The story behind that iconic Posh Spice outfit

(Image credit: 2012 Photoshot)

In all the history of the Spice Girls, perhaps the most iconic outfit - after Geri's Union Jack dress of course - was Posh Spice's PVC catsuit.

Well she wore several to be fair, they were kind of her thing at the time. Remember the silver one she wore in Who Do You Think You Are? black one she wore in the Say You'll Be There video? Rumour has it that's when David Beckham fell in love with her.

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UK designer Dee Izmail created over 80 different outfits for the Spice Girls, and she recalled the similar black PVC catsuit she designed for one of the band's videos, saying, 'This was a piece I designed for the club scene and something that I felt was a bit of who I am as both a designer and personally. Victoria looked great in it!'

She was also the creative mind behind another iconic VB look: the chainmail top and silver skirt she wore in the Spice Girls' Pepsi ad. 'Victoria wore my chainmail top and silver skirt for the girls’ Pepsi campaign. The pieces were inspired by my Space Odyssey collection and were perfect for the metallic theme the girls were running with,' she said.

Dee created outfits for all Spice Girls, and that included the green dress Baby Spice, aka Emma Bunton wore to meet Prince Harry back in 1997 when they were playing a gig in South Africa and Prince Charles and his son were visiting.

The singer wore a light green dress, which Dee designed specifically. She says, 'I was approached to design a dress for Emma for the Spice Girls’ tea with Prince Harry and knew whatever I made had to be luxurious and not too baby girl, while still having the essence and playfulness of the Baby Spice character. Emma then went on to wear the dress in one of the girls’ music videos, too!'

Penny Goldstone

Penny Goldstone is the Contributing Fashion Editor at Marie Claire UK. She writes about catwalk trends and the latest high street and Instagram sartorial must-haves. She also helms the Women Who Win franchise.

She has worked in fashion for over 10 years, contributing to publications such as Cosmopolitan, Red, Good Housekeeping, and Stylist.