David Beckham ditches signature briefs for modest shorts as Cruz copies his iconic underwear look

David Beckham has abandoned his infamous white underwear look during a lavish yacht holiday in the South of France, after his son Cruz, 20, drew attention by flaunting a nearly identical pair of $550 (£410) white Prada briefs.

The former footballer, 50, turned heads last summer with his strikingly snug beachwear, which closely echoed his iconic Armani and BOSS underwear campaigns. But this year, he chose a more modest approach—opting for loose white board shorts while relaxing shirtless aboard his £16 million yacht, Seven.

Beckham wasn’t alone. He was joined by wife Victoria, 51, their sons Romeo, 22, and Cruz, and celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and his wife Tana, long-time family friends. The glamorous getaway saw the famous families basking in Mediterranean sunshine while cruising near St Tropez.

Cruz, however, stole the spotlight earlier this week when he playfully mimicked his father’s legendary modelling days. Stripping down to the pricey Prada pants, he struck a pose reminiscent of David’s old BOSS campaign—slouched back, muscles on show, the very image of his dad from a decade prior.

It didn’t go unnoticed. The wardrobe overlap raised eyebrows, especially considering Cruz was wearing what looked to be the same designer pair David donned on a previous holiday. Whether borrowed or inspired, the visual echo sparked a frenzy among fans online.

David, ever style-conscious, seemed content this time to let his son have the headlines. Wearing just his modest board shorts and showcasing his toned physique, he appeared relaxed as he soaked up the sun. Victoria, meanwhile, embraced yacht chic in a flowing white dress, topped off with a wide-brimmed straw hat and an orange scarf.

Romeo kept things casual in a white vest and matching shorts, topped with a white snapback cap. The youngest Beckham sibling on board, 14-year-old Harper, had previously joined the trip but was not seen during the latest outing.

Gordon Ramsay, 58, went for understated cool in a navy T-shirt and black cap, while his wife Tana, 50, looked effortlessly stylish in a black sundress, laughing and mingling with the Beckham clan.

Notably absent was eldest son Brooklyn, 26, who remained stateside during the family retreat.

The £16 million superyacht, named Seven in honour of David’s iconic Manchester United shirt number, has served as the family’s floating holiday home for several seasons. The Beckhams have spent the past few weeks sailing the French Riviera, attracting attention at every port.

Cruz’s cheeky nod to his father’s fashion past hasn’t just amused the public—it has arguably set a new bar for celebrity father-son style mimicry. But if this year’s toned-down trunks are anything to go by, David may be signalling that his skimpier days are behind him.

Still, the comparisons linger. The white briefs, the sun-drenched deck, the relaxed pose—Cruz channelling young David has reignited the nostalgia of an era when the football legend’s underwear ads were plastered on billboards around the globe.

Even so, David Beckham seems more than happy to hand over the reins—and the pants—to the next generation.