See a Brief History of Michelle Obama’s Flawless State Dinner Style

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As Michelle Obama tucks into velvety pasta pillows and beef tenderloin with her husband Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and various high-profile guests at Tuesday night’s state dinner, here’s a look back at some of her most memorable state dinner fashion.

The first lady has hosted 14 state dinners in total, including India in 2009, Mexico in 2010, Korea in 2011 and the Nordic countries in May this year. Her most notable FLOTUS fashion statements include the amazing Vera Wang mermaid dress she wore for China’s state dinner in 2015 and the ivory column gown designed by Lady Gaga’s former stylist Brandon Maxwell that she debuted for dinner with Singapore’s Prime Minister earlier this summer.

Barack Obama, Michelle Obama
Barack Obama and Michelle Obama walk out to the North Portico to welcome India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur to the state dinner at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 24, 2009.Susan Walsh—AP
Obamas Greet Mexican Counterparts As They Arrive For State Dinner
Barack Obama and Michelle Obama welcome Mexican President Felipe Calderon and his wife Margarita Zavala to the White House in Washington, D.C., on May 19, 2010. Gary Fabiano—Getty Images
Obama Hosts Chinese President Hu Jintao For State Visit At White House
Barack Obama (R) shakes hands with Chinese President Hu Jintao (C) as Michelle Obama looks on as they pose for the official photo at the Grand Staircase of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Jan.19, 2011. Alex Wong—Getty Images
US President Barack Obama (R) and First
Barack Obama (R) and Michelle Obama arrive to greet German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her husband Joachim Sauer (not in picture) at the North Portico of the White House in Washington, D.C., on June 7, 2011.Jewel Samad—AFP/Getty Images
President Obama And Michelle Obama Welcome President And First Lady Kim To The State Dinner
Barack Obama, center right, and Michelle Obama, center left, greet Lee Myung-bak, president of South Korea, foreground center right, and Kim Yoon-ok, First Lady of South Korea, foreground center left, at the North Portico of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 13, 2011. Joshua Roberts—Bloomberg/Getty Images
US President Barack Obama and First Lady
Barack Obama and Michelle Obama await the arrival of British Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife, Samantha Cameron, prior to a state dinner as part of an official visit on the North Portico of the White House in Washington, D.C., on March 14, 2012. Saul Loeb—AFP/Getty Images
President Francois Hollande of France arrives for a State Dinner at the White House in Washington, DC
President Francois Hollande of France are greeted by Michelle Obama and Barack Obama as he arrives at the North Portico for a state dinner at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 11, 2014. Nikki Kahn—The Washington Post/Getty Images
US-JAPAN-STATE DINNER
Akie Abe (L) and Michelle Obama walk to a state dinner in the White House in Washington, D.C., on April 28, 2015. Brendan Smialowski—AFP/Getty Images
US-CHINA-DIPLOMACY-XI-OBAMA
Barack Obama (R) and Michelle Obama (2nd-L) welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping (2nd-R) and his wife Peng Liyuan (L) to the White House in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 25, 2015. Jim Watson—AFP/Getty Images
Michelle Obama (2nd R) and Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau walk to a state dinner at the White House March 10, 2016 in Washington, DC.
Michelle Obama (2nd R) and Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau walk to a state dinner at the White House in Washington, D.C., on March 10, 2016.Brendan Smialowski—AFP/Getty Images
Obamas Welcome Leaders for U.S.-Nordic Leaders State Dinner
Michelle Obama touches the chin of Barack Obama as they await the arrival of guests at the state dinner while participating in the U.S.- Nordic Leaders Summit at The White House in Washington, D.C., on May 13, 2016. Chris Kleponis—Picture-Alliance/dpa/AP
President Obama Hosts State Dinner For Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Michelle Obama and Barack Obama wait for the arrival of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore and his wife Ho Ching on the North Portico of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 2, 2016.Chip Somodevilla—Getty Images
Barack Obama (R) and Michelle Obama (L) walk outside to greet Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and Italian First Lady Agnese Landini prior to the state dinner at the White House on Oct. 18, 2016 in Washington DC.
Barack Obama and Michelle Obama walk outside to greet Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and Italian First Lady Agnese Landini prior to the state dinner at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 18, 2016. Shawn Thew—Getty Images

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