SOMETHING'S happening across the Pond. A transformation is taking place. I'm not talking trillion-dollar stimulus plans, or Obama-style politics, or even the fact that the Oscars ceremony might be entertaining for once since it's being presented by the sexiest man in the world, Hugh Jackman. I'm talking about a seismic shift of a completely different magnitude. I'm talking bigger – I'm talking Beckham.
Fear not, I'll spare you a trip through the will-he-won't-he of David's continuing quest for England caps (not to mention Fabio Capello's continuing confusion at how an ageing midfielder who plays in a second-rate league on the other side of the Atla
ntic remains the hot topic at every press conference he gives). Goldenballs may have been hogging the headlines, billboards and big bucks in recent years, but change is afoot in the world's most famous power couple.
The site of this revolution? A plush suite in the Waldorf Towers hotel in New York on Sunday evening, when the finishing touches were added to Victoria Beckham's latest creation. For along with the 23 dresses designed by Beckham, the other feat of ingenuity was her personal transformation from least talented member of a girl band and support act of a sporting icon into a fully fledged and fêted dress designer, loved by the fashion elite and fought over by exclusive department stores eager to stock her second collection of dresses.
With the unveiling of her latest collection (autumn/winter 09, for you fashionistas) in New York, Beckham has cemented her reputation as a serious designer and, as her husband looks as if he will lose out on a cherished transfer to Italy's Serie A, it seems that now may be Mrs Beckham's turn to shine.
In the foreword to her 2006 book on fashion, That Extra Half An Inch (Hair, Heels and Everything In Between), the designer Roland Mouret writes that Beckham makes "high fashion relevant for everyone". It might have been just a gushy fashion compliment paid to her by a friend back then, but it's sounding a lot more accurate now.
According to Richard Gray, The Scotsman's fashion columnist and fashion features director of 10 magazine: "What she's managed to do is totally re-address what we think about Victoria Beckham. Her collection is serious. I know, having spoken to buying directors of UK department stores and retail outlets around the world, that a lot of people were trying to get hold of it. There were big fights between the department stores as to who would manage to get it on an exclusive basis."
The signals have been there for some time. When "Brand Beckham" descended on Milan last month, as David was signed on loan from LA Galaxy to AC Milan, the reception of the couple marked a change. Whereas the reception of David in the San Siro stadium included some whistles and jeers, Europe's fashion capital was delighted to welcome Victoria. She played her part, appearing (and of course being photographed) in three of her own creations in the space of only 15 hours and lunched with designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana. As marketing tactics go, it was every bit as ballsy as the Union Square billboard in Manhattan upon which an almost-naked David made his modelling debut for Armani.
Despite the multi-million-pound Spice Girls reunion tour, David Beckham has long been the real attraction of Brand Beckham and, as is often the way, Victoria's every perceived failure (the reality show, the range of denim, the wooden cameo performance in Ugly Betty) has been pounced upon. But although America may have been bemused by the Beckham buzz at first, Posh has always had friends in high places.
"The fashion elite have always really liked Victoria Beckham," says Gray, referring to Marc Jacobs's decision to feature her as the face of his spring/summer 2008 collection in a series of adverts photographed by Juergen Teller.
"By a wave of Marc's hand she was automatically made cool. She's always been really loved by that fashion crew. It's only really the UK press that's been harder on her, unfairly I think."
And those who have been most harsh towards her are now eating their words. Beckham's first fashion collection – which includes tailored, mid-calf-length dresses and Jackie Kennedy-inspired glamour – is still being praised, while reviews of her new collection have been ecstatic.
Madonna has been photographed wearing one piece and even Germaine Greer, commenting on Beckham's personal sartorial style, has offered high praise: "Suddenly I was reckoning Victoria Beckham among the all-time greats, alongside Wallis Simpson and Coco Chanel."
Beckham has said that the clothes have been "a lifetime" in the making and it's clear from the impeccable tailoring and perfectly structured styles that the 23 dresses included in the second collection – all of which are made in London – are likely to be every bit as sought-after as the first.
"You can see this is a collection designed by a woman, for women across sizes," says Gray. "It's very celebratory of a woman's figure. It's about feeling like a sexy woman and the clothes don't apologise for that.
"I've looked at those dresses from the inside out; the finishing is second to none. You're paying top dollar for these pieces, but you only have to look at the fabrics and the workmanship that's gone into them. These are not mass-produced, factory-made clothes. There are only so many outlets that are allowed to sell them around the world and there are only so many of each piece produced.
"Let's face it, there are some celebrity fashion lines that have never been touched by a celebrity, they merely carry the name. Those lines are an insult to all the young designers coming through who are working their guts out to develop collections.
"There's none of that with this collection. After only two seasons she's managed to develop her own signature. I think that is an absolute triumph. There are not many designers who can say that, even after years of designing."
As the LA sun looks close to setting on David's golden sporting career, get ready: here comes Victoria.
The full article contains 1042 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
