Derided but undeterred

Victoria Beckham revels in reviews of NYFW collection

Singer-turned-fashion designer Victoria Beckham continues to receive raving reviews for her latest fashion collection at New York Fashion Week (NYFW) 2015, but it hasn’t all been a bed of roses for her. According to a new tell-all book about Alexander McQueen, the late designer jested at Beckham and “barred her from his catwalk show because he thought she was stupid.” McQueen’s alleged animosity towards Beckham has been outlined in Dana Thomas’ Gods And Kings, a biographical account of McQueen and his rival John Galliano, reported the Daily Mail.

The book recalls McQueen’s 2001 Voss collection showcase at the bus depot in Victoria, London, and reveals how it started late because actor Gwyneth Paltrow, who was to feature in the show, was stuck in traffic. McQueen reportedly said the show could not start until she arrived. However, Thomas claims in her book that Beckham didn’t receive such special treatment. “Not all celebrities were so lucky – or respected – chez McQueen. Victoria Beckham asked to attend and he turned her down,” she wrote.



The author claims McQueen said about Beckham, “At the end of the day, it’s about my clothes and the hard work that everyone backstage puts into it, not about the people sitting in the front row lapping it up. That’s why I didn’t let Posh Spice come to it.” He added, “The stars you see at my shows, be it Gwyneth Paltrow or anyone else, are there because I’ve got a connection with them. I design for intelligent women.”

The late designer was also furious when he saw Mrs Beckham wearing his designed collection in 2006. In July last year, McQueen’s confidante, stylist Archie Reed, revealed that McQueen had said, “David can wear my clothes but she can’t... What does Victoria know about fashion? She’s a pop star and she can’t even sing.”

But Posh remains undeterred by the negativity. Now in her seventh year in the fashion industry, Beckham said she is now “evolving and translating” from her signature style. Having come a long way, the designer said about her recent collection at NYFW, “It is not about one theme, but instead thinking about what women really want to wear and how they want their clothes to make them feel. For me, it is a collection full of possibilities,” reported ibtimes.co.uk. “I want to empower women, make women feel the best version of them.”

Beckham said the inspiration behind her eponymous fashion line, which she founded in 2008, is to make women “feel the best version of them,” reported IANS. “Even if I wouldn’t wear something myself, I think I know how women feel, how women want to look. I can really relate to women.” Victoria, who was cheered on by her husband David Beckham and their children at the recent showcase, makes an effort to ensure her clients will be happy with all aspects of the collection by trying on the pieces herself. “I still put all of the clothes on myself. I want to see how they feel. How do I look? Is it comfortable? Is it flattering? Basic things that I started with are still very important to me,” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 20^th,  2015.

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