Can’t afford to pay £1,500 for a dress? Victoria unveils her not-so-Posh range
FOR the woman who manages to flog tank tops at £295 a pop, it marks a significant change of tack.
And yesterday, as Victoria Beckham’s new designs for a budget US retailer went on sale, the jury couldn’t quite make its mind up whether it was looking at bargain couture... or vulgar toggery.
The collection for Target is a fraction of the cost of Mrs Beckham’s other designs. Prices in the latest 150-piece range start at £6 and go up to £60.
Many of the items – which were formally launched earlier this month by models and actresses including Jessica Alba – feature rabbits, lilies and bee designs.
Certainly there was no shortage of takers. Some pieces sold out within hours and found themselves up for sale on eBay at four times their list price. Meanwhile Mrs Beckham’s website crashed under shopper demand. The range is only available to buy in America so shoppers in the UK flocked to her website as soon as the range went up online. But while the prices might be attractive it was not enough to convince some. One disgruntled critic wrote on Twitter: ‘Am I the only one who thinks that Victoria Beckham’s collection for Target is gross? Barf. No, thanks.’ Ellie Rose added: ‘I personally find the Victoria Beckham for Target line unbearably ugly.’ Another said the line was disappointing and ‘ looks and feels cheaply made’.
Mrs Beckham, 42, who became a fashion designer after her solo pop career bombed, said the range was ‘designed for women no matter their budget, age or size.’
It is the first time she has designed for children, babies and teenagers but experts were quick to point out that the line for teens was too similar to those for younger children. Stylist and fashion journalist Arabella Greenhill said: ‘I think the range for teenagers is too young. I can’t imagine my 14-yearold wanting to wear any of it, except maybe the shorts.’
Celebrity stylist Alex Longmore said: ‘The only negative is that the children’s and adults’ clothes were so similar. There were clothes that were the same for four-year-olds and 16 year olds. A 16 year old isn’t going to want to wear the same dress as a four year old.’ But she added she thought the range was ‘really brilliant’ and so ‘similar to her high end range it makes you wonder why it is so expensive’.
Mrs Beckham’s fashion career has been littered with controversies over the years. Many of her dresses retail at well over £1,500 these days. The former Spice Girl was openly criticised by designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabanna in 2014.
Mrs Beckham had served as an ambassador for the Italian fashion house but Gabbana said: ‘She’s a designer but... for us, she don’t make (clothes) the same way like a fashion designer.’