Adele’s style evolution — from rah-rah skirts to Schiaparelli

Adele is once again the name on everyone’s lips after posting a selfie with her newly awarded Emmy.

‘Trust me to officially have an EGO!’ she wrote in the caption, referring to the fact she only needs to scoop up a Tony award to claim the sought-after EGOT status: winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. And while the glitzy gold trophy took centre stage this time, it serves as yet another reminder the singer is enjoying her high-octane glam sartorial era.

After that Instagram back in May 2020 saw ‘Adele in 100lb weight loss shock’ headlines fly around Britain, and her appearance on Saturday Night Live in October caused whispers of a new album to hit an all-time high, it was her joint November 2021 covers of British and US Vogue that catapulted Adele into a new era. Most notably the huge, emerald Valentino Haute Couture dress Alasdair McLellan photographed her in for Anna Wintour. Just last month, she was seen on the covers of American and British Elle, sporting a huge faux fur coat and white Fendi trench coat respectively, and proving her style shift is here to stay.

But anyone who recalls the Tottenham-born artist on her way up will know it hasn’t always been swathes of crêpe silk and satins. After leaving the BRIT School in 2006, her look has certainly fluctuated, but never lost its quintessential flair.

Catch up on the most iconic looks from her evolution below:

September 2008, Mercury Music Prize

This outfit belongs in a fashion history collection (V&A, hope you’re listening). Her black, flounced mini skirt blends into thick black tights which themselves morph into ballet pumps. Call it Noughties greatness. The pink trim cardigan and large daisy earrings don’t scream high fashion, but there was plenty of time for that to come. She was nominated for Album of the Year with her debut ‘19’, but left defeated by Elbow.

February 2009, Grammy Awards

For her first Grammy award wins, Adele wore a satin, knee length, black dress by Barbara Tfank complete with shimmering brooch. In the singer’s Instagram post announcing the news of her US Vogue cover this year, she wrote “Anna - I remember the first time we met when I was 20 and you dressed me for my first ever Grammys with Barbara Tfank. Thank you to you and thank you to Edward for letting me be a part of this Vogue moment all these years later.”

February 2012, Grammy Awards

For the 2012 awards, Adele stepped up her game. With a sumptuous red lip and glimmering, beaded gown by Giorgio Armani, she looked sleek and sensational as she collected a record-tying six awards for her 2011 released album ‘21’. It became the best selling album of the 21st century.

February 2013, Grammy Awards

In what was a controversial choice, Adele veered away from her trusty black frocks and stormed boldly onto the Grammy 2013 red carpet in this Valentino couture floral embroidered gown, with long sleeves and a collar. Reviews were mixed, but critics slammed it as frumpy and carpet-like.

February 2016, the BRIT Awards

Having arrived in a flowing, burgundy Giambattista Valli number, Adele changed into this glittering Valentino gown which nodded to the Empire State Building. She gave a spell binding performance of ‘When We Were Young’ in it, and took home four BRITs - all in all, not a bad night.

June 2016, Glastonbury Festival

For her legendary performance at Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage, Adele called on Clare Waight Keller - the woman behind Meghan Markle’s wedding dress - who then designed at Chloé, to custom make the buttoned and beaded dress, purportedly the result of over 200 hours.

February 2017, Grammy Awards

At the 59th annual Grammy Awards, Adele swept the floor winning five prizes with ‘25’ including best album, song and record. For the occasion she wore a silk satin and lace paneled Givenchy gown designed by then creative director Riccardo Tisci.

November 2021, Oprah Interview

Broadcast in the US November 14, Adele opened up about her divorce from Simon Konecki, new boyfriend Rich Paul and her new album. She looked powerful in an all-white suit by American designer Christopher John Rogers, who this month won the coveted American Womenswear Designer of the Year prize at the CFDA Fashion Awards.

November 2021, ‘One Night Special’

For the American iteration of ‘An Audience with Adele’, a similarly celeb-studded crowd (we’re talking Lizzo, Leonardo DiCaprio and Selena Gomez ) gathered to get an early listen of her new work. Broadcast November 14, she asked fashion industry favourite Daniel Roseberry of Schiaparelli to dress her, wearing a fishtail silhouette gown and chunky Saturn earrings to match a tattoo on her forearm.

February 2022, The BRIT Awards

This year’s BRIT Awards saw Adele storm the carpet in this elegant, full length Armani gown which came with a drop plunge, long sleeves and spotted tulle train. It was far from the only look she served for the event: she later hiked up the hemline with a velvet, tuxedo style mini dress for a photocall - not to mention the full length Valentino gown dripping in gold sequins she wore to perform.

July 2022, BST Hyde Park

It was the concert of the summer, and Adele looked the part in this sleek, off shoulder black sequin design, custom made by Louis Vuitton. Playing to a crowd of 65,000 on July 2, the frock which cinched at the waist and billowed into a pleated statement skirt with crystals studded is typical of her minimalist chic style which comes with sparkle. Quite the contrast to Adele circa 2008.