While watching Victoria's Secret annual fashion show this Tuesday, I began to wonder how it became the massive event that it is today. Victoria's Secret was founded in 1977 in San Fransisco, California by a man who felt embarrassed to shop for lingerie in department stores and wanted to create a lingerie store that felt classier and more upscale.
The first VS Fashion didn't happen until 1995 at the Plaza Hotel in New York, quite contrary to the extravagant outfits today, the models wore simple slips accessories with handbags and were focused mainly on the bras and underwear. The show has aired every year since then, except for a quick little break in 2004. Each year the fashion show became slightly more extravagant, adding music stars, bigger sets and backdrops, and a steady crew of angels starting with Tyra Banks, Gisele Bundchen, and Heidi Klum.
Enjoy some of the highlights throughout the years:
1. 1998
The debut of the Angel wings, which are now the focal point of the show.2. 2000
The show became a fundraiser and raised $3.5 million as a part of the Cinema Against AIDS 2000 gala.3. 2002
Gisele Bundchen was protested on stage by PETA for wearing fur . . . faux is the way to go, Gisele!4. 2006
VS introduced their Pink line and added this segment to the show5. 2009
Pink angels got their own wings6. 2014
Models walked dual fantasy bras at $2 million a piece.Today, the fashion show features the hottest models in the industry and it is a huge career booster for any young Angel who gets to walk in the show. It's something to look forward to every year as the presentation keeps getting more impressive!