Sade Is No Ordinary Style Icon

Has there ever been anyone as effortlessly ahead of her time as Sade? Born Helen Folasade Adu on Jan. 16, 1959, in Ibadan, Nigeria, the frontwoman of her namesake band has a core aesthetic that revolves around blindingly bright hoop earrings, a slicked-back bun, a deep red lip, and strong yet minimal silhouettes. As the band is inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this weekend, there’s never been a better time to reflect on the British-Nigerian singer’s personal style. Think: sweaters with strong shoulders, thick belts on long cinched skirts, and, when called for, a perfectly eccentric evening jacket souped up with embroidery and satisfyingly present buttons.

Chalk it up to her era; Sade exploded in popularity in the ’80s, when these kinds of powerful silhouettes reigned supreme, but even beyond that, she knew the power of style. And it’s no wonder: Years ago, in a rare radio interview, she divulged that fashion was her passion long before music. “I made clothes. For three years I went to an art college and did fashion at Central Saint Martins in London,” she said. “I actually sold clothes, and that’s when I started to sing. I had to make a choice between doing the two, because I didn’t have enough time.” Though her foray into design was incredibly sparsely documented, her focus was on menswear, and she later co-founded the tailored menswear fashion label Demob with designer Sarah Lee, where the duo created club-kid-ready attire.

Onstage, whether she was singing “Smooth Operator” or “No Ordinary Love,” she wore her finishing touches with pride: lush little leather gloves in olive green to match a soft-shouldered woolen suit, or a festooning delicate statement necklace layered over a black tank top. Rather than layer multiple pieces, she communicates through the subtle impact of one-and-done statements. A delicate stack of bracelets, or modernist front-facing Lucite hoop earrings, for instance. She usually leans into white and black, except for the rare occasion when she chooses a jammy, rich shade of plum or deep olive green. Her attention to detail does not go unnoticed; there’s a clear knack for tailored silhouettes.

Sade’s elusive nature combined with the ethereal sound of her music also contributes to fashion forming her memorable identity. Long before others made a plain turtleneck or slicked-back hairstyle their uniform, there was Sade doing it authentically, and with accessorized flair. And in today’s era of highly produced musicians who are styled by a team, Sade still stands out.

Though Sade and her band will not be present at the ceremony, they called it “both a gift and a timely reminder to give thanks, not only to those who voted for us but also every single person who lets our music into their lives” in a statement. For every person who’s ever loved an accessory and a bold shoulder look (especially gold hoop earrings), Sade’s presence lives on beyond the music too.