In her pre-election guesting in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 2008, Michelle Obama exuded confidence and poise in that head-to-toe mustard yellow J. Crew ensemble, a little irreverent for a future first lady to be sporting a mass-market brand. "Too accessible," quipped by some, but I've always thought that it was strategic in a sense that it was around the same time that Sarah Palin was outed as having spent $150k on clothing and grooming for her campaign.

We then saw her in that unapologetic red and black sleeveless dress by Narciso Rodriguez during election night in November 2008. Shortly after, came that amazing floral-appliquéd white gown by Jason Wu at the Presidential Inaugural Ball in January 2009.

What is she going to wear next?! From that point on, people are watching.

Michelle Obama's style broke the mold of what is expected from a first lady. She's stylish but not trendy, sensual but not blatantly sexy, age-appropriate but never stuffy. Oh gosh, never!

But Mrs. Obama didn't do it alone. Meredith Koop started working full-time for the first lady in 2009, after a stint at Ikram boutique in Chicago. Then 29 years old, the young stylist was instructed by the White House to abstain from giving press interviews, and was forbidden from interacting with the media.

Until recently, Ms. Koop broke her silence, with the imprimatur of the White House. After eight years of serving as an assistant and wardrobe manager to Mrs. Obama, the two ladies have a more friendly bond. Says the first lady in an interview with Harper's Bazaar, "I am impressed by her professionalism, her attention to detail, and her ability to think not only about fashion but also the importance of the moment and the message. She is integral to the overall strategy of my office and is someone I can always depend on. I consider myself lucky to call her a friend."

"When [the first lady] wears an up-and-coming designer, it creates this feeling that anything is possible," Ms. Koop points out in the same interview. "This is something the first lady talks a lot about with young people, how important it is to follow their dreams and work hard no matter what obstacles come their way. I wanted to translate that very message into her clothing."

As Michelle Obama's reign as first lady comes to an end, and to celebrate the work of Meredith Koop with one of the most recognized public figures in the world, here's a look at some of her most memorable moments in fashion, in the last eight years.

Click on the photos below for a full screen view.