Dualité

Ok let’s face it, VS turns heads no matter what. It’s perhaps not the most anticipated fashion show of the year (I’m sorry Heidi, but I’d rather look forward in seeing couture from John Galliano than your show), but they sure know how to spice things up.

I haven’t watched the show since seeing the numerous and iconic angel wings float down the runway a few years ago, and I certainly haven’t seen my ex-flame of a girl band, The Spice Girls, perform since their breakout 10 years ago.

So how was the show?

Photo credit to Terry Ng, who has a whole gallery of the show.

It was the most excessive commercial juggernaut I’ve seen in a while. Did I hate it? No. Because Victoria’s Secret represents the ultimate fantasy and indulges you with it without shame. They know, you know it, so why deny the onslaught of eye candy?

The show went on with different themes starting with purring outfits in several animal prints (one critic said Heidi actually looked flat chested in her cat eye outfit!) followed by candy girls shakin’ their bon bons in striped outfits and one oversized hat. Then the girls stepped out in Americana styles from snow bunny to cow girl. A quick set change and we’re transported to a European palace of the girls embellished in bedazzling jeweled bikinis. The one theme I didn’t quite get was the illusionist art ensembles, where sewn hands groped the breast and waist area, what was up with that? The finale was an all glittering Christmas theme, complete with tree cape and million dollar bra, a christmas angel, and an unfolding glittering snowflake by Mrs. Heidi Klum herself.

The highlights were of course the wings. This is one thing I’ve admired from a VS fashion show. Beautifully embellished, from postcards, to gilded rococo, to snow angel feathers, the wings are always a treat to watch.

Alessandra Ambrosio with her wings. Photo credit by Terry Ng

There were a lot of new faces on the catwalk, but my personal fav is Alessandra Ambrosio. Hot Hot HOT! The incredible Jessica Stam was there too, except they made her wear some ridiculous ornament outfit in the end, oh well, had to make the fashion model wear something others can’t wear I guess!

Lowlights were the musical performances, all lip synched, even if the Spice Girls did look cute in their military outfits. Unlike most runway shows which usually only have 2 cameras on the runway, the VS runway has several cameras showing every single angle, so the editing was quite choppy. I couldn’t enjoy the details they’ve put on each outfit as they would cut away all the time, a shame.

And before you know it, the show’s over, like a dream.