Written by Eleanor Partington-Lane
Victoria’s Secret is back! Returning into the public eye and testing the waters, Victoria’s Secret’s last fashion show was 2018 was on the 12th of October.
For its grand reimagining, Victoria’s Secret tested new ways of broadcasting, reaching out to a wider range of viewers with its first-ever live-streamed show with Amazon Broadcasting (still available on YouTube). The live streaming wasn’t the only first for Victoria’s Secret this year, in their ‘woman-focused’ show, with a full female line-up of performers, Tyla, Lisa and the iconic Cher, the runway also featured its first openly transgender models, the brilliant Alex Consani and Valentina Sampaio. Along with some newer models, many of the OG Angels graced the stage in October’s show, with Tyra Banks (who last walked in 2005! and fan-favourites Adriana Lima, Candice Swanepoel, Barbara Palvin, Behati Prinsloo, and Taylor Hill, to name a few. Atypical to most fashion shows, each piece worn by the models was also available to buy in real-time on the Victoria’s Secret Website and Amazon Fashion, which partnered with VS for its reimagining comeback.
The show opened with Gigi Hadid, wearing towering, mechanised, pink wings, being serenaded by Never Tears Us Apart by Paloma Faith, which was then followed by Femininominon by Chappell Roan (talk about iconic song choices), as more models started to walk. Gigi handled her hefty, mechanical wings with grace, albeit with a few stumbles, a truly admirable feat for their sheer size, let alone the considerable weight displacement from their animation.
A few personal highlights included Kate Moss walking out to I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (if you know you know), the walks of Barbara Palvin, Adriana Lima, Isabelli Fontana, and finally, Mika Schnieder’s, now viral stage-diva moment. It was also a welcomed relief to be back viewing the BTS of the shows, seeing the models getting ready, hyping each other up and getting their last touch-ups was always the loveliest part of the shows for me and greatly improved upon the breezy, feminine energy Victoria’s Secret and Amazon fashion were hoping to promote.
The famous fashion show has been in remission since the company started facing difficulties over 6 years ago. Host Olivia Culpo (Miss Universe 2012) caught up with the brand’s new executive producers, Sarah Sylvester and Janie Schaffer, to question the show’s dramatic return. Standing with a background of the pink carpet outside, the pair answered the big question on everyone’s tongues, ‘Why bring the show back now?’
‘We heard it loud and clear from our customers’ says Sarah Sylvester, ‘We’re always scrolling on social and so they asked, and we delivered.’
Janie Schaffer continues, adding, ‘Absolutely! We’ve also transformed so much as a business, and we felt that we wanted to celebrate our product, which looks amazing, and we wanted to just celebrate women. I mean, we just have so many people behind the scenes, and in the design studio, and in our merch teams: all women. And so tonight is just a celebration of all those things.’.
The women-centric goal was certainly reached, the runway included a roster of 52 models from 25 different countries who were ‘casted for confidence and fierceness’-Janie Schaffer, helped by female staff and walking alongside only female performers. With Kate Moss and Tyra Banks both at 50 years old the age range is certainly diverse for a fashion show, however, coming back from Victoria’s Secret fall off during the #metoo movement, the brand had a high bar to reach in terms of body positivity which was not sufficiently met. While plus-sized models such as Ashley Graham and Paloma Elsesser stunned on the runway, they seemed to be exponentially dressed in the most covered outfits of the night, in tight leggings and lace body suits compared to the skimpier outfits of the thinner models, prompting a very poignant discussion online.
With the modern social attitude towards the modelling industry compared to 10 years ago, along with the significant drops in Victoria’s Secret profits, it is unsurprising that many fans have felt slightly let down by the 2024 show. For example, fans have made substantial noise over social media, voicing their dismay and calling for the return of the iconic bombshell blowouts the brand is known for, videos on TikTok are blowing up complaining about the modern slick backs that seemed to permeate the stage, the bouncy blowouts the show was known for were switched out with lacklustre tight buns and brushed-out curls this year. Hairstyles aside, the show was missing the grandiose flair fans are so used to, the obvious lack of themed sets or props synonymous with the VS brand, encompassed a disappointing, rather empty seeming ‘catwalk’ in a large room with no raised stage and rather shoddy flooring that even tripped up a few models who found their heels caught in loose panels.
As touched upon previously, with the return of the famous fashion show, came some much beloved past Angels taking on the lowered runway. However, with so many big names and the less than impressive runway, many fans are wondering if Victoria’s Secret may have splashed just a bit too much cash on their star guests, as old fans of the show took to social media to voice these opinions.
The most widely assented complaint, and one I personally share, is about the famous Victoria’s Secret Wings. For any readers who may not be fans of the show or fashion overall: back in Victoria’s Secret prime only a few select models were crowned with the title of ‘Victoria’s Secret Angel’ after seasons of service with the brand and many shows walked. Only once they reached Angel status would a model walk with a pair of the beautifully crafted, elaborate wings, that the show had become known for. This elite group became a point of pride, it was an honour and a thank you bestowed by the brand and would be something to celebrate. In 2024, only a select few models, most prominently Mika Schneider, were not provided wings, and this largely lowered the fantasy, grandeur, and honour of the wings while appearing like a minor slight against the choice models who didn’t receive them. The wings themselves, apart from Gigi Hadid’s, were dull and unimaginative compared to the ornate and incredible wings of the past. Even the performers had nicer wings than some of the models.
Overall, it was a beautiful show, with all the models looking fabulous and glamorous (though quite deadpan) with great music and brilliant surprise appearances. Although was majorly disappointing in a few aspects, it’s clear that this is a great stepping-off point for the coming years, the brand has a lot of great, eloquent user feedback, and an entire year to improve upon itself. I wait enthusiastically for next year’s show and really hope the brand can fully redeem itself.
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Written by Eleanor Partington-Lane, Edited by Thomas Pemberton-Marsh, Photography Ali Karimiboroujeni, Published by Paige Tamasi.