Quite possibly the only person who hasn t been surprised by the success of Victoria Beckham s new dress line is the celebrity designer herself. Back at the Waldorf Towers, where she s showing her 23-piece sophomore collection by appointment, she spoke just as earnestly about under-bust contouring, channel seaming, and zippers that unzip from top and bottom as she did last September. But these dresses look so well-made, so of-the-moment yet also timeless ("which is so important, especially these days," Beckham acknowledged) that they do the talking for her. The fits-like-a-glove sheath made a reappearance, this time in soft gray cashmere with little cap sleeves. New to the mix were short day dresses in black stretch wool felt, above-the-knee cocktail numbers in gold tinsel bouclé, and gowns in crepe or matte sequins with elegant trains. (Capes in felt or silk gazar were also a new category for Beckham, but they didn t quite have the need-it-now quality of her frocks.) The one-shoulder floor-grazing black gown with chenille and metallic details, or maybe the long-sleeved red marocain with grosgrain belt, should get shipped out to L.A., and quickly. The latter s padded shoulders and corseted waist could work their elongating, slimming magic on some lucky star come Oscar night.
