Winged “Angels” flew into
place and soared onto stage during the annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
According to
Business Insider, this year’s fashion show was rumored to have a budget of over
$12 million. The glamorous outfits and musical numbers are what people look for
nowadays, however, when the show started in 1995 the runway was not as
glamorous as it is now. When it all started 18 years ago, there was no fancy
lighting and scenery. The models wore basic underwear and bras.
The store was
first created when a Stanford graduate from the School of Business, Roy
Raymond, felt embarrassed when purchasing women’s lingerie. He opened the first store in 1977 in San
Francisco, California. The store was decorated in a Victorian fashion, thus,
Victoria’s Secret was created.
The first ever show
had been created to promote the retailer’s goods in a high-profile way. The show was held in the Plaza Hotel and all
the models wore simple lingerie. The shows budget was $120,000, which is a
fraction of what some of the bras cost now. Models wore cardigans, robes, boots
and gloves to accessorize the simple bras. Many of the outfits were dark red
because the show took place around Valentine’s Day.
A few small wings
made their first appearances in the 1998 show. A Greek/Mystical theme took
place in 1999 with a backdrop of mountains.
The 2000 show
became more elaborate with a, “Fire and Ice,” theme. The background and outfits
started off looking hot and eventually changed to an icy feel. The show took
place near the Christmas season for the first time in 2000. The show was
webcast, but not aired on national television.
The show was
first televised on national television in 2001, where classical singer Andrea
Bocelli performed with a full orchestra. The outfits still remained simple,
even though they all had a similar winter theme.
2002 featured the
most elaborate wings up to date, and had its first ever hosts: Heidi Klum and
Mark McGrath. Marc Anthony and Beyonce both performed. The show started to
become flashier and all the models received intricate angel wings.
In 2005, the
Fashion show had reached the level it is today, including full costumes,
musical performances, themes and many sparkles. Between the years 2006-2008,
the show moved from NYC to LA and Miami, but found its way back home in 2009 to
the big apple.
Over the years,
The Victoria’s Secret Fashion show has become bigger and bigger. Starting off very simple, and blossoming into
the fashion event it is now, the future hold nothing but more elaborate and
flashier performances, ensembles and wings.
