The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2025 felt like a brand caught between nostalgia and a marketplace addicted to instant gratification, where socked-up marketing outshines the meaning of Victoria’s “secret.”
It’s mid. Fierce wasn’t even in the room. Oxytocin, dopamine, and estrogen were not activated. What was once a celestial spectacle of glamour and grandiosity returned as a content experiment built for the algorithm. The show leaned heavily on social-media sensibility, short attention spans, influencer choreography, and looks curated more for scrolls than standing ovations. It was pretty, yes, but too polished, too available, too immediate. What was once mythic now felt mainstream.
Some corners of fashion media have already declared the show irrelevant, suggesting the world has outgrown its fantasy. But numbers, reactions, and nostalgia prove otherwise. From an international studies and anthropological perspective, it became less about fashion and more about collective performance, a digital ritual of belonging played out across borders. Women everywhere were recreating poses, flipping their hair, and joining the aesthetic conversation online. It’s beautiful, really. People across cultures are connecting through these shared expressions, making our world feel interwoven. And that’s why, deep down, we all want the show to come back. But in its OG way — the one that made us believe in fantasy again.
The fantasy was missing. The production lacked drama and the exciting chaos. The energy that once electrified the runway was replaced by casual charm, like an influencer activation masquerading as a fashion event. Even the iconic behind-the-scenes camera, that hallmark of intimacy and chaos, was gone. Without it, the show felt hollow, stripped of spontaneity and soul.
Early industry estimates and media coverage suggest the show surpassed ten million combined views across YouTube and social media, a massive leap from 2024’s reported 2.6 million. Curiosity was high, but numbers alone couldn’t revive the heartbeat.
Casting and design choices reflected a new, street-driven direction. The models embodied an approachable kind of beauty, the kind seen on your explore page. There was diversity, yes, but little distinction. True individuality, the type that makes a runway magnetic, was rare.
The designers’ collaborations lacked the grandeur of the OG era. No iconic moments, no gasp-worthy construction, no couture flourishes. The lingerie felt simplified, streetwear-inspired, almost casual. The shoes followed suit. Flat, utilitarian, functional. Gone were the sculptural heels and fantasy footwear that once defined the show’s power walk. Even the wings, long the show’s most symbolic motif, felt ornamental rather than earned. Once a rite of passage, now a costume. The emotion once attached to those feathers has vanished.
And while the message of female empowerment was clear, it came across one-dimensional. Empowerment does not mean exclusion. The absence of male collaborators, duet performances, or contrasting aesthetics created a flat emotional tone. Collaboration, not separation, has always fueled progress, and this show forgot that.
Still, amid all that softness, twelve distinct trends took shape. Quiet, commercial, yet culturally resonant, much like the TikTok and Reels culture that shapes them.
12 Trends That Defined VSFS 2025
- The side part era returns. The deep side part made an elegant comeback, replacing the severe center part that dominated recent seasons. It’s no longer giving “Eww, grandma!” energy. Instead, it brought a softness that felt nostalgic yet fresh, hinting at a revival of early-2010s modern femininity.
- Mid bangs make a comeback, as well. Blunt, mid-length bangs added a subtle rebellion to the runway. They gave models a relatable, almost undone beauty, part editorial, part street. It’s giving 1970s softness with cheek-grazing layers that frame rather than hide the face. Think Brigitte Bardot, the blueprint for parted bangs that open around the eyes and fall to the cheeks; Farrah Fawcett, with her feathered movement and volume; and Goldie Hawn, whose late-60s look was playful, cheeky, and ultra-feminine. The VS version feels modern, wearable, and quietly confident.
- Representation remains a strength. Victoria’s Secret has always embraced a mix of global beauty, and 2025 was no exception. From deep complexions to bold curls, the show reaffirmed that beauty in every shade isn’t a statement. It’s the brand’s legacy.
- Body diversity. Well, mostly. The show included stronger legs, fuller figures, and athletic silhouettes. Yet petite representation remained absent. Many insiders and observers note that being shorter often draws more runway jokes or dismissive comments than being plus-sized, a painful echo of biases that still run deep in fashion and society. Given that VSFS leaned into street trends, the near absence of shorter women feels like a missed opportunity. It’s proof that the inclusivity conversation is still incomplete.
- Age is just a number. In the past, people feared aging, but Victoria’s Secret has shown us, even in its OG VSFS era, that we can peak at any age and stage of life we’re in.
- Motherhood steps into the spotlight. When Victoria’s Secret Angel Joan Smalls opened the show, it felt like more than just a return. It was a statement. Her presence embodied a quiet celebration of motherhood and maturity, a reminder that beauty doesn’t expire, it evolves. The moment was subtle yet symbolic, proving that confidence and experience can command the same runway as youth and aspiration.
- Tanned skin stays. The signature bronzed glow continues to define the brand’s vibe. It’s less about filters now and more about that old money energy. The kind that quietly says, “I’m enjoying my life outside the digital world.” A tan that feels lived in, not curated.
- Pastel power. The pastel palette dominated: ballet blush, dusty rose, and icy peony replaced hyper-pink fantasy. The tones were wearable and commercial, another nod to realism over romance.
- Red still rules. Among the softness, red stood its ground. Still the color of sex appeal, still the statement of confidence. Some icons simply refuse to retire.
- Black returns but without its ferocious bite. Black was everywhere this season, but in a new form. The pieces were minimalist, structured, and softened, replacing seduction with sophistication. Satin, mesh, and matte textures took center stage, creating a wearable palette that leaned more editorial than seductive. It photographed beautifully, but the danger and mystique once synonymous with Victoria’s Secret were missing. Black didn’t whisper power this year; it murmured restraint.
- The return of natural glam but make it matte. Makeup took a softer direction, trading shimmer for restraint. Skin looked lived in, not luminous; lips were blurred, not glossy. It was the kind of beauty that felt more Parisian than American, far from the high-shine, K-pop-inspired glow dominating beauty trends. Subtle, intentional, and effortlessly modern. The Angels have gone from ethereal glow to French allure, proving we don’t always need to be loud to be seen.
- Despite the chaos, women still tuned in. For all its confusion and commercial gloss, the show still managed to capture women’s attention. The comment sections and livestreams were filled with viewers reacting in real time — some nostalgic, some critical, many still inspired. Love it or not, Victoria’s Secret continues to hold a peculiar space in women’s imagination. It reminds us that even when the magic fades, the ritual of watching, judging, and dreaming remains.
Final Thoughts
The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2025 revealed a brand negotiating its identity in an era defined by speed and spectacle, where presentation often replaces purpose. The glamour, the grandiosity, and the sense of occasion have been traded for accessibility. What was once a theatrical celebration of fantasy has become a digital showcase of relatability. It mirrors that feeling when life slows down and you’re trying to rediscover your purpose. Beautiful, uncertain, and deeply human.
It wasn’t unwatchable, but it wasn’t unforgettable either. I was bored, almost choking on all the sweetness. No stomp. No soul.
Pretty please? Absolutely.
Powerful? Missing in action.
Fierce? Still on vacation.
Creativity? On leave.
For 2026, perhaps the answer lies in remembering what made Victoria’s Secret an institution of escapism and excess. The kind of beautiful nonsense fashion secretly needs. It was never just about lingerie. It was about spectacle, storytelling, and allure.
And while we’re at it, one question remains: Where is the Million Dollar Bra?
I wish we could revisit the days when the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show sold more than lingerie. It sold aspiration, excess, and the myth of perfection. It was capitalism dressed as couture, and somehow, we loved it for that. Yet in today’s world of “everything is possible,” it’s hard to entirely reject that fantasy or fully recreate it. The trend cycle is already saturated. We don’t need another trend slap masquerading as a fashion show. We need fashion that makes us feel something again. I want that feeling of reaching for the stars, or the galaxy beyond our own, not just the road around the corner. Beyond the diversity narrative running throughout, maybe people simply want to be entertained to escape reality for a moment and dream of the not-so-ordinary goals again.
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