Michelle Obama's Recycled Fashion
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Photo by: Getty ImagesPrabal Gurung floral dress and matching coat
We knew Michelle Obama's Easter getup (center) looked familiar. She wore the same dress when hosting former President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush at the White House in June 2012 (right), and to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in March 2010 (left). Prabal Gurung may be a fairly well-known designer now, after his recent Target collaboration sold out immediately, but he can thank Michelle Obama for putting him on the map back in 2010. - 2/18
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Photo by: Getty ImagesThakoon pixelated floral jacquard dress
Last year's Easter outfit was a repeat too! Prior to her trip to St. John's Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C on April 8, 2012, Obama wore this same dress in April of 2009 on her trip to London. Fashionistas may recall the event—it's when she met fellow stylish first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. - 3/18
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Photo by: Getty ImagesMichael Kors red brocade shift dress
As the world waited to see who would win the November 2012 election, many were also curious what Michelle Obama would wear for the monumental occasion. Her choice: this red and black dress she'd worn several times in the past. The first lady previously wore this frock to a Medal of Honor Ceremony in Washington, D.C. on November 2010 (right) and to a holiday event at the White House in 2009 (not pictured). - 4/18
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Photo by: Getty ImagesTarget Merona arrow print dress
The first lady has expressed that she loves a low-profile excursion to Target. She scooped up this dress back in 2009 and has worn it many, many times since. Most recently the inexpensive dress became her vacation travel outfit: she wore it as she deplaned Air Force One in Honolulu on December 22, 2012 (center) and as she boarded the plane on January 5, 2013 (left) to return to Washington D.C. In the past she wore it in July 2011 to the Joining Forces program at Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach (right), and on a trip to Phoenix in August 2009 (not pictured). - 5/18
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Photo by: Getty ImagesChris Benz Nelda sheath dress
The first lady looks gorgeous in bright colors, and we love this green and aqua printed dress. She first wore it in July 2011 to tape an episode of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (they modified a North Carolina community resource center for homeless female veterans), and later wore it while campaigning at schools in Florida in July of 2012 (right). - 6/18
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Photo by: AP ImagesTalbots aquamarine embroidered skirt
This gorgeous skirt? It was on sale at Talbots. Obama liked it so much she wore it on "Good Morning America" to promote her book, "American Grown," in May 2012 (left), and again while campaigning in Westerville, Ohio in July 2012 (right).
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Photo by: AP Images/Getty ImageJason Wu polka dot chiffon separates
Obama loves polka dots and Jason Wu. Put them together, and you have a no-brainer outfit for the first lady. She wore these coordinating garments to attend campaign fundraisers in Illinois in June of 2012 (left) and paired them again for the 101st annual NAACP convention in Kansas City, Missouri in July 2010 (right). - 8/18
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Photo by: Getty ImagesThom Browne lace dress
Before Obama memorably wore Thom Browne on inauguration day, she expressed her love for the designer at other key events. She wore this grey, short-sleeve dress with black lace overlay to the Democratic National Convention in September 2012 (left), and to the final presidential debate in October 2012 (right). - 9/18
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Photo by: AP Image/Getty ImageASOS Midi Dress in Check Print
Always with her finger on the pulse, the FLOTUS snagged this dress from the cool and affordable British fashion e-tailer. The red, white, and blue palette is obviously very patriotic, and it was on sale for only $28! She wore it to the Joining Forces cookout for military service members and their families in July 2011 (left), and again to an Iowa campaign rally in August 2012 (right). - 10/18
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Photo by: Getty Images/AP ImageTracy Reese chevron dress
Obama first wore this black and white dress in May 2011 when she hosted a barbecue for U.S. and U.K. military families along with Samantha Cameron, the first lady of Britain (right). She took it off the hanger again to dine with the winners of the President's Dinner contest Boundary Road in Washington D.C. In March 2012 (left). - 11/18
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Photo by: Getty ImagesMichael Kors black georgette pleated gown
We're beginning to understand why Michael Kors is Obama's go-to American designer for big events. She stunned in this one-shouldered gown at the Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony in June 2012 (right), and was probably itching to wear it again. A few months later, in September 2012 she had her chance, and wore it to the Congressional Black Caucus Gala in Washington, D.C (left). Can you imagine an A-list celebrity wearing the same gown twice on the red carpet? We didn't think so. - 12/18
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Photo by: AP Images/Getty ImageEtro printed wrap dress
We love an easy, grab-and-go wrap dress and so does Michelle Obama. We've spotted her in this bold Etro dress on at least three occasions. She wore it to the International Women of Courage awards in March 2013 (left), the National Medal of Arts and Humanities Medal in February 2012 (right), and while campaigning in Leesburg, Virginia in October 2012 (not pictured). - 13/18
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Photo by: Getty ImagesPreen electric blue suit and floral blouse
An eye-catching shade really ups the ante on traditional first lady attire, so we're not surprised this suit has become a staple. She was photographed wearing it while deplaning in London in May 2011 (not pictured), while speaking at the Joining Forces initiative in January 2012 (right), and again at the first presidential debate in October 2012 (left). - 14/18
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Photo by: Getty Images/White House FlickrMoschino Cheap And Chic floral graphic dress
The FLOTUS wore this lovely dress to celebrate Mother's Day at the White House back in May 2010 (left), and dug it out of her closet to record a message for "Good Morning America" in February 2013 (right).
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Photo by: Getty Images/AP ImagesZero + Maria Cornejo geometric dress
The first lady loves helping out little known designers, and she gave some major credibility to Maria Cornejo back in September 2009 by selecting her dress for the G20 Pittsburgh Summit (right). She wore the dress again in November 2012 while hosting an award ceremony for the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities at the White House (left). - 16/18
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Photo by: Getty ImagesMichael Kors black sequin dress
We really freak out when Michelle Obama goes glam. She rocked this dazzling gown to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute dinner in September 2009 (right), and busted it out again for the inaugural reception at The National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. this past January (left). - 17/18
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Photo by: Getty ImagesBarbara Tfank green dress
Back in September 2010, the first lady joined the president in presenting the Medal of Honor while wearing this stunning patterned dress (left). She also wore it to the first ever White House Kids State Dinner in August 2012 (right). - 18/18
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Photo by: AP Images/White House FlickrMichael Kors gold silk lurex suit
In December 2009 Michelle Obama wore this glittery gold suit to a holiday event (right), and recycled it for the holidays in November 2012 when she debuted the White House Christmas decorations (left). This is one of her go-to suits—she has it in yellow and red too!
If Michelle Obama's Prabal Gurung Easter outfit looks familiar, you're right. The black and white, silk twill gazar dress with a brush-painted rose print is one of the first lady's favorites. In fact, we recall two other public occasions where the FLOTUS has worn the off-the-shoulder frock. She loves shopping her closet even for major events, unlike many celebrities who feel they can't be seen in the same dress twice. Obama's most oft-worn pieces aren't all designer garments either-she's also obsessed with items from affordable shops like Target and Talbots. In recognition of her recent wardrobe recycling, we're round up Obama's most memorable outfit repeats. Let us know which ensemble you like the best. By Joanna Douglas, Senior Fashion and Beauty Editor