How The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show Went From Plain To Insane

What used to be a straightforward presentation of lingerie has become a panty- and wing-themed rock concert full of rock hard abs, bra stuffing, and enough glitter to cover a continent.

2. The first large-scale Victoria’s Secret fashion show took place at the New York City Plaza Hotel in February, 1995.

Model Natane Adcock rocked satin shorts and a matching bra that amazingly was worn without stuffing.

Image by Ron Galella / Getty Images

3. It was a serious, calm affair.

Veronica Webb’s nightgown was made of a whole lot more fabric than we generally see at VS shows today.

(The Plaza Hotel, 1995.)

Image by Ron Galella / Getty Images

4. The show was held at the Plaza in 1996 as well.

Not a wing nor a speck of glitter in sight!

Image by Ron Galella / Getty Images

5. In 1997, VS supermodels began to emerge.

This show was at the Plaza Hotel again. Check out Heidi Klum’s 90’s style!

Image by Ron Galella / Getty Images

6. Well hey there, Rebecca Romijn.

This was back when she still had the “-Stamos” at the end of her name.

(The Plaza Hotel, 1997.)

Image by KMazur / Getty Images

7. Naomi Campbell would never do her own makeup now.

Or, probably, be in the show at all.

(The Plaza Hotel, 1997.)

Image by Ron Galella / Getty Images

8. She’d probably never be photographed smoking backstage, either.

(The Plaza Hotel, 1997.)

Image by Ron Galella / Getty Images

9. When she joined the cast it was clear things were going in a more costume-y direction.

With inventive displays of sideboob.

(The Plaza Hotel, 1997.)

Image by KMazur / Getty Images

10. And they didn’t stop at sideboob — sidecrotch was also explored.

Getty’s caption of this photo describes the look as a “scuba-diving femme fatale corset.”

(The Plaza Hotel, 1997.)

Image by Timothy A. Clary / Getty Images

11. Instead of the glitter and balloons we’ve come to expect for the show’s finale, the ‘97 show closed with paper confetti.

Because the early shows took place in February, Valentine’s Day tended to be thematically significant.

(The Plaza Hotel, 1997.)

Image by KMazur / Getty Images

12. In 1998, still at the Plaza, Tyra Banks strutted her smize down the runway.

Image by Ron Galella / Getty Images

13. Naomi miraculously avoided tripping.

(The Plaza Hotel, 1998.)

Image by Ron Galella / Getty Images

14. The iconic angel wings first made an appearance.

Model Karen Mulder flaps for effect.

(The Plaza Hotel, 1998.)

Image by Ron Galella / Getty Images

15. In 1999, the brand had a fairy tale moment.

The show was still held at the Plaza in early February, but starting that year, it was webcast live to over 2 million viewers. (Which seems like a pretty sophisticated use of the Internet for 1999.)

Image by Jon Gordon / Getty Images

16. The show temporarily moved to the Cannes Film Festival in 2000, to raise money for Cinema Against AIDS.

Held in May, the theme was sunny and beachy. Tanning looks to have been involved. (That’s Gisele front and center with the gold wings, btw.)

Image by Frank Micelotta / Getty Images

17. The wings — and sleeves — started getting quite elaborate.

Gisele gives her wing face.

(Cannes, 2000.)

Image by Davy and Valente / Getty Images

18. In 2001, other models got to wear “wings.”

The show moved back to New York but this time took to Bryant Park. It became much more of a spectacle, now taking place in the beginning of November. Mary J. Blige and Andrea Bocelli performed, which is kind of a strange pairing. ABC broadcast the show in early December for the first time.

Image by KMazur / Getty Images

Bryant Park, 2001.

Image by KMazur / Getty Images

20. They even hired a choir.

(Bryant Park, 2001.)

Image by KMazur / Getty Images

21. Here’s a picture of Tyra Banks making out with Rupert Everett backstage.

Just because.

(Bryant Park, 2001.)

Image by KMazur / Getty Images

22. In 2001, the first diamond-encrusted “Fantasy Bra” appeared on the runway.

This one was called the “Heavenly Star” bra and cost over $12.5 million. Considering what the “Fantasy Bra” looks like now, it’s actually pretty subtle.

(Bryant Park, 2001.)

Source: fashionologie.com

23. Don’t these metallic wings and this matching “dress” just scream 2002?

This year, the show took place at the Lexington Avenue Armory in New York City. Bridget Hall got to wear all these Coke cans welded together.

Image by KMazur / Getty Images

24. More aerialists performed alongside the models.

Heidi Klum was the star of this show.

(Armory, 2002.)

Image by KMazur / Getty Images

25. Adriana Lima rocked the epaulets look that is so common among everyday wearers of underpants.

She’s been my favorite Angel ever since giving this GQ interview back in 2006. Sample line: “From my hair to my toes to my nails. Everything’s fake. Everything! Even my heart is fake.”

(Armory, 2002.)

Image by KMazur / Getty Images

26. Karolina Kurkova wore the Fantasy Bra in 2002.

Called the “Star of Victoria,” it clocked in at $10 million.

Image by KMazur / Getty Images

27. In 2003, the Glitter Era began.

Armory, 2003.

Image by Ron Galella / Getty Images

28. A tentpole of this era: wings on steroids.

(Armory, 2003.)

Image by Jason Nevader / Getty Images

29. Superhero-inspired-looking things made their first appearance.

Armory, 2003.

Image by Jason Nevader / Getty Images

30. Heidi put the Fantasy Bra back on.

It was called the “Very Sexy Fantasy Bra.”

(Armory, 2003.)

Source: fashionologie.com

31. In 2004, because of Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake’s Superbowl wardrobe malfunction, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was cancelled.

The scrutiny of indecency in TV programming got intense enough to thwart the VS broadcast.

(Television screens across America, 2004.)

Source: lunadigital.tv

32. So instead, five of the models embarked on an “Angels Across America” tour.

According to the press release, the plan was for the Angels to “deliver holiday spirit to cities across the country.”

(Los Angeles, 2004.)

Image by J. Countess / Getty Images

33. This involved making handprints in the cement outside the VS store at the Grove in LA.

Gisele that is not even your own name. Los Angeles, 2004.

Image by SGranitz / Getty Images

34. The show resumed in 2005, back at the Armory.

The theme of this portion was “Santa’s Sexy Helper.”

(Armory, 2005.)

Image by Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images

35. Alessandra Ambrosio kept warm.

Note the evolving nature of the cleavage. These bras definitely have “chicken cutlets” inside.

(Armory, 2005.)

Image by KMazur / Getty Images

36. Gisele wore the “Sexy Splendor” Fantasy Bra.

Which once again had a price tag of $12.5 million.

(Armory, 2005.)

Image by KMazur / Getty Images

37. Also that year, after a decade with VS, Tyra announced that she was done with modeling.

She started The Tyra Banks Show, which is no longer on the air.

(Armory, 2005.)

Image by Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images

38. In 2006, the show moved to the Kodak Theatre in LA.

The girls were not deprived tacky matching outfits.

(Los Angeles, 2006.)

Image by Michael Loccisano / Getty Images

39. The wings could practically be seen from space by this point.

(Kodak Theatre, 2006.)

Image by KMazur / Getty Images

40. Karolina Kurkova again modeled the Fantasy Bra.

Called “Hearts on Fire,” it was a relative bargain at $6.5 million.

(Kodak Theatre, 2006.)

Image by Arun Nevader / Getty Images

41. Model Izabel Goulart demonstrated proper seafaring safety techniques.

(Kodak Theatre, 2006.)

Image by Arun Nevader / Getty Images

42. Jessica Stam adorned her bra with tartan rosettes.

(Kodak Theatre, 2006.)

Image by Arun Nevader / Getty Images

43. Doutzen Kroes… graduated.

(Kodak Theatre, 2006.)

Image by Gabriel Bouys / Getty Images

44. The 2007 show was also held at L.A.’s Kodak Theatre.

With all the glittery snow and excessive embellishments, you might mistake it for a Katy Perry concert.

(Kodak Theatre, 2007.)

Image by Arun Nevader / Getty Images

45. Angela Lindvall’s wings looked relatively light.

HER HAT IS MADE OF NEGATIVE SPACE. WHY IS THIS NOT A THING?

(Kodak Theatre, 2007.)

Image by Arun Nevader / Getty Images

46. The Spice Girls reunited for the first time in order to perform at the show.

(Kodak Theatre, 2007.)

Image by Arun Nevader / Getty Images

47. Selita Ebanks wore the $4.5 million Holiday Fantasy Bra.

And the lesser-known but just as important Fantasy Garter.

(Kodak Theatre, 2007.)

Image by Arun Nevader / Getty Images

48. In 2008 the show moved to Miami Beach’s Fontainebleu Hotel.

Image by Timothy A. Clary / Getty Images

The brand demonstrated a deft hand at seasonally appropriate dressing.

(The Fontainebleu Hotel, 2008.)

Image by Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images

50. Adriana Lima wore the Black Diamond Fantasy Bra.

This one was $8 million.

(The Fontainebleu Hotel, 2008.)

Image by Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images

51. The show was so spectacular it moved Seal and Lenny Kravitz to tenderly embrace.

R.I.P. Heidi and Seal’s love :(

(The Fontainebleu Hotel, 2008.)

Image by Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images

52. In 2009 the show headed back to its home in New York, again at the Armory.

By this point the model’s diet and workout routines were big focal points of the whole spectacle.

(Armory, 2009.)

Image by Timothy A. Clary / Getty Images

53. Marisa Miller wore the $2.5 million “Harlequin” Fantasy Bra that year.

(Armory, 2009.)

Image by George Napolitano / Getty Images

54. Pinata-inspired fashions were explored.

Carly Rae Jepsen, they did it first.

(Armory, 2009.)

Image by Timothy A. Clary / Getty Images

55. Heidi Klum walked the runway six months after giving birth.

Thereby jump-starting an unsettling trend where Angels are pregnant seemingly moments before the show and then magically shed all of the baby weight in the time it takes a normal person to eat a steak dinner.

(Armory, 2009.)

Image by CBS Photo Archive / Getty Images

56. Adriana Lima shed her baby weight in time to wear the “Bombshell” Fantasy Bra in 2010.

She had the baby a year before the show.

(Armory, 2010.)

Image by Theo Wargo / Getty Images

57. Model Magdalena Frackowiak dressed as a tattoo come to life.

(Armory, 2010.)

Image by Randy Brooke / Getty Images

58. Not to be outdone, Liu Wen wore an entire NASCAR race.

(Armory, 2010.)

Image by Randy Brooke / Getty Images

59. And Selita Ebanks wore all of “nature.”

(Armory, 2010.)

Image by Mike Coppola / Getty Images

60. But the wings, of course, stole the show.

If modeling doesn’t work out Karolina Kurkova could always live in those.

(Armory, 2010.)

Image by Timothy A. Clary / Getty Images

61. The 2011 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was the biggest yet, broadcast to more than 180 countries with a production cost of $12 million. (Or: one Fantasy Bra.)

(Armory, 2011.)

Image by Kevin Kane / Getty Images

62. Alessandra Ambrosio walked the show WHILE TWO MONTHS PREGNANT.

She did not tell anyone she was with child until after the show.

(Armory, 2011.)

Image by Randy Brooke / Getty Images

63. The wings lit up on their own.

(Armory, 2011.)

Image by Michael Stewart / Getty Images

64. Some were made of solid gold.

The perfect thing to offset a lace turtleneck.

(Armory, 2011.)

Image by Michael Stewart / Getty Images

65. Others were embroidered.

Now, who can DIY this?

(Armory, 2011.)

Image by Michael Stewart / Getty Images

66. This get-up didn’t quite consist of wings as much as a shell a mermaid would live in.

Which Miranda Kerr wore proudly along with the $2.5 million “Fantasy Treasure Bra.”

(Armory, 2011.)

Image by Randy Brooke / Getty Images

67. So, to review:

Image by Kevin Kane/ Ron Galella / Getty Images

68. FIN.