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Too good to be real

The former Spice Girl turned designer, who has claimed she is more proud of her debut collection than anything else she has achieved, insisted she alone was responsible for creating the haute couture.

Talking about her designs, Victoria, 34, said: “I really had to prove myself ... But now I feel like I am competing in an arena where I belong. I was so nervous because this has been a lifetime in the making.”

But it seems the former Posh Spice has had a considerable amount of help in the guise of one of her favourite designers, Frenchman Roland Mouret. Rumours are circulating in the fashion industry that the man behind the famous Galaxy dress — the hourglass dress that made women look like Forties Hollywood stars — is largely behind her collection.

Last night, Victoria’s PR team admitted she is using the same seamstresses, pattern cutters and fabric makers as 45-year-old Mouret.

Indeed, the clothes are made at an “atelier” — a designer’s workshop — often used by Mouret.

Mouret even made a special visit last week to the studio in Battersea, South London, to congratulate Victoria ahead of her launch.

Her spokesman said: “Roland set Victoria up with his pattern cutter and also introduced her to his fabric suppliers. The seamstress atelier in Battersea was introduced to Victoria via Roland — they are a couture atelier looking after many London-based designers. There is no secret Roland has helped Victoria set up various aspects of her atelier in London ... He did visit Victoria’s studio to see how she is getting on with her new collection and to congratulate her on this week’s launch.”

But the spokesman insisted that despite Victoria employing the talents of Mouret’s trusted team of workers, Roland Mouret had “absolutely nothing to do with the creative process.”

However, Victoria’s frocks, which range from £650 to £1,900, bear an extraordinary degree of similarity to Mouret’s signature style. Like him, she has opted for the below-the-knee length and uses a flattering inner corset.

She has also included a full-length zipper, similar to those on Mouret’s new collection — although Victoria has opted for a double rather than a single zip.

And Victoria has added “Dear Customer” personalised tags to every garment, signed by herself — very similar to the “Dear Customer” tags on Mouret dresses, signed by him.

Mrs Beckham has confessed that although she is the designer, she has not actually drawn the dresses. In a recent interview, she said: “Do I draw? No. Then again, nor do lots of designers. But I put it all on myself and walk around in it, and I know what feels comfortable. I know how a dress should sit. I’ve worn so many in the past and when I see the photographs I think, crikey, my boobs are up round my neck again because the corsets are too short and not cut high enough.”