The First Lady of the United States is one of the most watched women in the world, especially when it comes to fashion. Over the years, these women have helped define themselves and the role of women in power through style.
From inaugural ball gowns to stump speech suits, every look the FLOTUS wears is thoroughly thought out and meant to convey a message (and you thought it was hard to pick out an outfit in the morning). With all that pressure to pick the right ensemble, the ladies ahead handled it with grace, self-assurance, and of course, style.
Many, like Jackie Kennedy, changed the course of fashion as we know it and set trends for years to come. Scroll on to see the best first lady fashion moments of all time. You go girls, er, ladies.
She was as elegant as they come — who else could outshine Frank Sinatra in a photo? At a pre-Inaugural Ball in 1961, Jackie wore a satin gown by Oleg Cassini, with whom she would go on to collaborate with on tons of iconic looks.
The new First Lady was impossibly chic in a simple sheath for a portrait with Caroline in 1961.
At the Inauguration Ball in 2009, Obama set the course for 8 years of off-the-beaten-path style with this cream gown by then-emerging designer Jason Wu.
Modern First Ladying 101: Obama stunned in a high-shine Atelier Versace dress at a State Dinner in October 2016 with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and Agnese Landini.
Known for her commitment to fitness, especially when it came to children, Michelle showed off her famously toned arms in a printed Laura Smalls dress at the Democractic National Convention in 2012. She accented the frock with an Alexis Bittar pin at the neckline.
In Tom Ford, Mrs. Obama looked like fashion royalty (those gloves!) at a state dinner hosted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in 2011.
Michelle always had her finger on the pulse of modern fashion. She capped off her 2011 state visit to England by wearing a sleek Ralph Lauren gown and statement jewels by Tom Binns.
Along with her husband, Betty hosted Queen Elizabeth II during a State Visit to Washington in July 1976, wearing a floaty green Luis Estevez gown embellished with lace and sequins.
During a 1976 visit, Ford gave Queen Elizabeth II a run for her money with this bright hued ensemble and matching hat (two of the Queen's favorite things).
In 1972, Nixon was interviewed by Barbara Walters, wearing a tailored ladylike top-and-skirt combo we're pretty sure we'd rock today.
Long before her historic presidential run HRC played the First Lady role, wearing a long-sleeve black gown with pearls and an updo to the Kennedy Center Honors in 1994.
We call this Hillary BP: Before Pantsuits. The then-First Lady used to be all about a skirt suit and a headband, as evidenced by this ensemble she wore to Christmas morning church service in 1994.
We're not sure the last time we saw the former First Lady and Secretary of State in this much embellishment! Hillary was peak early '90s in a bedazzled gown complete with wispy bangs in 1992.
Hillary channeled her regal side in a buttery yellow skirt suit, hat, and gloves combo to welcome the Japanese Emperor and Emprss in 1994.
Claudia Alta Johnson, known as "Lady Bird," favored special details, as evidenced by this bow-adorned hunter green gown she wore in 1972 at a dinner dance in honor of Princess Margaret and her husband.
Her multi-strand pearl collar necklace was her signature, and Barbara Bush paired it with almost everything. That included this silky fuchsia dress she wore to present the National Medal of Arts to blues musician B.B. King in September 1990.
Have pearls, will travel — literally. The then-First Lady paired her staple baubles with a standout puff-sleeve blue number for a reciprocal dinner at the British Embassy in 1991.
She was known for her glamorous take on style and Nancy pulled no punches in a purple Galanos gown with gold threads and gold leaf costume jewelry in 1983 at a concert with Queen Elizabeth II.
During the same 1983 visit with the Royals, Nancy chose an emerald green gown with matching jewels, a look that was widely praised in comparison with the Queen's (shh).
Mrs. Regan loved the color red and made it her signature, so it was no surprise she wore the hue for a visit to a drug rehab center with Princess Diana in 1985.
She never shied away from bold color (it was the '80s after all) and at the 1986 wedding of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, Nancy went all out in turquoise.