relied on high-end boutique owner Ikram Goldman to advise her. "Michelle was fun to watch. She gave women the confidence to dress and express themselves in a way that made them feel comfortable because she is an extraordinary, happy, and wonderful person," Goldman shared with Vogue in 2016.

Many were curious to see what Michelle Obama would wear at Barack Obama's inauguration ceremony, and she didn't disappoint. Known for infusing color into her wardrobe, the FLOTUS chose a lemongrass outfit made just for her by Isabel Toledo. "I wanted to pick a very optimistic color, that had sunshine. I wanted her to feel charmed, and in that way would charm everybody else," the Cuban-American designer told The New York Times.

Throughout Barack's first term as president of the United States, Michelle wowed with her fashion. In 2011, she opted for a bright red and black Alexander McQueen gown for a state dinner hosting China's then-president Hu Jintao. Author Kate Betts of "Everyday Icon: Michelle Obama and the Power of Style" shared with Today, "Red is an obvious color because in the Chinese color it means good luck, but you expect an American or an American-based designer for an occasion like this. But she's always surprising, and that's why we're all riveted by her."

As Michelle Obama got more acclimated to her first lady status, her 'fits became bolder during Barack Obama's second term. While she still stuck to classic solids, we saw her in many adventurous prints from designers all over the world. For the 2014 event at the Metropolitan Museum debuting the Anna Wintour Costume Center, Michelle wore a nude Naeem Khan dress with green floral appliqués.

Over the next four years, the fashionista FLOTUS wore everything from a neon yellow Kenzo dress with graphic prints to a bright purple dress with a dark swirling vine-like pattern made by Oscar de la Renta. Michelle was more than aware of the influence her clothing choices were making, especially as a woman of color. "When it came to my choices, I tried to be somewhat unpredictable, to prevent anyone from ascribing any sort of message to what I wore. It was a thin line to walk. I was supposed to stand out without overshadowing others, to blend in but not fade away," she wrote in her memoir "Becoming" (via Elle). After Barack's presidency ended, Michelle was freer to dress however she wanted, and that's when we saw a complete fashion revolution.

When Michelle Obama took off for her "Becoming" book tour, she totally upped her fashion game. Now that she was out of the White House, the Princeton University alum rocked 'fits that were more daring than ever. At the New York City leg of the tour, she showed up in a bright yellow Balenciaga wrap dress with — wait for it — gold glittery thigh-high boots from the same designer. Obama would never have been able to wear them without sparking criticism while she was serving as the first lady but on the Brooklyn leg of her tour, she told Sarah Jessica Parker (via Vox), "Now, I'm free to do whatever. They were just really cute. I was like, 'Those some nice boots!'"

In 2019, Obama wowed fans in Austin, Texas wearing a cobalt Elie Saab suit with multi-colored stripes. She continued to reign supreme with her fashion overseas but chose to wear local designers instead as a nod of respect. Back in 2016, her stylist Meredith Koop told Harper's Bazaar, "We always take into account where we are going and that country's cultural norms. The goal is to pay tribute to each place we visit [while] never losing the spirit of the United States."

After the success of her memoir "Becoming," Michelle Obama penned another book titled "The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times," which was released in November 2022. This time, her book tour was much shorter, going for just one month, but her style did not disappoint. We saw Michelle pull off the trendy double-denim Canadian tuxedo look in Washington, D.C. and that wasn't the only surprising element. The former first lady had her hair in micro braids that went down the length of her back. As reported by The Hill, Michelle had to refrain from wearing braids while in the White House. "They ain't ready for it!" she told Ellen DeGeneres while promoting the book. As a celebration of her new 'do, she told the crowd, "Braids, ya'll!"

A year later, Michelle wore denim again at the 2023 U.S. Open, but this time she wowed in an A-line midi dress by Oscar de la Renta. "Game, set, match," she wrote on Instagram while sharing pics of her standing next to Barack Obama. "That dress is soooooo Beautiful," a fan commented. With all her super cool 'fits, we wouldn't be surprised if Michelle's daughters Sasha and Malia Obama were raiding her closet all the time.

Talk about an up-braid! When Michelle Obama shared a pic of herself in a bookstore for National Book Lovers Day on August 9, she showed off her stunning hair transformation with a giant braid that fell all the way to her waist. Donning a baseball cap and an oversized black jacket, she looked decades younger than her 60 years. A fan wrote, "I LOVE the versatility of her looks. She's definitely one of the most stylish FLOTUS." Writer and comedian Akilah Hughes declared, "The coolest FLOTUS we will ever have."

Obama kept her cool braid but switched up her style for a more conservative look at the 2024 Democratic National Convention. The look was anything but boring, however, as she took the stage wearing a navy sleeveless jacket and flared pants from Monse. While the label may not be as well-known as other brands, the creative directors Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia also work with Oscar de la Renta. "Her team approached us and she purchased the look. As I got off the ferry in Fire Island a month ago her stylist, Meredith Koop, texted me saying, 'Did you read my email? There's an event coming up.' I dropped my phone, knowing what this meant," Kim shared with Vanity Fair. From streetwear to deconstructed power suits, Obama can wear anything and be the most stylish person in the room.