Written by Claudia Rothberg
Victoria's Secret’s vision for their annual fashion show reflected a trend that we are increasingly seeing in fashion: nature. Designers are finding ways to incorporate natural elements into their designs, and this year’s VS show was a key example of that.
The Victoria’s Secret fashion show began in 1995 as a promotional event for the brand. Since then, it has turned into a national and televised event with new surprises in models and designs each year. Victoria’s Secret’s creative director for this year's fashion show was Adam Selman, a fashion designer and senior vice president of the company. Selman's vision for the show centered around the four seasons and the changes in nature during the transitioning seasons. Spring looks focused on floral prints and pastel colors, whereas summer looks feature electric, bright colors.
As usual, wings were a key part of the VS show, showcasing the brand's theatrical and glamorous elements. The history of the wings dates back to 1997, as Victoria Secret first crowned the term, “angel”, to their high-profile models. Tyra Banks became the first “angel” to walk in a VS show in 1998, helping establish a tradition that continues today.
The models of this year's show were mostly as expected, including the Hadid sisters, Adriana Lima, and Alessandra Ambrosio. New additions included Solange Omon, the newest Angel, and Honey Ordoñez who made her debut this year. One of the most notable looks this year belonged to Bella Hadid, wearing a spring look that resembled peonies. She wore a botanical bra, green skirt, and elaborate floral wings, capturing the core of the season.
Anok Yai also delivered one of the best looks this year, wearing an avant-garde, three-dimensional outfit in chrome pink that represented the summer season. Yai looked unbelievably angelic in her outfit, making it one of my favorite looks in all of the Victoria's Secret fashion shows.
And of course, Kylie Jenner stopped the show when she strutted across stage in a $50 million bra that hugged her body beautifully. Kylie Jenner's look featured the notorious “Fantasy Bra”, a design that had not appeared in a Victoria's Secret fashion show for eight years. She paired the bra with large white wings, a white miniskirt, and clear heels. For this piece, Victoria's Secret collaborated with Jacob & Co., a luxury American jewelry manufacturer, which reportedly featured over 4000 diamonds on it. It was said to have taken a 15-person team to create, with one of the biggest challenges of the creation being to design a piece that so intricately fit Jenner's body, while also looking elegant, sexy, and being comfortable enough to walk in. Jenner was chosen to wear this luxurious design because of her influence in pop culture beyond just modeling, but also her entrepreneurship and entertainment. Victoria's Secret hoped that her appearance in the bra would maximize fan engagement, and the attention surrounding her look suggested that this strategy had worked.
This year's memorable show proved to fans that although Victoria Secret continues to evolve through new designs and trends, the show still keeps its origin and spirit in mind. Fashion trends may come and go, but it doesn’t mean they will disappear forever. They can come back in reimagined designs, such as Kylie Jenner in the “Fantasy Bra”, and the tradition of evolving wings. The 2026 show demonstrates how Victoria Secret embraces their novelty, while still remembering its history.
Edited by Molly Bloomfield
