Victoria Beckham has changed a lot over the years since she was known as Posh Spice – but one thing has remained consistent is the fact that she has always had stand out style.
The 48-year-old pop star turned fashion designer has won praise from fans this week, however, after explaining that she is no longer focused on maintaining a skinny frame.
Since entering the spotlight back in the 1990s, Vicky has drawn attention due to her slim, and some times gaunt, frame, but now she says she giving up her thin look – just weeks after admitting all she ever eats is fish and steamed vegetables to maintain her svelte figure.
Here is a look back over Victoria’s changing style over the years as she now vows to ditch her skinny image.
Young Spice
It was a fresh faced Victoria Adams who first captured attention back in 1996 when the Spice Girls burst onto the music scene with their debut single Wannabe.
The then-22-year-old risked fading into the background as her bandmates stood out with their loud costume choices – with Mel B becoming known for her love of animal print, Mel C rocking sportswear chic, Emma Bunton cutesy-ing things up dressing as an oversized child, and Geri Horer, nee Halliwell, blazing brightly as the red head of the group.
But Vicky inspired many with her preference for understated style and love for little black dresses meaning she stood out for a fashion point of view, if not for her singing or dancing skills.
Her elegant – by Spice Girls standards – fashion choices earned her the nickname of Posh Spice and she inspired a generation of women to follow her more demure example.
Married life
While Vicky was known for her slightly more elegant appearance as a member of the Spice Girls, trashy fashion tastes were never too far from her wardrobe either.
Perhaps her most iconic look from her earlier years was her decision to have a themed wedding when she tied-the-knot with David Beckham in 1999.
The couple were roundly mocked for their over the top nuptials that included a Sherwood Forest inspired setting – and while Vicky stunned in a Vera Wang dress for her ceremony, eyebrows were raised and laughs were stifled when she and Dave donned matching purple outfits for the reception.
And the less said about their crimson coloured wedding thrones, the better as the move gave the wedding an overall ‘Katie Price-chic’ vibe.
Old Spice
While the Spice Girls erupted onto the music scene in the mid-90s to become one of the biggest bands in the world, their success burned bright and fast and it was all over by 2000.
Geri had quit the band by 1998 and the remaining ladies released their final album, Forever, in November 2000 – an ironic title as they split the following month.
By the time the band decided to throw in the towel – going on ‘hiatus’ in December 2000 – the group’s style had improved with the ladies sporting a more coordinated, slick look by the time they released Holler in the October of that year.
While the band have yet to officially launch a full scale return as a full five some, they had already cemented themselves in pop culture history thanks to their style, attitude and music.
Solo attempt
Vicky hadn’t even quit the Spice Girls before she started putting the feelers out for a solo career – with her debut single, Out Of Your Mind, dropping in August 2000; four months before Spice Girls disbanded.
Following a highly publicised chart battle against Sophie Ellis Bextor and Groove Jet, Vicky failed to hit the top spot and had to make do with a number 2 record.
However, fans noticed an adjustment to her style – as she sported long leather coats, while others became concerned over how thin her arms had become as she battled to carve out a solo career.
After her self titled 2001 debut album stalled at number 10 in the charts and her 2003 double A-side single This Groove/Let Your Head Go failed to top the charts, Vicky packed in her solo music career and turned her attention to other venture.
Designer statement
Since entering the pop culture spotlight in the ‘90s, Victoria dabbled in fashion here and there – with collaborations with brands including Police eyewear and modelling for Marc Jacobs.
But it was in September 2008 that the star cracked into the fashion world as a ‘designer’ herself.
Despite admitting she can’t actually design and doesn’t even sketch out any ideas or plans, Vicky launched her eponymous label with a low-key presentation – and later, in 2011, had a full scale show at New York Fashion Week.
The star has been applauded for the simple, yet chic, silhouettes that her fashion label churns out – with Vicky herself wearing her designers wherever she goes – however she has struggled to find a loyal customer base and reports have raged over the years since that she’s running her company deep into the red due to low sales and high overhead costs.
Olympic effort
Spice Girls fans have been craving new music from the full five act since Geri quit the group in 1998 – but a one off, full scale reunion was orchestrated for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
The ladies returned to their cartoonish Spice alter-egos but their outfits were noticeably higher quality than those of the mid 1990s.
Victoria continued her trend of wearing a chic black dress – but this time the gown was designed by British designer Giles Deacon.
The scene stealing performance at the closing ceremony turned out to be the most tweeted about moment of the overall 2012 games.
Modern day icon
Victoria has continued to draw attention and headlines thanks to her stylish appearance – often winning praise for her style wherever she goes.
She’s hinted she will soon be looking curvier as she spoke to Grazia to highlight her new collection which is designed to better fit curvier bodies.
She told the weekly glossy: “It's an old-fashioned attitude, wanting to be really thin. I think women today want to look healthy, and curvy. They want to have some boobs - and a bum.”
But the star, just three months earlier, insisted she keeps a strict diet to maintain her own famously slim frame, with husband David telling River Café’s Table 4 podcast: “Since I met her she only eats grilled fish, steamed vegetables, she will very rarely deviate from that.”
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