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Geri Halliwell was seen sporting her famous ‘uniform’ as she supported her husband, Christian Horner, at the honours ceremony.
The Spice Girls star, 51, rarely opts for a vibrant outfit these days, instead opting for a more monotone wardrobe, adding an almost bridal touch to all looks.
Today, the pop star stood proudly next to her Red Bull Racing chief partner as he was recognised by King Charles at Buckingham Palace.
Christian, 51, was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2024 New Year Honours list for his services to motorsport.
He was among many receiving his award at the Palace today, along with filmmakers Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas, who became a Sir and Dame respectively.
As he walked over to the monarch, Christian smiled, as did the King while they engaged in brief conversation.
He then posed outside for photos with Geri, who wore an elegant white dress with a chic coat, also carrying a Dior handbag and opting for nude heels.
Fans of the Spice Girl will know this is far from an unusual look for her, as, for the past five years, white has been rocking white, only occasionally branching out into flattering all-black fits instead.
A bold style choice like this might be more at home in Posh Spice’s wardrobe, but a quick look through Instagram will reveal that Ginger is seldom in anything close to her Union Jack dress.
So why, with a net worth of $40,000,000 (£31,538,000), is Geri sticking to a basic colour palette rather than spicing up her fashion life?
Why does Geri Halliwell always wear white?
The TV personality has addressed her chosen ‘uniform’ as she previously told The Sun it simplifies her busy life and gives her a ‘fresh start’.
‘Everything becomes really simple,’ Geri explained. ‘It’s like wearing a school uniform as an adult.
‘It matches with everything, and I literally don’t have to think in the mornings. It kind of looks like you’ve made an effort when you haven’t.’
While picking one or two basic colours might be easier for the mum of two, choosing white is slightly less innocuous than it seems.
Turns out that wearing white is a sign that you’re incredibly rich, as psychotherapist Sally Baker explained: ‘White clothing is the uniform for the wealthy.’
She added: ‘White shows you’re not doing manual labour or that you’re going to get mucky. While black is known as a flattering colour that hides a multitude of sins, white is projective and makes the wearer stand out.’
‘In the age of the influencer, white is the new black. It is the colour of attainment and success. It’s ostentatious in a simple, subtle way.’
Celebrity style expert Miranda Holder agrees that ‘white or cream oozes luxury’ as the clothing cannot hide as many sins as patterned or darker looks.
Miranda explained: ‘The lighter the colour, the less you can get away with cheap fabrics so well-cut separates in cotton, silk, linen or cashmere drape more beautifully and add instant elegance.
‘It’s also harder to keep clean, so on a practical level, it alludes to a premium lifestyle, which all adds to the appeal. Black used to be the neutral go-to of choice for many a fashionista, but these days the palette of choice has softened as we celebrate our femininity more.’
A uniform is also part of having a brand, much like Apple’s Steve Jobs and his iconic turtlenecks, so it makes you instantly recognisable.
For years, Geri rocked her bright red hair and various incarnations of the Union Jack dress while each of her bandmates carved out their own niche styling.
Geri, Victoria Beckham, Mel B, Mel C, and Emma Bunton were never mistaken for each other, as each had their distinct personality and wardrobe.
It’s possible the plain clothing is an attempt to distance herself from her 90s persona, which was bright and bold.
‘Clothes are an extension of a celeb’s brand and personality that does the talking even when they aren’t,’ celebrity agent Brenda Gabriel explains.
‘With an increasing number of celebs and influencers competing for column inches, those who have the most distinctive styles stand out more than their peers.
‘Some of the biggest stars of all time have worn a fashion uniform – Michael Jackson and his white socks with black shoes is so iconic we could tell it’s him just from a silhouette. Madonna, in her leather and fishnet phase, even Kim Kardashian has a very distinct look about her wardrobe.’
Shedding her ‘girl power’ younger years, Geri could be signalling she is a whole new woman, as Anabel Maldonado, fashion psychologist and founder of PSYKHE, argued.
‘Completely changing up one’s style usually reflects an entire new set of values, a new life direction, and a new personality that they want to cultivate.
‘With Geri, her repeat all-white and cream outfits are very distinctive to her Spice Girls-era looks, which is precisely what she is likely trying to disassociate from. Her new personal brand has a much quieter confidence and sense of balance.’
And that wouldn’t be totally unrealistic as, just days ago, Geri declared that she ‘belongs to no man’.
Last week, Geri appeared before an audience at the Royal Albert Hall and chose to read All My Life I’ve Belonged to No Man by 1800s radical feminist Flora Tristan.
Having described Flora as an ‘inspiration’, Geri said ‘I think at least one person in here tonight needs to hear this letter.’
Meanwhile, away from the spotlight, her marriage to Christian was said to have been on the rocks earlier this year due to allegations of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ against him, which reportedly left Geri in floods of tears.
Christian was accused of sending intimate messages to a woman in her 40s, who raised her concerns with HR.
Following an internal investigation, Christian was cleared of misconduct and kept his job.
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