Victoria Beckham adds an element of relaxed posh to New York Fashion Week.
Tailoring had long been a design element that Victoria Beckham wanted to tackle, but she archived that dream. Until this spring/summer 2013 collection. Unveiled at New York’s Public Library on Sunday, Beckham presented a 26-piece collection that was impressively style-laden and wearable.
Signifying a departure from past collections (thanks to those drop-dead gorgeous figure-hugging dresses), the look for spring/summer 2013 is more relaxed, and features separates too. And, just like her desire from years’ past, Beckham introduced tailoring.
In four strong hues – black, white, nude and burnt orange – Beckham’s design aesthetic has evolved, and now boasts a more athletic appeal. The collection also includes trousers. Spotted up and down the runway were flared miniskirts and dresses (tennis-inspired), crisp white dresses (with cutout detail) and blouses, thigh-long jackets, and trousers. There were some cropped blazers (in orange and black) and a few signature body-accentuating dresses (in black and nude). The collection also included gold-chain bags and clutches, and gladiator-style boots and heels (in nude and black) courtesy of Manolo Blahnik. That in itself was a big departure for Beckham, who has long professed a love for stilettos…
To let her line evolve, Beckham had to let go of her personal wardrobe preferences of the past, and make the collection more accessible, and by accessible we mean beyond the high-end bodycon styles of the past. Although utterly flattering, and worn by some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, it was time to move forward. And she has. The pieces were looser, the hemlines varied, and the appeal: universal.
So delighted, Beckham even broke her rule and smiled at the end of the show. And, she has every reason to, considering the rave reviews she has garnered only hours after the collection's debut.
Only a day before the big reveal, Beckham shared her anxiety sporting a big purple tote over her head. “After three hours sleep I feel like an old bag! x vb#NYFW”, she tweeted and posted a photograph. But, with David and baby Harper seated front row, alongside Anna Wintour and the world's fashion media, Posh had nothing to fear. She has truly come into her own. And, this collection confirms why it was necessary for her to put that microphone away and replace it with a pencil and sketch pad.
With this collection, Beckham’s credibility as a fashion designer (with a solid design team behind her) has been cemented. And, we can expect to see more of these relaxed pieces in glossy magazines, the world over, because no one plays brand ambassador better than Beckham herself.
Pictured above: Victoria Beckham hasn't forgotten her bodycon style dresses, but the spring/summer 2013 collection also offers a more relaxed sporty aesthetic
