Victoria Beckham shows a dress-centric spring/summer 2020 collection

Back in 2008, when Victoria Beckham switched pop stardom for a life in the fashion world, she had one objective in mind: to make the perfect dress.

Eleven years on, with a globally recognised and broad ranging business spanning ready- to-wear, sunglasses, denim and a freshly launched beauty line nestled comfortably under her Italian leather belt, and the dress is just a moment in a very long story. Today, she sought to rewrite that chapter.

At her spring/summer show in Westminster this afternoon, Beckham unveiled long-sleeve cocktail gowns for a modern woman. In block shades such as bold green and fuchsia and in scribbled abstract prints, this revised take on a Beckham signature features romantic ruffle trims and an elegant drop waist.

“The dress is a key focus this season” she confirmed backstage, in between greeting Dior Homme designer Kim Jones and Helen Mirren who wore a snake print dress from the current collection, “it’s a core part of my business. I know it’s what my customer really wants.”

Undoubtedly, Beckham’s customer is one that has evolved over the years with the sheath style cocktail gowns with which the brand began little more than a memory. If her earlier design ideas were about rigid femininity, this was about equipping women with clothes they can truly live in with movement and versatility key.

“This is a fresh take on dresses. They are sexy but in a demure way. And they easy to wear.” Deep v-necklines and billowing full skirts emphasised this idea.

For Beckham, creating a fashion brand has always been about servicing her own wardrobe - as well as those of her customers. Accordingly this show was a snapshot of her current dressing habits with sharply cut kick flare trousers and plenty of black interspersed among the lineup of dresses. An ivory tuxedo which closed the show was among the collection’s finest pieces.

The show, Beckham’s third since swapping New York for her native London, coincides with a major expansion for the brand. Yesterday Victoria Beckham Beauty became available to customers for the first time. It’s instant success stands as proof of the power of brand Beckham.

“It’s already doing amazingly. We smashed through all targets and have actually sold out in a few products” said Beckham.

News of this latest commercial success will delight those with an eye on the business’s finances but dismay the Extinction Rebellion protesters who chose today’s show to air their distaste for the fashion world's contribution to the planet's monumental waste issues.

Guests, including Beckham’s four children and husband David, were among those to witness their call to act upon arriving at the show.