By this point, you’ve seen the Spice Girls reunion, heard about the piggy back out of the party, and pored over the Victoria Beckham dresses on display (wow: Eva Longoria), but Beckham’s own commitment to wearing the slinkiest of sheer sea foam gowns, while still wrangling with a pair of crutches, is a 50th birthday party look worth unpacking.
Consider it an endearing exercise that summed up who Victoria Beckham is as a person now, but also what has shaped her. The wisp of a mint confection is from her own sophisticated atelier, but delivered all the drama of her popstar past. The diaphanous lengths nodded to fashion’s persistent predilection for all things sheer, yet the overall effect was classic rather than overtly contemporary. Next to Sporty, Scary, Baby and Ginger, it was Beckham who, decades after their girl power heyday, still looked every inch the fashion plate in the group–one who, last week, told us that the band’s first US Vogue cover meant more to her than any of her friends. “It was a huge moment for me,” said Beckham, who had been told by industry bigwigs that cute popstars are not cover girl material. Thirty international Vogue magazines later, it is VB who is having the last laugh.
At first glance Victoria’s birthday dress might seem like a naked gown that any Hollywood star would happily try on for size–but it’s imbued with the same attention to detail as everything VB turns her hand to. “I’ve proved that if you really work hard and believe in yourself, the sky’s the limit,” she said ahead of her landmark birthday. “This is a very personal collection. It’s about my relationship with both dance and the British countryside.” If many of the spring 2024 pieces pay homage to the young aspiring ballet dancer’s rehearsal uniform, then her 50th number symbolized VB in performer mode–one who draws us in with every snippet she reveals, but still has star power.
It’s no coincidence that there are two similar dresses available to buy on Victoriabeckham.com right now. She is, after all, a businesswoman, who has always been her best brand ambassador. With her company now on a path to profitability, Victoria has shown that her dogged determination and endearing personal brand has been the secret to success she knew it would be when she started her label in 2008. After all, don’t we all want to look like Victoria Beckham at 50?