Victoria Beckham at 50: Posh Spice’s most memorable fashion moments
Dorothy Brand
Former Spice Girl and current business mogul Victoria Beckham turns 50 today, and as she barrels forward into a new decade she leaves in her wake five — each filled to the brim with some unforgettable fashion. In her earlier years, when she wasn’t planning matching outfits with husband and ex-England footballer David Beckham, Victoria was demanding her own spotlight with chainmail tops, burberry headscarves and pink croc leather Birkin bags.
Her image shifted in 2008 after she launched her eponymous fashion brand, which has since shown regularly at London, New York and Paris Fashion Weeks. Gone were the days of uber-sexy Spice Girl styling — and also smiling, which she gave up in “responsibility to the fashion community,” she told Vogue in 2015. Instead, Victoria’s tastes evolved into chic tailoring — from billowing shirts to sharp flares, often in vibrant hues, and invariably topped with a pair of enormous black-out shades. While her wardrobe today tends to skew more subtle, there’s still nothing Victoria can’t style out — including, most recently, a pair of crutches to support her broken ankle.
As I get ready to step into 50 (in heels, of course!), I feel so incredibly blessed to have reached this milestone,” Victoria wrote on Instagram. “I believe that you can be many things. A pop star, a mother, a wife, a designer… My passion has always been to dream big, then dream even bigger! Believe in yourself first — everyone else will follow.”
In honour of the fashion titan’s big day, we take a look back on some of her most memorable looks.
LBDs and all-black looks were a mainstay of Victoria’s wardrobe as Posh Spice, demonstrated here at Grosvenor House in London during the Ivor Novello Awards in 1997. Dave Benett/Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesTaken in 1998, after the track “Viva Forever” went to number one in the UK charts, Posh Spice celebrated in another chic top-to-toe black look. Dave Hogan/Getty ImagesOn stage, the memo was sequins, glitter and lamé. While performing at the Wembley Arena Victoria completed her high-shine look with a feather boa. Mick Hutson/Redferns/Getty ImagesThat same year, at VH1’s 5th birthday party Victoria was seen in a backless strappy top and matching choker necklace. Dave Hogan/Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesIn 2000, Victoria arrived in Ibiza to perform her solo single “Out of My Mind.” She traveled in style, dressed in a suede halter neck top and her head wrapped in a Burberry checked scarf. Trinity Mirror/Alamy Stock PhotoIn 2006, almost 10 years into her marriage with David, Victoria was firmly in her ‘WAG’ era (or ‘wives and girlfriends of footballers’) wearing big hoops, hot pants and a Chanel shoulder bag. Chris Eades/ShutterstockSnapped leaving the Azzedine Alaïa store in Paris, 2006, Victoria wore a fur-trimmed blazer, matching trousers and her trademark shades. Marc Piasecki/FilmMagic/Getty ImagesBy 2007, Victoria had welcomed in one of her most distinctive haircuts — the blonde ‘pob’ (Posh bob). Here in California to support David as the new member of the LA Galaxy soccer team, the cropped cut was off-set with a Barbie pink ensemble, featuring one of Victoria’s many Birkin bags. Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty ImagesWearing a fur-trimmed mini dress from her own ready-to-wear collection, Victoria arrived in Singapore in 2014 to promote her fledgling fashion label. Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty ImagesFor her first and last appearance on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet in 2016, Victoria surprised on-lookers by forgoing a gown in favor of a strapless, tailored trouser look. Andreas Rentz/Getty ImagesHer penchant for color-blocking, particularly in bright reds and oranges, have become a signature feature of Victoria’s look — shown here during a visit to New York in 2017. Raymond Hall/GC Images/Getty ImagesShadows of her ’90s style are still visible in her wardrobe today. Her trusty sunglasses, as shown here during the Jacquemus show in 2023 for example, are only growing larger and more experimental as time goes on. Pascal Le Segretain/Getty ImagesAnd even with a serious foot injury, Victoria will still deliver a sleek, tailored look — only now her outfits are completed with an all-black customizable walking aid, from UK brand “Cool Crutches.” Marc Piasecki/GC Images/Getty Images
