LA, London, Paris, New York - Victoria Beckham has the run of the fashion world these days. Wherever she goes, we want to be. On Sunday morning, her fashion fan club followed VB to the soaring surrounds of the New York Public Library, for an autumn/winter 2013 show that showed new breadth for the designer.
The Beckham familys recent return to the UK set the tone. Its a reflection of me being in London all the time, Beckham said backstage after the show. I think you can see the influence there, with the heritage fabrics that weve used . in a very modern, cool, sexy way.
That meant windowpane-checked flannels, subtle tweeds, felted wools and Scottish cashmere, cut into roomy coats, mod-feeling shift dresses and shin-length skirts. Just when we thought the show might have relaxed into a looser silhouette for good, along came one of Beckhams skintight specials - this one in grey wool, with a deeply notched neckline, centre-slit skirt and rounded short sleeves.
This was VBs first season offering knitwear, and it appeared in deep-v-neck dresses, lithe little ski jumpers with panels of cobalt blue and canary yellow, and pleated skirts that shimmered with appliqued techno-shine strips.
Near the end of the show, a tuxedo jacket came sliced all the way down the sleeves, achieving that cape-like, tip-of-the-shoulder style thats overrun the fashion crowd. Im always designing what I want to wear, Beckham said. She was talking about her elongated gilets (sleeveless coats, really), but that tux seemed like just the sort of thing shell be street-style snapped in very, very soon.
As Harper ran around doling out high-fives (chased by David, on child-minder duties while Mum addressed the press), Beckham said that her move made overseeing her fashion brands that much more manageable.
Ive always been super super hands on, she said, but the fact that I dont have to travel and I can be there every minute of the day has been great. Welcome home.
Watch the Victoria by Victoria Beckham autumn/winter 2013 collection unveiled in real time, exclusively on ELLEUK.COM. More details soon...
