Michelle Obama Just Wore Very 2026 Gladiator Sandals

From ancient Greece and the Roman Empire to Kate Moss and Sienna Miller in the early 2000s, gladiator sandals have ebbed and flowed in popularity over the years. Oh, and who could forget the iconic pair Pattie Boyd wore in the '60s during her marriage to George Harrison? Personally, I haven't owned a pair since I wore out the soles of my beloved gold Steve Madden gladiator sandals circa 2012, but I'm starting to think it's time to revisit the trend.

Ever the style icon, Michelle Obama just demonstrated exactly the kind of gladiator sandals that are back for 2026. Attending an opening event for the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, the former first lady wore Jimmy Choo Ayla Sandals ($895) with Ossou's Sienna Top ($495) and Trace Jeans ($295). I'm not a huge fan of the knee-high gladiator sandals that could double as a baseball catcher's shin guards, so these more minimalist versions are right up my alley. They're strappy but not over-the-top, so there's no worry of being mistaken as an extra in The Odyssey. Scroll down to see her new outfit.

On Michelle Obama: Ossou Sienna Top ($495) and Trace Jeans ($295); Jimmy Choo Ayla Sandals ($895)

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Erin got her start as a Who What Wear intern in 2011—back when the site only published a single story per day. (We have since increased that number twentyfold.) She graduated magna cum laude from USC and lives in Los Angeles. In college, she also interned at Refinery29, where she was promoted to editorial assistant and then assistant editor. After nearly three years at R29, she came back to WWW in 2015, where she is now the Associate Director of Fashion News. From the Oscars to the Met Gala, she leads the site's entire red carpet coverage strategy. She specializes in celebrity and fashion news but also enjoys writing travel features and runway reports. She frequently contributes to WWW's social accounts and has a sizable following on her personal TikTok.