Victoria Beckham's inspiring dress trends for spring 2011

It's been two years since former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham announced that she would be launching her own designer dress label but in that short time she has gone from being the target of scepticism to critical acclaim. At New York Fashion Week in September 2010 Beckham's line of dresses for spring 2011 became the must-see show and were roundly praised by the fashion press. Although she lost out to Mulberry at being crowned Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards, her new collection gives fashion buffs a promising indication of the direction in which dress trends will be heading next year.



So what makes Beckham's new line of dresses so appealing? For starters, her pieces don't appear to be dictated by one or two specific styles. Dresses in 2010, for example, may have been informed by the fierce stitches of corsetry or the softer tones of lace but Beckham's lines are fluid and feminine without relying on floral patterns or flouncy skirts. Her dresses, which range from maxi to mid-thigh in length, could easily suit a range of body shapes and she was even rumoured to have banned skinny models from her New York show, although she subsequently denied this. Moreover, her focus on block colours, especially nude, black, white and bright yellow, gives her collection a timeless atmosphere that is likely to transcend the limits of the next spring season. The few patterns that arise are attractive too, taking on a marbled appearance similar to the lines seen in metamorphic rocks and semi-precious stones like agate.

If you'd like to sport a Victoria Beckham dress in spring 2011 but can't afford the price tag, here are a few elements to bear in mind so you can get the look from cheaper alternatives. Seek out a sleeveless, mid-thigh length shift dress with a strong v-neck and in a block colour, ideally in subtle peach, bright lavender or slate. Ideally, it will be gathered at the waist to add more volume, with a black elastic waistband of about an inch and a half in width. This style is certainly suited to women with bigger curves. Large chests will be minimised by the v-neck, while the black waistband creates the illusion of a thinner middle and the mid-thigh length makes short legs look longer.



Alternatively, women with long and lean figures should veer towards high-necked sleeveless maxi shift dresses, a key feature of Beckham's spring collection. These are best worn in muted shades but evening variations should be made from silk (or a material that's silky in appearance) and in silver or another glittering cosmic shade. Baggier maxi dresses can also be harnessed in the middle with metallic detailed belts, which will ensure that trim waists are not lost amidst swathes of fabric.