Oh My God: Adele’s Style Evolution

In 2008, the world got a dose of something new with Adele’s debut album, 19. Spawning chart-topping singles in the UK, the album was a hit. Certified 8x platinum in the UK, and triple platinum in the US, Adele received major accolades from all sides and she won the BRIT Award for Rising Star that year, as well as a Grammy for Best New Artist.

Rocking a mod-inspired look, Adele looks casual and fresh-faced at the 2008 BRIT Awards.

Attending VH1 Divas in 2009, Adele was all smiles in a classic black midi dress, featuring a belted waist and full skirt. Typically opting for classic, borderline-retro styles and silhouettes, the singer seems to find her comfort zone in shapes that flatter her killer curves.

We love an unexpected pop of colour – and Adele more than delivered when she stepped onto the red carpet for the 2009 Grammy Awards rocking this jewel-hued green satin overcoat.

The career highs continued for Adele with the 2011 release of her second album, 21. With over 31 million copies sold, it qualified as the world’s best-selling album of the 21st century and was the top-performing album in US chart history, according to Billboard – and that’s just the tip of it. Suffice it to say, Adele’s music and her career were on a steady incline. The singer’s style sense remained relatively low-key, with the artist continuing to lean on dark hues and basic silhouettes.

2012 would be the year Adele would take on a new role in her life: mother. Her son James was born in October of that year, a child she had with entrepreneur Simon Konecki, whom she’d been linked to since 2011. Of her experience as a celebrity parent, Adele has been open about her struggles with invasive paparazzi, suffering from postnatal depression, anxiety and more. Her willingness to open up about these sensitive issues, in particular how they affect her as a parent, have only contributed to the deep connection her fans feel not only to Adele’s music, but to her as an individual. Her style would continue with much of the same around this time, though the artist demonstrated some willingness to experiment with hair and beauty – a step forward in an otherwise somewhat stale style evolution up to this point. Did we mention? Adele’s 2012 soundtrack single, "Skyfall," written for the James Bond film by the same name, premiering that year, would go on to win an Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Original Song.

Rocking a sparkly black gown and silver-sparkle pumps to the 2012 Grammy Awards, Adele may not have shocked anyone with her choice in style or colour for her gown, but it was the details that made her look pop. Can we take a moment to appreciate that killer bold red lip?

Still favoring classic silhouettes, Adele has started to play with different textures in her otherwise simple style choices, and continues to branch out in subtle ways with her beauty and hair looks. No matter how true to form her fashion choices, the singer’s striking facial features and full pout are always a standout, and she continues to be one to watch for on red carpets and at events.

Print! Colour! A rare style-sighting for the usually all-black-attire singer – and Adele knocked it out of the park. The singer looked fresh and bold in a floral-print red dress, and it was a positive sign that the artist might be growing beyond her usual style staples.

Releasing her fourth studio album in 2015, Adele continued in her stride of chart-topping music and award show winnings. Spotted in NYC that year, the singer stunned in a bright red coat, voluminous blonde locks and oversized shades. This year would mark a significant style shift for the singer, who would begin to venture outside of her comfort zone on and off of the red carpet.

Giving us all the style inspiration, even in her off-duty-styling, Adele continues on her 2015 fashion growth track in this chic ensemble.

Adele stepped onto the red carpet at the 2016 BRIT Awards and absolutely stunned in a flowy burgundy gown and bold red lip. The look was fresh and unexpected, and the singer totally nailed the look.

If her red carpet gown for the 2016 BRIT Awards wasn’t glam enough, Adele took it to the next level for her second dress of the evening. This multi-print sequin stunner had the singer absolutely beaming for her photo op in the Winner’s Room. Nothing glowed brighter than that mega-watt smile, but this spectacular sequin number was a close second.

Rocking her signature hue, but opting for a gown with cut-out details, and sporting a blunt shorter ‘do, Adele manages to keep a go-to look fresh with minor tweaks to the details.

For the 2017 Grammy Awards, Adele not only ventured outside of her fashion comfort zone – she leapt. The result was her selection of an absolutely stunning multi-texture green gown with a criss-cross neckline from designer Givenchy.

After a years-long hiatus, Adele dropped her fourth studio album, 30, in 2021 and it was much of the same as far as chart-topping hits go. Dubbed as something of a “breakup album,” Adele’s latest drop took listeners on an emotional rollercoaster, once again letting her fans in on all the highs and lows of her life, woven into the lyrics of her songs. With some bold new fashion choices from go, it’s apparent Adele detoxed the old out into the album and was ready to take on some new things – style and otherwise – in this next chapter.

Rocking sleek long locks and a floral overcoat, Adele is courtside perfection while attending an NBA Finals game in 2021.

Adele dazzled fans when she took the red carpet for the arrivals portion of the 2022 BRIT Awards, wearing a custom black velvet Armani Privé gown.

Looking every bit the diva, Adele took to the stage at the BRIT Awards in 2022 and wowed in a sparkly off-the-shoulder gown.

For her final BRIT Awards dress choice, Adele opted for a black mini – another off-the-shoulder style, keeping with the theme of her other two dresses that evening. Adele’s style has definitely grown over the years, but unlike other celebs who operate in extremes, the singer’s style has shifted in subtle ways – and as everything else with the superstar, on her own time. We can’t wait to see what’s next from this multi-talented and much-loved artist.