Michelle Obama's complete style transformation

Although Michelle Obama has been out of the White House for a few years now, the former first lady is still very much on our radar. She's continued her progressive platform as a fearless champion of women's rights and as an advocate for the disadvantaged, proving time and time again that just because she's a former first lady, she's not done changing the world.

Her impressive tenure -- from Princeton and Harvard to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue -- and her long list of accomplishments are just some of the reasons we're fans of the mom-of-two. But even more so, it's her vivacious demeanor that solidifies Obama as a force to be reckoned with. Plus, she has an equally spunky style to match.

In honor of her tour for Becoming, we're throwing it back to the first lady's style evolution over the years.

Despite sticking to more traditional sartorial choices during her initial years in the White House, Obama soon began experimenting with different colors and tailoring, a choice that wasn't welcomed by the entire American public.

Who could forget the "uproar" she caused with her fashion choices during her first official White House portrait? That black Michael Kors look is still one of her most controversial looks to-date due it's lack of sleeves. Soon, the first lady found her fashion footing with a savvy mix of high-end designers like Tom Ford and Monique Lhuillier, and more affordable designers like J.Crew.

Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian

However, it's been her time outside the White House that has been the most formative for the first lady's fashion evolution. In recent months, Obama has made headlines for one bold look after another -- Balmain, Cushnie, Givenchy -- with each being better than the next. Everything down to the last detail (those thigh-high Balmain boots! that custom crystal pantsuit!) proves Obama is just getting started.

Scroll through above to see Obama's style over the years.

See the former first lady out and about: