Hail Victoria.

Byline: --HANNAH MORRILL

Who? Victoria Beckham. What? The August cover of allure, shot by Michael Thompson. When? May 6. Where? Lux Studio in New York City. Why? The pop star turned fashion designer and perfumer launches two new fragrances this fall, Signature for Her and Signature for Him, with her husband, soccer legend David Beckham. Life of the Parties: The night before the allure shoot, the Beckhams had attended the Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and George Clooney's birthday party at Bungalow 8, where David (whose birthday was May 2) had his own cake. Despite the late night, the star would have arrived on time if not for Manhattan traffic and paparazzi. On the Ball: Between shots, Beckham sat at the studio's computer and clicked through pictures from the previous night's gala. When she came across one of Mary J. Blige, the star said, "I love her! She's my getting-ready music." Well-heeled: When Michael Thompson explained that he wanted to photograph Beckham in natural hair and makeup, she was game. And unlike celebrities who moan about wearing stilettos, Beckham found out she'd be posing barefoot and quipped that she was actually less steady without them. "I'm all confused!" she said, walking off set in slippers and feigning a limp. Fan Favorite: The star's biggest fan on set was Thompson's 12-year-old daughter, Ruby. "I've heard so much about you," Beckham told her. The two posed for a faux allure cover before Beckham left to board a plane to Los Angeles, eager to return to her own children.

Hair How-to

"The trick with Victoria's hair was to soften it up," said hairstylist Oribe. To create waves, he spritzed her dry ...