Victoria Secret is back – and better than ever
After a lacklustre return to the runway in 2024, the Angels are officially back in business – and possibly better than ever. The annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was staged in New York last Wednesday night, only the second since their five-year hiatus, and it quite possibly slotted itself in between some of the greatest of all time. The show proved to be the ultimate curation of faces old and new, captivating performers and of course, stunningly flamboyant looks. From the trademark bouncy blowouts, down to the sky-high stilettos, not a single movement was out of place – it’s absolutely fair to say that Victoria’s Secret is officially back.
If the opening was any indication of how the rest of the evening would pan out, it was instantly clear that greatness awaited. The first model to take to the iconic runway was none other than Jasmine Tookes – who is currently nine months pregnant with her second child. Decked out in a golden one piece with ornamental peacock style wings, Tookes allowed herself a moment to cradle her bump, and what a moment that was for the world to see. However, the excitement of the first segment didn’t end there, with appearances from VS veterans Adriana Lima, Alessandro Ambrosio and Candace Swanepol, each of which conveyed their true angel status with beautifully ostentatious wings.
Image credit: Gilbert Flores: Getty Images
It was then time for American singer Madison Beer to take to the stage for the first performance of the evening – and what a performance it was. Opting for a medley of her recent hits, Beer entirely captured the ultra girly essence of Victoria’s Secret. A showgirl-esque theme was more than transparent, with models,led by last year’s opener Gigi Hadid, adorning eccentric headpieces, feathered wings and copious amounts of pink.
The soft femininity didn’t end there, as the always highly anticipated Pink segment followed on – to the incredible live soundtrack of K-Pop band Twice. As so often in the past, it was a real return to the early 2010s, with that nostalgic feeling slipping through the glitz and glamour. A few new faces were also there to be spotted, including actress Barbie Ferraria and Olympic Gold Medalist Sunisa Lee – who alongside the WNBA player Angel Reese, was the first professional athlete to walk in the show.
Image credit: Gilbert Flores: Getty Images
The trajectory of the night shifted entirely when Karol G made her way to the stage – accompanied by the one and only Bella Hadid – as the pale, romantic tones transitioned into dark reds, and the entire vibe along with them. This wasn’t Hadid’s only standout moment of the night as she would go on to close the show, donning beautiful wings that weighed 22kg,to the sound of Tate McRae’s Sports Car.
It wasn’t a complete return to the prime time of the 2000s, which many fans were pining for ,but the show offered diversity and inclusion – something the early days lacked. Besides the absence of the fantasy bra, which is worth millions, and perhaps not the most appropriate show of wealth given the current economic climate – this show had it all. It’s absolutely safe to say that Victoria’s Secret is back – and better than ever.
