As a longtime admirer of the Victoria’s Secret brand and its iconic fashion shows, I must admit that Tuesday night’s event at the Duggal Greenhouse left me absolutely thrilled! The team has truly managed to breathe new life into an event that was once thought to be past its prime. By focusing on what made it great in the first place and infusing contemporary elements, they have created a show that feels fresh, celebratory, and wholly women-centric.
How can you refresh and reintroduce an event that some critics thought was no longer relevant? Emphasizing its original strengths and infusing it with contemporary elements is a strong strategy, especially when the overall experience is delightful. It’s also beneficial if the final product exudes a sense of fun.
I, as a gamer, was excited to witness the revamped Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show of 2021, held at Duggal Greenhouse in New York’s Brooklyn Navy Yard. After a two-year hiatus, the team carefully redesigned the event, taking into account dwindling TV ratings and the influence of the #MeToo movement. The result was a vibrant, modern show that truly celebrated women, not just on the runway and behind the scenes, but also in the front row, where stars like Cardi B, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Queen Latifah graced us with their presence. It felt refreshing to see such a strong emphasis on female empowerment!
In contrast to previous Victoria’s Secret shows featuring male musicians, this year opted for an all-female lineup of performers. The event exuded a distinctly female energy with a trio of talented artists – Tyla, Blackpink’s Lisa, and the legendary Cher – who each brought their own unique power to the stage. In fact, Cher was one of the most eagerly awaited acts, causing great excitement among the crowd. Before the show, Janie Schaffer, Victoria’s Secret’s chief design and creative officer, expressed her anticipation to The Hollywood Reporter, stating, “I’d be dishonest if I said that Cher isn’t one of my greatest thrills. Yesterday, we watched her rehearse, and it was a surreal moment that felt almost unreal.
In the end, it was a group of prominent supermodels who most vividly demonstrated the event’s recent dedication to emphasizing female empowerment as its primary theme. Kicking off the show was Gigi Hadid, with Bella joining later on. The lineup between these two included many well-known faces from the modeling world: Carla Bruni, Kate Moss, Irina Shayk, Doutzen Kroes, Joan Smalls, Isabeli Fontana, Ashley Graham, Candice Swanepoel, Paloma Elsesser, Behati Prinsloo and numerous others.
Tyra Banks, a long-standing Victoria’s Secret Angel since 1997, reappeared from her retirement to strut the finale. Both Banks, aged 50, and Eva Herzigová, who graced the runway on Tuesday night at 51, received an overwhelmingly ecstatic response from the audience as they showcased their timeless elegance alongside their iconic peers. “It’s quite surprising because it’s been quite a while since I last walked this runway,” Herzigová shared backstage before the event. “Returning feels fantastic, especially since Victoria’s Secret is like family to me. It’s also heartening to observe that the brand is focusing on expansion, becoming more inclusive, and celebrating women in all their diverse forms – age, shape, and color. It’s a pleasure to be part of this environment and to witness such stunning beauty.” A shining illustration of this concept was the debut of transgender models Alex Consani and Valentina Sampaio on the runway for the very first time.
28-year-old Imaan Hummam, who walked the Victoria’s Secret runway twice, found a renewed sense of purpose during her latest appearance on Tuesday. “I first modeled for them at age 18,” she told THR, “and back then, it was such an early time in life. You’re still trying to find yourself and your values.” She continued, “After a decade, I’m more self-assured and certain. Now I understand my purpose, and that makes me feel empowered and exhilarated.
Originally, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was created as the company’s major sales event annually, airing in early December from 2001 to 2018, aiming to showcase the brand and its items prominently as the holiday shopping spree began. By 2024, however, the sales approach has evolved too; Victoria’s Secret now collaborates with Amazon to broadcast this event live on Amazon Prime Video, offering directly shoppable looks within their Amazon Fashion store.
Despite the night’s brilliant starlight, the attire seemed less captivating compared to the headlines. The ensembles were a blend of sophistication and allure, frequently accentuated by the grand wings, a recurring aspect that adds to the show’s spectacle. However, the real news wasn’t the clothing but the women who graced the runway – from the trio of exceptionally gifted artists to 50 breathtaking models, numerous backup dancers, and the all-female choir that introduced Cher’s performance.
At the event, the men were content to step aside, with one man in particular eagerly supporting his wife. Dylan Sprouse, arriving at the show, carried homemade signs crafted from large images of Klaus Von Sprouse and Piggy Cow – their shared cat and dog – with his wife, model Barbara Palvin. Upon her arrival, he enthusiastically waved them, catching Palvin’s attention based on her smile. “I am consistently amazed and proud of her,” Sprouse mentioned before the show started. “She has put in an immense amount of effort for this.
Before the event, several participants were questioned about their perspective on female empowerment. It turned out that Cher provided the most impactful answer of the evening: “It’s everything.
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2024-10-16 18:26