Michelle Obama Had A Very Stylish 2016

For the last eight years, we've been watching Michelle Obama tackle issues and make important speeches about gender and racial equality like a champ, all while looking incredibly chic. Obviously the job of First Lady is about more than pretty clothes, but you must admit, Michele Obama's outfits in 2016 were quite fabulous.

I imagine that picking out outfits as the First Lady is a rather difficult task since the world tends to pick apart women for their fashion choices, especially when they're the face of American government — can't be too revealing, can't be too prudish, can't be too expensive, etc. — but Michelle Obama has navigated these hurdles with class and she deserves some recognition and admiration.

FLOTUS tends to stick to similar cuts and colors, often opting for floral prints and A-line silhouettes, but occasionally she'll take things to the next level, like when she wore a sparkly rose gold Versace gown to an Italian state dinner. On the more casual side, Mrs. Obama is championed for bringing back the cardigan, as her various J. Crew cardigans sell out almost immediately after she is seen wearing them as an intentional part of her outfit, rather than something you only don when you're cold.

2016 was a good year for Michelle Obama's style. Here are 21 of her best looks from the last twelves months.

1. This Yellow Dress She Wore At The State Of The Union Address

This yellow Narcisco Rodriguez dress just looks like something the First Lady would wear — classic cut, sleeveless but with a high neckline — but in a non-traditional color. So good.

2. This Printed Wrap Dress

Wrap dresses are another staple of FLOTUS's style. This one that she wore in March at a Women's History Month event is extra cool with its abstract design.

3. This Jason Wu Gown

Michelle Obama looked radiant in her custom Jason Wu gown for a state dinner with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

4. This Satin A-Line Dress

Mrs. Obama stuck to her favorite silhouette in this embellished a-line frock with some elaborate beading. I wonder if she coordinated with Juliana Awada (the First Lady of Argentina) before selecting this piece?

5. This Carolina Herrera Dress

Michelle Obama's entire wardrobe for their trip to Cuba was phenomenal, but she first landed wearing one of her signatures — a floral a-line dress. This one was by Carolina Herrera.

6. This Naeem Khan Dress For The Cuban State Dinner

Another one of FLOTUS's fabulous dresses from her visit to Cuba. This Naeem Khan dress was wonderfully appropriate for her spring trip in March 2016.

7. This Fuchsia Oscar De La Renta Dress

Michelle Obama wore this beautiful fuchsia dress for a private lunch with Queen Elizabeth II. Casual.

8. This Monochrome Ensemble

Color blocking done right. Michelle Obama's peach outfit was perfect for her meeting with the British Royal Family.

9. This Atelier Versace Gown

This Versace gown is amazing. If anyone was doubting Michelle Obama's style chops, this dress should convince them.

10. This Naeem Khan Gown

Naeem Khan is definitely one of FLOTUS's favorite designers. Here she is in September wearing a gold foil ball gown by the designer, looking absolutely gorgeous.

11. This Holiday Frock

To reveal the 2016 Christmas decorations at the White House, Michelle Obama wore a very festive blue a-line frock with a floral pattern and a bow at the waist. Perfect for the holidays.

12. This White Crepe Gown

While visiting Singapore, Mrs. Obama wore this simple, yet chic white gown by American designer Brandon Maxwell.

13. This Cobalt Christian Siriano Dress

This royal blue gown was a perfect pick for Day 1 of the Democratic National Convention. It was in this dress that she made her now iconic speech in support of Hillary Clinton, saying "when they go low, we go high."

14. This Givenchy Dress

You know you have a stylish FLOTUS when she wears Givenchy Couture to the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

15. This Trendy Tracy Reese Dress

Look at those bell sleeves. Michelle Obama wore this trendy Tracy Reese dress while speaking at the Veterans Homelessness Summit in November.

16. This Printed Dress

While at a campaign event for Hillary Clinton, Obama wore this pretty printed gown that almost sparkled when light hit it. So pretty.

17. This Self Portrait Dress

This Self Portrait dress is really cool for anyone to wear, let alone the FLOTUS.

18. This Preen By Thorton Bregazzi Dress

This dress was perfectly suited for a trip to Madrid.

19. This Perfect Demonstration Of Pattern Mixing

While in Morocco speaking at the Let Girls Learn Summit alongside Meryl Streep and Frieda Pinto, Michelle Obama mixed floral prints perfectly and even rocked a trendy high turtleneck.

20. This Blush Naeem Khan Gown

Naeem Khan knows how to dress a First Lady. Here is Michelle Obama wearing another one of Khan's creations while attending a Nordic state dinner.

21. This Wide Leg Suit

For her appearance on NBC's The Voice, Michelle Obama wore a pair of fabulous wide legged trousers and a chic black blazer belted at the waist. The epitome of classy and stylish.