It was 26 years ago this summer when David Beckham caused unfair outrage by wearing a sarong on a date night.
At the time of his bold fashion choice the former footballer was flying high at the 1998 World Cup, while off the pitch he was one half of the UK's biggest celebrity power couple with his Spice Girls fiancée Victoria. With Becks celebrating his 49th birthday today, we take a look back at the unjust furore his fashion choice caused...
The World Cup was being held in sophisticated France when David and Victoria stepped out for the evening. The England star was wearing a black and white patterned sarong over his black trousers, with a black vest showing off his tanned, muscular physique. Spice Girl Victoria sported a matching black vest over loose black tailored pants.
Victoria had gifted David the £115 Jean Paul Gaultier sarong and it's fair to say the snaps of him wearing it attracted a lot of attention, with many people keen to express their opinions on a 'man wearing a skirt'. But while he attracted a lot of criticism for his outfit, David has no regrets - in fact he has three sarongs hanging up in his wardrobe to this day.
The star's sarong was a gift from wife Victoria (PA)
The couple have been wed 25 years this July (Dave Benett/Getty Images)"I thought: 'I can pull that off,'" said the star. 'So I got one in red, blue and black.'" Now a father-of-four, David believes the world has moved on, telling the Telegraph in 2018: "Today, no one bats an eyelid if a guy wears a sarong in the street." "Sarongs are great," the star told Lorraine Kelly in 2014. "That's one thing I never regret because I thought it looked great and I would still wear it now."
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Speaking about the abuse David received - that wouldn't happen or rightfully be tolerated now - fashion designer Jean Paul told Attitude Magazine: "I was sad for him, and very surprised. But he didn't care about it. He's a heterosexual guy, everybody knows that. Clothes are something you can have."
The tournament did not end well. David was famously sent off during England's match with Argentina, with England subsequently losing the match in a penalty shoot out. David ended up being blamed single-handedly for their loss.
Posh and Becks, as they were dubbed, caused a stir with their matching leather outfits (Getty Images)
Victoria turned 50 last month, celebrating with a party in London (GC Images)Meanwhile, the sarong might have been David's most well-known fashion choice, but he wore many other statement clothes in his younger days including matching leather Versace outfits with Victoria for a New Year's Eve bash in Manchester in 1999. "I look back on some stuff and think I can't believe I actually wore that," he said. "I have no regrets though – I knew at the time it was good. Nobody was turning around to me and saying: 'Don't do it'. I felt I could wear what I wanted."
Off the pitch he is known for being a dapper dad nowadays, opting for stylish suits and baker boy caps. The star's wife of almost 25 years also moved from music to fashion with her own successful high end line, Victoria Beckham. The Spice Girl won over the fashion world with the sophisticated cut and fit of her clothing line as well as her own personal minimal style and now has a successful beauty line too.
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