10 Iconic WAG Moments That Are Peak ‘00s

Style VB’s waistcoat lives in my head rent-free, tbh. by Orla Pentelow Updated: Feb. 20, 2024 Originally Published: June 19, 2021 Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images

ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images Sure, we remember the sporting heartache, and the fact that football unfortunately did not come home , but the most iconic squad of the 2006 World Cup in my opinion? The unforgettable Wives-and-Girlfriends of the Eng-er-land team. Reigning WAG queen? Victoria Beckham, of course.

Getty/Peter Macdiarmid From teetering Louboutins to larger-than-life bags (and sunglasses) firmly in the crook of their elbows – as perfectly posed by VB herself here– the “WAGs” as that had been affectionately crowned in the UK press, earned more tabloid inches throughout the tournament than their sporting paramours.

C. Uncle/FilmMagic/Getty Images There wasn’t a shopping trip or night out that went undocumented by the paprazzi, meaning we got full access to the now-iconic 00s lewks sported by the WAGs. Fast-forward 15 years and we’re still obsessed with these unforgettable fashion moments of the 2006 World Cup.

Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images As wife of then-captain David Beckham, Victoria was the undisputed leader. Second-in-line to the WAG throne? Ashley Cole’s then-girlfriend, Cheryl Tweedy. The trip became an iconic sartorial moment.

Niki Nikolova/FilmMagic/Getty Images Then there was Coleen McLoughlin (Wayne Rooney’s then-fiancée), Alex Curran (Steven Gerrard’s then-wife), Elen Rivas (Frank Lampard’s then-wife), Toni Poole (John Terry’s then-girlfriend) and Carly Zucker (Joe Cole’s then-girlfriend) staying at the £1,000-a-night Brenners Park Hotel in Baden-Baden.

Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images With a uniform of shorter-than-short denim hot pants and vest tops with “England Rocks” slogans, combined with caramel highlights in blown-out hair and a tan that said “I summer in St. Tropez”, the WAGs earned a reputation for going out and splashing their rich footballer partners’ cash.

C. Uncle/FilmMagic/Getty Images The media “frenzy” surrounding the WAGs was so much that they were eventually deemed a “distraction” and were blamed for the England squad’s poor performance (sure, it was nothing to do with Rooney's 62nd-minute red card that reduced the team to 10 men against Portugal in the quarter-final).

Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images Accusations aside, what I was distracted by was the white teeth and all-white outfits (and the even whiter manicured french tips), the perilously high wedge peep-toes, the low-slung jeans and bra-bearing vest tops, Cheryl Tweedy’s baker boy cap and boots, and VB’s parade of enormous sunglasses.

David Lodge/FilmMagic/Getty Images Even the then-girlfriend of England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson (yes, of the song ) got in on the action, ticking off several noughties trends in just one look: baker boy hat? Check. Platform heels? Check. A-line strappy dress á la Disney red carpet? Huge bag? Chunky jewellery? You get the gist.

Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images Sadly (or gladly, depending on how you look at ‘00s fashion), some of these iconic trends are making a comeback. From tailored waistcoats and shorts, to boho-chic style, get ready to see copycat lewks on the high street soon, proving that the class of 2006 WAGs’ style once again reigns supreme.

10 Iconic WAG Moments That Are Peak ‘00s

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