Another day, another stunning look from Victoria Beckham.
The British Royal Family is currently playing host to the Emirs of Qatar, who are on a state visit to the United Kingdom. Whereas Kate Middleton pulled out burgundy thigh-high boots for the welcome ceremony, David and Victoria Beckham arrived to the banquet at Buckingham Palace in their finest evening attire. (David was an ambassador at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and both he and Victoria received the Order of the British Empire in 2003 and 2017, respectively.)
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Invitation nuances aside, we were particularly drawn to Victoria Beckham’s lbd. The ex-Spice Girl opted for a sophisticated and minimalist design, which fit the body like a second skin. Marked by a round neck, long sleeves, and a floor-length skirt, the only license of the design was a knot at the height of the hip that fell in the front with a subtle drape.
Recently, we’ve seen knotted skirts from Rabanne (in a scarf format), Etro (in a boho key ), as well as JW Anderson and Gaurav Gupta (highly sophisticated). The styling trick—which highlights the hips—was also on the Alaïa spring 2023 catwalk, in the form of knit dresses with sophisticated cascading front drapes.
Gaurav Gupta otoño-invierno 2024Gaurav Gupta
Beckham’s dress, and the trend in general, has an ancient origin: in ancient Egypt, the shenti was a garment most associated with pharaohs, as often seen in their representations. In 1922, the uncovering of Tutankhamun‘s tomb brought front draping at the forefront: “Drecoll, Worth, Premet and Martial et Armand are also using this motif,” Vogue reported in May 1923. “Egyptian is the strongest influence on fashion, especially at night.” In the decades since designers from Norman Hartnell to John Galliano have leaned into the trend. Leave it to Victoria Beckham to do so with the utmost elegance and aplomb.
