What archetypes come to your head when you hear Britain? Top of mind, we think of fish and chips, ‘mates’, rain, a good pint, and the Beckhams. Everybody’s favourite British family (no, we didn’t overlook the Royal Family) has risen to a level of fame that rivals the Kardashians in pop culture merit and Gordon Ramsay in Britishness. How could they not?
England’s most loved (or hated, depending on the time) football player and Spice Girls’ very own Posh Spice became the it-couple of the 90s and 00s, with anything as small as an innocent kiss in a BMW making the front page of newspapers everywhere. And with Netflix’s documentary ‘Beckham’ holding the #1 series spot in the UK days after its release, there’s been a collective melancholic reminisce of the couples’ cultural significance. Inevitably then, we’re immediately thinking of Victoria and David’s headline-generating coordinating outfits.
Since they started dating in 1997 until now, the Beckhams have always been bold and unafraid in their style choices– truly as British as it gets. Whether it was a black-and-white moment, denim on denim, or their iconic purple wedding attire, they were (and are) role models for couple dressing. If you´re craving more Beckham nostalgia or simply want a trip down memory lane, here are the most iconic matching outfits they pulled off.
Engagement Announcement, 1998
Image Source: Getty / John Giles – PA Images
In all-black looks showing off the engagement ring David chose for Victoria, this was the beginning of their matching outfits journey. Many doubted the relationship would last, but they’re living proof that couples who dress together, stay together.
All-Black And THE Sarong Skirt, 1998
Image Source: 1998 @THE SUN / NEWS LICENSING
During the 1998 World Cup, the Beckhams stepped out in their signature black palette. Only this time, David was wearing a patterned sarong on top of his obsidian trousers. Although now we think of it as one of his most iconic moments, at the time it caused controversy and outrage everywhere. It was even on the cover page of The Sun with the headline “Beckham has got his Posh frock on”. The Jean Paul Gaultier piece was a gift from Victoria, which just proves they were both ahead of their time.
Leather Co-Ords, 1999
Image Source: Getty / Justin Goff
Although they were still in the early stages of their romance at this point, is there anything as powerful as matching Gucci leather jumpsuits to prove how serious your bond is? They wore their Matrix-inspired co-ords (the film had just been released) to the Versace Club party, which Victoria still has mixed feelings about. During a 2022 interview in “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen”, she said: “I mean it haunts me. It does haunt me, but I love it. We really thought about it and there was a naïveté to it that was just so sweet.”
The Wedding, 1999
Image Source: Twitter
The famous Beckham wedding at Luttrellstown Castle in Dublin had paparazzi and fans barricading the outside gates, impatient for a glimpse of the couple before OK! magazine’s coverage of the event dropped later (the celebrity news outlet paid one million for exclusive access). In one of their most iconic style moments to date, they chose Antonio Berardi purple outfits to cut the cake. Even a 4-month-old Brooklyn had a purple suit of his own. In the Netflix documentary, Victoria commented “it was fun, we weren’t worried about what people were going to say. You just want to express yourself, that’s just who we were,” she said. David laughs about it now: “I’m trying to think back to when I decided to wear a purple suit, and I don’t know when that happened… But what were we thinking?”
Brown-On-Brown, 2000
Image Source: Getty / Justin Goff
Reigning in the new decade in their London home, David matched Victoria’s corseted jumpsuit and animal print boots with a glossy long brown jacket of his own (very Matrix-Inspired still).
Marching White, 2003
Image Source: Getty / Jon Kopaloff
For their MTV Movie Awards in LA, the couple went for all-white ensembles with matching crystal adornments. David wore a sparkly cross necklace and Victoria opted for shiny embellishments on her dress, a subtle detail that reveals the careful thought and attention they put into their outfits. We’re not surprised they headed to Diddy’s iconic white party afterward, but it is shocking that they managed to look so put together while raising two kids.
Blazer Boom, 2003
Image Source: Getty Images / Kiochi Kamoshida
It was summer in Japan, halfway through the year, when the Beckhams’ style became as sophisticated and polished as the nickname Posh Spice suggests. With matching blazers dressed down with jeans, this was the start of Becks’ more tailored suits and Victoria’s current preference for corsets, formal stilettos, and cigarette pants.
A Navy Royal Wedding, 2018
Image Source: Getty / Toby Melville
Britain’s pop culture royalty chose navy glamorous attire for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding. Victoria wore a structured dress from her eponymous brand and a netted pillbox hat, whilst the ex-football player chose a formal suit to match his wife. The dark pieces are not unlike the ones they wore to Kate and Will’s nuptials seven years prior, proving that if anyone can do formal wear, it’s the Beckhams.
Double Denim, 2023
Image Source: Victoria Beckham Instagram
For a casual movie night with Victoria’s sister Louise, the couple arrived separately– but in the same Canadian tuxedos. In an Instagram story, the fashion designer wrote “I thought those days were over,”, playfully adding “I got dressed first fyi!!!”. Although Britney and Justin did it first in 2001, this serendipitous accident shows how in sync the couple are– even after 24 years of marriage.
Family Fun, 2023
https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ5dF4mh1J7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&img_index=1
In honor of their 22nd year anniversary, David shared a carousel Instagram post of some of their style-savvy matching moments. One of them included the whole family wearing matching black silk pajamas, including sons Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz, and their daughter Harper. “22 years later, still matching outfits,” David captioned his post. “Happy anniversary love u so much and thank you for giving me our amazing kids so we can all wear the same”
Written By Alexia De Las Heras
Header Image: David Beckham Instagram
