A 50th birthday is a major milestone in any woman’s life — though not everyone has to step into it like Victoria Beckham, who not long ago broke her foot in a gym accident. Still, Mrs. Beckham was determined to celebrate in style in London on Saturday, when, at least for one night, she replaced the medical boot she has been wearing for months with pointed toe stilettos, visible panties and a long sheer sea-foam-green gown from her own label.
“As I get ready to step into 50 (in heels, of course!), I feel so incredibly blessed to have reached this milestone,” she wrote in an Instagram post last week. “Blessed, but also accomplished and deeply content. This is the beginning of an exciting new chapter, and I’m only just getting started.”
Here’s what happened at the big birthday bash thrown by the fashion designer and former Spice Girl.
The Location
The party took place at Oswald’s, an exclusive private member’s club owned by Robin Birley in the Mayfair neighborhood of London. Mr. Birley, London’s king of clubs, named Oswald’s after his grandfather, whose portrait hangs behind the reception desk.
The club is known to attract a who’s who of guests. When Beyoncé was in town last year, she headed to Oswald’s. When Princess Eugenie celebrated her wedding anniversary, she did it at Oswald’s. When former prime ministers like Tony Blair and Boris Johnson book date nights with their wives? Oswald’s. Don’t believe us? You’ll have to take our word for it: The club has strict policies against taking photos and using social media accounts.
The Guest List
Of course David Beckham, Mrs. Beckham’s husband of 25 years, was there, as were their four children Romeo, Cruz, Harper and Brooklyn, who were all dressed in black and white. Brooklyn’s wife, Nicola Peltz Beckham, didn’t attend but made it very clear she was sad to miss out via a gushy Instagram post.
Among the 100 invited guests were a constellation of Mrs. Beckham’s celebrity friends, including Tom Cruise, Eva Longoria, Salma Hayek, François-Henri Pinault, Marc Anthony, Guy Ritchie and Gordon Ramsay. Guests also included all four of Mrs. Beckham’s former Spice Girls bandmates: Geri Halliwell-Horner (Ginger), Melanie Chisholm (Sporty), Melanie Brown (Scary) and Emma Bunton (Baby).
The Entertainment
Party guests — and the internet — went into meltdown after Mr. Beckham, 48, posted a video on Instagram of his wife and the other Spice Girls dancing and singing to their 1997 hit single “Stop.”
“I mean come on,” Mr. Beckham captioned the 12-second video, his head bobbing up and down in front of the five women, who have not performed together publicly since the London Olympics in 2012. Mrs. Beckham later reposted the video on her own account, writing: “Best night ever! Happy Birthday to me! I love you all so much!” and accompanying the caption with the hashtag “Spice Up Your Life.”
The Gossip
According to The Daily Mail, tequila (Mrs. Beckham’s tipple of choice) was well and truly flowing. Mr. Cruise, 61, was said to be doing splits on the dance floor in the early hours, after helping up a photographer who tripped on the sidewalk earlier in the night. The Telegraph said that guests were treated to goody bags full of Victoria Beckham branded goods, including a candle and a fragrance.
Ms. Brown, better known as Scary Spice, hinted at a potential reunion for the Spice Girls when she reposted Mr. Beckham’s video on her Instagram Stories, writing: “About last night #tourdatescomingsoon.”
The clearest signs of a successfully spicy night could be found in the last paparazzi photos of Mrs. Beckham leaving her party at 2:30 a.m., in sunglasses, via a piggyback from her husband, who carried her straight into a waiting limo. No word to the press regarding headaches the following morning.
