There have been top secret preparations for months, endless rumours about extreme dieting and what the Angels will – and will not – wear, the suspense has been almost un.bear.able but at last, the spectacle has arrived!
Yes, the Victoria’s Secret show took place in New York last night and as you’d expect, the most curvilicious of models brought it to life. From newbies Karlie Kloss and Chanel Iman to veteran angels Doutzen Kroes and Alessandra Ambrosio (who was celebrating her tenth turn on the VS catwalk), the leggy lovelies showcased sixty-nine stunning looks.
But it was Miranda Kerr who stole the show, wrapping her post-baby body in the Fantasy Treasure Bra, bejeweled with over $2.5 million worth of diamonds and pearls. Her hubby Orlando Bloom, gawping from the front row, looked suitably smug.
In fact, the 16th annual show reportedly cost an eye-watering $12million to produce, with no expenses spared to create the gold-plated wings and colourful costumes. Chanel Iman pulled a rip-cord to inflate a silver parachute around her shoulders while Alessandra Ambrosio wore Passion Play wings made of antique copper, plated with 23-carat gold and embellished with 105,000 Swarovski crystals [above]. Oh, and did we mention the wings took a mere seven years to make? Uh-huh.
This year’s themes included ‘Angels Aquatic’ with a parade of mermaid goddesses covered in pearls and shell-like wings, ‘Ballet’ which saw lashings of feathers, tutus, legwarmers and lace-up stilettos, ‘Passion’ featuring lace boleros and flamenco skirts, and ‘Victoriana’ with tulle collars, parasols and ginormous bustles attached to teeny knickers. And all that aforementioned dieting clearly paid off. In the nine days before the show, Adriana Lima ate no solids, drank protein shakes and a gallon of water a day while working out twice daily. Phewf! Meanwhile, Chanel Iman went the other way, gaining fifteen pounds to obtain that voluptuous VS figure.
As the Angels strutted their stuff, they were serenaded by Jay-Z and Kanye West (wearing a Versace for H&M jacket, dontcha know) while Nicki Minaj happily got in on the burlesque act, twirling about in a wacktacular outfit.
Maroon 5 also performed, with lead singer Adam Levine proudly kissing his supermodel girlfriend Anne Vyalitsyna as she posed on the catwalk. As ever, the mood was jubilant, with the models winking, waving and wiggling to encourage the whooping crowd. So there was none of those sullen looks you usually see on the FROW – Carine Roitfeld, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld and Debbie Harry were happily boogying their little hearts out. Who knew undies could be SO much fun?
