Victoria Beckham, precise yet powerful

By

Godfrey Deeny

Published
Sep 10, 2017

All about easy sophistication at Victoria Beckham, who presented one of her most accomplished collections to date before a tightly edited audience of 300 people on a sunny Sunday morning in Manhattan.

 
As many mobile waving fans stood waited patiently outside as the pack of editors, stylists and scores of buyers entered the Neo-Renaissance great hall of Cipriani 25 Broadway. With husband David – wearing makeup – and son Brooklyn – wearing a rugby shirt from his dad’s Kent & Curwen menswear collection, which will be feted with a Saks Fifth Avenue cocktail party on Monday night.
 
Beckham, Victoria that is, was in excellent form. Opening with an elongated men’s check shirt  worn sassily under a see-through tulle skirt; and continuing with a mannish blouses, pencil skirts and some thoroughly chic summer dresses – all precision cut with just the right amount of darts, tucks and rouching. She also whipped up some divine linen pantsuits, elongated to add majesty, and sent out several beautiful sheathes in combinations of boyish striped shirting material and lightly marbled silk.  All juxtaposed by a rousing soundtrack featuring Black Sabbath and The White Stripes, courtesy of DJ maestro Frederic Sanchez.

“Femininity can be powerful. I think I have been really honest with this show. We have taken fabrics and ruffled and manipulated them to really create interesting graphics and light fabrics, which are essential in summer. My customers travel a lot and want to layer. This collection lets her do that. Plus, I think the colors are great. Ice cream but not sickly sweet – Play-Doh colors. But you will learn to recognize them later,” said Beckham, teasing a senior critic with a toddler son.
 
Just like Beckham herself, her clientele and style have matured. Her debut shows – almost a decade ago – featured seductive sizzling cocktails for stylish femme fatales. This assured and mature selection was all about dressing a career gal and mother, who demands flattering shapes and novel fabrics to set her apart. These clothes add distinction to those who wear them. No wonder so many buyers were present.
 
Next stop – a drinks party in London inside to present her second line, Victoria. Like her customer, Victoria travels a lot too.