She was nicknamed 'the first lady of cool'.
In 1984 she appeared on Top of the Pops to promote Your Love is King. Wearing her hair neatly tied back, black 50s style ski pants and a white backless polo neck top, she looked like a black Audrey Hepburn.
Sade had developed a love of clothes as a teenager and actually studied fashion at St. Martin's School of Art. She even launched a men's clothing line and had some success designing for pop stars of the era such as Spandau Ballet.
The UK scene was celebrating 50s jazz with artists like Fine Young Cannibals, Sade and the film Absolute Beginners popularising capri pants, black turtle necks, flared dresses and sharp suits.
Backed by live instruments her smokey jazz tones lifted her above the plastic pop of the era. But it was her grace, poise and style that made her an icon of the era.
By the mid 90s her four albums had sold thirty million copies. And her return to music - Lover's Rock (2000) was also a huge success, becoming the 2nd biggest grossing album in America that year. She was voted Best Live Act by Vibe magazine.
Sade's style still reflects bygone eras with hoop earrings, hairbands and sophisticated 50s dresses.