How Dua Lipa Became Versace’s Gen-Z Muse

Versace has no shortage of celebrity devotees but every so often, one will snag the ultimate Donatella seal of approval: space in the house’s advertising campaigns. In the past, icons like Madonna, Elton John, Jennifer Lopez, and Lady Gaga have featured in Versace’s seasonal imagery, and for fall/winter 2021, Dua Lipa joins the illustrious club. Photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, Lipa embodies the luxury and audaciousness we’ve come to expect from the label. Still, her journey from being the brand’s fan to becoming its face was years in the making.

Lipa and stylist Lorenzo Posocco have marked her big milestones with Versace pieces, incorporating the house’s signatures—bondage-inspired bustiers, brocade prints, golden safety pins, et al.—into looks that reflect her status as a risk-taking pop ingenue. Granted, the brand is popular enough that many celebrities have worn those exact concepts over the years, but Lipa’s versions are tailored to her personality. The pieces she chooses are sexy, but with a hint of sweetness with their pastel color schemes, glittery accents, and the occasional hint of exposed midriff. Lipa’s vibe is all about fun, whether she’s arriving at the 2019 Met Gala in miles of jewel-toned satin and a towering bedazzled bouffant or performing at March’s Grammy Awards ceremony in Swarovski crystal-covered baby-pink gown that peeled back to reveal hot pants and a crop top.

Away from the red carpet, the star’s love affair with Versace is even more evident. On Instagram, she regularly posts peeks into her daily wardrobe, many of which involve Donatella’s designs. To ring in 2021, she wore a crystal flecked mini-dress that looked like a disco ball, while an afternoon in Los Angeles with boyfriend Anwar Hadid meant neon leopard print jeans and a glossy leather jacket from the brand’s Resort 2020 collection. Even her music videos—‘Levitating,’ ‘Don’t Start Now, and ‘New Rules’ among them—feature pieces from the brand’s runways.

It’s always gratifying when the right celebrity and fashion house come together for a project, and Lipa’s Versace moment seems like just that. Below, a look back at her all-time most fabulous Versace looks and the striking new campaign.