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.
She'd probably never be photographed smoking backstage, either.
When she joined the cast it was clear things were going in a more costume-y direction.
And they didn't stop at sideboob — sidecrotch was also explored.
Instead of the glitter and balloons we've come to expect for the show's finale, the '97 show closed with paper confetti.
In 1998, still at the Plaza, Tyra Banks strutted her smize down the runway.
Naomi miraculously avoided tripping.
The iconic angel wings first made an appearance.
In 1999, the brand had a fairy tale moment.
The show temporarily moved to the Cannes Film Festival in 2000, to raise money for Cinema Against AIDS.
The wings — and sleeves — started getting quite elaborate.
In 2001, other models got to wear "wings."
They even hired a choir.
Here's a picture of Tyra Banks making out with Rupert Everett backstage.
In 2001, the first diamond-encrusted "Fantasy Bra" appeared on the runway.
Don't these metallic wings and this matching "dress" just scream 2002?
More aerialists performed alongside the models.
Adriana Lima rocked the epaulets look that is so common among everyday wearers of underpants.
Karolina Kurkova wore the Fantasy Bra in 2002.
In 2003, the Glitter Era began.
A tentpole of this era: wings on steroids.
Superhero-inspired-looking things made their first appearance.
Heidi put the Fantasy Bra back on.
In 2004, because of Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake's Superbowl wardrobe malfunction, the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was cancelled.
So instead, five of the models embarked on an "Angels Across America" tour.
This involved making handprints in the cement outside the VS store at the Grove in LA.
The show resumed in 2005, back at the Armory.
Alessandra Ambrosio kept warm.
Gisele wore the "Sexy Splendor" Fantasy Bra.
Also that year, after a decade with VS, Tyra announced that she was done with modeling.
In 2006, the show moved to the Kodak Theatre in LA.
The wings could practically be seen from space by this point.
Karolina Kurkova again modeled the Fantasy Bra.
Model Izabel Goulart demonstrated proper seafaring safety techniques.
Jessica Stam adorned her bra with tartan rosettes.
Doutzen Kroes... graduated.
The 2007 show was also held at L.A.'s Kodak Theatre.
Angela Lindvall's wings looked relatively light.
The Spice Girls reunited for the first time in order to perform at the show.
Selita Ebanks wore the $4.5 million Holiday Fantasy Bra.
In 2008 the show moved to Miami Beach's Fontainebleu Hotel.
Adriana Lima wore the Black Diamond Fantasy Bra.
The show was so spectacular it moved Seal and Lenny Kravitz to tenderly embrace.
In 2009 the show headed back to its home in New York, again at the Armory.
Marisa Miller wore the $2.5 million "Harlequin" Fantasy Bra that year.
Pinata-inspired fashions were explored.
Heidi Klum walked the runway six months after giving birth.
Adriana Lima shed her baby weight in time to wear the "Bombshell" Fantasy Bra in 2010.
Model Magdalena Frackowiak dressed as a tattoo come to life.
Not to be outdone, Liu Wen wore an entire NASCAR race.
And Selita Ebanks wore all of "nature."
But the wings, of course, stole the show.
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.)
Alessandra Ambrosio walked the show WHILE TWO MONTHS PREGNANT.
The wings lit up on their own.
Some were made of solid gold.
Others were embroidered.
This get-up didn't quite consist of wings as much as a shell a mermaid would live in.
