(Image credit: Getty Images)
By Amanda Mitchell
published
David Beckham is a man with many sides–soccer legend, fashion icon, doting husband and father, and sex symbol. At 43 years old, he still ranks as one of the sexiest and best-dressed celebrities in the entire world. But while he's always been smolderingly good-looking, some of the British hunk's early fashion and grooming choices were...questionable. We've gathered here for you the best and worst of Beckham's metamorphosis from his floppy-haired early soccer days to the zaddy we know and love.
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(Image credit: Neal Simpson - EMPICS)
1993
Look at this adorable, fresh-faced young thing! This 18-year-old has no idea what's in his future. (Hint: It's universal athletic respect, a great wife and kids, and handsomeness.)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
1995
That blonde hair! That shag cut! That gorgeous sweater! I'm salivating over here, pardon me.
(Image credit: Mark Leech/Offside)
1996
Young David, looking so cool and casual, waiting on the soccer pitch. We're loving the uniform the most.
(Image credit: John Peters)
1997
Look at how cute he is with his long hair and the army green suit and his trophy! (Beckham's team, Manchester United had just won the English Premiere League.)
(Image credit: John Giles - PA Images)
1998
20 years later, and this is still the best day of my life (that would be the day Becks and Posh Spice announced their engagement). The two of them are so happy, and they were just beginning their rise as fashion royalty. They've always been couple goals.
(Image credit: Dave Benett)
1999
A velvet jacket and a floppy Nick Carter haircut? Sign us up for this late-nineties hotness.
(Image credit: Justin Goff)
1999
Is it safe to say "the couple that leathers together, stays together"? If so, it clearly worked out for Victoria and David.
(Image credit: Phil Cole)
2000
The 2000s marked an era in the David Beckham's Hair Choices: He waffled throughout the decade between a buzz-cut and his longer locks. Either way, we're into it.
(Image credit: Justin Goff)
2000
The Matrixhad its moment in fashion history, this was far from the worst version.
(Image credit: Phil Noble - PA Images)
2000
Father and son Brooklyn are both adorable. The matching jerseys and David's earrings are totally swoon-worthy.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2001
This photo has everything: David Beckham on an early-aughts cell phone, in sunglasses, wearing a strange choice in sweaters. We're not complaining, though. He looks great.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2001
Becks and Victoria have never shied away from a matching ensemble—this is just the first of many. Her jumpsuit with the cut-outs, his cream-and-white hued outfit does it all.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2002
The sunglasses and the jacket can stay in 2002, the rest can come with us.
(Image credit: David Jones - PA Images)
2002
Another early-2000s look Becks embraced? The Adidas tracksuit. Helovedan Adidas tracksuit as much as Jennifer Lopezloveda Juicy Couture tracksuit. Tracksuits were a thing, okay?
(Image credit: Peter Jordan - PA Images)
2002
What a look for a specific time period. The young dad was still figuring it out, and even if his suit jacket doesn't fit, he still looks good.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2003
The wrist injury and the roses almost make up for the pony tail and the ill-fitting jeans.Almost.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2003
The long hair, the leather jacket, the autobiography?! Where do we sign up?
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2003
The happy couple has never been afraid to go for a daring fashion moment—this one from the 2003 MTV Movie Awards is just one of many standout ensembles the pair donned.
(Image credit: Goffredo di Crollalanza)
2004
See, we told you he had an affinity for Adidas track suits. This time it's for an Adidas event. Also, why is he only wearing one shoe?
(Image credit: Carlos Alvarez)
2005
This jacket-and-jeans-and-silk scarf grouping is totally giving off modern-day Hugh Hefner vibes, and I'm seriously all about it.
(Image credit: Andrew Wong)
2005
There is always time for a pin-stripe. Always. Again, these two know how to coordinate outfits better than anyone else on Earth.
(Image credit: MJ Kim)
2005
Victoria and David literally look like a mermaid and a spy assigned to keep her mermaid identity undercover (remake ofSplash, anyone?). Notice how that dress moves and how handsome he looks, and tell me that's an incorrect assessment. I'll wait.
(Image credit: Giuseppe Cacace)
2006
That sweater screams "David Beckham is on a winter vacation in Aspen and he'sveryrelaxed!"
(Image credit: Ian Walton)
2007
The look on David's face clearly says "I look good...but my wife looks incredible." Most attractive couple on the face of the Earth? We'd say so.
(Image credit: Mark R. Milan)
2007
Sure, the bleach blonde is a shocker, but Becks manages to pull it off, especially by pairing it with that perfectly tailored suit.
(Image credit: Niki Nikolova)
2007
David's love for chunky knits isn't saved for sweaters–as evidenced by this beanie. It signals "I'm fashionable, but also comfortable." Just the way we like you, David.
(Image credit: Dimitrios Kambouris)
2008
Our favorite couple stuns at the launch of the Beckham Signature Fragrance Collection. Becks is back to the buzzcut, this time with a red-and-grey-striped suit.
(Image credit: Stephen Lovekin)
2008
The 2008 Met Gala was "superhero themed," but Victoria and David didn't have to work very hard to be the fashion superheroes we already knew they were. David looks like Batman, Iron Man, and James Bond all wrapped up in a one attractive package.
(Image credit: James Devaney)
2008
We love a man who mixes patterns, especially when he dares to mix more than two. David is definitely giving off "Hot Army Guy In A Fashion Editorial" vibes here, and we're not mad.
(Image credit: Jon Kopaloff)
2008
David—never one to shy away from a plaid...or a vest—looks so young (he's 33) and fresh here, you'd never know he was the father of three.
(Image credit: Larry Busacca)
2009
That smile could create world peace, end world hunger, and solve climate change. Well, maybe not all of those things, but look at hownicehe looks. It's swoon city over here.
(Image credit: Jon Kopaloff)
2010
Becks looking cool, calm, and casual, like always. He does California Casual better than anyone else on the planet.
(Image credit: Philip Ramey Photography, LLC)
2010
Looking so stern, but that shiny slate-grey metallic suit is giving us life.
(Image credit: Jean Baptiste Lacroix)
2010
The cutest stuffed animals in the world, held by the most handsome man in the world. "Shook" doesn't even begin to describe it.
(Image credit: Danny Martindale)
2011
The first of two Royal Weddings attended by the Beckhams (this one being Kate Middleton and Prince William's, naturally), David's top hat is a charming choice for such a fantastic event. Actually, both his and Posh's headwear choices add a bit of whimsy to their formal outfits.
(Image credit: Chip Somodevilla)
2012
What a moustache! Becks has never feared an extreme facial hair choice—and he looks ever so charming with this Parisian-inspired look.
(Image credit: Joe Kohen)
2012
There's nothing wrong with a simple black t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Especially if you look like David Beckham.
(Image credit: Stuart C. Wilson)
2013
The Beckham family (minus baby Harper) proves that fashion sense is genetic and stuns on the red carpet.
(Image credit: Anadolu Agency)
2014
Get you a man who's willing to wear a yellow plaid suit to Wimbledon, y'all. Look at this man's golden deliciousness.
(Image credit: Mike Marsland)
2014
The Beckhams are fashion superheroes in every single way. Just look at the way this man pulls off a monochromatic suit next to his wife, whose wide-leg white pants bring the "wow" factor.
(Image credit: Slaven Vlasic)
2014
The navy jacket and the red sweater? So J.Crew. The pop of color in that red sweater is so bright it even pulls your eyes away from the picture of Beckham's bare torso behind him. Maybe David should just take the sweater off....
(Image credit: Kevin Mazur)
2014
Have you ever seen a pair more fashionable? This look from the 2014 Met Gala proves that, as sartorially gifted they are apart, the Beckham's are a force to be reckoned with together.
(Image credit: Europa Press)
2015
If this look is any indicator, we fully trust David's selection of "Modern Essentials." The white shoe paired with the casual navy suit is pretty much everything.
(Image credit: Tristan Fewings)
2016
Suave, casual-sweater Becks is our preferred Becks.
(Image credit: David M. Benett)
2016
David Beckham iswearingthis grey suit. We can't even see the fluorescent lighting behind all of the handsomeness.
(Image credit: Dominique Charriau)
2017
Seriously, does this man love a chunky sweater or what? He looks like he came straight out of a Ted Baker Fall campaign. (That's the highest compliment one can receive.)
(Image credit: DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS)
2017
The look in his eye, the beige suit, thelavendershirt. I'm screaming. I'm dead. I am in a grave. Men should not be allowed to look like this.
(Image credit: Allen Berezovsky)
2017
How can one be interested in any type of a sporting event when David Beckham is there, literally looking likeThor?
(Image credit: Eric Espada)
2018
Look at this man, managing to look both warm and cool at the same time. That's a gorgeous scarf, might I say.
(Image credit: Chris Jackson)
2018
Arriving at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, David and Victoria match in navy, but this he left his top hat behind. He's got a double-breasted vest and a watch chain going though, and it looks gooooooood.
Amanda Mitchell
Amanda Mitchell is a writer and podcaster with bylines at Marie Claire, OprahMag, Allure, Byrdie, Stylecaster, Bon Appetit, and more. Her work exists at the apex of beauty, pop culture, and absurdity. A human Funfetti cake, she watches too much television, and her favorite season is awards season. You can read more of her work at amandaelizabethmitchell.com or follow her on Instagram and Twitter @lochnessmanda.
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