Cashmere confidence allows Beckham to take a few risks

VICTORIA Beckham says, five seasons into her fashion brand, that she is a more confident designer and a more confident person, and that allows her to take risks beyond the structured cocktail dresses that gave her credibility with a famously finicky industry.

For her New York Fashion Week presentation yesterday, she wore one of the loose, cashmere cocoon dresses that she said she found intimidating when she was more of a novice. The swing trapeze dress and a multi-metallic honeycomb in a kaftan-like silhouette were also items she added to the collection with a surer hand.

These roomier designs take more work, but they are worth it so women can be fashionable — as well as comfortable, explained Beckham, her hair pulled into a long ponytail.