Fashion & Beauty

HELL YEAH!

LOVE her or loathe her, British import Victoria “Posh Spice” Beckham is about to foist her fashion philosophies onto an unsuspecting American public with the Nov. 1 launch of her runaway over-the-pond best seller: “That Extra Half an Inch: Hair, Heels and Everything in Between.”

Judging from the way Beckham’s dress sense gets ripped apart by tabloid press in her mother country and, more recently, stateside, it’s shocking that anyone agreed to publish her fashion book.

After all, she does have a propensity for ultralow-cut, boob-hoisting bodices, skin-tight dresses and bunion-inducing sky-high heels. And the London rumor mill has it that she’s forced to buy clothes because designers

won’t lend her anything – in certain circles she’s blamed

for single-handedly bringing down the status of the Roberto Cavalli label.

Despite her outre sensibilities, publishers took the bait – we checked out the original U.K. 300-page tome and were surprised to find it packed with truly smart and timeless tips for fabulous head-to-toe dressing and grooming. And while Beckham’s advice may not bring out her own best side – she has a tendency to take things to extremes – we have a hunch her tips, in moderation, will work well for anyone who’s ever wondered which foot is best put forward.

Beckham suggests going all out when picking a festive frock – like she did for Elton John’s party two years ago in this Ming vase-print Cavalli. “I wanted it to give me a real hourglass shape,” she says, “so when I was getting it fitted I kept asking the seamstresses to pull it tighter, tighter, and they were all saying to me in their Italian accents, ‘If we make it any tighter, you won’t be able to sit down!’ I said, ‘I don’t care, I’ll go in a horsebox standing up if I have to – I want it tighter!'” Breathing is always optional.

If you had a hubby as hot as David, you’d probably want to match him, too. Take a tip from the pro and think about coordinating with your partner – “No, I’m not about to tell you to wear matching leather outfits,” she writes, “but you should check that the two of you won’t clash, and if my husband was going to wear trainers to a party, then I probably wouldn’t wear a full-length dress.”

Showing some skin is fine, Beckham says, but don’t give away the whole hog – “If you get your boobs out, put your legs away and vice versa,” she says. Find comfort in moderate exposure and let your confidence shine through.

When selecting your handbags, be wary of pickpockets, Beckham says, “One that zips properly or has various buckles criss-crossing the top will work.” Now, go shell out $6,000 for an Hermés Birkin.

Put yourself out there and don’t follow her advice – “If you’re wearing quite a little miniskirt, counteract it with a modest cardigan over a non-cleavage-tastic top, tone down your make-up and keep your hair simple” – only if you have the bravado to pull it off, like she does here in a vintage Hervé Leger.