Victoria Beckham’s Madonna moment: When Posh Spice became confident about her fashion career

Chapters from Victoria Beckham’s enviable life have resurfaced ever since the release of her new Netflix docuseries, also named Victoria Beckham.

Amid several revelations, old and new, the former Spice Girl has outlined her life from childhood till the present time — littered with achievements and setbacks alike.

However, since fashion has become Lady Beckham’s true calling, the documentary spends a considerable amount of screen time focusing on her exploits in the notoriously difficult industry.

During a particularly candid moment, Posh Spice recalled one sparkling detail which made her realise her “wildest dreams”.

An impossible start

Considered just a ‘silly little pop star’ and the wife of a famous footballer by the media, and pop culture at large, Victoria Beckham faced a tough challenge to shed the perceived notions about herself when she wanted to start in the fashion business.

Most people, including Vogue’s Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour herself, were skeptical about the British designer’s career ambition — some thought that she was just a celebrity who was looking to get into fashion as a hobby, while others did not consider her talented enough to manage the business even as a recreational pastime.

In the midst of all the doubts and suspense, Victoria emerged victorious — her debut collection opened to rave reviews in 2008, consisting of just 10 dresses and displayed for a room filled only with journalists and no celebrity guests.

Seal of approval

Following a successful start and steady growth, Victoria’s moment in the sun, by her own admission, came along when she spotted a fellow pop icon on the pages of W Magazine.

Informed by her PR team as a development she “wouldn’t believe”, Victoria recalled, “It was Madonna in ‘W Magazine’ wearing one of my dresses. I didn’t think in my wildest dreams that was gonna happen.”

Indeed, the March 2009 issue of the fashion publication featured Material Girl herself, shot by Steven Meisel and wearing Victoria Beckham’s black cotton and elastane dress for a shoot called Madonna: Blame It on Rio.

After carefully omitting any invitations to prominent celebrities, including her own husband, for her very first show, the aspiring designer had received an organic endorsement from the fashion and celebrity world alike in due time.

Stylist’s comments

Arianne Phillips, a costume designer and the stylist for Madonna’s W shoot, also heaped praise on Victoria Beckham when she explained her decision to dress the queen of pop in one of her ensembles.

“I initially chose this dress for the classic 50s-60s slim silhouette, which was what I was after for our story. I was also intrigued since it is from Beckham’s debut collection — I liked the ‘story’ of one pop star to another. And I was pleasantly surprised at the high quality of the dress. The fabrication, details and fit are very well thought out,” Madonna’s longtime collaborator told W Magazine a month before her client’s issue was published.