Victoria Beckham talks the talk. Guiding a visitor through her fall 2010 collection, spread on a rack in her studio in Battersea, she draws out a dress recently worn by Cameron Diaz, identifying its fabric authoritatively as a metallic jacquard. Another, shapely and lavishly draped, is underpinned by domette wadding, she says, to hold its folds in place. Still another, crisp as corn flakes, was made of gazar. “Gazar, I love it,” Ms. Beckham murmurs, savoring the term like a vintage Bordeaux.

A quick study, she has mastered the argot of the cutting room with the same alacrity that has marked all her most ardent pursuits — the voice and music lessons that laid the foundations for her career as the pop idol known as Posh Spice; her marriage to the British soccer star David Beckham, an exercise in family branding; her wardrobe, engineered to show off her whippet frame and improbably lusty chest.

“I don’t do anything by halves,” she says, an edge in her voice. “If you’re going to do something, do it properly, I think. Otherwise there is no point in doing it at all.”

That resolve has paid off handsomely. In recent months Ms. Beckham, she of the contorted public poses, racy aphorisms and fleeting television career, has emerged as an industry force, the wily maverick of New York Fashion Week.

Written off not so long ago as a pneumatic Barbie of the hinterlands, Ms. Beckham has been a fixture in the front row at presentations like those of Chanel and Marc Jacobs. Her sinuously curvy cocktail dresses have been worn by Jennifer Lopez, Drew Barrymore and Ms. Diaz and are showcased in stores alongside luxury labels like Narciso Rodriguez and Vera Wang. “Don’t underestimate her,” said Anna Wintour, among the many editors and retailers who have embraced her, pointing out that Ms. Beckham has managed, in a scant four seasons, to shed her dubious standing as the girl least likely to succeed.

“She’s growing up,” said Ken Downing, the fashion director of Neiman Marcus, and an early advocate of Ms. Beckham’s designs. “Her knowledge of dressmaking is impressive. She understands how to bring out the best in the female form, and that’s one reason our clients are drawn to what she does.” As important, he said, “She knows how good clothes feel when they’re on. Because she has worn them.”

Good clothes are necessary adjunct to a life spent basking in the public eye. Ms. Beckham has cavorted for the camera in the Mediterranean-style villa in Beverly Hills, Calif., that she shares with her husband, a home filled with art by Damien Hirst, Sam Taylor-Wood and Tracey Emin. She has sashayed along fashion runways, modeled in high-profile advertising campaigns and appeared as a guest on television shows like “Ugly Betty” “Project Runway” and “American Idol.”

Her life — the feverishly documented spending sprees, the star turns on the red carpet, the clamor for her designs — may be enviable, but she wants you to know it has left her unspoiled. “Doing diva,” she said in London in June, “that’s completely pointless.”

INSIDERS powerful enough to score an invitation to her intimate spring 2011 showing next Sunday in a town house on East 63rd Street may well take her at her word. They will be greeted by a woman aglow in, though not overtly dazzled by, her own success, one who serves as the commentator for her shows — confessing, rather disarmingly, her relative ignorance. “Look, it’s a very basic way that I am doing this,” she said last season. “Technically, it’s probably not the right way.”

Her dresses, once so corseted that they gave off a whiff of kitsch, are loosening up, exuding at times a patrician breeziness. Whisking a visitor around her London headquarters, she said: “My style has relaxed a bit. I think you will see that in this next collection.”

You will also see a self-assured creature whose angular features have grown softer and more womanly, her turnout a departure from the constricting get-ups that once were her fashion signature.

Diamond studs wink in her ears and a pink gold Rolex gleams on her wrist — but these are discrete compared with the rhinestone studded hipster jeans she flaunted in New York only a handful of years ago.

The brief skirt she wore for her interview was demurely balanced by a cropped Alaïa cardigan that revealed nothing more brazen than a line of Hebrew scripture tattooed at the base of her neck: “I am my lover’s and my lover is mine,” meant to cement her marriage bond, which has survived numerous allegations of Mr. Beckham’s infidelities. Through it all — the up-and-down marriage, the abortive singing career, the storming of fashion’s citadel and the occasional misstep, including the failure of an earlier denim line — Ms. Beckham has proved a deft architect of her own ascent.

One part inspiration, three parts aspiration, she is quick to disclose the great source of her drive. “I am a control freak,” she said calmly in her studio. No Ghesquiere or Galliano, she does not claim to be an innovator. “She takes conventional dresses and makes them stand out,” said Alexandra Shulman, the editor of British Vogue. But a dedication to perfection has played a significant part in the advancement of her fashion career.

Yet Ms. Beckham, by her own account, is a wobbly work in progress. “I’m very aware that I’m working my way up the ladder,” she said. “I have a long, long way to go.”

READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE HERE

Jennifer Saunders is collaborating with Mamma Mia! mastermind Judy Craymer on a musical featuring the songs of the Spice Girls, and the storyline will shine a spotlight on the tawdry side of ’search-fora-star’ TV shows.

Ms Craymer was cautious to emphasise that the show-withinthe-show will be fictional.

Spice Girls Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Geri Halliwell, Melanie Chisholm and Victoria Beckham have given the project their blessing, and are in touch with Craymer and Saunders.

The producer, who controls a multi-million-pound empire that oversees every aspect of stage and movie versions of Mamma Mia!, told me that the Spice Girls production, Viva Forever, will be a contemporary tale about a group of young women, with particular focus on one girl and her mum.

She explained that although Viva Forever will encompass the Spice Girls ethos of friendship, identity and being true to yourself, it won’t be a tribute or bio show, nor will it feature characters with any of the names of the famous five-piece.

That said, essences of the Spice Girls’ personalities will be spinkled onto various characters. ‘It has a glimpse of the underbelly of TV talent shows, an invented show, and a little bit of comedy romance,’ Ms Craymer explained.

‘We live in a world dominated by people wanting to be famous. What they (the Spice Girls) did was before those shows became really what they are, and before the world become slightly obsessed by such shows.’

Ms Saunders, who co-wrote Absolutely Fabulous and many of the French and Saunders sketches, was initially worried about whether she’d get the gig writing the book for the musical.

She and French did a hilarious Mamma Mia! movie spoof for last year’s Comic Relief. ‘She didn’t think I’d see her,’ Ms Craymer said.

But Saunders’s daughters were insistent she get the job. ‘I really didn’t want anyone else to write this musical. The Spice Girls were such a great part of my daughters’ growing-up and I wanted to make sure that this didn’t disappoint.’

Saunders joked that she was now ’superglued’ to the project. ‘I hope they all realise that!’

Craymer was cheered that Saunders was very much onboard and explained how the actress-writer had an insight into the songs associated with the Spice Girls, about 20 of which will be used in the show, which is set to open in 2012, hopefully before the Olympics. ‘I’m relying on her to be funny. Banking on it,’ Craymer told me.

As the two women conceive the show’s structure, more members of the creative team will join the production. A director will be contracted by early next year.

No theatre has been set, but I have heard rumours that Viva Forever might go to the Prince Edward, should it become available. At the moment, the brilliant Jersey Boys is still packing them in.

Source

Guess WHO is on twitter? YESSS Victoria Beckham!! Finally she got herself a twitter page adn it was confirmed by her friend @EvaLongoria and WWD site! Now we need Geraldine and David Beckham! It´s kinda surreal!

FOLLOW THE QUEEN! @vbfashionweek

Dancing On Ice judges Jason Gardiner and Emma Bunton WILL return for the next series, TV Biz can reveal.

And it emerged that the show has found a new home after its Elstree Studios base was pinched by the new Harry Potter flick.

Catty Jason, 45, and former Baby Spice Emma, 34, will return with Robin Cousins, 53, Nicky Slater, 52, and Karen Barber, 49, for the show’s sixth run in January.

It was feared that Jason might be axed after saying contestant Sharron Davies looked like “faecal matter”.

An ice rink and smaller training facility will be built as the show moves to Shepperton Studios, Surrey.

Source

Victoria Beckham’s fashion brand has made its first-ever appearance in the nominations for the 2010 British Fashion Awards. Her collection has been selected as one of four nominations for the Designer Brand award, together with the more-established names of Burberry, Mulberry and Pringle.

The nomination for Victoria Beckham’s own label brand is an indication of how seriously the former Posh Spice is now regarded as a designer by the international fashion industry.

Mrs Beckham, 36, launched her label in New York just two years ago, and her global celebrity clientele just continues to grow. Her dresses and gowns have been worn by virtually every Red Carpet-worthy star including Drew Barrymore, Madonna, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Demi Moore, Nicole Scherzinger, Blake Lively, Jennifer Lopez, Gwyneth Paltrow, Heidi Klum, Cameron Diaz, Brooke Shields, and Leighton Meester, to name a few.

Christopher Kane, Erdem, and Phoebe Philo, whose collections for Celine have led the revival of no frills-no fuss, grown-up dressing, are the three nominations for the Designer of the Year ‘fashion oscar’.

The winners, together with the two people chosen for the BFC Outstanding Achievement in Fashion, and the British Style ‘crown’, will be announced at the British Fashion Awards gala evening, on Tuesday, December 7th.

Nominated for Best Designer Brand are:
Burberry
Pringle of Scotland
Mulberry
Victoria Beckham

Source

A representative for Melanie Brown has denied reports claiming that the Spice Girl’s marriage to producer Stephen Belafonte is over.

“It’s all fine,” said the spokesperson.

The statement was in response to claims by a Sunday Mirror journalist that Stephen had personally rung him to say that the Leeds girl was planning to move back to Britain – without him.

Over the weekend, the couple - pictured here on August 21 – were spotted looking very much together during a dinner date.

Mel – who is currently filming the reality show It’s A Scary Life about their family - has previously told HELLO! that date night once a week is non-negotiable.

“We always pick really nice, different romantic restaurants,” she revealed.

And, talking about how they deal with problems, Mel said: “Things will get heated but we are not screamers.

“We prefer to laugh and have fun rather than stressing out about stuff”.

Source

Mel B’s show “It’s A Scary World” is set to premiere on September 5th, but here is a sneak peek for you.

“Style network viewers are about to see that things are just as busy for Mel B as any mom with a career. Her reality series brings cameras right into the middle of the fabulous mess that is her life.

The first episode of “It’s a Scary World” finds Mel tackling a gig with the Pussycat Dolls. Apparently, strutting on stage is not as easy as it looks, and the job brings up personal issues with her age as she approaches her 35th birthday.

Then, Mel’s gotta handle family drama surrounding the Hollywood premiere of Shrek Forever After, which she and her family were invited to by Eddie Murphy. He’s the father of her youngest child. How did things turn out? Find out when you watch the full debut of “It’s a Scary World” below”.

Watch it here

Spice Girl Mel B’s three-year marriage is finished, her husband Stephen Belafonte has revealed.

The film producer told me in an emotional telephone outburst from the States: “Dude, it’s over. Mel’s coming back to the UK soon – but I won’t be coming with her.”

And I can reveal he has talked to lawyers in Los Angeles about a divorce from Scary Spice Mel.

The couple wed in 2007 just six months after Mel’s bitter split from actor Eddie Murphy – dad of her daughter Angel, three.

Only days ago the couple, both 35, were photographed kissing over lunch, and Mel has posted Twitter updates referring to her “hubby”.

But pals have said for months that the pair’s rollercoaster relationship was finally hitting the rocks.

And now Belafonte admits ­divorce is on the way. He told me: “There’s been problems lately. I don’t know what’s happening.”

A friend of Mel said: “They’ve not been happy for a long time and there’s been rowing.

“Mel’s been talking about getting out. They’re still talking to see if things can be worked out.

“But she’s making plans to come back to the UK on a more ­permanent basis. Stephen hasn’t been ­mentioned as joining her and has been consulting lawyers.”

When the couple wed in Las Vegas Mel’s mother Andrea called it a “big mistake”. Just weeks later it emerged Stephen had attacked his ex Nicole Contreras – mum of his daughter Giselle, six – in 2003.

Read More: Source (Mirror.co.uk)

O.O Dont know what to think about it…

Fabio Capello has done an embarrassing U-turn over David Beckham’s England career just two weeks after controversially announcing it was over.

Coach Capello called time on the former national captain during a TV interview and later claimed he would honour Beckham by picking him for a final tribute game at Wembley to say goodbye to the supporters who have idolised him over the years.

But the England coach has changed his mind and is willing to consider 35-year-old Beckham if he fully recovers from his Achilles injury.

Capello said: “The door is always open for all players.

“First of all David Beckham has to be back playing. We are monitoring all the players.

“At the moment I am thinking about the young players because they need more games and experience. We know the value of the older players. But although I think the future is about youth in the squad, no one player is out.”

Capello sparked a storm of criticism over his comments about Beckham, primarily because he hadn’t had the courtesy to call personally a man who had won 115 England caps.

However, Capello insists his relationship with Beckham has not been damaged.

He said: “I spoke with a journalist in the TV interview. Immediately after the interview Franco Baldini [Team England’s general manager] spoke with David.

“I also spoke with David on the telephone and I explained what really happened and the relationship between him and me remains really good.

“I spoke with David because he was a part of the staff in the World Cup. Usually I don’t speak on the phone with the players. But in this case I did.”

But that call from Capello came days after the storm was sparked by his TV interview.And Capello won’t need reminding that Beckham has forced him into a U-turn ­before at Real Madrid.

When Beckham announced he would be joining LA Galaxy, Capello vowed not to select him again. The coach was forced to relent and Beckham played a key role in the team that won La Liga.

Source

Mel B isn’t only envied for her rock hard bod, the mother-of-two is revered for what she puts on it, too! Read on for the style maven’s fashion must-haves. Then, catch the series premiere of Mel B.: It’s A Scary World Sunday, September 5 @ 9/8c only on Style!

1. I have a few old school Vivienne Westwood dresses that go down to the knee, which I love. I love the way she shapes a woman’s body. I love a woman in a suit as well. You can’t go wrong with a nice clean-cut suit!

2. Every girl should always have a pair of American Apparel leggings. They’re comfortable and they go with everything. Plus, they’re cheap, so you can throw them away after a couple of months and get a new pair.

3. I love Christian Louboutin. His shoes just make women’s legs look sexy. I love that you can spot them easily because of the red sole. They’re classy. I’ve had some of my pairs for at least two or three years and I still pull them out to wear them every now and again.

4. I am obsessed with this girl’s line called Charlotte Starre. She does stuff from her factory in Denmark. Her materials are gorgeous! I have like 50 outfits of hers—great silk minidresses. She only uses silk and bright colors. Her stuff is brighter and much richer.

5. I found this clothing line called Bravada. It’s one size fits all. I’m working closely with them as an executive director to design some of their clothes. I tell them what’s good for women, what colors to use. Their clothes are beautiful for working out. I will only wear their stuff. It makes the skin breathe and absorbs all of your sweat.

Source

New mesasge from Melanie C:

Hold on to your knickers girls! I’ve finally got the Twitter bug, who knew random nonsense could be so much fun. I’ll do my best to stay enthused!

Well I’ve been a busy bee of late, writing sessions for the new album are going great. I’m working with lots of great people, some old faves and plenty of new collaborators, it’s all very exciting.

I’m starting to get quite nervous about my return to Blood Brothers too,where is that script?

Hope you’re all enjoying your summer, see you all soon

Mx

Follow Mel at @melaniecmusic / www.melaniec.net

Seems like Biffco is working with Melanie C again!! Here are the tweets:

Im about to spend a week with a Spice Girl. x

And the he replied:

Melanie Jayne Chisholm.

@biffco

Hey guys, dont forget to watch to the Xfactor with guest judge Geri Halliwell today (august 21) at 7.30 uk time on ITV. For the ones who cant watch (like me), we´ll have it for download later or tomorrow.

Geri Halliwell finally updated her Official site with a message to the fans:

Hi guys, ladies and gentlemen. How the devil are you?

So this summer the weather is slightly schizophrenic, it’s having slightly erratic mood swings wouldn’t you say? Us Brits love to obsess about the weather!
Anyway I got a wig wam tent for birthday which is sooo cool but I didn’t put it up properly so it leaked!

What I am really coming on here to tell you is that I’m appearing on the X Factor this Saturday on ITV1. What can I tell you? Well, I’m not sure whether I want to smack or kiss Cowell – you decide…it’s all in the edit. As for the kind of judge I am, I’m not sure how I came across, I made the commitment to myself to be as honest as possible, I hope I didn’t hurt any ones feelings but I didn’t want to be a phoney.

Anyway we shall see, you can decide for yourselves. I’m really interested to see if anyone I put through makes it all the way. There was this 16 old girl from Scotland, she was pretty cool so we’ll have to watch this space!

Big hug to all you people out there.

G.x

Aaaaaand on the right side of the page it says: There’s some exciting Geri news COMING SOON!!!!!

Source

Geri Halliwell took a lesson from volunteers during a visit to Breast Cancer Care on August 17 in London. Geri paid the visit to Breast Cancer Care’s offices to mark her ten year milestone as patron of the charity. Geri learnt about the charity’s HeadStrong service. The service helps women rebuild confidence after hair loss by coaching them on how to use headscarfs and hairpieces.

Someone that works at the offices tweeted about the visit:

Great to meet Geri Halliwell and her two assistants yesterday at BCC. She really engaged with the volunteers and the staff. Lovely day @JaneHinnrichs

Gallery >> Aug. 17th - London - Geri at Breast Cancer Care’s offices

Thx to Oh-Geri for the info.