The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show Is Back in the Spotlight
Lights, Camera, Angels! With those three words, Victoria’s Secret set the tone for its most theatrical return yet. The legendary Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is back in the spotlight, and fashion lovers could not be more intrigued. Known for its extravagant sets, superstar performances, and theatrical storytelling, it has long stood as a defining pop cultural event, turning the runway into a stage for fantasy.
The Last Runway in 2018
The last time Victoria’s Secret sent its Angels down the runway was in 2018, a year that quietly closed the chapter on one of fashion’s most watched spectacles. We spoke exclusively with shoe designer Brian Atwood, who created the unforgettable stilettos from 2015 through 2018, giving the show its final flash of glamour before the lights dimmed. By then, viewership had slumped to just 3.3 million, a sharp decline from previous years such as 5 million in 2017, marking its lowest ratings ever. In the wake of the MeToo era, critics called out the brand’s hyper sexualized vision of femininity and its lack of inclusivity. Yet for many, the spectacle was never the problem. It was the fantasy, and that was precisely why the show became iconic. At its best, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was unapologetically theatrical, a celebration of glamour and narrative staging, made unforgettable by themes such as “Snow Angels,” “Goddess,” and “Pink.”
A New Vision: The Tour ’23
In September 2023, Victoria’s Secret began its reinvention with a documentary style film titled The Tour ’23, streaming globally on Prime Video. The special spotlighted designers, models, and creatives from Bogotá, Lagos, London, and Tokyo, recasting the brand’s image for a new era with a focus on inclusivity and creativity.
Unlike the classic televised runway shows, which from 1995 to 2018 revolved around Angels, wings, and million-dollar bras broadcast to audiences of up to 12 million viewers on CBS, The Tour ’23 took an entirely different approach. It did not feature a designated group of Angels. Instead, it presented a global mix of models, designers, artists, and influencers, emphasizing cultural storytelling over spectacle.
The Revival: Brooklyn 2024
If The Tour ’23 represented cautious reinvention, the 2024 Fashion Show marked a bold return to form. On October 15, 2024, the runway lit up the Duggal Greenhouse in Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York City with a production that balanced nostalgia with progress. Tyra Banks, Adriana Lima, and Kate Moss brought back the supermodel glamour of the golden years, while new stars such as Alex Consani, Valentina Sampaio, Ashley Graham, and Paloma Elsesser reflected a more inclusive vision of beauty.
Unlike The Tour ’23’s film experiment, this was a full spectacle complete with powerhouse performances by Cher, BLACKPINK’s Lisa, and Tyla that reminded audiences of the energy that once made the show a global phenomenon. Atwood told us at the time that the magic of the show lay in its ability to make fantasy feel real, and the 2024 revival proved his point. Where the classic era leaned into exclusivity, the 2024 edition blended legacy with reinvention, proving that the fantasy could be reimagined rather than erased.
The Conversation
The comeback inspired debate. Some loyalists questioned why Victoria’s Secret would alter a formula that once made it legendary, while others praised the attempt to reconcile past glamour with inclusivity. The discussion revealed the tension at the heart of the show. Was it a cultural artifact best remembered as it was, or a creative platform capable of evolving with the times?
The Future of Fantasy
From its glitter-soaked heyday on network television, through its streaming experiment, and into its runway revival, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show has always been more than lingerie on a catwalk. It has served as a barometer of where fashion and pop culture intersect. Whether the brand leans back into the unapologetic glamour of its past or continues the inclusive momentum of its reinvention, one question remains. Will we see the return of the meticulously curated themed segments that once defined each show, or will Victoria’s Secret continue to reshape the runway for a new generation? Whatever form it takes, the power of the show has always been its fantasy, and that is what ensures the world still stops to watch.
Learn More
Exclusive Interview with Brian Atwood, VSFS Shoe Designer
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