Victoria Beckham on why everyone needs a good pair of dark sunglasses
On Sunday, 17 May 2015, Victoria Beckham closed Singapore Fashion Week with her Fall/Winter 2015 collection. Already highly praised by the likes of Vogue when it showed in New York, the knits, asymmetric skirts and cut-out dresses could easily translate to Singapore weather (even the oversized coats have a place in our air-conditioned interiors). In an exclusive one-on-one, the designer revealed to us her plans to expand into Asia, and a special shopping experience, launched just for this week.
LSA: So, Singapore Fashion Week – did you enjoy it?
VB: I was very excited to do the show [tonight], and I met a few customers throughout the day which was all very exciting. We’re doing something new for customers in Singapore this time as well. They can now order the summer collection via our e-commerce team and have it shipped directly to Singapore. They can also pre-order from the show. It’s the first time we’ve allowed customers to do that.
LSA: Let’s talk a bit about the collection, why have you returned to a more structured dress for Fall/Winter 2015?
VB: Since opening my flagship store on Dover street London I’ve spent more time with my customer and it felt like the right thing to do. That was the way I wanted to dress again and I think it works. I wanted to give my customer what she wants, which was sexy dresses, but in a youthful, bouncy fabric that makes them feel new and fresh. It’s fun, they’re comfortable but look great on the body.
The Fall Winter 2015 collection was a mix of form-fitting dresses and comfortably elegant knits.
LSA: Has your idea of sexiness and femininity changed over the years?
VB: I still like a tight fitted dress but now I like separates and knits and tailoring. I like to mix it up. I’m also a lot busier now than I was, when I first started. So sometimes I want something to be more…comfortable.
But not all the time, since I love those signature dresses and they’re a big part of my business. I went out with David the other night and I wore one of those dresses and it felt fantastic and sexy. But I want to have different things. I don’t just want dresses in the wardrobe, I want separates and knits. etc.
LSA: You mentioned opening your first store on Dover Street has been a learning experience, what has it taught you?
VB: I wanted a space that would really showcase the collection and the clothes. So I didn’t want anything fussy. It’s really beautiful with lots of concrete and glass, mirrors and oak. It feels like a different shopping experience, a new one. When I picked Farshid Moussavi to do the store, she had never worked on a retail space before. But we clicked and she knew exactly what I wanted.
LSA: The store features no tills, is this a new kind of shopping experience you want to offer?
VB: It’s important to me that people feel welcome in the store, even if they aren’t buying anything. Even if somebody just wants to see the brand through my eyes or check out the architecture, that’s okay. I want people to be able to do that.
Other designers have commented that it feels like the future. Donna Karan said to me that it feels so new, like the retail experience of the future – which was a huge compliment.
The skirts, which fell in a feminine, flirty way, were a major highlight.
LSA: Do you feel Asian customers understand and appreciate your work?
VB: I love coming to Asia, It’s my fastest growing market and I really enjoy visiting. The women here really understand fashion, they want to look the best they can look. They appreciate luxury.
LSA: What are your future plans for the Asian market?
VB: Wherever I go in the world I am meeting my Chinese customer so it makes sense that our second store will be in Asia. It’s going to be in Hong Kong.
I’m really looking forward to spending more time in Asia, probably bring the kids over, David spends a lot of time here as well. The women here really understand fashion.
LSA: What about Singapore, do you think it will be difficult to wear Fall/Winter fashion in this climate?
VB: The difficult thing is that we’re selling clothes to many different territories with many different climates. And yet the collections drop in store at exactly the same time. So we need to be very careful when choosing our fabrics and making sure that we have all areas covered.
Oversized buttons on the dresses and coats were eye-catchingly cool.
LSA: You recently announced that you would be working with the UN in their fight against HIV/AIDS, what are your plans in this area for this year?
VB: When I started working with the UN the first thing I said was that I need to educate myself more. So I’m hoping to do more field trips first of all, and also work more closely not just with UNAIDS, but also Mothers-to-Mothers and the Elton John AIDS Foundation. For whatever reason people will listen to me and I can get a lot of attention just speaking about this.
LSA: So you’re happy to use your celebrity in this way?
VB:Absolutely, I’m loving it. This is just the start of the journey and I need to educate myself, get out there, meet more people and learn more. When I was last in Africa, I met some incredible women. Strong women and I felt I had that responsibility to be their voice. Because people aren’t listening to them but for whatever reason they’ll listen to me.
LSA: What are your beauty must-haves when you travel?
VB: A good pair of dark sunglasses does the trick. I think it’s just about making sure you cleanse, tone, moisturise, drink as much water as you can and get as much sleep as you can. But it’s hard because, obviously you’re there to work. So dark sunglasses and a good concealer under the eyes does the trick.