Jason Wu at the 2009 Inaugural Ball
I didn't love this at the time, because it felt a bit bridal to me, but in retrospect it really works. It WAS a big moment, and honestly, if we put this photo in a time capsule and aliens dug it up in 200 years, they'd be like, "Oh, cool, Madam President brought her man candy to the ball."
Naeem Khan at the India State Dinner, 2009
This is a very pretty dress that suffers from a problem that plagued her early, as you'll see: It's pinchy in the chest region.
The India State Dinner, 2009
She made up for it with FABULOUS bracelets. Michelle Obama understands our yen for accessories. She has always been here for us in that regard.
In Peter Soronen at the National Governors Association Dinner, 2009
I initially thought this was grey, but it's apparently purple, which I can tell now due to the flashes coming off the sequins. I actually think that necklace is coming in way too hot, like Maverick to a radio tower.
Nobel Peace Prize Procession, 2009
I have no idea what it is, but I LOVE THIS. It's tremendously SWINTON.
In Prabal Gurung at the 2010 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner
It's funny to read descriptions of this now, and see that people said it was by "up and coming" designer Prabal Gurung; he feels so part of our fabric now, but he and Jason Wu really were nascent when Michelle started wearing their stuff. I love aspects of this, but doesn't it seem to be bandaging her chest a bit too much? It's otherwise so sleek and well-styled, though.
In Peter Soronen at The Mexico State Dinner, 2010
This might be the worst of the pinches. It would look SPECTACULAR on her if not for that very uncomfortable sight. Peter Soronen is apparently a Chicago designer, which is a clear nod to the Obamas' hometown.
In Peter Soronen at The Mexico State Dinner, 2010
"Barack, did you even TRY the Head and Shoulders I bought you?"
In Naeem Khan at the Kennedy Center Honors, 2010
Nobody went out of their way to get a full-body shot of this dress -- at least, not in the slew of what is available to us -- so we're stuck with this angle. It... matches the venue decor, I guess? But, pass.
In Alexander McQueen at the 2011 China State Visit
Beautiful fabric, beautiful color, but in my opinion rather overworked. The skirt and that one sleeve are having a Sistine Chapel Ceiling moment, reaching for each other. They should've left that to Michelangelo. HOWEVER: Damned if she isn't selling it. She glows.
In Halston at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, 2011
"Seth, calm down. He is the president, yet he is but a man."
In Tom Ford at Buckingham Palace in 2011
I've decided this is when Prince Harry developed his crush on her.
In Ralph Lauren in London, 2011
"Shoot. You might have been right. My tux pants might be tailored wrong."
In Ralph Lauren in London, 2011
"Excuse me, can we get that in writing, so we can add it to the Encyclopedia of Times I Have Been Right?"
In Naeem Khan at Germany State Visit, 2011
This dress suffered because anytime Michelle walked in it, she had to hike it up thusly, and it puts a fabric mouth right where her ladybits are.
In Naeem Khan at Germany State Visit, 2011
It's better, if slightly shapeless, when she either lets it be or only grabs it with one hand. But the most important thing about this photo is, I think we are witnessing the exact moment Angela Merkel fell in love with Barack Obama.
In Doo-Ri Chung at Korea State Visit, 2011
This is fantastic.
In Vera Wang at Kennedy Center Honors, 2011
I wish I could SEE this better. It's nice, though. It's simple, it's richly colored, it has great earrings involved. Win.
In Naeem Khan at 2012 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner
People ALSO aren't properly committed to getting full-body shots of FLOTUS at the correspondents' dinners. I'd like to know more about the skirt and whether it's a peplum. But the pattern is great, which makes sense, as that's Naeem's bread and butter.
In J. Mendel at BET Honors 2012
This has echoes of that red Kate Winslet Ben de Lisi dress, which has become iconic (I am apparently the only person in the world who was left cold by that gown). The ruffle on her shoulder feels a bit too Miss Chicago USA for me, though the color is typically lovely.
In Marchesa at UK State Visit, 2012
POTUS nearly created a kerFLOTUS here. Watch the feet, Barack.
UK State Visit, 2012
Samantha Cameron's dress is rather pretty. Michelle's bodice isn't as good as I want it to be -- somehow it looks like it's folding in on itself -- and I can't decide if the necklace is too much. It might be. I SO appreciate it, though.
Kennedy Center Honors, 2012
So stunning.
In Jason Wu at the 2013 Inaugural Ball
I think this is smashing on her, but I did NOT love these bangs. They were too harsh on her, for me, and somehow they made the hair look more casual than the dress. But: what a gown, and BRACELETS AHOY.
Phoenix Awards 2013
I don't know who made this, but she looks fantastic in it. Complete perfection.
In Marchesa at the Kennedy Center Honors, 2013
This is the second Marchesa she's nabbed in this color. Maybe they're her go-to green. She's not wrong that the hue is fabulous, but much like the other one, somehow the bodice isn't its strongest part (though I like this one better). I am never hot on when it looks like a dress's sleeves fell down.
In Carolina Herrera at France State Visit, 2014
All right, we need some lip tint here, bigtime. I like this dress so much more when she stands in it...
France State Visit, 2014
... than when she walks and I can see more clearly the delineation between the straight skirt and the fluffier one that sits over it.
In Marchesa at the White House Correspondents' Dinner 2014
This was a really rough phase for Marchesa, if I'm remembering correctly, so I'm just glad she doesn't look like a caught mermaid.
In Bibhu Mohapatra at the 2014 Phoenix Awards Dinner
This is really cool, and I hadn't known her to wear this designer before, which is doubly nifty.
In Monique Lhuillier at the Kennedy Center Honors 2014
This would be on the low end of the list, for me.
In Vera Wang at the 2015 China State Visit
But this one might be at the bottom. Her head looks great, but almost as if she needed the hair to hide any skepticism about the dress that might have threatened to pour out of her eyes. I'm projecting, obviously. I just really don't like this cut. It's dated and it's not flattering, and its SO heavy.
In Tadashi Shoji, 2015
I wish this were all the floral pattern, rather than going all in on the blocky stripes, but it's still a fetching alternative to The Widowbama we just saw on the previous slide.
In Zac Posen at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, 2015
GAH, again, WHY did they not force her out from behind the chair?
In Tadashi Shoji at Japan State Dinner, 2015
This feels unusually sloppy for Shoji.
In Oscar de la Renta at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2015
People Magazine has a full photo of this, and it's marvelous. Much better than it seems in this photo. I love it, MO. Well played.
In Jason Wu at the Canadian State Visit, 2016
This was custom, and it's divine and delicious. This should be on everyone's inspiration boards.
In Givenchy at the White House Correspondents' Dinne6, 2016
This should be on everyone's Pinterest boards that are titled, "Know When To Say No." By now she probably knew this is the only photo angle anyone ever gets of her, and this gown fails her on every level that way.
In Naeem Khan at the Nordic Leaders State Dinner, 2016
I can't say I love this -- I said then, and I maintain, that it feels more like an alternate than a first choice. Very bridesmaid-adjacent. But it's an improvement over the Givenchy, and what comes next...
In Brandon Maxwell at the Singapore State Visit, 2016
... that being, a dress designed to look like the back of a chair at a wedding. Although Barack seems pleased. I wonder if, unlike Emily Gilmore, chairs bring him joy.
In Naeem Khan at the Phoenix Awards, 2016
Now THIS is a gown. This makes up for the pancake-makeup-colored thing he made her two slides ago. It's glorious, and its marvels can only be eclipsed by what's coming next.
In Versace at the Italy State Visit, 2016
This is exactly the period anyone would want to put on an eight-year sartorial sentence. She may yet have more events, but this was her last time hosting a big state dinner, and she blew us all away. It's elegant, it's sparkling, it's the stuff of dreams. It's the grand slam home run that wins the World Series. It is the proverbial high note, hit so sweetly that you don't really remember any sour ones that came before it. Well played, FLOTUS. Well played, and well finished.