Victoria Beckham: Moaning to the girl power

In the months following the launch of Victoria Beckham’s fashion label in April 2008, the air was filled with rumours about the line being dropped. Gossip about poor sales and a disastrous denim line continued for months, with the entire fashion world hearing claims of how badly it was doing. In short, there was a lot of whining and moaning and very little positive feedback.

These rumours were quashed when the sales figures were eventually published, Selfridges reporting have rapidly sold out of the 2008 range. Cries of ‘girl power!’ were heard at the end of 2008 and Beckham continued her mantra, which at the time focused on the high quality zips that were used.

Beckham is undoubtedly feisty, and continued to fight back, bringing out an evolving fashion line that included accessories in late October 2009.

In February 2010 Beckham took on the US – bravely I might add – during New York Fashion Week. This collection felt more her and was very relaxed, with a 400 piece collection of clothes breathing life and brightness into each style. It was clear that Beckham had chosen to focus on tailoring and classic cuts. There was an element of geometry, but this time the mathematical equations seemed to add up.

This winter we’ve seen navy blue pendulum coats, the overwhelming feeling being chic Pippa Middleton rather than Made In Chelsea glam. Last year also saw the lucky lady collaborate with Louboutin. This collaboration worked extraordinarily well and her shoes seemed to have a touch of excellence that we had not seen before. The range had a really comfortable feel, with loose silhouettes and clear influences of child-like fairy stories such as Red Riding Hood. It may be a coincidence, but Beckham quickly got pregnant after this.

In the spring of 2012, Beckham launches what she deems her “affordable” range, prices starting around the £300 mark. This range of spring dresses is very much inspired by the 1960s era and cartoon character Emily the Strange. This caused a nice amount of back-biting and general “slagging off”, the web pages being already adorned with comments such as “I could buy better and for a tenner in Primark.”

Beckham, however, is laughing all the way to the bank: the Daily Mail reported that her clothing range generated a whopping 15 million in the last three months of 2011, and her designs are being worn by the likes of Blake Lively, Cameron Diaz, Elle Macpherson and Trudie Styler.

Beckham’s clothing range is sleek and slimlined and she is not to be underestimated as a style icon. She has managed to reinvent herself, just like Madonna or Cher, but on her chosen path of being a fashion designer. Watch this space, as 2012 will see her launch a children’s clothing range!

Paula de Burgh