Victoria Beckham's 50th birthday: her complete style evolution in 50 iconic looks

From Posh to Paris Fashion Week Victoria Beckham’s style evolution  (ES)
From Posh to Paris Fashion Week Victoria Beckham’s style evolution (ES)

Victoria Beckham turns 50 today — a woman who has enjoyed more eras than Taylor Swift and captured minds and hearts regardless of her hairstyle, which over the decades has morphed from perma straight to tumbling WAG extensions, the bleach blond ‘pob’ (Posh bob) and into to her current fashion mogul, blow-dried brunette locks.

From the young, zig-a-zig-ah Ms Adams Britain met in the mid-nineties as Posh Spice (when the dresses came tight, black and slashed), it was out of the pan and into the fire as she joined her football beau David in a flurry of era-defining, double-trouble outfits — from their matching leathers at the 1999 Versace Club party in London, to all-white everything ensembles for 2003’s MTV Movie Awards; Halloween looks for time eternal, naturally.

With David Beckham at the MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles on May 31, 2003 (Getty Images)
With David Beckham at the MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles on May 31, 2003 (Getty Images)

A premonition of her catwalk destiny came in 2000, when she made her runway debut during Maria Grachvogel’s show — small step for Becks, huge step for London Fashion Week, etc. Lurid coloured, uber-cinched Roberto Cavalli gowns came in the years that followed — “I’ll go in a horsebox standing up if I have to – I want it tighter!” she told the late Italian designer, during in fittings for her Ming-vase inspired dress for the white tie and tiara ball in Elton John’s Windsor back garden in 2005 — as she settled contently into WAG-hood, Cheryl Tweedy in tow. Think: tan, tiny shorts, a great white Birkin and the odd gasp from the bleachers. Go, England!

With Cheryl Tweedy at the World Cup held in Germany on June 15, 2006 (Getty Images)
With Cheryl Tweedy at the World Cup held in Germany on June 15, 2006 (Getty Images)

Following what can only be described as a fever pitch moment in 2007 — a whole 16 years before Margot Robbie came on the scene, Becks gave her best Barbiecore on a sports pitch in LA — the following year saw her follow her inner entrepreneur and launch an eponymous fashion label. She enthusiastically booted all things naff to curb in favour of black silk slips, roomy jumpsuits and the odd slick tux and a front row scowl (”I'm smiling on the inside. I feel I have a responsibility to the fashion community,” she would later tell Vogue). In 2014 she swept up Brand of the Year at the British Fashion Awards, and by 2018 had officially completed chic rehab, looking every inch a national treasure strutting it up to watch Prince Harry and Meghan get hitched at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle that May.

At her autumn winter 2024 fashion show in Paris on March 1, 2024 (AFP via Getty Images)
At her autumn winter 2024 fashion show in Paris on March 1, 2024 (AFP via Getty Images)

It brings us to her half century, which she will be celebrating with her recently broken foot — but you better believe crutches aren’t enough to stop her. In fact, after hobbling out in a black pair to bow after her Paris Fashion Week collection this March, they enjoyed a 70 per cent sales boom. VB, a perennial arbiter of style.

Here are 50 of Victoria Beckham’s most iconic looks:

At the National Television Awards, Royal Albert Hall in London on 8 October, 1996 (Dave Benett)
At the National Television Awards, Royal Albert Hall in London on 8 October, 1996 (Dave Benett)
With Emma Bunton at the Brit Awards, where the Spice Girls won the Best Video and Best Single, on February 24, 1997 (Getty Images)
With Emma Bunton at the Brit Awards, where the Spice Girls won the Best Video and Best Single, on February 24, 1997 (Getty Images)
With Emma Bunten, Melanie Brown, Geri Halliwell and Melanie Chisholm at the premiere of Spice World in California on January 22, 1998 (FREDERICK BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
With Emma Bunten, Melanie Brown, Geri Halliwell and Melanie Chisholm at the premiere of Spice World in California on January 22, 1998 (FREDERICK BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
At the Ivor Novello Awards in London on May 29, 1997 (Getty Images)
At the Ivor Novello Awards in London on May 29, 1997 (Getty Images)
At the 'Versace Club' gala party in London on June 11, 1999 (Dave Benett)
At the 'Versace Club' gala party in London on June 11, 1999 (Dave Benett)
At the launch of Jade Jagger's jewellery range in London on September 20, 1999 (Dave Benett)
At the launch of Jade Jagger's jewellery range in London on September 20, 1999 (Dave Benett)
With Dane Bowers from the RnB group Another Level performing at their new single 'Out Of Your Mind' during the Radio 1’s Big Sunday in Middlesbrough on August 6, 2000 (PA)
With Dane Bowers from the RnB group Another Level performing at their new single 'Out Of Your Mind' during the Radio 1’s Big Sunday in Middlesbrough on August 6, 2000 (PA)
With Emma Bunton at the VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards in New York on October 20, 2000 (Getty Images)
With Emma Bunton at the VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards in New York on October 20, 2000 (Getty Images)
At Old Trafford in Manchester on 5 May, 2001 (Getty Images)
At Old Trafford in Manchester on 5 May, 2001 (Getty Images)
With David Beckham in New York on May 27, 2002 (Getty Images)
With David Beckham in New York on May 27, 2002 (Getty Images)
With Stefano Gabbana, Naomi Campbell and model Linda Evangelista at the Met Gala themed ‘Goddess: Costume Institute Benefit Gala’ on April 28, 2003 (Getty Images)
With Stefano Gabbana, Naomi Campbell and model Linda Evangelista at the Met Gala themed ‘Goddess: Costume Institute Benefit Gala’ on April 28, 2003 (Getty Images)
With David Beckham at the MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles on May 31, 2003 (Getty Images)
With David Beckham at the MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles on May 31, 2003 (Getty Images)
With David Beckham at New Tokyo International Airport on June 18, 2003 (Getty Images)
With David Beckham at New Tokyo International Airport on June 18, 2003 (Getty Images)
At Heathrow Airport on July 24, 2003 (Getty Images)
At Heathrow Airport on July 24, 2003 (Getty Images)
At the Lycra British Style Awards in London on September 25, 2003 (Dave Benett)
At the Lycra British Style Awards in London on September 25, 2003 (Dave Benett)
With David Beckham after he received an OBE at Buckingham Palace on November 27, 2003 (AFP via Getty Images)
With David Beckham after he received an OBE at Buckingham Palace on November 27, 2003 (AFP via Getty Images)
At 19 Management's 19th Anniversary Party held at the Royal Albert Hall on April 19, 2004 (Getty Images)
At 19 Management's 19th Anniversary Party held at the Royal Albert Hall on April 19, 2004 (Getty Images)
At the press night for the English National Ballet's performance of Swan Lake at the Royal Albert Hall on June 9, 2004 (Getty Images)
At the press night for the English National Ballet's performance of Swan Lake at the Royal Albert Hall on June 9, 2004 (Getty Images)
At the UEFA Euro 2004 in Portugal on June 24, 2004 (Getty Images)
At the UEFA Euro 2004 in Portugal on June 24, 2004 (Getty Images)
At the Laureus World Sports Awards in Portugal on May 16, 2005 (Getty Images for Laureus)
At the Laureus World Sports Awards in Portugal on May 16, 2005 (Getty Images for Laureus)
At a promotion for her new VB Rock & Republic Jeans Collection at Kitson in Los Angeles on June 4, 2005 (Getty Images)
At a promotion for her new VB Rock & Republic Jeans Collection at Kitson in Los Angeles on June 4, 2005 (Getty Images)
At The Prince's Trust event during the Grimaldi Forum in Monte Carlo, Monaco on October 17, 2005 (Dave Benett)
At The Prince's Trust event during the Grimaldi Forum in Monte Carlo, Monaco on October 17, 2005 (Dave Benett)
At the World Cup held in Germany on June 15, 2006 (DDP/AFP via Getty Images)
At the World Cup held in Germany on June 15, 2006 (DDP/AFP via Getty Images)
With David Beckham the Venice Film Festival to to launch their perfume ‘Intimately Beckham’ on September 7, 2006 (Getty Images)
With David Beckham the Venice Film Festival to to launch their perfume ‘Intimately Beckham’ on September 7, 2006 (Getty Images)
At the Hassler Hotel in Rome before the wedding of Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise on November 18, 2006 (Getty Images)
At the Hassler Hotel in Rome before the wedding of Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise on November 18, 2006 (Getty Images)
At the Bambi Awards in Stuttgart, Germany on November 30, 2006 (Getty Images)
At the Bambi Awards in Stuttgart, Germany on November 30, 2006 (Getty Images)
At the Chanel Cruise show in Santa Monica, California on May 18, 2007 (Getty Images)
At the Chanel Cruise show in Santa Monica, California on May 18, 2007 (Getty Images)
At the Glamour Women Of The Year Awards in London on June 5, 2007 (Dave Benett)
At the Glamour Women Of The Year Awards in London on June 5, 2007 (Dave Benett)
With David Beckham at the F1 Grand Prix at Silverstone on July 8, 2007 (Dave Benett)
With David Beckham at the F1 Grand Prix at Silverstone on July 8, 2007 (Dave Benett)
At the Home Depot Center in California to watch a presentation ceremony for her husband on July 13, 2007 (AFP via Getty Images)
At the Home Depot Center in California to watch a presentation ceremony for her husband on July 13, 2007 (AFP via Getty Images)
At the Marc Jacobs New York Fashion Week show on September 10, 2007 (Getty Images)
At the Marc Jacobs New York Fashion Week show on September 10, 2007 (Getty Images)
With Jennifer Lopez at Marc Jacobs’ New York Fashion Week show on September 8, 2008 (Getty Images)
With Jennifer Lopez at Marc Jacobs’ New York Fashion Week show on September 8, 2008 (Getty Images)
At the Met Gala, themed The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion, in New York on May 4, 2009 (Getty Images)
At the Met Gala, themed The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion, in New York on May 4, 2009 (Getty Images)
With Naomi Campbell at a British Vogue and Net-A-Porter.com London Fashion Week party on September 21, 2009 (Dave Benett)
With Naomi Campbell at a British Vogue and Net-A-Porter.com London Fashion Week party on September 21, 2009 (Dave Benett)
With her family at a basketball game at Staples Center in Los Angeles on October 30, 2009 (Getty Images)
With her family at a basketball game at Staples Center in Los Angeles on October 30, 2009 (Getty Images)
With Kate Moss at the British Fashion Awards at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on December 9, 2009 (Dave Benett)
With Kate Moss at the British Fashion Awards at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on December 9, 2009 (Dave Benett)
At her Spring 2011 fashion presentation during New York Fashion Week on September 12, 2010 (Getty Images)
At her Spring 2011 fashion presentation during New York Fashion Week on September 12, 2010 (Getty Images)
With David Beckham at the Royal wedding between Prince William and Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011 (Getty Images)
With David Beckham at the Royal wedding between Prince William and Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011 (Getty Images)
Performing with the Spice Girls at the London Olympic Games closing ceremony on August 12, 2012 (AFP via Getty Images)
Performing with the Spice Girls at the London Olympic Games closing ceremony on August 12, 2012 (AFP via Getty Images)
With Anna Wintour at Bergdorf Goodman in New York on September 6, 2012 (Getty Images for Bergdorf Goodman)
With Anna Wintour at Bergdorf Goodman in New York on September 6, 2012 (Getty Images for Bergdorf Goodman)
At the Met Gala, themed Charles James: Beyond Fashion, in New York on May 5, 2014 (Getty Images)
At the Met Gala, themed Charles James: Beyond Fashion, in New York on May 5, 2014 (Getty Images)
At the British Fashion Awards at London Coliseum on December 1, 2014 (Getty Images)
At the British Fashion Awards at London Coliseum on December 1, 2014 (Getty Images)
At the British Fashion Awards, held at London Coliseum, on November 23, 2015 (Getty Images)
At the British Fashion Awards, held at London Coliseum, on November 23, 2015 (Getty Images)
With David Beckham at the Royal wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018 (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
With David Beckham at the Royal wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018 (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
At Scott's Mayfair unveiling the summer terrace on May 21, 2018 (Dave Benett)
At Scott's Mayfair unveiling the summer terrace on May 21, 2018 (Dave Benett)
With Sir Elton John and Elizabeth Hurley at the Argento Ball for the Elton John AIDS Foundation in Windsor on June 27, 2018 (Dave Benett)
With Sir Elton John and Elizabeth Hurley at the Argento Ball for the Elton John AIDS Foundation in Windsor on June 27, 2018 (Dave Benett)
At the British Vogue and Tiffany & Co. Fashion and Film Party at Annabel's on February 2, 2020 (Dave Benett)
At the British Vogue and Tiffany & Co. Fashion and Film Party at Annabel's on February 2, 2020 (Dave Benett)
With David Beckham at a Jacquemus fashion show at Chateau de Versailles on June 26, 2023 (Getty Images)
With David Beckham at a Jacquemus fashion show at Chateau de Versailles on June 26, 2023 (Getty Images)
With David Beckham at the Netflix 'Beckham' UK Premiere in London on October 3, 2023 (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
With David Beckham at the Netflix 'Beckham' UK Premiere in London on October 3, 2023 (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
At her autumn winter 2024 fashion show in Paris on March 1, 2024 (AFP via Getty Images)
At her autumn winter 2024 fashion show in Paris on March 1, 2024 (AFP via Getty Images)