AS we celebrate a quarter century of the Spice Girls, Clemmie Fieldsend takes a look at the best 20 looks the band gave us . . . and how they stand up today.
From micro glasses to sheer and chunky highlights, we reveal the trends that should be in fashion this year.
1. SLIP DRESSES: Loved by Posh and Baby, spaghetti-strap slip dresses were a permanent fixture in the Spice Girls’ wardrobes, and have been a staple fashion item for many people since. These days, the trend is huge on the high street at Zara and Nasty Gal.
2. BUFFALO TRAINERS: No outfit was complete without towering platform Buffalo trainers, adding a few inches to the pint-sized pop stars. The chunky shoes — a staple of all Nineties teens’ outfits — have made an almighty comeback thanks to Kanye West’s brand Yeezy.
3. MICRO GLASSES: Slim, tinted specs were all the rage with the girls — before Posh’s wagtastic oversized sunnies took over in the Noughties. But the iconic micro-glasses are popular again with American model Kendall Jenner spicing up her life with a pair.
4. FEATHERS: The Spice Girls always made a statement, often with embellished plumes. From collared coats to frilly hems, feathers were a must. These days, if you wannabe spicy, you can bag a feathered mini dress from Karen Millen or fluffy cardigan from New Look.
5. ATHLEISURE: In the lockdowns we’ve all embraced comfort and have taken to living in loungewear. But Sporty did it first. Remember popper pants? They’re back too. Even Victoria Beckham has swapped her heels for trainers and now designs for Reebok.
6. CHUNKY HIGHLIGHTS: Geri dyed the front of her hair blonde and left the rest red. Genius, right? Or not. Everyone did it, though. And now the questionable look is back, with Beyonce and Bella Hadid highlighting the piece of hair that frames the face.
7. ANIMAL PRINT: You can’t think of leopard print without images of Mel B springing to mind, they go hand in hand. While Corrie’s Bet Lynch did it first, Scary Spice made it fashionable to wear the punchy print from head to toe — something that many, including reality star Kim Kardashian, have done since.
8. LBD: Victoria Beckham put the little black dress on the style map and made it her signature look, which she still wears today. It’s an essential for women’s wardrobes and has been seen everywhere this year, from the red carpet at Cannes to Love Island.
9. UNION JACK CLOTHING: Geri Halliwell wearing a Union Jack dress, by Gucci, to the 1997 Brits is one of the most iconic moments in fashion history. Since then, everyone from maths ace Carol Vorderman to singer Taylor Swift has worn the flag — and the Euros has sent our penchant for patriotic clothes sky high.
10. BIKINI TOPS: Following SS21 Fashion Week, wearing a bra as a top has become the coolest look of the summer, with Kourtney Kardashian and Dua Lipa advocating the flesh-flashing look. But yet again, the Spice Girls did it first, often performing in triangle tops.
11. SUITS: Global chart success and Spice World domination was no easy business, so the band often dressed for the occasion in sexy suits that screamed Girl Power. Tailored co-ords are now the number one way to return to the office post-lockdowns and celebs are loving the look.
12. SHEER: Stars in sheer on the red carpet may get all the headlines but it’s a trend that began long ago. Who can forget Victoria at the Brits in ’97 in a see-through grey dress? This season high-end brands Jacquemus and Simone Rocha are making the look the height of sheer class.
13. CHEONGSAM DRESSES: The Gen Z-ers can’t get enough of Nineties looks — especially the oriental-inspired Cheongsam dresses. A Nineties Geri Halliwell in a bright red one with matching rouge platform shoes was something to behold. Beat that, TikTokers.
14. KNEE-HIGH BOOTS: Whether for summer or winter, knee-high boots have become a footwear staple often worn by Amanda Holden and Kendall Jenner. While i’s a current look the platform- loving Spice Girls were jumping around on stage wearing the boots first.
15. STRAPPY HEELS: Whether paired with a bikini for Love Island or wrapped around the calves of Kim Kardashian, strappy gladiator-style heels are hot right now. But fashion legend Victoria Beckham wore them first, often with a simple minidress.
16. MATCHY MATCHY: From Mel C in a matching red tracksuit to Mel B in a pair of lime green silky trousers and a matching waistcoat, colour co- ordinating was never Too Much. Being matchy matchy had a downward spiral in the Noughties but is back with a bang now.
17. OVERALLS: From Chanel to Salvatore Ferragamo boyish boiler suits are front and centre of fashion again, but while the Spice Girls were known for their mini dresses, Baby Spice and Mel B loved an off-duty pair of dungarees or zip-up all-in-one.
18. SCRUNCHIES: These were all the rage in the Nineties with Mel C and Baby Spice often seen accessorising their hair with them for cutesy pigtails or a high ponytail. They have made a comeback recently as a lockdown hair staple.
19. MINI SKIRTS: While the Spice Girls didn’t technically invent the mini skirt they gave them a blooming good outing, never shying away from showing a bit of leg. And Hailey Bieber, Charlize Theron and Rita Ora are rocking the look this summer.
20. BUCKET HATS: These are the unlikely head- wear hero of 2021 — from Rihanna in a furry number to Rob Beckett wearing an England- branded version to Wembley last week. But the Nineties trend was one of Mel C’s go-to looks.
