It's hard to remember a time that Victoria Beckham was ever anything other than an established fashion designer, member of one of the cutest families ever or, you know, the poshest Spice Girl of all time.
But, for quite a while post-pop stardom, she was so much of an outsider in the fashion world that designers requested she stop wearing their clothing in public. Seriously.
It's easy to see then, why she doesn't always accredit her celebrity status to the success of her now multi-million dollar brand. According to an interview with Business of Fashion, it seems that the cover star of their special "Companies & Culture Issue" would not be nearly as successful had she not approached the business like any other regular hard-working person. Beckham explained:
"The most valuable part of being famous is that you have a voice and people will listen. I mean I can get a lot of attention. I don't have to rely on advertising campaigns, but I don't like to use that card very often. I like to keep my head down, work hard, focus on what I’m doing business-wise. I like to try and control how much I’m seen. I don't want to go out and be photographed every day, you know. So I think that as much as one might say 'it has helped,' I'm not so sure. I've had to overcome lots of preconceptions, and that's okay.
In fact, Zach Duane, the company's chief executive, also revealed that for a while, Beckham was regarded so negatively, customers had to be tricked into even trying her designs on. "Some of the personal shoppers in some of the markets were ripping the labels out of the dress and saying, "Try this one on." The clients would emerge from the changing room and say, "This is amazing – who is it by?" And then there would be the reveal," he said.
So even though the world has watched her evolve from sex symbol to serious designer, Beckham revealed that it was her hard work and relentless drive that truly created her success:
"When I was at school, I was never naturally the brightest of students. Then I went to theatre college and I was never the most talented. I have always had to work. Nothing has ever just landed on my lap. I’m a go-getter. I’m not sitting back and waiting for things to come to me, I will go out and get it. I’ve never waited for the phone to ring. I will pick up the phone and I will badger people and make them crazy and I will make it happen myself."
You'd be pressed to find someone who has a problem being associated with Beckham today. Although we have to admit -- we're always going to have a soft spot for the old Posh Spice.
Head over to BusinessofFashion.com to read the entire interview.
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