Image: Instagram @dualipa

When The Crown‘s genuinely exceptional fourth season aired on Netflix last month, a whole new wave of Princess Diana mania took the world by storm. Rowing Blazers re-released their iconic ‘black sheep’ sweater (garnering immediate months’ long waitlists), and we all began re-thinking Peter Pan collars and dainty printed day dresses. Among those impervious to Diana-in-the-80s-itis? Pop starlet and general fashion icon Dua Lipa.

On Instagram this afternoon Lipa posted three pictures of herself and her adorable rescue puppy Dexter, in which she wore a preppy geometric print sweater by Burberry. She layered the knit over a stiff white collared shirt—a styling trick particularly loved by the late Lady Di. The Future Nostalgia singer modernised the look with sheer tights, a smattering of gold ear candy, and a black leather shoulder bag.

Post 'The Crown', Dua Lipa Is Taking Style Cues From Princess Diana
Image: Getty

The choice of designer is no accident. In fact, Burberry is the perfect brand to bring Diana’s ‘Sloane-gone-chic’ aesthetic into the 2020s. Creative director Riccardo Tisci—who took over from long-term designer Christopher Bailey in 2018—marries paying homage to the label’s quintessential British roots with his own brand of street smart Italian sex appeal, a combination perfect for a modern English Rose like Dua Lipa.

Burberry’s spring summer ’21 collection, which debuted to a virtual audience from a forest in outer London in September, was further evidence of this balancing act: prim trench coats finished with bold denim corsetry and leather sleeves; printed silk pussy-bow blouses paired with thigh-high white leather boots; oversized sweaters with neglige-style cutouts.

It was a surprisingly demure look for Lipa, who has recently displayed a penchant for Mugler bodysuits, Versace minidresses, and Juicy Couture velour tracksuits. But that’s the thing about the so-called Diana effect… the late Princess’ eclectic style was so remarkable, so timeless, and so original, that it can make converts out of those we least suspect.