by 
Geri Halliwell’s Union Jack -Dress has left his traces behind as a minoral moment to remember the history of pop culture. The mini dress of the original Spice Girls member met a cultural chord and quickly became a statement that could follow other pop stars.
The dress with the Union Jack Flag is bound with the history of the United Kingdom. The design dates from 1606 as a flag, which was both England and Scotland, and was redesigned in 1801 as the current red, white and blue symbol with the St. Patrick’s saltire.
More from WWD
In the 1970s, the Union Jack was founded as a style motif for several British punk bands. The design was used by Sartorial Messaging, a subversion of the flag. In the late 90s, Halliwell’s fashion declaration implemented the Union Jack symbol.
Halliwell (Also known as “ginger spice”) carried her Union Jack Minidress at the Brit Awards in 1997, where The Spice Girls performed.
“There are different layers in this story,” said Halliwell Drew Barrymore in the actress of the same name in April 2025. “There is a flag; that was taught for me.” I remember [my] Stylist said at the time: “No, no, no. Be more modest. ‘So I went:’ No, absolutely not. ‘ “
Halliwell said Barrymore that the original dress was actually a “black Gucci strain” that had been given to her. “It is really corsosed. It’s like an old swimming costume … like a 50s -swimming costume.” Halliwell sewed a tea towel with the Union Jack on the Gucci dress. “I can’t be sewn very well, but I’m good in the idea,” admitted Halliwell. Halliwell’s sister helped sew the tea towel onto the dress.
What happened to Geri Halliwell’s Union Jack dress?
The Union Jack dress from Halliwell was sold by Sotheby’s for around 70,000 US dollars to Hard Rock Café co -founder Peter Morton, as reported by the BBC. The auction served to collect donations for the Sargent Cancer supply for children.
In 2007, designer Roberto Cavalli made a new version for Halliwell during the Spice Girls Reunion Tour, which resembles the original, but with rhinestones and Swarovski crystals. In 2012, Halliwell designed a clothing line inspired by the dress, which she visited again for the Spice World Tour 2019.
The Union Jack dress in pop culture
For decades after Halliwell has made the Union Jack dress popular, pop stars are still inspired by their fashionable statement. Dua Lipa added a union -jack -kilt -Rock from Vivienne Westwood, which has wrinkles and an aesthetics in punk style at the Brit Awards 2021 and Halliwell’s legendary Sartorial moment gave a homage at the price rescue show from more than 20 years ago.
Taylor Swift wore an ensemble inspired by Union Jack when she appeared at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in 2013. Rita Ora also wore a look inspired by Union Jack for her performance at the Fashion Rocks 2014 event in New York City.
The Union Jack dress on the runway
The Union Jack also made its way to the runway. Before Halliwell’s Union Jack MiniCress moment in 1997, Kate Moss modeled a jacket inspired by the flag as part of John Galliano’s “Olivia the Filibuster” Spring 1993 Ready-to-Wear collection.
A Union Jack Minidress was also presented as part of the Paris Fashion Week 2014 in Jean Paul Gaultier in March 2014, which had returned to the sensitivity and subversion of the 1970s.
“The overall circle: Austin Powers meets Sid Vicious. A separation, yes, but perhaps on purpose. Finally, one of the few places where the two could coexist would read an excerpt from the WWD review of the collection on a fictitious Space Odyssey with JPG.
Ashish’s fashion show in autumn 2011 also contained an Union Jack Pullo Verson.
‘Wannegegern’ is 25: Review of the success of the Spice Girls’
Show gallery
Start gallery: ‘Wannabe’ is 25: Review of the success of the Spice Girls’
Best of WWD
Register for the WWD newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
