L'HISTOIRE: Victoria Beckham's Sheer, Leather-Clad Rocker Chick Look in 2001

L’HISTOIRE explores fashion history moments you should know, from what actors wore on a red carpet to celebrities who made cameos on the runway. Some are unsung, and some are better known. Each is part of the fabric of today’s fashion world, be it barrier breakers or culture makers.

During the first of many hiatuses from the Spice Girls, Victoria Beckham ventured into a solo career to reintroduce herself to the world. No longer just Posh Spice, Beckham sought to carve out a solo identity—fiercer, bolder, and unapologetically edgier. In 2001, she took the stage at Hyde Park’s “One Big Sunday” to support her first and only self-titled solo album, Victoria Beckham. But more than that, it marked a visual and sonic shift that hinted at the mogul-in-the-making behind the mic.

Her outfit that day said it all. Beckham strutted across the stage in an all-black ensemble with a punk sensibility. A sheer, sleeveless black mesh top revealed a black bikini bra underneath, with her Y2K-era belly-button piercing nodded to the era’s signature style of the era. Low-slung leather pants clung to her frame, cinched tight with a silver bullet belt that played into her toughened-up rebrand. Fingerless gloves of the same material and a matching armband extended the tough-girl energy, while a jewel-embellished head scarf added a touch of glam to the grit.

Though her solo music career was short-lived, this era of Beckham's life proved formative. It was the beginning of a personal rebrand that would eventually take her from pop star to fashion authority. Years later, she traded mic stands for runways, launching a namesake fashion label defined by sleek tailoring and minimalism. Her empire has since expanded into beauty, while echoing her signature aesthetic. This performance may have been a blip on the pop timeline, but style-wise, it marked the first step in a fashion legacy still unfolding.

Emulating Beckham’s edgy, Y2K look, opt for Heirlome’s sheer sleeveless top and I.AM.GIA’s low rise leather pants. Accessorize with a leather belt, fingerless gloves, and a satin head scarf to complete the rocker chick vibe of the ensemble.