10 Fashion Trends Started By The Spice Girls

Long before Maria Chiuri Grazia launched her 'We should all be feminists' cult T-shirt, the Spice Girls were singing about girl power and female solidarity - politics and ideals that they often communicated via their clothes.

Calvin Klein, Tom Ford and Victoria Beckham all paid homage to animal print in their respective autumn/winter 2018 shows, but Mel B was early to the game on this one, always showing a committed propensity towards leopard and zebra prints.

Get off the overground at Peckham Rye on a Saturday night, head into the Bussey Building and you'll see that pretty much everyone under 25 is dressed like Mel C, complete with retro branded sportswear. Not all go in for the full tracksuit combo so popular with Mel, but the rise of athleisure is undeniable.

Victoria Beckham appreciated the value in keeping in classic, understated and elegant even during her Spice Girl days, with a love of little black dresses and fuss-free strappy heels. That's not to say she always hit sophistication bang on the head, but she was the only band member to show an understanding that sometimes less is more.

As part of the '90s style renaissance, Buffalo platforms were revived by Browns last year - a move that sparked instant waiting lists among its clientele. The Spice Girls were, of course, the first to offer the toweringly high shoes their patronage (although rumour has it Victoria Beckham always hated them).

They may have fallen out of favour over the last decade, but Gigi and Bella Hadid, as well as Selena Gomez and Rihanna have started wearing tiny sunglasses again, proving that Victoria Beckham was about 20 years ahead of the game.

An extension of the athleisure trend, dad trainers are now officially a thing. Balenciaga's chunky, futuristic styles never stay in stock for long, and are often seen on the feet of fashion editors and influencers. Mel C saw the potential in a pair of spongy, colourful trainers - and not just for the gym - long before the luxury fashion world did.

Of course, not everything the band wore worked. Sorry Ms Beckham, bikini tops should remain holiday attire only.

Geri Halliwell's bold mini dress sparked a million copies back in the 90s, but those were different times. In a post-Brexit Britain, no one wants to look like an advert for the Ukip campaign.

The 90s uniform of tomboys everywhere might have been comfortable, but is of its time. Blame the poor sporting abilities of the current England football team if you like, but these shirts are still best left to Danny Dyer films.