Frugal Geri Halliwell recycles seven-year-old vintage dress... but at least she can still get into it

By Lizzie Smith for MailOnline and Emily Sheridan
Updated: 04:43 EST, 9 October 2009

Geri Halliwell brought credit crunch chic to the red carpet last night - when she recycled an old dress.

Seven years after she first wore the two-tone purple and blue velvet halterneck gown to the Oscars, Geri gave it another airing at a charity fashion show in London.

There was no doubt the former Spice Girl, 37, fills out the vintage dress much better this time round.

Geri Halliwell attending the Breast Cancer Care's annual Fashion Show held at the Grosvenor Hotel
Geri Halliwell at the 74th Annual Academy Awards Vanity Fair Party March 2002

Curvy vs Skinny: Geri Halliwell looked stunning in her two-tone purple and blue gown at a breast cancer fashion show last night (left), compared to her svelte appearance in the gown at the 2002 Oscars

When she first wore the dress to the Vanity Fair post-Oscar party in March 2002, the super-svelte star didn't quite fit it properly,with the gown wrinkling around her yoga-honed torso.

But a combination of motherhood and a healthy diet in recent years has transformed her figure into a curvy hourglass, guaranteeing Geri maximum impact on the red carpet.

In contrast to her modest cleavage seven years ago, the halterneck dress struggled to contain her ample décolletage last night.

Perhaps the secret to her glowing appearance is motherhood to three-year-old daughter Bluebell and her new relationship with aristocrat Henry Beckwith.

Enlarge   Geri Halliwell at The Show, in aid of Breast Cancer Care, held at the Grosvenor Hotel
Geri Halliwell at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party March 2002

Fuller figure: Geri's cleavage, boosted by age and motherhood, fills out her dress much better than at the Oscars

At the time of the Oscars in 2002, Geri's weight was a frequent topic of discussion in the media.

And just two years later, she checked into rehab to seek help for bulimia.

The former pop star has always been open about her battle with eating disorders, revealing her bad eating habits during the early days of the Spice Girls.

Speaking last year, she said: 'My self-esteem is no longer built into having a perfect body although I have the same hang-ups as many other women.

Lisa Snowdon
Tara Palmer Tomkinson

Back to black: Lisa Snowdon and Tara Palmer-Tomkinson

Cherie Blair
Gail Porter

Supporters: Cherie Blair and Gail Porter were among the guests

'At the moment I'm a bit curvier having done the tour, so it was big mental step forward for me to show my natural self, rather than my worked-out honed self.'

Last night, Geri joined a host of stars at the Breast Cancer Care 'The Show' at Grosvenor House.

She arrived solo without her 29-year-old beau, who she has been dating since March.

Since then the pair have been inseparable. They have enjoyed frequent holidays - including a skiing trip in the French Alps resort of Courcheve, a jaunt to the Italian island of Sardinia and a cruise in a private yacht around the Mediterranean.

Joe Swash and Kara Tointon

Showing her support: Ex-EastEnders actress Kara Tointon was at the event to support boyfriend Joe Swash

Joe Swash

Showing his support: Joe Swash walked the catwalk

A host of stars turned out to show their support for the cause, which featured survivors and breast cancer sufferers walking down the runway in the latest fashions.

Radio presenter Lisa Snowdon, socialite Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, Cherie Blair, Gail Porter and Vanessa Feltz were among the guests.

And ex-EastEnders actress Kara Tointon was in the audience to watch boyfriend Joe Swash join the models on the catwalk.

Survivors: The 24 models who took part in Breast Cancer Care's Fashion Show

Survivors: The 24 models who took part in Breast Cancer Care's Fashion Show

Vanessa Feltz

Pretty in pink? Vanessa Feltz goes for the Barbie look in her bright outfit; with partner Ben Ofoedu

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