Jump directly to the content
ADELE OF A CHANGE

Adele swaps baggy jumpers & ballet pumps for bikinis and minidresses as she overhauls her style post 7st weight loss

FROM baggy jumpers to glossy gowns, Adele has undergone quite the style evolution over the years.

The superstar is one of the world's best-selling music artists. We take a look at how her fashion sense has changed.

2007 Chasing Paychecks

Adele's early signature style was baggy jumpers and smock dresses accessorised with a guitar
10
Adele's early signature style was baggy jumpers and smock dresses accessorised with a guitarCredit: Getty

Before Adele signed her first record deal, she was just a struggling musician, living with her mum Penny in a flat above a discount shop in south London and gigging in pubs and cafes.

Her signature style was baggy jumpers and smock dresses, accessorised with a guitar and fag, obvs.

2008 One pint of lager and a packet of hits

After Adele's debut album went to No.1 she was still a fan of an oversized knit, a dress over jeans and ballet pumps
10
After Adele's debut album went to No.1 she was still a fan of an oversized knit, a dress over jeans and ballet pumpsCredit: Shutterstock

When her debut album 19 went to No.1, she moved to trendy Notting Hill, hanging out with fellow BRIT School alumnus Kate Nash.

With no stylist in sight, Adele was still a fan of an oversized knit, a dress over jeans and ballet pumps. Well, it was the Noughties.

Read More on Adele

2011 Someone Like Who?

Adele wore a black Burberry dress and looked super-glam at the 2011 Brits
10
Adele wore a black Burberry dress and looked super-glam at the 2011 BritsCredit: getty

The moment that catapulted the singer into the stratosphere was her performance of Someone Like You at the BRIT Awards in 2011.

Wearing a black Burberry dress and looking super-glam, Adele was apparently so nervous that she cried backstage – though not nearly as much as we’ve sobbed listening to her break-up album 21, which was released a few weeks before.

2012 Brits cool

At the 2012 Brits Adele wore a black Burberry gown with mega-bling diamond jewellery
10
At the 2012 Brits Adele wore a black Burberry gown with mega-bling diamond jewelleryCredit: getty

At the BRITs that year, Adele revealed a glossy glow-up.

She wore black Burberry again, but now with mega-bling diamond jewellery – including an engagement ring from her then-boyfriend, charity boss Simon Konecki.

She also debuted her soon-to-be-trademark big blow-dry. She looked every inch the megastar, and by now, 21 was selling like hot rollers 

on both sides of the pond.

2013 American Dream

At the 2012 Grammys Adele scooped all six awards she was nominated for and wore this red floral Valentino Couture outfit
10
At the 2012 Grammys Adele scooped all six awards she was nominated for and wore this red floral Valentino Couture outfitCredit: getty

At the 2012 Grammys, Adele scooped all six awards she was nominated for, but when she returned a year later, it was her red floral Valentino Couture outfit that made headlines.

Opinion was divided on her statement dress, with many saying it looked like a pair of curtains. Pull yourself together!

2016 Hello, again!

For the 2016 Brits Adele wore a dramatic red Giambattista Valli dress and accessorised with black nails and a bright-red lip
10
For the 2016 Brits Adele wore a dramatic red Giambattista Valli dress and accessorised with black nails and a bright-red lipCredit: Shutterstock

After a bit of time out to have baby Angelo, Adele dropped her third album, 25, in 2015.

It was a triumphant return to glory at the 2016 BRITs, where she won four awards, dressed in a dramatic red Giambattista Valli dress, accessorised with black nails and a bright-red lip. Turns out it was worth the wait.

2017 Green Goddess

Adele looked noticeably slimmer at the 2017 Grammys and wore an olive-green Givenchy dress
10
Adele looked noticeably slimmer at the 2017 Grammys and wore an olive-green Givenchy dressCredit: Getty

Adele took home five gongs at the 2017 Grammys, and in her acceptance speech for Album of the Year, she bigged up Beyoncé’s Lemonade.

Looking noticeably slimmer, she wore an olive-green Givenchy gown, which led to harsh comparisons to Fiona from Shrek.

She blasted back: “I don’t f**king care. It was Givenchy Couture, they can say what they want.” 

2020 LA lady

Adele posted a pic of herself in a black minidress on Instagram in May 2020
10
Adele posted a pic of herself in a black minidress on Instagram in May 2020Credit: Adele/Instagram

When Adele posted a pic of herself in a black minidress on Instagram in May 2020, it caused mass hysteria because of how much weight she’d lost.

The snap, taken on her 32nd birthday, has received more than 12 million likes, and 250,000 comments – not all positive.

As a long-time role model for plus-size women, many of her fans felt betrayed by her new slim look.

2020 Car-nival crash

Adele posted a photo of herself wearing Bantu knots and a Jamaican-flag bikini for the cancelled Notting Hill Carnival in 2020
10
Adele posted a photo of herself wearing Bantu knots and a Jamaican-flag bikini for the cancelled Notting Hill Carnival in 2020Credit: Adele/Instagram

During what should have been Notting Hill Carnival (cancelled due to Covid), Adele posted a photo of herself wearing Bantu knots and a Jamaican-flag bikini.

The singer was slammed for cultural appropriation. “I didn’t read the f**king room,” she admitted, but she declined to take the post down.

2022 Set fire to the reign

Adele wore this Marianna Senchina velvet minidress as well as three other showstopping outfits at this year's Brits
10
Adele wore this Marianna Senchina velvet minidress as well as three other showstopping outfits at this year's BritsCredit: Getty

At this year’s BRITs, Adele took home another three gongs for her fourth album, 30, making her the most decorated female solo artist in the ceremony’s history, with 12 awards.

READ MORE SUN STORIES

Read More on The Sun

She also wore three showstopping outfits, including this Marianna Senchina velvet minidress.

The singer thanked her ex-husband Simon and son Angelo in her acceptance speech and was spotted leaving the after-party in a pair of fluffy slippers with a packet of fags. That’s our girl! 

Topics