6 Times Michelle Obama's Killer Legs Couldn't Save Her Awful Outfits

When we see Michelle Obama these days, it's hard to ignore the stunning transformation the former first lady has undergone since she first arrived on the scene. Michelle is aging like a fine wine, and it has a lot to do with how her style choices have changed over the years. From hair and makeup to her clothes, it's clear that she feels more comfortable expressing herself through fashion than she was when she was supporting hubby Barack Obama during his presidency. Back then, she often sported looks that completely missed the mark, and she still does it occasionally today.

No matter what phase of life she was in, Michelle has always been very obviously fit. Her killer biceps are often the center of the show, and it's no secret that she has legs for days. And, sometimes, she isn't afraid to show those legs off. Killer gams can be like a built-in accessory for leg-baring 'fits. Over the years, though, the former first lady has proven that even the most toned calves can't save a bad outfit. Michelle has worn some less-than-stellar ensembles. And, while she may have thought flaunting her legs would save her from a visit from the fashion police, she's been caught red-handed — or should we say "legged."

While she stood alongside the wives of 2008 presidential candidates at the 2007 Women's Conference with Maria Shriver, Michelle Obama may have put her killer legs forward, but she definitely didn't put her best fashion foot forward as she made her introduction into the public eye. The then-future first lady wore a black and beige houndstooth button-down dress that landed just above the knee. While the print may have been a bit more exciting than the yawn-inducing neutrals her fellow first lady hopefuls were sporting, this 'fit still felt stuffy and bland. 

Michelle Obama had yet to become the first lady at a rally back in 2008 when she wore another dress that definitely wasn't our favorite. This orange number landed at her knees and put her calves on display. 

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Between the color and the slouchy fit, this just didn't do her justice. Plus, paired with those oversized pearls, does this outfit give anyone else Wilma Flintstone vibes? Seeing these ghosts of outfits past prove just how much Obama's wardrobe has evolved during her years in the spotlight.

In 2009, Michelle Obama bared her toned calves at the Ford's Theatre grand reopening. Unfortunately, her brown-on-brown printed dress didn't catch our eye in the right way. From the fluffy A-line skirt to the busy print with dizzying diagonal stripes, this dress looked like something that one of her young daughters might have sported at the time. It didn't, on the other hand, look like a chic first lady outfit for a special event.

At a 2009 ribbon cutting ceremony for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Michelle Obama let her legs do the talking, sitting with her exposed calves front and center. Her legs definitely managed to steal the show, but they weren't able to draw all the attention away from her catastrophic color choice. Her bold, nearly neon purple dress and coat combination wasn't the best for the former first lady. Additionally, the big bow on the outfit's empire waist didn't add anything to the look.

Okay — we know it was 2009, and that was a very different time when it came to putting a belt over your shirt. Those of us who remember this era of fashion firsthand are surely willing to cut Michelle Obama some slack for some of the more wild outfits she donned that year. Still, neither late aughts fashion forgiveness nor a lovely pair of gams can save this all-over-the-place 'fit from Chicago's 2016 Olympic bid, which featured a teal cardigan, lime green top, and patterned skirt. Yikes.

In 2017, Michelle Obama took the stage at the ESPYs donning an all-black ensemble. By this point, Obama's style was far better than her days in the White House. And, it was easy to tell by just how stunning she looked with sleek hair and makeup and her toned calves on display. Unfortunately, the whole look was thrown off by the dress' confusing neckline — with asymmetrical, jagged cutouts. She paired the dress with shoes featuring lopsided straps, which further added to the outfit's funhouse vibes.