The Daily Telegraph - Features
Flex it like Beckham: how the couple stole the limelight – again
Strange boots, futuristic shades, a parasol... the power duo can still get the world talking, says Bethan Holt
Designer Simon Porte Jacquemus’s latest show, held at the Palace of Versailles, took a year to plan, with an elaborate set-up which saw guests arriving by boat to see a collection inspired by Marie Antoinette and Princess Diana. And yet, the next day, all anyone wants to talk about is David and Victoria Beckham’s joint Jacquemus appearance – what were those stockings on Victoria’s legs? Is David suddenly entering a granddad dressing era? And should we take a moment to discuss those sunglasses?
As they canoodled in a rowing boat in just the way Bridget Jones always dreamt of, this was the Beckhams proving that, at 48 (him) and 49 (her), they can still create a couple dressing moment which gets the world talking. Let’s decode how they did it…
THE SUNGLASSES
It was a sunny July day in Paris so of course a decent pair of sunnies was required. The couple had diverging ideas on style here though – Victoria opted for the £410 “oversized shield” frames from her own label’s collection. Described as a “true one-off ”, they tread that fine line between fashion-forward and “possibly quite useful for a spot of DIY”.
David, meanwhile, is in safer territory with his classic black square frames. He’s graciously allowing his wife to take the fashion limelight here.
VICTORIA’S STOCKING BOOTS
She’s made the stocking boot a signature part of her look in recent years – they’re sleek and will give any look a bit of edge. But from some angles they can unfortunately look a bit, well, post-op compression sock. Especially when they’re rendered in unexpected, vaguely medical hues like the lilac shade seen at Monday’s show. When Victoria was upright and back on dry land, though, the boots gave her bias-cut slip dress a very
Fashion vibe.
DAVID’S COASTAL GRANDAD LOOK
Has David Beckham been reading The Telegraph’s men’s style advice articles? I only ask because his linen suit and brown sandals exuded “coastal grandad”, the men’s summer trend Telegraph Men’s style editor Stephen Doig wrote about in April. If you’re thinking of adopting this look – which is an ode to rugged seaside style – follow David’s example and pay attention to your grooming to maintain a polished version of the trend rather than, in Doig’s words, looking like a “grizzled old sea dog”.
THE SEXY BUT DIRECTIONAL DRESS
It’s a question which becomes ever more pressing as you get older – how do you look and feel just sexy enough without erring into mutton dressed as lamb territory? In a way, it’s entirely subjective but we can probably agree that Victoria’s love of a long slinky dress is an excellent approach – she looks youthful and modern but sophisticated, too.
THE BOAT POSE
AND PARASOL Jacquemus provided boats from which guests could enjoy his Versailles spectacle, cue a chance for David and Victoria to snuggle in to enjoy the show. This was a genuinely romantic PDA opportunity of which the Beckhams took full advantage – there were hands on knees and bums, and an arm around the waist. It’s not couple dressing if you don’t look “couple-y”, after all. Arguably, it was the props which made it – the parasol and fan felt like they were from a bygone era of boating elegance. They could almost have been sitting for a Georges Seurat portrait. Almost.