Ahead of her birthday on August 22, the pop star shared a new series of photographs on Instagram, showing off a sleek black maxi dress with daring side cutouts as she soaked up the sun.

The post arrived just one day before her birthday, with Dua making it clear that she was already fully in celebration mode.

A striking black birthday look

For the photos, Dua wore a black racerback maxi dress that combined a minimalist silhouette with a dramatic side-baring design.

She styled her hair in a low braid and kept the accessories bold but simple, adding a chunky gold cuff and several gold rings.

In the first image, she smiles directly at the camera with her hands held together in a prayer-like pose.

Other shots show her turning away from the lens, highlighting the open sides of the dress and giving the look a more sensual edge.

Dua captioned the post with a playful message about how much she loves birthdays, adding that hers was conveniently arriving the very next day.

31 begins with travel and celebration

The birthday post comes after another stylish European summer moment for the singer.

Earlier in the week, Dua travelled to Portofino, Italy, for a girls’ trip ahead of her friend Ella Jenkin’s wedding.

She shared a video from the getaway featuring herself and friends lip-syncing to her 2024 track “Training Season” before breaking into a group dance.

The trip also included a series of fashion-heavy moments, from coordinated pink striped pyjamas to swimwear and elegant dinner looks.

Portofino style diary

Dua’s recent photographs from Italy offered an almost complete summer wardrobe.

During the day, she was pictured relaxing in a striped bikini and dining outdoors in a plunging white halter-neck dress.

Later, she switched into a dark blue beaded mini dress for an evening with friends.

The singer also tagged Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, one of Portofino’s best-known luxury properties, adding another glamorous backdrop to a summer already filled with travel, fashion and celebrations.

A major year for Dua Lipa

Turning 31 comes during a particularly significant year in Dua’s personal life.

In June, she married actor Callum Turner in Sicily after the couple first legally tied the knot during a civil ceremony in London on May 31.

For the Italian wedding, Dua wore a custom Chanel haute couture gown embellished with crystals and feathers, complete with a low-back silhouette, dramatic train and matching headpiece.

The wedding marked one of the biggest personal milestones of her year and added another major fashion chapter to her already closely watched style evolution.

Fashion remains part of Dua’s identity

Dua Lipa has long blurred the line between pop star and fashion figure.

Whether appearing on stage, travelling through Europe or sharing candid holiday photographs, she consistently treats personal style as part of her public identity.

Her latest birthday look follows that same formula: simple at first glance, but with enough detail to make it instantly memorable.

The black dress is understated compared with some of her more elaborate red-carpet outfits, yet the cutouts, gold jewellery and relaxed styling give it exactly the kind of effortless glamour associated with her off-duty wardrobe.

Birthday energy, Dua Lipa style

Rather than waiting for August 22, Dua started celebrating early.

Between the Portofino girls’ trip, her recent wedding and the new birthday post, her 31st year begins in a distinctly glamorous mood.

The latest photographs are not about a major performance or campaign.

They are simply Dua enjoying summer, fashion and the anticipation of another birthday — and turning the moment into a style statement in the process.