Welcome back Bombshells!! We are back with another installment of our #VSFS series. The goal was to tackle every show in one year, which ball parks us at two fashion shows per month. I hope you’re ready for number 2. If you’re all in on the journey through each every show they hosted be sure to follow the tag, and share my post if you wouldn’t mind.

In 2017, in the heart of Shanghai, China at the Mercedes Benz Arena, the Angels descended from various destinations across the globe to gather for a historic Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. I say historic because this is the first show that has ever been shot, walked or based in China, ever.

After opening a Shanghai store the label found it necessary to host their November 20th fashion show in town. The goal was to help drive local customers who had been waiting on a store of their own, in to the store before the big day. While CBS aired the catwalk nearly a week later on November 28th, this night will live on for some of the models forever. As usual I have compiled all the music from this show for your enjoyment here while you read todays post.

This years show had a variety of big name artists, but a few like Katy Perry ran into visa complications and ultimately had to be scrapped from the lineup. I was very happy to see Harry Styles on stage twice this show.

In fact, he opened the show with “Kiwi”, for the Punk Angels, Balmain segment. There were 23 looks, and 5 sets of wings and respectively 23 models. I was in awe when I saw Candice Swanepoel got to open the show. Per usual she killed the runway and set the tone for the whole show. I gave her best look for this piece and I hadn’t even finished the first segment yet.

This segment was very special to me since I had worked for the brand during that year, and had helped the launch of their first collaboration with Balmain. All of the items these powerful women were wearing on the runway I had gotten to touch before anyone knew they were hitting the shelves. I vividly remember clocking in at 6AM for a morning shift and processing our shipment of everything Balmain. I was so excited to be a part of this launch and then I was over the moon to see it on the runway.

The song and punk vibes of the Balmain collaboration worked together perfectly. I was solely focused on each outfit while jamming out to a fun song. Both Jasmine Tookes & Martha Hunt were given the bra I took a photo of above for the show. The way it shimmered on stage caught everyone’s attention, and I felt like I was a part of the show inadvertently.

I was super excited to see former Victoria’s Secret Angel Karlie Kloss back in the mix of models for this years show. She made her runway debut with Victoria’s Secret in 2011, later becoming an Angel from 2013-2015. She was one of my favorite models to watch with the brand and I became a fan of hers outside of the label too. Since leaving the brand Karlie has really become outspoken on woman’s rights and supporting women in tech. In 2015, she officially started “Kode with Klossy” an organization aimed at getting young women into coding. She’s now active with food, her mom stuff and modeling of course.

That being said she rocked the runway and sported a fresh platinum blond. Tell me she doesn’t look fierce?!

Another model I had to give a major shout to is Devon Windsor. She rocked the segment and I was so happy to see her in wings. There were only 5 sets to pass out for this collection and she deserved her wings. Everything about this look screamed confidence to me, and I will forever chase being that strong looking.

The next segment, Porcelain Angel has 12 looks, and 6 sets of wings. The musical performance was by Miguel and it was the song “Pineapple Skies”. The song is conveniently placed in slot number two in the Spotify playlist I made for you guys.

Josephine Skriver was the lovely opener for this segment, but she unfortunately suffered a wardrobe malfunction and sort of delayed the start of the segment. All over the laces on her boot, to be fair they were knee high laced boots, but holy cow the suspense was insane.

I was very pleased to see Bella Hadid walking again. This was her second Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, and she was given two outfits for the show. Gigi Hadid unfortunately was very missed from this show in Shanghai. Rumor has it there was a situation with her visa going into China, but I don’t have any evidence to substantiate that claim.

I gave model Bianca Padilla best look for this segment. She looked so beautiful and she truly looked made for the outfit they gave her. I also think her smile says it all, pictured above.

For all the Hamilton fans Leslie Odom Jr was the next performer for the third segment, A Winter’s Tale. There were 12 looks and 4 sets of wings for this piece accompanied by “Winter Song”.

Model Sara Sampaio opened the segment in one of the sets of wings allotted for this piece. I think she rocked it, but Devon Windsor ultimately got best look for me this segment.

Before we get there we do need to discuss an elephant on the runway. Most Victoria’s Secret Fashion Shows go on with few mistakes or issues, but tonight wasn’t one of those nights unfortunately. Ming Xi had the amazing opportunity to walk in her hometown with friends and family rooting her on in the show for the first time. Unfortunately her heel got caught on her incredible train and she tumbled down on the runway. It was absolutely tragic and I felt horrible for her. I’ll never forget watching the live tweets all about it as I traveled abroad to Cancun. It was heartwarming to see another model (later identified as Gizele Oliveira) pick her up and give her, her moment despite emotion overcoming Ming. Sometimes things happen, pick up and carry on with grace or tears, either is totally okay!!

After these models figured out timing and reset post tumble, Karlie Kloss made an appearance another time on stage. This was her final walk for Victoria’s Secret ever, how bittersweet. She walked just before Devon Windsor, and essentially set the tone for the last two outfits.

As mentioned above, I gave Devon the best look for this segment. I think her skirt, bra and jewelry combo was super fun and creative. I didn’t get much in the way of “winter”, but the design was stunning. The use of two metal tones was creative and didn’t clash like I would’ve expected it to. The outfit fit her like a glove too.

Up next was the PINK segment!! This is always the upbeat piece of the night and this show was just as fun as usual. Jane Zhang was the musician for this piece, with a mix of a few songs. The music was accompanied by 15 models and 2 pairs of wings.

Grace Elizabeth opened for PINK, and she happily bopped down the runway to set the tone. This was her second to last time doing that for the sister brand, she was made a spokesmodel for Victoria’s Secret from 2016-2019 so she basically earned her Angel wings.

Nadine Leopold an Austrian based model made her Victoria’s Secret PINK debut this show. I was so proud of her after many years of castings and attempts at shows. I saw how much it meant to her in Model Squad, one of my favorite reality TV show series. It tracked a small handful of models trying to make it in New York in the industry. It was a New York Fashion Week special, but I had to have it so I bought it on my Roku.

After going through every look I thought model Victoria Lee rocked this segment best. Her mesh sweat pants are majorly fun, I would wear those to the pool. And between the bra and suspenders I loved the block lettering to sport the PINK logo. I have a few items of block logos on my PINK stuff and I am here for it, so this outfit made my day. It’s always special and fun to feel a part of the show.

While I hadn’t heard of her before this, I really thought Victoria Lee rocked this segment with her mesh warm up sweats and chunky logos. I think she deserved the wings, but the last model of the piece, Zuri Tibby wore the other pair of wings for this collection.

It wouldn’t be such a fun fashion show if Harry Styles didn’t make another appearance right?

He sang Only Angel to accompany the 12 Angels of the “Goddesses” segment. Not every model walking was an Angel, but walking in the same piece as the Fantasy Bra I would consider myself one for the moment. Romee opened, and man did she feel like a goddess. She oozed soft, romantic vibes that really set the tone of the collection. There are 9 sets of wings for this segment, and obviously as mentioned a $2 million dollar gemstone bra we all know as the Fantasy Bra.

This years Fantasy Bra was given to Lais Ribeiro. It featured a beautiful drop down halter neck to accentuate her clavicle and it was just as divine as the rest of the pieces. Her wings had a lot of texture to them, but they helped add curve to the look.

I should give that look the best look of the piece, but I am biased and I am giving it to Bella Hadid. Her wing drape cape was so fun, and sparkly it gave goddess vibes. I felt like she embodied Hera or Aphrodite with the outfit they gave her. Honorable mention to Taylor Hill as well, it was a toss up and I nearly said both.

The final segment before bows was the Nomadic Adventure piece with Miguel singing Told You So while the 14 models walk with the 11 leftover wings. This segment is the last walk for model Alessandra Ambrosio for the brand, which is super sentimental looking back. She so deserved a segment like Adriana Lima got in 2018, but I guess the beat goes on. Speaking of Adriana Lima, she opened the piece for us. However, I have to admit the whole segment was a bit culturally inappropriate to be completely honest. While I get this segment in an art aspect just like I understand the Arabian horse show costumes, I still think this was a small piece of the larger problem at L Brands Victoria’s Secret.

This segment showed me Candice Swanepoel could wear a potato sack, and would still make it look stunning. I didn’t realize until researching and writing this blog post that Elsa Hosk’s bra was also worth $1 million dollars. It was an anniversary bra that they made for this segment and show. I thought she brought all the sparkle. I gave her best look for all the glimmer and glamour.

Overall, I do think this could’ve been a different section. I think with what they got, they could’ve given the one model without wings a set of wings. And, I do think someone should’ve double checked the cultural aspects of what they were getting into, especially since we know it wasn’t the first time.

After this piece ended, they immediately ran the bow song and the show concluded, and the infamous class photo was taken.

I hope you guys are ready for the next installment of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show series, we will talk all things backstage.