Despite admitting she cringes at some of her Nineties and Noughties fashion choices, Posh has always been a style icon

VICTORIA Beckham is proof that style, like wisdom, only gets better with age.

As she turns 50 next week, the Spice Girls singer, turned fashion designer, has finally found a winning formula for the latter.

Victoria Beckham is proof that style just gets better with ageCredit: Getty

Posh is preparing to celebrate her big 50th birthdayCredit: Alamy

Victoria has admitted she should have been arrested by the fashion police for some of the looks she wore early in her careerCredit: Rex Features

She was laughing stock in the snooty fashion world for wearing this purple look to her 1999 wedding reception
Victoria Beckham’s journey through fashion has seen its ups and downs, with her iconic wardrobe often making headlines.

Admitting that her Nineties outfits could have landed her in trouble with the fashion police, Victoria embarked on her quest for fame when the Spice Girls burst onto the music scene in 1996.

Her trademark look of black high heels and little black dresses became synonymous with her persona. In the Spice Girls’ 1997 film “Spice World,” her wardrobe was humorously depicted as consisting solely of variations of “the little Gucci dress.”

During the late Nineties and early Noughties, Victoria and her husband David Beckham sometimes faced criticism for their fashion choices. Their matching purple wedding reception outfits in 1999 and coordinated head-to-toe leather ensembles at a party the same year were seen as fodder for mockery within the fashion industry.

‘Just so wrong’

Victoria Beckham has been candid about some of her fashion missteps, including a notorious leather ensemble she and David wore to a Versace event. Reflecting on this fashion faux pas, Victoria remarked that wearing full-on leather to a Versace event was “just so wrong” in hindsight.

Her style evolved during her brief solo singing career in the early 2000s, marked by slashed key-hole tops, bandannas, and a lip ring. This phase of her fashion journey made headlines.

During the mid-2000s, Victoria became emblematic of “Wag culture,” characterized by heavy fake tans, hair extensions, and vests. Other figures like Cheryl Tweedy and Coleen Rooney followed suit in emulating her look.

When the Beckhams relocated to the United States in 2007, Victoria underwent another style transformation. She bleached her hair, adopted a pixie crop, and embraced brightly colored bodycon dresses paired with Hermes Birkin bags and Christian Louboutin heels.

In 2008, Victoria ventured into the fashion industry with the launch of her eponymous fashion label. Initially offering low-waisted, second-skin jeans and oversized sunglasses, her brand signaled a new chapter in her fashion career.

Victoria was a fan of the ‘little black dress’ look early on – so much that the Spice World film poked fun at her for itCredit: Rex Features

The Noughties also proved to be particularly experimental for herCredit: Getty

David and Victoria try out this leather look in 1999Credit: Getty
Italian design duo Dolce & Gabbana gave a scathing review, saying: “She’s a designer but for us she doesn’t make clothes the same way like a fashion designer.”

And even though she had bagged her first British Vogue magazine cover that same year, key figures in the industry were sceptical and had very little respect for her, even snubbing her fashion shows.

But Posh managed to turn things around by 2011.

Not only did she appear in campaigns for designers Marc Jacobs and Armani, she switched back to brunette and developed a more prim and personal style.

And it was not long before Vogue editor Anna Wintour and other industry giants squeezed into the front row of her packed-out shows.

Her bright-orange, hot-pink and blue dresses were worn by other fashion stars including American influencer Olivia Palermo and US actress pal Eva Longoria, and dupes of her designs began cropping up on the high street.

Victoria Beckham’s fashion evolution took a significant turn when she began embracing trousers and trainers, a departure from her decade-long affinity for high heels. Realizing that trainers could be stylish and cool, she ventured into collaborations with brands like Reebok in 2018 and even incorporated tracksuit bottoms into her wardrobe.

This shift in style marked a new phase of comfort and self-assurance for Victoria, allowing her to make more personal fashion choices and prioritize comfort without sacrificing sophistication. As a result, she gained recognition as a respected designer, showcasing her ability to adapt and evolve in the fashion industry.

Reflecting on her journey, Victoria acknowledged the rapid learning curve she experienced over the past seven years and expressed her ongoing commitment to growth and development.

Now, she aims to have fun with fashion and even pokes fun at herself with slogan T-shirts.

Last year it was announced that after years of huge losses, her label had become profitable, with revenue soaring 44 per cent to £58.8million.

Victoria nails the hugely popular trend of “quiet luxury” — the opposite of her mid-Noughties look.

She can now boast a series of fashion awards including Brand of the Year at the British Fashion Awards in 2014, and Fashion Gamechanger at the Glamour Awards in 2021.

Victoria Beckham’s fashion journey reached new heights in 2017 when she was awarded an OBE for her contributions to the fashion industry. Despite the accolades and high-end price tags associated with her brand, her iconic style remains accessible to admirers worldwide. Here, we uncover the key secrets to Posh’s style success.

1. COLOUR TO LOOK YOUNGER

Clashing colours can cleverly get you noticedCredit: GC Images
In recent years, Victoria Beckham has embraced the art of clashing colors, pairing icy-blue with bright-red hues to cleverly draw attention. Previously, she and her little black dress appeared decidedly “fashiony.” However, Victoria recognized that this approach wasn’t garnering the attention necessary to drive profits for her clothing brand or herself. Additionally, injecting color into one’s day-to-day wardrobe becomes increasingly essential with age, as vibrant hues can enliven the complexion, creating a brighter, more youthful appearance.

2. MINIMAL ACCESSORIES

Keep your accessories simple and to a minimumCredit: GC Images
Victoria Beckham’s style secret lies in her astute use of accessories. While she adheres to the principle of keeping accessories simple and minimal, they are by no means boring. Instead, she employs bags, shoes, sunglasses, or jewelry to make a statement, whether through their size or color. Despite this, her accessories typically feature sleek and minimalist designs, lending them an expensive and timeless quality. By incorporating understated accessories from her own brand into her outfits, Victoria ensures that the focus remains on her overall look.

3. KEEP IT CLASSIC, NOT BASIC

You can keep things classic without becoming basicCredit: GC Images
Posh will look to classic silhouettes such as black dresses, tailored blazers or pleated skirts, but she elevates them by going for a different texture such as leather or a ribbed knit.

She incorporates these traditional classics into a modern trend such as a coloured check or hot boot shape.

For example, she will often wear a crisp white shirt with pocket detailing on the chest and pair it with a pleated skirt, but the midi will be in a modern colour or texture such as velvet.

4. LOW RISE TO CREATE HIPS

Wearing your skirts low-slung adds dimension to the hips, making them look curvierCredit: GC Images
Victoria Beckham often opts for pleated skirts but with a twist: she wears them low-slung, which adds dimension to her hips and creates a curvier appearance. While many of us rely on high-waisted trousers or skirts to cinch in our middles, Victoria chooses a loose fit and low-slung bottom instead. This choice not only gives her a more elevated yet relaxed look but also creates the illusion of a more defined silhouette, particularly beneficial for her athletic body shape without pronounced curves in the hips..

5. GET TAILORING

You can nail the tailored look even if you don’t have an army of seamstressesCredit: GC Images
To make sure her figure is shown off to its best, Posh has her clothes tailored.

Victoria Beckham doesn’t shy away from oversized looks, but even these are altered to achieve the desired fit and a super-polished appearance. With the advantage of having an army of seamstresses at her disposal, Victoria ensures that even oversized garments are tailored to perfection. For those without sewing skills, double-sided sticky tape or “boob tape” can be used to cinch in too-wide trousers. Additionally, safety pins placed on the insides of clothes can help create a more fitted silhouette. These simple tricks can help achieve a polished and tailored look similar to Victoria’s.

6. BALANCE PROPORTIONS

Remember to play with proportionsCredit: GC Images
Play with your proportions to get the Victoria look.

We often see the Spice Girl in wide-leg trousers with a tight knitted top or an oversized blazer with leggings to balance the volume of pieces.

Tops that end at her hips are met by low-rise waist bands, resulting in a longer and leaner-looking figure — Posh is only 5ft 4in but you would not know from looking at her with this trick.

7. LESS FLESH, MORE CONFIDENCE

Gone are the days of her boobs pushed up out of a bodycon dress.

Being comfortable with who you are and how you look equals sex appeal — even when clothes are loose.

You can still show off your figure in a subtle way.

When Victoria wears baggy clothes she will often ensure a point in her body is shown off, from her super-toned arms in an oversized T-shirt and jeans, to her waistline accentuated by a belt.