THE JOURNAL
Yusuf/Cat Stevens at his London home, 1972. Photograph by Mr Brian Aris/Camera Press London
For a man known by more than one name, music legend Mr Yusuf Islam has kept a minimalist attitude with his style. And since today, Islam, previously known as Mr Cat Stevens, celebrates the launch of his new album King Of A Land – which was more than 10 years in the making – we are taking this opportunity to pay tribute to the man with the iconic leather jacket and tinted glasses and understated anti-fashion fashion.
Playing the Glastonbury Festival for – unbelievably – the first time later this month, Islam is perhaps thought of for his hippie flared trousers, sunglasses and tousled curls. But he wasn’t always like that. Starting out in the 1960s, he emerged armed with a tame bowl haircut, mod corduroy suits in bold colours and high-heeled loafers. It was a period that altered men’s fashion for good, introducing a brighter and more flamboyant future for young men. Young, fresh-faced Islam, a rising pop idol at the time, ticked all the mod boxes. And then with a stage name inspired by a girlfriend who said that his eyes looked like a cat’s, he hit the British pop music charts.
After a battle with tuberculosis in 1969, which prompted a spiritual awakening, Islam shifted his sound to the folk rock for which he’s known today – and with the new tunes came the more casual fashion. He embraced the hippie movement: his locks grew longer and wilder, his pants sprouted bell-bottoms and he stopped wearing structured blazers. Instead, he maintained an anti-fashion stance, but in the most stylish way.
Studio shoot at A&M Studios, Hollywood, 1975. Photograph by Mr Jim McCrary/Redfern via Getty Images
As his work became more centred around environmentalism, social commentary and personal growth, he stuck to modest and simple pieces. Leather jackets and overshirts became a staple as well as cotton shirts and a pair of fringe boots, which he wore often. You can also spot a white pair of clogs in many shots from the 1970s, which he usually styled with dark blue jeans or corduroys. (Summer 2023 is the summer of clogs and mules, so take a leaf out of Islam’s book.) Honourable mention must be made to his jewellery picks – beaded bracelets and muted necklace pendants, as well as a brown leather studded cuff, which he is seen wearing in multiple images from the 1970s.
When you compare him to the styled celebrities of today, it’s refreshing to see someone who manages to make style choices that are so straightforward, but without being boring. You can see that in this particular image above, which was taken in the studio, Islam opts for a slim-fitted leather jacket, casual (flared, obviously) trousers and a worn-in pair of boat shoes, as well as his signature sunglasses. He’s a plain, but definitely not dull, dresser. And throughout the years, he has developed subtle signature touches – tinted glasses, typically in round or aviator frames, becoming the biggest staples in his style.
“He’s a plain, but definitely not dull, dresser. And throughout the years, he has developed subtle signature touches”
But a style piece on Islam would be nothing without mention of his curls. In the 1970s, his Mediterranean heritage took centre stage, making us wonder, what products did he use? Was he a bar-of-soap-all-over kind of guy, or did he have a thorough haircare routine? His locks look moisturised and defined, something that definitely needs a seven-step curl routine to accomplish. To this day, his hair is healthy, shiny and thick, so it must be good genes (perhaps accompanied by some nourishing organic products). After all, he did write “Shiny Golden Hair” for his mother.
The focus on his music – and name changes – means that no one thought to ask Islam to elaborate on the style of his clothes (or hair, for that matter). Which is a shame, since we’d love to know what who makes his sunglasses, which leather jacket is his favourite and where he found that leather cuff bracelet and those clogs. These pieces definitely have an interesting and personal history – one we will likely never uncover. And that’s probably just the way he likes it.
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