Victoria's secrets

INTERVIEW: DEIRDRE MCQUILLANcaught up with Victoria Beckham in London to find out about her new collection and style before her visit to Dublin earlier this week

What was the inspiration for the new collection's sportier look?There were a couple of starting points. I was drawn to the strong tailoring of the military theme as it complements my signature silhouette. I said at the time of my presentation that I'm inspired by so many things, in the most unexpected places; for instance, the baseball collars were inspired by my son Romeo running into the kitchen in a sports kit and it sparked the idea. Similarly, the beanie hats were inspired by David.

What prompts each collection?Every season I want to give my customers and retail partners what they want while retaining a strong, fashion-forward message. For autumn/winter 2012 I really wanted to challenge myself to explore how clothes can make women feel when they put them on and how to create an emotional attachment between the garment and the wearer.

Why is there no evening wear in this collection?There are evening wear pieces in my collection, but for the runway I showed a focused edit. As with all designers, my selling collection is much bigger than my show collection.

Who is your ideal client?I love to dress all types of women. For me it is about empowering my customer and making them feel beautiful. My ideal is a woman who is confident in herself and makes each of my designs her own.

How do you keep in such good shape?I have a very balanced diet with a lot of seasonal vegetables and fish. When I'm tired, I rehydrate by drinking a lot of coconut water. I also try to exercise when I get the time but, as all working mothers will know, sometimes that's not as often as I'd like.

What would you never wear? Pet hates?Crocs! Pet hates are showing too much cleavage and leg at the same time. Less is more.

Any plans for a children's collection?None at all. That rumour has been going around for a while but other designers already do it incredibly well.

Who are your favourite fashion icons? I love Kate Bosworth and Clémence Poésy a lot – I find the way both of them dress very interesting. I also find Tilda Swinton's style incredibly chic and intriguing – she's a woman who clearly understands fashion.

Is there anything you don't like about yourself?My feet – all those years of training to be a ballet dancer.

What did it mean to you to get the recognition of the Council of Fashion Designers of America? God it was incredible, it meant everything to me and my team. I was completely overwhelmed and humbled to be recognised by my industry peers. When they read out my name, it was an extraordinary feeling – I couldn’t stop crying.

Have you any connections with Ireland?David and I got married there 13 years ago this month, so of course it holds a very special place in my heart. I find Ireland incredibly beautiful and I love the Irish sense of humour.