Michelle’s no stranger to architectural jackets, with splayed collars and voluminous sleeves. She picked up the look in June, and Narciso Rodriguez emulated it on the runway for spring 2010.
Frazer Harrison / Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz; Photo by Mark Wilson / Getty Images
Women have always shunned horizontal stripes—until Michelle showed them how it was done. Here, the first lady wears a Sophie Theallet striped shirtdress. Marc by Marc Jacobs undoubtedly references her signature silhouette on the runway with a belted full skirt punctuated by a graphic stripe.
Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images; Heathcliff O'Malley, Catwalking / Getty Images
Michelle celebrated her husband’s birthplace with a little luau-inspired glamour. Here, she topped off the look with a lei on her way to a barbecue. Her bold, yet feminine print was mimicked this season in this Marc by Marc Jacobs dress.
Heathcliff O'Malley, Catwalking / Getty Images; Mandel Ngan, AFP / Getty Images
Michelle worked a bold look during her trip to Prague earlier this year, accenting her white Moschino blouse with a simple black cardigan. Perhaps it triggered inspiration for the eye-catching bow that was part of a new look from Peter Som?
Jason Kempin / Getty Images; Michaela Feuereislova, isifa / Getty Images
Michelle tossed a black Azzedine Alaïa cardigan over her sleeveless Isabel Toledo dress for her first meeting with Queen Elizabeth II. The hemline may be shorter, but Vera Wang’s recent number captures the essence of her sophisticated look.
Heathcliff O'Malley, Catwalking / Getty Images; Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images
Designer Jason Wu was catapulted to fashion royalty after Michelle wore his asymmetrical silk chiffon dress on the president’s inauguration night. Oscar de la Renta—who criticized the first lady for wearing a cardigan to meet the Queen—captured the same look in a one-shouldered number, minus the Swarovski crystals and dozens of organza flowers.
Saul Loeb, AFP / Getty Images; Heathcliff O'Malley, Catwalking / Getty Images
Sometimes more is more when it comes to bijoux. Michelle wore a multi-strand pearl and crystal Tom Binns necklace with her Peter Soronen sequined gown to the Governors’ Ball in February. Vera Wang accented her spring collection of sheer layered dresses with similarly heavy silver strands.
Mandel Ngan, AFP / Getty Images; Heathcliff O'Malley, Catwalking / Getty Images
Michelle works two of her sartorial signatures—a full skirt and bold print—next to a little cocktail number from Oscar de la Renta that features a similarly muted plaid, and that other Michelle fashion signature: the asymmetrical neckline.
Saul Loeb, AFP / Getty Images; Heathcliff O'Malley, Catwalking / Getty Images
Michelle’s influence is even seen in the typically downtown-cool aesthetic of Alexander Wang. The first lady donned a sporty black windbreaker on Air Force One, similar to the one on the Alexander Wang runway.
Karl Prouse, Catwalking / Getty Images; Mandel Ngan, AFP / Getty Images
This sleek, cherry-red sheath dress is perfect for the White House—and the runway. Donna Karan debuted a little red wrap dress in an identical hue to that of the first lady.
Newscom; Randy Brooke, WireImage / Getty Images
Michelle was such a fan of her Sophie Theallet shirtdress she bought it in white and black. One of her favorite designers, Jason Wu, borrowed the signature full skirt and striped silhouette for this party dress he just sent down the runway.
Jewel Samad, AFP / Getty Images; Catwalking / Getty Images
Michelle Obama earned her place at the top of every fashionista's list when she appeared during her first overseas trip wearing this black bell-shaped Azzedine Alaïa cocktail dress. Ralph Rucci must love Azzedine as much as Michelle—here’s a similar look from his spring 2010 runway.
Frazer Harrison / Getty Images for IMG: Sean Gallup / Getty Images
Marc Jacobs was a fan of another first lady—Hillary Clinton—but the designer and current woman in the White House see eye-to-eye on frilly, feminine ruffles. Michelle’s blouse is Liz Claiborne, and Marc Jacobs debuted this stark white number—which, if she ditched the collar, might just work for Michelle at a state dinner.
Win McNamee / Getty Images; Karl Prouse, Catwalking / Getty Images
Diane von Furstenberg celebrated the first lady with this Michelle-esque look—a floral, belted bold print—with her spring 2010 collection.
Heathcliff O'Malley, Catwalking / Getty Images; Brendan Smialowski / Getty Images
Michelle wore a sleek shift dress by Jason Wu in Rome in the same canary yellow hue as this day look from Nanette Lepore.
Frazer Harrison / Getty Images for IMG; Lberto Pizzoli, AFP / Getty Images
Not since Audrey Hepburn wore Givenchy in Funny Face has a woman looked so stunning in something so simple. Michelle addressed Time’s 100 Most Influential People event in a black Michael Kors dress with a corset belt by Peter Soronen. Ralph Rucci pulls off the same elegant look with this black sleeveless dress.
Frazer Harrison / Getty Images for IMG; Kevin Mazur, WireImage / Getty Images
Michael Kors got creative with the Michelle’s conservative polka-dotted dress when he sent a spotted and flowy white dress down the runway.
Saul Loeb, AFP / Getty Images; Don Emmert, AFP / Getty Images
Michelle Obama belted a purple dress and coat with a bow, which Oscar de la Renta emulated in a silk dress from his spring collection.
Neilson Barnard / Getty Images; Heathcliff O'Malley, Catwalking / Getty Images
Michelle looked sleek in a sculptural white belted coat during a visit with Carla Bruni. Ralph Rucci sent a similar coat, complete with the cropped sleeves, down the runway.
Stephine de Sakutin, AFP / Getty Images
Hot off Donna Karan’s spring 2010 catwalk is a fresh, crisp, and modern take on Michelle Obama’s simple white evening ensemble.
Jewel Samad, AFP / Getty Images; Karl Prouse, Catwalking / Getty Images
