A turquoise pool in a villa near Saint-Tropez invites you to spend a quiet holiday as a couple. A haven of peace surrounded by nature where things go perfectly. Everything seems to flow in that idyllic environment that helped director Jacques Deray direct the cult thriller The Swimming Pool (1969), starring a brilliant, young and carefree Jane Birkin. The film became a box office success and continues to inspire the film and fashion industries with its impeccable seventies aesthetic.
Victoria Beckham steps into Deray's shoes to dissect the wardrobe of that era with a surgeon's pulse and, together with Mango, offer the public a collection as clever as it is exciting, available from April 23. The British designer has led her eponymous brand since it was founded in 2008 and has managed to establish itself as a solid reference for the fashion industry.
Victoria Beckham's immaculate style merges with Mango's contemporary design and gives way to an unprecedented collaboration, in an iconic moment in the history of the Catalan brand: its 40th anniversary. “It was an exciting challenge to embrace another creative process without compromising creativity and attractiveness,” confesses the British in reference to the moment of union of the two universes of the brands. “I think we share ethics, aesthetics and values around femininity, quality and love for fashion.”
For Mango, Victoria Beckham's name was always written in the pools. “She is a style reference and from the beginning we are big admirers of her designs. She was one of the names that we had always had in mind and we couldn't be happier with the result,” explains Justicia Ruano, creative director of Mango's Women line.
Impeccably tailored tailoring, hyper-feminine slip dresses, lightweight knitwear and versatile accessories that elevate and enhance any look. “I wanted to create a modern and conscious wardrobe, perfect for the summer months, and also speak to a broader audience, staying true to my aesthetic and DNA.”
Jane Birkin, whom Victoria Beckham cites as her main source of inspiration, managed to achieve style icon status. She had a lot to do with her girlish physique and her delicate but at the same time mischievous face, which perfectly reflected women's liberation and a new way of understanding fashion. The British designer refers to this revolutionary spirit, creating an unapologetic wardrobe for all audiences. “It's not about being one type of woman. “I want whoever wears my collections to feel empowered, that they want to be the best version of themselves,” she explains.
Tailoring is the cornerstone of the collection, with perfectly cut patterns and sharp shoulders and waists, combined with extra-long trousers with a relaxed flared cut, a hallmark of Beckham's signature. A selection of fluid dresses with bias cuts and outer seams or snail ruffles are also present in the collection, as are transparencies and lingerie-inspired details.
“I love dresses and tailoring in particular,” says the creative. “I have always played with the feminine and the masculine and in this collection I wanted to offer a simple, versatile and wearable wardrobe, but rooted in modernity with sophisticated ease.” Garments that at first glance may seem simple, but are designed down to the millimeter to enhance a woman's body.
“Silhouette is always important,” says Beckham. The British businesswoman recalls his beginnings in the fashion industry. “My first collection was a very thoughtful line of dresses that focused on the silhouette,” she recalls. “I am passionate about what I do and enjoy every step of the process. I live and breathe my brand alongside a group of incredible people and I feel very fulfilled and proud of where we are today.”
A hand-in-hand work with Mango where natural fabrics such as linen, cotton and silk of the highest quality serve as a basis to reinterpret basic wardrobe items in a neutral color range of white, black, ecru and butter with touches of blue, peach or mauve pink. “It's a more muted palette,” emphasizes the designer, who confesses that she opted for “more island tones for an easy summer elegance.” A campaign photographed by David Sims, styled by Emmanuelle Alt and starring models Anok Yi and Freya Nutter, in which accessories play an important role around the crystal blue of a pool.
“I love how the accessories complete the character. “Not only are they pretty pieces, but they have to really work.” Beckham emphasizes the importance of a good bag or a stylish shoe to finish off an outfit. “As women we need these accessories to go from day to night. They are the final touch of the look.”
Victoria Beckham x Mango is the latest in a series of collaborations with other brands, artists and talents such as Simon Miller or Camille Charrière. Before finishing her last sketch, she answers the eternal question: “Don't I smile? That's because I take my job very seriously. The only thing I laugh at is myself.”
