At the bar of the Principe di Savoia Hotel I meet an Italian director, one of the best there are and one of the most celebrated last year. We greet, then he asks me who I am going to interview.
I am here for Victoria Beckham, ex-Posh Spice, married for 9 years to the most famous footballer in the world. According to the dominant prejudice, she is supposed to be the living symbol of the consumer society of our times: obsessive devotion to brands and continuous pursuit of media attention.
The much celebrated director, however, doesn't seem to have such prejudice. When I tell him why I am here, his face shows an expression of deep curiosity.
Victoria Beckham, indeed, makes almost everybody curious. When we see her on the pages of magazines, she looks like a creature from another planet. But the moment I begin to talk to her, I immediately understand that she is not an alien at all. She sips water from a glass. She has a chewing gum packet which, later on, she opens, consumes and offers me. She often smiles. She's very staid and looking at her makes you think how "sciura" (typical word used in Milan to describe elegant, well-mannered women) could be translated in English.
Victoria speaks using very clear and "close" sentences, which don't let much digression be possible. She insists in pointing out that she is not the money waster she is pictured to be, because the most important things in her and her husband lives are true feelings, not money. A statement which is perfectly in line with the "neo-austerity" times we live in. She may be an alien, but an extremely realistic and up-to-date one.
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Have you already learned some Italian words?
Very few. And I won't tell you a single one of them, because my pronunciation is too bad. David is taking Italian lessons, he's quite good at it already.
When your husband came to A.C. Milan, they said you would be looking for a house in Milan. You are coming here every now and then instead, and you are staying at a hotel.
The kids are in Los Angeles, they are with my parents now. I go back and forth between the US, London and Milan. Anyway David is probably leaving towards mid-March, so the hotel is more than ok for now.
Let's suppose David decides to stay longer. Would you consider finding another settlement for yourself and the children?
Myself and David always put our children first. We only moved to America a year ago, they just got used to the school there. As far as I'm concerned, I could live everywhere, so long as David and the kids are with me. As a parent, however, the first priority is the children's serenity.
Do you like Milan?
I like it very much. I know a lot of people here, especially in the fashion industry: Dolce & Gabbana, Armani and his staff, Cavalli, Berardi... The city is vibrant, full of energy and passion. The food is great too. There's no way I couldn't love Milan. They said I wouldn't come here because the city is polluted, but I never said anything of that kind.
Do newspapers frequently write untrue things about you?
It happens very often. I don't care about it anymore: if I listened to all the bad press I get, I would be some feet deep now.
What would you like to read about yourself?
Look, I perfectly know how this game works. I chose to play it in the first place. When I was in the Spice Girls, we desperately needed press coverage. Today, however, I would like you to understand who the real Victoria is.
Who's the real Victoria then?
A mother who looks after her kids personally. A wife who's so lucky to have the man who is her true soul mate at her side. A fashion designer who hopes to be appreciated for the quality of her work, to be judged without preconception. I'm also a woman with a very dry sense of humor which sometimes people don't get, but which is actually here.
You once said that, when you attend events, you "turn into Victoria Beckham". Would you please explain this better?
Sometimes I look at pictures of myself in the papers and think: "who is this woman?" Yes it's me, but beyond the make-up, the hair, beyond anything else, there's another woman.
Who is this woman?
The one who brings her children to school in the morning. Without make-up on. That's why I always wear sunglasses.
Sometimes you look impeccable even in the paparazzi pictures, though.
Thank you. But you have no idea what hides beyond those sunglasses somedays.
Are you scared of getting older?
No, not at all. The idea that myself and David will grow older together amuses me. We always make fun about this. Lately some little wrinkles have appeared around his eyes. I love them, they tell his story.Twelve years together. Ups and downs.
How did you two meet?
At a football match. It was love at first sight. And today I love him more than ever. People don't even imagine how spiritual and intelligent David is.
Is he also a romantic man?
We both are very romantic. Little notes, dinners, surprises. Nothing extravagant, luxurious or over-the-top. Just little signs to remind each other that we are standing by each other's sides.
Does David talk to you about his job? For example, has he ever talked to you about the Kaká business, his decision to stay at A.C. Milan etc.?
I don't know anything about football. I always listen to him when he talks about it because I know that that is his life. But I never interfere. I'm happy because I know he is happy here, and it's beautiful to see him already scoring for the team. I'm always over the moon whenever he scores, but my passions lie elsewhere: in fashion, first of all, in music, in ballet.
In the evening, when you're at home, what do you two do?
We love TV series: Sex And The City, Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy. We also like to watch films with the kids and have some friends over.
Would you like to have more kids?
If it happens, I would be very happy. Of course you can't choose what to have, but I must confess I would love to have a girl, after the three boys. You know, I love women — no, don't misunderstand me: I'm not a lesbian. I love them as friends, as most interesting interlocutors. I love them as much as I love gay men. I always say there's a gay man inside of me who is struggling to get out. In fact, I don't have anything in common with straight men — my father, my husband and my brother excluded, of course.
In case you won't have any daughters, who will your incredible Hermès collection go to?
For now, the only candidates are my children's future fiancées.
Are you and David strict parents?
Yes, our children don't get anything if they don't say please and thank you. We both were educated like this, we don't want our children to grow up spoiled.
Are they aware they were not born in any other family?
I think they believe all dads in the world play football and all mums were part of a pop band and then became fashion designers. They will understand in time.
In February you will introduce your second collection in New York. Your dresses are sold in different places in the world (not yet in Italy though) along with jeans, sunglasses e perfumes. What's the entrepreneur Victoria like?
She's very self-demanding, always in competition, she always wishes to exceed herself. I'm aware that my business is very little compared to the whole fashion world, but I strongly believe in what I do. I design dresses I would wear myself. I'm not a 180cm tall supermodel, but I try to get the best out of what I have.
It looks pretty easy for someone like you though. You're perfectly fit, as we can see in the pictures for Emporio Armani Underwear. How do you do that?
First of all, before shooting those pictures I worked out for five months. I ran and cycled one hour every day, seven days a week. No alcohol, no junk food.
You are very disciplined.
I wasn't like this some time ago. I've changed when I turned 30. I've learned to know myself better.
Have you ever been to a psychiatrist?
No, I've never been interested in those kind of things. My transformation — let's call it this way — happened spontaneously, along with maternity. I think it happens to all women, really. Children helps you become a much more organized person, if you wish to have a career and have some time for yourself as well. So I said goodbye to clubs and drinks. I am a working mother, I have other priorities now.
After the reunion in 2007, are the Spice Girls over forever?
As far as I'm concerned, yes. I want to concentrate on fashion and family only, now. I couldn't find the time and space for music too. Those days are over, but the friendship with the other girls stays. We all just had dinner together in London: Geri introduced us to her new Italian fiancée.
He must have felt under exam pressure.
I don't think so. I never judge anybody.
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Victoria smiles, she really smile. She leaves standing on heels that make you feel vertigo just by looking at them, elegantly wrapped in the black dress she designed herself. She could get confused for any other woman who goes shopping in Via Montenapoleone. Maybe the English word for "sciura" is posh.
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