Here come the girls! Miranda Kerr, Candice Swanepoel and Alessandra Ambrosio lead the way as astonishing $12 million Victoria's Secret runway show defies expectations
By Amelia Proud
Last updated at 8:55 AM on 10th November 2011
It took 31 pairs of wings, 38 models and 69 different outfits to make tonight's Victoria's Secret show the most beguiling and expensive to date.
South African beauty Candice Swanepoel set the tone by opening the lavish show with a ballet-inspired section in a scintillating purple tutu and gargantuan wings.
'It's so extravagant this year,' she had cooed her earlier, and this wasn't hyperbole.
Ice peacock: Miranda Kerr was a show-stopper in this $2.5 million diamond studded bra at the Victoria's Secret show in New York tonight
A stunning ballet tribute segued into a evocation of the 'Passions' then to a Super Angels special, an aquatic homage, a New Orleans-style sequence, and finally a pumping disco Club Pink crescendo.
Kanye West heralded the Super Angels with a rendition of Stronger, but he was just the warm up for a certain, Mr Beyonce.
Truly angelic: Miranda Kerr looked incredible in her elaborate ensemble and showed off her toned figure figure as she strut her stuff on the catwalk
'Now that was one of the classics,' the flamboyant artist exclaimed before he announced Jay-Z as a surprise guest to the rapturous crowd.
But the real stars of tonight's show, were of course the angels themselves.
What a treasure! Alessandro Ambrosio in the Passion Play wings, which took seven years to design and make
Passion: Adriana Lima embodies the spirit of lust and romance on the glittering catwalk
Getting the party started: Candice Swanepoel opened the show in purple wings, but changed into glorious neon later and then into gold feathers
Adriana Lima, was the embodiment of passion in sheer black and red while Miranda Kerr took back her crown - or rather, bra - after missing a year due to her pregnancy.
That she delivered baby Flynn, her son with Orlando Bloom, in January, was impossible to tell as she strutted in her show-stopping ice peacock outfit.
The piece de resistance was the show-stopping $2.5million Fantasy Treasure bra, dripping with yellow diamonds and pearls, which complemented Kerr's stunning figure perfectly.
Look who it is! Kanye, wearing a Versace for H&M jacket looked delighted to introduce Jay-Z
Oh, what a night! Nicki Minaj also performed as Kanye serenaded the beauties
Alessandra Ambrosio, meanwhile, was given the honour of wearing the Passion Play Fan Wings, which were seven years in the making.The antique copper wings are plated with 23-carat gold and are embellished with 105,000 Swarovski crystals.
Designed and made in Sydney by Manik Mercian, the glistening prop weighs 22 pounds but it was a fitting tribute to mark her 10th trot down the catwalk.
Bump on show: Beyonce was sat front row at the show and cheered on her husband as he performed
Love, sweet love: Maroon 5's Adam Levine seranaded his girlfriend Anne Vyalitsina during the show
Gold, always believe in your soul: Candice and Alessandra cross electrifying paths
She said before the show: 'It's definitely the heaviest wings they've ever made for Victoria's Secret. I tried to strengthen my back a little bit.'
Make-up artist Tom Perchuex opted to abandon fake eyelashes, heavy eye make-up and shimmer and instead went for flushed cheeks and classic eyes.
Backstage, the girls caught up with the events of the past year, according to USA Today.
One big party? The show ended with thousands of bits of colourful confetti floating through the air
What a show: Alessandra and Adriana make an arresting sight in light and dark colours at the fantastical show
What a lineup: The angels got the crowd into the party mood as they took to the stage en mass
Kerr, meanwhile, said this about her baby boy: 'He puts everything into perspective. He's the most important thing in my life. He's such a ball of light and love.'
She revealed the secret to her success at regaining her figure as pilates and yoga and revealed: 'I put weights on my ankles and do leg lifts. It burns.'
Contrasting themes: Candice is angelic and Adriana dons fantastic boots to become one of the super angels!
Huge show: Alessandra Amborsio appears tiny with the backdrop of the detailed and large scale backdrop of the fashion show
Who is the fairest of them all? Miranda is a fairytale queen in this crimson number
Once upon a time: Erin Heatherton took Miranda's fairytale theme to it's zenith, dressed as an actual sprite
Rain-proof: Izabel Goulart shows how to keep her lingerie set out of the rain
The $12m show was overflowing with acres of bare flesh as the angels model the lingerie brand's latest collection.
WWD reports that the New York show takes a full year to plan - and a small army to bring to fruition, including designers, seamstresses, embroiderers and prop makers.
Entertainment was be provided courtesy of RnB star Nicki Minaj, Cee Lo Green, Maroon 5 as well as Kanye.
Something to crow about: Adriana donned these beautiful black feathers
Birds of a feather: Doutzen Kroes was yang to Adriana's yang in the dramatic show
The 'Degas-inspired' ballet scene with fragile dancers in repose was the particular centrepiece from creative designer, Sophia Neophitou-Apostolou.
Other models who took part included Karlie Kloss, Adriana Lima, Doutzen Kroes, Erin Heatherton, Lily Aldridge and Lindsey Ellingson.
Angels not strutting their stuff this year include British star Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Czech Republic stunner Karolina Kurkova, who have other work commitments instead.
Come rain or shine: Izabel Goulart and Chanel Iman, who gained weight for the show, also cut striking shapes on the runway
Our favourite ladies: Alessandro and Miranda rocked the different looks
Since it started 11 years ago, the budget for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show has grown considerably - from $120,000 to today's bank-breaking $12m.
A total of 60 costumes have been made along with 31 sets of angel wings to be modelled by 38 models - 15 of which are newcomers and, no doubt, hoping their endeavours tonight will elevate their profiles to the lofty heights of the likes of Kerr and Brazilian beauty Ambrosio.
While 30-year-old Adriana Lima has prepared for tonight by going on a strict nine-day liquid-only diet, her colleague Chanel Iman has gained 15lbs in readiness for the runway.
Themes: Lily Aldridge and Constance Jablonski embodied the diverse imagery of the evening
The 20-year-old American model, whose mother is half Korean and father is from Africa, admitted she was struggling to keep the weight on.
She told Modelinia.com: 'I drink a lot of protein shakes and do a lot of weight lifting.'
Chanel first walked at the 2009 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show and was inaugurated as an Angel last year.
While Ruffles, feathers, frills and lace were the order of the evening as the Victoria's Secret girls took to the runway in the elaborate lingerie show at the after party the Angels shed their wings and slipped into something a little simple to celebrate their stellar show.
Miranda Kerr looked positively angelic in an Marilyn Monroe-inspired pleated white dress with a plunging neckline and cut away back detailing.
Simple style: Miranda Kerr slipped out of her Angel costume and into a Marilyn Monroe inspired white pleated dress
The mother-of-one had opted for a dazzling bright ensemble and was seen twirling the skirt around and holding it out as she headed to the after party at Dream Downtown in New York.
While Miranda had stepped out in a colour associated with purity her fellow Angel Alessandro Ambrosio appeared to have fallen from heaven and indulged her dark side.
The supermodel stepped out in a strapless black number which boasted a crocodile skin front panel and basque and black peep toe heels, for a devilish look.
Dark and deadly? Alessandro Ambrosio and Maryna Linchuk appeared to have fallen from heaven and indulged her dark side
Super short: While their colour palettes differed Doutzen Kroes, Adriana Lima and Lily Donaldson all showed off their perfect pins in short frocks for the celebration
Alesandro wasn't the only one to opt for a sombre palette suggesting a wicked demeanor and Maryna Linchuk wowed in a plunging black dress which sheer paneling detail.
While their colour palettes differed Doutzen Kroes, Adriana Lima and Lily Donaldson all showed off their perfect pins in short frocks for the celebration.
Party people: Candice Swanepoel, Izabel Goulart, Nicky Hilton and Anais Mali
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2059682/Miranda-Kerr-Candice-Swanepoel-Alessandra-Ambrosio-lead-way-astonishing-12-million-Victorias-Secret-runway-defies-expectations.html#ixzz1dIDbAGIx
