Dua Lipa’s Style Evolution Through the Years: Chanel, Balenciaga and Versace Looks

Dua Lipa closed 2024 in glamorous style, with her “An Evening With Dua Lipa” special airing on CBS on Sunday. Recorded in October at the Royal Albert Hall in London, the show saw the singer performing some of her big hits in a structured red dress inspired by Jean Paul Gaultier’s spring 2001 couture collection.

Fashion has always been a part of Lipa‘s life. Before her music career took off, she worked as a model. Her experience with the fashion world later helped Lipa craft her public image after signing with Warner Bros. in 2014 to record her first album.

As her career grew, her style became more elevated. In earlier days, Lipa would wear short dresses, often in neutral colors, like black and white from brands like Philipp Plein and Loewe, that would hit above the knee and often be topped with a jacket. Over time, Lipa’s style evolved to include more opulent gowns from brands such as Giambattista Valli, Versace, Chanel and Valentino. Here, WWD takes a closer look at the singer’s style through the years.

WMG 2016 Grammy’s red carpet

As an emerging artist, Dua Lipa attended Warner Music Group’s annual Grammy celebration at Milk Studios in Los Angeles. For the occasion, she donned a white studded leather jacket with black trim layered over a black slipdress and accessorized with a choker. Her early style could be best described as rock ‘n’ roll inspired.

Glamour Women of the Year 2017

In 2017, Dua Lipa began to elevate her style and go from edgy daywear to statement evening gowns. At the U.K. Glamour Women of the Year Awards, she opted for a black dress with a small train, a sequin bodice and a side cutout. It was a major red carpet movement and, literally, an award-winning look, as she won that night’s Breakthrough Award.

2018 American Music Awards

By 2018, Dua Lipa began developing stronger relationships with luxury brands. At the 2018 American Music Awards, she arrived in an ethereal Giambattista Valli white mermaid gown accessorized with a Cartier Juste Un Clou necklace. Lipa’s ever-changing hairstyles were also on display at that event with her side-part raven-dyed bob.

Disney+ ‘Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium’ 2022

For his final North American concert, Elton John recruited Dua Lipa. Lipa took the honor in the utmost style, arriving for the event in a one-shoulder black silk taffeta evening gown with a cascading train and opera gloves from Balenciaga’s couture collection. She accessorized the dress with earrings and a bracelet from Bulgari.

2023 Met Gala

The 2023 Met Gala marked a major stamp of fashion industry approval for Dua Lipa, who was selected as one of the co-chairs of the event. The Met Gala is considered one of the biggest nights in fashion, and this year’s theme was “Karl Lagerfeld: Through a Line of Beauty,” honoring the late fashion designer who was the creative director of Chanel and Fendi at the time of his passing. Lipa paid homage to legendary supermodel Claudia Schiffer, sporting a white bridal gown from Chanel’s fall 1992 couture collection modeled on the runway by Schiffer herself. She accessorized the dress with a diamond statement necklace from Tiffany & Co.

Versace collaboration

In 2023, the singer collaborated with Versace and its creative director Donatella Versace for the brand’s La Vacanza collection. The collection featured plenty of butterfly motifs and bright colors. Lipa wore one of the dresses from the collection to the European premiere of “Barbie,” where she starred as Mermaid Barbie and also sang “Dance the Night” for the movie’s soundtrack.

Met Gala 2024

For the Met Gala 2024, Lipa wore a custom dress by Marc Jacobs featuring a black and white corset with an ultra-low rise skirt with lace details. She completed the look with a dramatic feathered cape.