From celebrity status to fashion designer - Part IV: Victoria Beckham

In the Los Angeles social scene, many celebrities have used their stardom status to reach new heights in the fashion industry. In fashion today, fashion houses, lines, and designers have come from some of Hollywood’s “Most Famous.” Although in this realm of entertainment, some actors and actresses catch their fiery pop-culture stature, it does not always lead to automatic success. However, a couple celebrities have broken this mold into the coveted fashion world (such as Nicole Richie, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Lindsay Lohan, etc.)

More than just launching new lines and designing new concepts, these stars have surpassed through their five-minute fame into well-respected, elitist fashion positions. Whether springing an entirely new vision of fashion or anticipating meticulous details to create a sacrosanct collection, these famed stars have worked their way to become our fashion idols, moguls, and icons. The question remains: How did they get there?

A famed celebrity who is known for one of the most prosperous seamless transitions from stardom to fashion-fame is Victoria Beckham.

From Posh Spice to Victoria Beckham’s first designer label

Before she was ever in fashion, the former Spice Girls singer got her footing in the world of entertainment through the British all-girl singing group. Before she was ever known by her real name, the pop music industry dubbed Beckham “Posh Spice.” Fittingly, “posh” is defined as luxuriously stylish. The singer lived up to her elegant “spice” name. The girl band became increasingly popular through their hits including songs such as “Wannabe” and “Say You’ll Be There.” As one of the most successful pop acts of the 1990’s, the group sold over fifty-five million records internationally. Their debut album Spice sold over 20 million copies worldwide. After their third album, however, the women of the pop group stopped recording went their separate ways.

Luckily, this meant good news for the fashion industry. After the nineties, Beckham smoothly transition into a career in the cutthroat fashion business. Beginning as a model, Beckham walked for Maria Grachvogel in 2000. That marked her debut as a model at London Fashion Week. Soon after, she became the British ambassador for Dolce and Gabbana. She also walked the runway for Roberto Cavalli at Milan Fashion Week, which added to her collective list of experience in the industry. By getting her footing in the door through modeling and catwalks, the fashion-savvy celeb pursued an interest in other areas of fashion as well.

Beckham designs for Rock & Republic; styles for Harper’s Bazaar

In 2004, Beckham designed a limited-edition fashion line for Rock & Republic. The line “VB Rocks”, somewhat named after the designer, included high-end, luxurious jeans and retailed at approximately 300 dollars in the U.S. On top of designing, Beckham tried her hand at styling as well. She acted as fashion editor in 2006 for Harper’s Bazaar March issue and styled actress Katie Holmes for a fashion shoot. Later that year, Beckham left Rock & Republic in order to launch her own denim label. She named her new line “dvb Style” and paired it with a new official website launch as well.

In 2007, when dvb denim launched in New York at Saks Fifth Avenue, Beckham’s popularity as a designer rose. In the month of June, Beckham simultaneously launched her new designed line and unveiled her eyewear range in the U.S. for the first time. She also made her first judge appearance at London’s annual Graduate Fashion Week. Alongside her as judges were Glenda Bailey, editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar at the time, and Lanvin's Alber Elbaz. Together, the three judges used their expertise in the fashion world to choose the winner of the River Island Gold Award, which was worth 20,000 euro.

Victoria Beckham launches her self-named label in 2008

Since then, Beckham launched her own eponymous label. The label launched in September 2008. Years later, the label successfully proved itself as a force in the fashion industry. In 2011, the brand grew into a fixture of New York Fashion Week. In the first quarter of 2011-2012, the label was estimated to generate annual sales upwards of 60 million euro. That year, Beckham also received the Designer Brand of the Year award at the British Fashion Awards. She also was the “most talked about” designer on Twitter during New York Fashion Week in September 2012. Her following on twitter grew by 57,000 users during the show, according to The Whispr Group. The elegant label ranges from dresses, separates, denim, eyewear, handbags, and more.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Beckham’s net worth is estimated at 300 million dollars. Her husband David Beckham, known as LA Galaxy soccer player, has a net worth of 350 million dollars. Now internationally recognized as a fashion mogul, designer, and style icon; Beckham has more than a couple high-profile collaborations and designs under her belt. In the Daily Telegraph, it was noted by Belinda White that the star’s transition from entertainment to fashion has been one of the more successful ones. “She has gathered a significant celebrity following and won over the scathing fashion pack who now clamour for a ticket to her bi-annual show at New York Fashion Week,” said White.