The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is back after a 6 year break from our television screens! On October 15th, 2024, audiences saw many new, regulars, and come-back models walk and show off Victoria’s Secret new collection during the runway show at Victoria’s Secret’s flagship store in New York City. 

The Show

From 1995 to 2018, The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show happened every year during the fall to showcase Victoria’s Secret’s new collection. Though the show has not gone into production in the last 6 years due to cancellation in November of 2019, the show was brought back for all customers and fashion fans this year on October 15, 2024. The show also typically features a number of performers. In the past, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles, Miguel, The Chainsmokers and many more artists have performed. Another unique feature of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is that each show has its own theme. In 1999 the theme was fantasy and myth, in 2005 the theme was santa’s helpers and delicious sweets, and in 2006, the theme was “Come Fly With Me.” Though the show returned this year, it didn’t follow a specific theme. However, the brand emphasized a “women-led” focus and aimed to be more inclusive within the industry. They also brought back classic elements, such as the iconic angel wings, the “fashion show” runway, the glamour, and the talent that fans eagerly anticipate each year.

The Angels

In this year’s show, audiences saw many beautiful women walk the stage. First let’s check out the returning models this year, including Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid, Jasmine Tookes, Taylor Hill, Adriana Lima, Candice Swanepoel, Tyra Banks, Alessandra Ambosio, and Eva Herzigova. All of these ladies rocked the runway this year with most dressed in black (Lima, Banks, Ambrosio), pink (Gigi Hadid, Swanepoel), and red (Bella Hadid). Most of these women walked in the last Victoria’s Secret Show 6 years ago, but Banks was a former host of America’s Next Top Model who walked in her first fashion show in 20 years. Lima, who is an iconic model who works the runway every time and is a retired Victoria’s Secret model, returned to the stage this year, along with Gigi Hadid, who was added to the roster in 2015 and was shockingly a part of the 2024 show announcement.

Moving on to the new girls added onto the roster this year, including Paloma Elesser, Valentina Sampaio, Ashley Graham, Imaan Hammam, Grace Elizabeth, Devyn Garcia, Mayowa Nicholas, and Barbara Palvin. The new models were dressed in pink (Elesser, Garcia, Hammam, Elizabeth), black (Sampaio, Nicholas, Graham), silver (Palvin), and red (Elizabeth).

The Performances

Along with the amazing models and apparel shown, there were the performers: Lisa, Tyla, and Cher. Lisa opened the show while draped over a motorcycle wearing a black leather top with a shimmery black overlay, performing her song “Rock Star.” Right after her breathtaking opener, she then performed “Moonlit Floor.” Audiences next witnessed the performer Tyla, first famous for her “Water” song, which rose popularity on TikTok. At the show, she performed a mash-up of her songs “Push 2 Start” and “Water.” Tyla came out in the middle of the show, rocking a light blue set with gold accents and gorgeous feathered out wings. Lastly, Cher performed “Strong Enough” and “Believe.” She made her entrance in detailed black cargo pants paired with a matching black corset jacket, complemented by stunning silver jewelry. All three ladies’ performances truly wowed the crowd, effectively bringing back the “Victoria’s Secret Show” that the company had hoped for.

The Angel Wings

The angel wings are a signature spotlight of the Victoria’s Secret brand that have been around since 1998 (26 years). Every show, they match the wings with the outfit of the model. The wings also usually match the theme of that year’s show. However, not every model gets to wear a pair of VS angel wings. The wings usually mark a milestone in their career or signify something meaningful about their modelling career. Many of these women work years in the industry to earn their angel wings, while some are specifically chosen to wear the wings during their first show. From small to large, the size of the wings represents each model’s level of success with the brand. As seen here, these wings are far from ordinary. Most of them take between 30 to 400 hours to create. Each pair is handmade, tailored to the model’s size, theme, and appearance. The angel wings have always been a key element of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, and fans were relieved to see they remain a central feature of the rebranded event.

The Runway & Shopping

This year, in an effort to reinvent the show and bring back the glamour of the ideal runway, Victoria’s Secret kept the runway simple and modern. However, even though the runway was simple, it was still iconic and sleek. The background also changed with the changing themes of the models’ outfits and was modern, yet also characterized to match each segment. 

The main purpose of the show is to showcase new Victoria’s Secret products, so, to highlight this, the brand partnered with Amazon Prime. During the show, viewers could immediately purchase any items they liked by visiting either Amazon Prime or the Victoria’s Secret website.

While opinions on the show vary—some love it, others criticize it, and many cherish every moment of the models walking the runway—this is what sets the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show apart from so many other fashion events. Victoria’s Secret creates a unique experience, from the models and apparel to the performers and runway. These features are what truly makes the entire event spectacular every year and we’re so glad that it’s back. Let’s hope to see many more amazing shows in the future!

Works Cited:

• Garcia, G(2024, Oct 16). Behold: The Runway Looks From the 2024 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Cosmopolitan. https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/g62612412/victorias-secret-fashion-show-2024-runway-outfits/
• Kaplan, A(2024, Oct 15). The Victoria Secret Fashion Show is back. Why did it go away in the first place? Today. https://www.today.com/popculture/news/victorias-secret-fashion-show-controversy-rcna174902#:~:text=Victoria’s%20Secret%20announced%20it%20would,the%20time%2C%20according%20to%20Fortune
• Thomas, C(2023, March 4). Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show Returning After 4-year Hiatus. The Hollywood Reporter. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/victorias-secret-fashion-show-returning-1235341223/