Sporty Spice, the undisputed cultural mother of our athletic-fashion era.
Look, Im sitting here wearing Adidas poppers!
At the beginning it was all of our wardrobes, she says.
Photo: Zeb Daemen / Courtesy Melanie C
Their looks stood out because at the timeand even nowpop groups always opted for matching or coordinating outfits.
It was Geri who brought forth the idea that everyone simply come as they are.
I remember it so vividly.
An early promotional image of the group in Paris in 1996—before Spice-mania took over the world
The rest, as they say, is history.
Mel C wears a pair of Nike Air Rifts in the Too Much music video.
Probably at the time, it was cheaper to dress like that.
With Prince Charles in a red tank and Kappa track pants
There wasnt that much money, and the clothes were durable, so it just worked.
Later, when the raving scene flourished in the early 90s, sportswear was the go-to look.
I dont think Ill ever look back now.
“I see young people wearing brands that at the time people used to turn their nose up at, and now they are wearing them without irony, so I think there’s some sports brands that need to thank me,” Chisholm says with a wink.
For the rest of my days, I will be very sporty.
I loved the look of boxers underneath track pants.
I think this Gucci dress was the first fancy dress I ever owned.
“I loved the look of boxers underneath track pants. At the beginning, I remember borrowing one of Mel B’s boyfriend’s Calvin Klein boxer shorts—but I definitely made up for it once I got some pennies in the bank.” At the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards, where each girl arrived in a truly iconic look, Chisholm was rocking Ralph Lauren boxers underneath her all-white look.
The Air Max 90s and the 97s are her favorites.
I wish I kept those Miu Miu boots.
The tracksuits have been this thread thats continued through my life, and thats whats so lovely.
“By this point we had a great stylist called Kenny Ho, and that’s when we really started to have a lot of fun.”
It just feels so natural to me.
At the 2024 Brit Awards in a slouchy suit.
Im not a girly girl, I never have beenI have to have simple tailoring and clean cuts.
When she wasn’t wearing straightforward sporty clothes, Chisholm still kept the formula of a crop top and slim trousers but with techy materials instead.
Two days later, she performed in another slouchy suit paired with a sporty crop top and what else?
Even when Chisholm experimented with more formal dresses, there was still a sporty detail—like the stripe on this dress she wrote at the Brit Awards in 1997. “I think this Gucci dress was the first fancy dress I ever owned.”
On the rare occasion the five women wore matching clothes, their choice of accessories was always grounded in their own personal style—of course Chisholm paired hers with a pair of Air Maxes. The Air Max 90s and the 97s are her favorites. “Even now, when I order things and the boxes turn up, my daughter is like, ‘Mom, no more sneakers, you’ve got a problem.’”
The beaded halter tops were all the rage in the late ’90s, an era in which she switched her go-to sneakers for animal-print boots. “I wish I kept those Miu Miu boots.”
Mel B and Mel C did seem to have one matching fashion moment—they had the same Miu Miu boots in different colors. Friendship never ends!
“This is where I was transitioning from the whole sporty thing to have a little bit more rock-and-roll edge, which was really fun.”
“The tracksuits have been this thread that’s continued through my life, and that’s what’s so lovely. It just feels so natural to me.” For a 2023 performance she paid a subtle homage to her “Wannabe” look in an orange sports bra and sparkly blue track pants.
At the 2024 Brit Awards in a slouchy suit. “I’m not a girly girl, I never have been—I have to have simple tailoring and clean cuts.”
Two days later, she performed in another slouchy suit paired with a sporty crop top and what else? Sneakers.
