NEW YORK (AP) — Victoria Beckham must put her touch on everything to do with her New York Fashion Week show. It not only ends up looking like her signature pulled-together, well-edited style, but it feels like her, too.
She's the thoughtful hostess with waiters offering morning juice to the crowd coming early Sunday to the New York Public Library, but she keeps the guest list very tight.
She's one of the biggest draws on the calendar of seasonal previews, but there's no frenzy of paparazzi photographers. (Husband David Beckham, however, did take some photos from his seat.)
The music is loud enough to be heard, but it's far from thumping. Beckham gives the crowd a brief bow, but doesn't linger.
And she's gracious to her backstage well-wishers, but there's a time limit.
No detail is overlooked, and that goes for the clothes, too. Beckham said she checks — or doublechecks — every look to make sure "it looks good from every angle."
The clothes for spring had a delicacy that she said was new for her this season, although the clothes remained substantial and structured. It was the touch of illusion lace, the lingerie bra top or hemline of pleated chiffon that took the edge off banded short skirts, zip-back sheaths and shirtdresses.
The lingerie influences built on her knowledge of corsetry and fell naturally into the collection, Beckham explained after the show. "It's the first time I've gone so delicate, but I wanted the design elements."
She opened the show with a black slip-style sundress that she said was among her favorite looks.
There were more pants, all cut slim, than she typically offers but, she said, "they really look like my signature dresses, but they're trousers."
As retailers, editors and stylists have seen this round of previews, black and white are dominant forces. Beckham used a poppy red as her bold contrast color. She was more interested in texture than crazy colors, she said, noting the black dress she was wearing, which mixed canvas, georgette, lace and chiffon.
"I want to design what I want to wear," she said.