When the floor of the Brooklyn Navy Yard literally split open last October, and Gigi Hadid ascended like some sort of high-fashion phoenix, you could feel the collective gasp through the livestream. Honestly, it had been six years. Six years since we saw those oversized feathers and the glittery chaos of a brand that basically defined the early 2010s.
Gigi didn't just walk. She opened the show. That’s a massive deal in the modeling world, sort of like being the lead-off hitter in the World Series but with more silk and significantly higher heels. If you’re looking for the lowdown on the Gigi Hadid Victoria's Secret 2024 comeback, you’ve probably seen the viral clips. But there’s a lot more to the story than just a pretty pink playsuit.
Why the Gigi Hadid Victoria's Secret 2024 Return Felt Different
Let's be real: Victoria's Secret has been through it. After the 2019 cancellation and a lot of very valid criticism about inclusivity, they had to change. Gigi has been part of that evolution. She actually narrated the 2023 "Tour" film, which was their first experimental step back into the spotlight.
But for the 2024 runway, they went back to the roots—mostly.
Gigi's opening look was this pale pink satin playsuit. It was simple, maybe even a little understated for an opener, until you saw the wings. These weren't just wings; they were massive, mechanical-looking feathered structures that actually moved as she walked. They spanned the entire width of the seven-meter runway. Walking in those is basically a core workout you didn't ask for.
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The Music and the Moment
The soundtrack for her entrance was a remix of INXS’s "Never Tear Us Apart." There was this specific lyric that hit everyone: “We all have wings but some of us don’t know why.” It felt a bit on the nose, sure, but after the brand's long hiatus, it landed.
Gigi’s hair was a short, slicked-back blonde bob. It was a huge departure from the "bombshell waves" we saw in the 2015 or 2018 shows. It felt more "high fashion" and less "pageant," which is exactly the vibe they were chasing.
That Second Look: Red and Ruched
Later in the night, during the "Unwrap the Magic" segment, Gigi swapped the soft pink for a sheer red bodysuit. This look was basically holiday personified. It featured these intricate bow details and another pair of wings—this time ruched and matching the deep red of the lingerie.
She paired these with custom sandals by Rene Caovilla. If you looked closely at the heels, they had tiny little wings on the back. It's those small, expensive details that make these shows what they are.
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The Hadid Sister Act: A Surprise Twist
You can't talk about Gigi without talking about Bella. For weeks leading up to the show, everyone was asking: "Where's Bella?" She’d been on a hiatus for about two years, dealing with her battle with Lyme disease.
While Gigi opened the show, the big "gotcha" moment happened at the very end. Bella Hadid appeared as a surprise closer for the final segment. Watching the two sisters together again—both in red, both looking genuinely happy—was probably the most "human" moment of the night.
Gigi later posted on Instagram that she was basically a proud stage mom. She mentioned how she would have had a poster of Bella’s look on her wall if she were 15 again. It’s kinda sweet when you realize that despite the millions of followers, they’re still just sisters rooting for each other.
What People Are Actually Saying (The Good and the Bad)
Social media is never 100% happy. You know how it is.
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- The Praise: Most fans loved seeing the "old guard" return. Gigi, Adriana Lima, and Tyra Banks brought a level of professional "runway walk" that some of the newer influencers just don't have.
- The Critique: Some critics felt the show lacked the "spectacle" of the mid-2000s. There was no Fantasy Bra this year, which felt like a weird omission for a "grand comeback."
- The "Walk" Debate: On Reddit and TikTok, people were dissecting Gigi's walk. Some said the wings looked so heavy they were throwing her off balance. Others argued she handled the weight like a pro. Those wings weighed roughly 50 pounds—try walking in stilettos with a medium-sized dog strapped to your back and see how you do.
Key Takeaways from the 2024 Comeback
If you're trying to emulate that Gigi energy or just curious about what this means for fashion, here’s the reality:
- The "Slick Back" is King: The era of the giant, teased-out hair is over. Gigi’s minimal hair and makeup showed that the focus is back on the silhouette and the clothes.
- Monochrome Wins: Both of Gigi's looks were strictly one color (all pink, then all red). This is a great tip for anyone trying to look "expensive" without doing too much.
- Support Your People: The Hadid sisters proved that even in a competitive industry, being each other's biggest fan is the best PR you can have.
If you're looking to grab a piece of the show, most of the pieces Gigi wore—like the satin romper and the red teddy—actually went live on the Victoria's Secret site immediately after the broadcast. They’re leaning hard into the "see now, buy now" model.
The next step for any fan is to watch the full replay on Amazon Live or YouTube. Pay attention to the way the wings are engineered; it’s a weirdly fascinating mix of fashion and robotics that we haven't seen at this scale in years.