To kick off the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show Series, we’re starting on the most recent show the brand aired for us. It’s hard to believe it’s been 5 years since Victoria’s Secret graced our screens with their spectacular fashion show, and I am still sad every winter. That being said, let’s get into it. If you want to watch the show, use the video below!!

Concepts for the show had been in the works for an entire work year, but on November 8th, 2018, the Victoria’s Secret models hit the catwalk. Hosted in New York City at Pier 94, the show officially aired on television courtesy of ABC on December 2nd, 2018. While I give you guys all the details, feel free to turn on all the music from the show. I have compiled the songs from the show on Spotify for ease of listening.

Little did the girls or brand know this would be the last Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, otherwise referred to as “VSFS”. The brand spent an estimated $16 million dollars to host this show on the edge of Hells Kitchen in New York. Pictured below is the after bow “class of” photo all the models take to end the show backstage. It usually consists of the models, sometimes musicians and maybe executives of the brand if they’re lucky and fit in the photo. It’s an annual tradition, and I think it’s really special to get everyone together in their post show glam to save the moment in a yearbook like way.

As you can see a lot of the outfits and looks are missing key components like wings and there’s no rhyme or reason to their order collection wise. This is because there are 7 segments not including a bow and the models sport their last worn look for that. That way you get to take in some of the looks for a second time after they strut by you in the segment.

To kick off the show you get a view of the Empire State Building lit up in hot pink and you can hear the producers cue a video by saying “what is Victoria’s Secret?”, the Angels take a seat at a stool and give their core words for what the brand means to them. It gave me goosebumps and tingles up my spine as the models scurried around backstage in the final moments before the show began.

I was on the verge of being emotional when the announcer welcomed Leela James to sing the first song to open Glam Royale. This segment consisted of 13 looks, and 7 sets of wings. Taylor Hill opened the show wearing vibrant red wings that gave me phoenix vibes and a bunch of plaid to remember the 2017 Balmain collection. Familiar faces like Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid, longtime friends, walked in the opening piece, both without wings. However, familiar faces like Behati Prinsloo (Adam Levine’s wife) rocked a set of wings and honestly got best look for me for that segment. I always love watching Bee walk the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show because Adam’s mother, Patsy was my advisor in high school. It makes me feel close to Mrs Noah to support Bee and the show.

After this segment to give the models and crew time to shift the stage, they walk through who else will be playing a live performance. They show the models having fun backstage and then we’re off for the next segment.

Golden Angels is a 13 look segment just like the last one, with The Chainsmokers and Kelsea Ballerini as the live music and 5 sets of wings for lucky models. Kelsea wore a really fun glitzy dress before Candice Swanepoel strutted down the runway. The team gave her pink romantic wings and the store shirt for the show. The team and associates were told to wear this here and there instead of the all black uniform the brand usually requires on a daily basis. It was a fun way for them to participate in spreading awareness of the fashion show.

One of my favorite models, Shanina Shaik rocking a hot pink based outfit following closely behind Candice. Shanina was a part of Model Squad, a reality TV show covering the life of models behind the campaigns. Grace Elizabeth walked in this segment after years of walking PINK, this was her second year walking as a Victoria’s Secret Angel. Barbara Palvin rocked the runway in this segment with all the flirt after not walking for VS for 6 years. In a turn of events in 2019, after this show, she was actually made the first Hungarian Victoria’s Secret Angel, only for the Angels to be removed from the brand the same year. I always loved her runways style, and people said she looked like me with blue eyes.

Best look this segment went to Sofie Rovenstine pictured above. This look was something extremely “extra” for daily wear, but I could see myself walking the runway in it too. That was part of the magic of the show for me. I loved finding outfits that fit me. It was part of “the fantasy” the brand was selling.

I was always hoping I might do this show last because it’s so emotional for me as a longtime fan. But, the next segment is all about Adriana Lima. She was THE face of Victoria’s Secret in my opinion. She rocked their catalog, stores, ads and runways for 18 years, and she left a legacy!! You can’t say Victoria’s Secret without the association of the Angels and Adriana in turn. I have provided the whole shows YouTube link for you guys, but at 10:45 this special segment begins. I will do my best to break it down, but it’s a must watch. This is my favorite segment of the show even though we still have half a show left.

Thank You Adriana is a one look segment with just Adriana and video compilation of her journey with the brand. The team did an expert level job producing this for the viewers, and they paired the music to the clips perfectly. She started her journey walking for Victoria’s Secret in New York City, and rightfully so she’s ending her career with them in New York City too. She wore 3 different Fantasy Bras in her career with Victoria’s Secret and left inspiration in her wake. Thank you Adriana, from me to you. No one does Victoria’s Secret like you.

Not to minimize the work of the other models, but just when you want to end the show there, it goes on. Flights of Fancy takes off with Halsey performing. There are 11 looks in this piece, 8 sets of wings and the Fantasy Bra for this year.

Martha Hunt is the opener for this segment, followed by familiar faces like Winnie Harlow and Bella Hadid. While they had lovely looks, Devon Windsor’s look rocked the segment. It was my favorite besides the main bra of the piece.

It’s a right of passage in the Victoria’s Secret modeling world to get the Fantasy Bra. Endless amounts of thought goes in to each Fantasy Bra because they’re worth a lot of money. The 2018 Fantasy Bra was worth $1 million, and completely covered in Swarovski crystals. Elsa Hosk, one of my favorite Angels was given the bra this year. I had been rooting for her to have it and she got it!! I have uploaded both Devon & Elsa’s looks from this segment below.

As we’ve all seen on Model Squad, the casting for the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is crazy stressful. While the team did a good job romanticizing the process, they skipped a lot of the angst and hard work. The video they included between segments did, however provide us a taste of what that life is like.

In a flash they’re ready for the next piece with Bebe Rexha for the PINK segment. While I am a big fan of Bebe, this live performance was not my favorite. Seeing that this is the only PINK segment of the show, I would’ve expected a round number of looks. Instead there are 13 looks with big logos and vibrant pops of color, and no wings. Angel Elizabeth Grace opened this segment with a cute “call me” pose. The segment was mostly a blur, but I did find a favorite look pictured below.

Myrthe captured everything about PINK and brought it to the stage. I was so happy to see that youthful pep in the segment. Much of the other outfits lacked the PINK soul, and it leaned a bit too high fashion for a brand aimed at teenagers. That being said the show went on.

The models lit the Empire State Building up in hot pink to signal the next moment. It honestly was really pretty to see. Shawn Mendes took the stage for the next 15 look segment, Floral Fantasy. There were only 4 sets of wings given this piece, one of which opened with Jasmine Tookes. Devon Windsor followed close behind and strutted with a looooong cape. Alexina Graham, Josephine Skriver, and Gigi Hadid got ridiculous wings in my opinion. They looked like two dimensional floral beach balls. Winnie Harlow walked in this segment and they did not grace her with a great look either. However, Sui He rocked the runway for this piece.

This bodysuit was just floral enough without being loud. It might be something I eventually look for myself, who knows.

In between the pieces to make time, the producers made a video compilation of all the Instagram and Snapchat stories from the models who spent months working out. While this was meant to show how hard it was for these athletic women, it also was a huge ad for the Victoria’s Secret Sport brand. Athleisure is huge now and it was huge in 2018.

As the video ends you can see Rita Ora getting ready and shaking off her pre show jitters since she ran the next segment performance wise. The concept was called Downtown Angels, which really hyped up the fashion world of Manhattan. There are 11 looks and Martha Hunt had the only set of wings. There was a rain/ water feature for this segment which was really cool, but another obstacle the models had to conquer on their walk.

Bella Hadid, Barbara Palvin and Behati Prinsloo walked in this piece. I think Bee’s look was the highlight of this moment. Her bra was stunning, I can’t tell if it was Dream Angels or Very Sexy, but she was definitely dreamy & sexy. I attached that look above. She looks so happy and confident, I just loved it. Barbara brought high fashion to the piece and then some playfulness.

Stella Maxwell opened the segment quickly, and to close the piece Martha Hunt strutted in the only set of wings.

For the final segment of the show, there are 13 looks and 11 sets of wings accompanied by The Struts for music. To kick off the walk for Celestial Angel is Lais Ribeiro in killer boots. Candice Swanepoel looked absolutely stunning, and she set the tone for the rest of the segment. If I hadn’t already given Adriana Lima’s segment the highlight of the night, it would’ve been this one. Everyone in this piece got great looks.

Taylor Hill got an amazing celestial cape I want for my wedding or my wedding lingerie. Romee Strijd got a crystal bodysuit that would make Catwoman jealous and wings to match. Elsa Hosk traded her Fantasy Bra for the stars above, and looked just as beautiful even if this bra wasn’t worth $1 million. Kendall Jenner even looked radiant, and I am not her #1 fan.

Sara Sampaio’s wings and Grace Bol’s blue cape were everything my soul needed in royal blue. I have included them together below for you to feast your eyes upon them. They are works of art. I don’t think I could ever personally pull these looks off, the cape is truly the highlight of the two for me.

The show wouldn’t be closed without one more look from Adriana Lima, so Victoria’s Secret ended with her. It was so sentimental besides having a sexy edge to it. May the world never forget her as the brand evolves.

The Struts continued on their set for the finale and bow. Every model wearing any look from the night came out to do one last strut for the audience sans wings. This gives us all an opportunity to see the segments one more time even if they’re not in order. It’s a fun way to end the show like theater or dance performance instead of just a normal fashion show for retailers. This is the step before the class photo I included to start this post, so they’re primed for the yearbook style photo after a finale like this one. It’s basically a dance party for these hard working girls.

While I am gutted and distraught every time the holiday season hits and there’s no fashion show for me to watch, I am happy to have a bunch of good memories preserved for me to enjoy forever. Keep up with the series and follow the tag, the next one is coming soon.