It’s been over a decade, but if you go on TikTok or Pinterest right now, you’ll see it. The glitter. The British Invasion. That specific, frantic energy of Taylor Swift strutting down a runway in a Union Jack dress while Fall Out Boy screams "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark" in the background. Honestly, the 2013 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show wasn't just a marketing event for overpriced lace; it was a total cultural reset that marked the absolute ceiling of the "Angel" era before everything started to shift.
People still obsess over this specific year. Why? Because it was the last time the show felt truly untouchable. It was the year of the $10 million Royal Fantasy Bra worn by Candice Swanepoel. It was the year Cara Delevingne carried a soccer ball down a runway for some reason. It was weird, it was high-octane, and it was unapologetically loud.
The Night Everything Clicked at the 2013 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show
The 2013 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show took place at the Lexington Avenue Armory in New York City, and the vibe was noticeably different from the years that followed. Before the brand faced the massive PR overhauls and inclusivity critiques of the late 2010s, 2013 was about pure, unadulterated spectacle.
The themes were all over the place. You had British Invasion, Shipwrecked, Parisian Nights, Birds of Paradise, PINK Network, and Snow Angels.
Taylor Swift was the "headliner," and this is actually a pretty important piece of music history. This was Red era Taylor—just before she fully transitioned into the synth-pop juggernaut of 1989. Her chemistry with the models, specifically her best friend at the time, Karlie Kloss, turned the runway into a high-budget music video. It didn't feel like a performance happening at a fashion show; it felt like a collaboration.
Candice and the $10 Million Bra
You can't talk about this show without mentioning the "Royal Fantasy Bra." Candice Swanepoel opened the show wearing it. It was designed by Mouawad and featured over 4,200 precious stones, including rubies, diamonds, and yellow sapphires. The centerpiece was a 52-carat pear-shaped ruby.
Think about that for a second. Ten million dollars.
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At the time, the economy was recovering, and this level of opulence felt aspirational rather than out of touch to the general public. Candice looked terrified yet regal. The security detail backstage for that single piece of lingerie was rumored to be tighter than a presidential motorcade.
Why the Music Mattered More Than the Clothes
While Fall Out Boy brought the rock-pop edge, Neon Jungle and A Great Big World also performed. "Say Something" played during the "Shipwrecked" segment, which was a risky move. It’s a slow, gut-wrenching ballad. Seeing models like Behati Prinsloo and Lily Aldridge walk in tattered, ethereal wings to a song about heartbreak created this bizarre, haunting contrast that people still talk about in fashion forums.
It proved the producers knew how to manipulate the mood. They weren't just selling bras; they were selling a feeling of "the ultimate girl gang."
The Casting Peak: Adriana, Alessandra, and the New Guard
In 2013, the roster was stacked. You had the "Big Three"—Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, and Doutzen Kroes—who were at the height of their physical prime and contract power. Adriana, specifically, was the undisputed queen. Her walk during the "Parisian Nights" segment, wearing black lace and massive feathered wings, is often cited by casting directors as the "gold standard" of how to own a room.
But you also saw the rise of the "Instagirls" beginning to brew.
- Cara Delevingne was the "it girl" of the moment, bringing a goofy, rebellious energy that broke the standard "blow a kiss and wink" mold.
- Karlie Kloss was bringing high-fashion editorial walks to a commercial runway.
- Joan Smalls and Lais Ribeiro were proving that the brand’s aesthetic was—at least on the surface—trying to expand.
The hair was a big deal too. 2013 was the peak of the "VS Wave." It wasn't just curled; it was engineered. Stylists used heavy-duty extensions and Beachwaver tools to create a look that millions of women tried to replicate at home with varying degrees of success. Usually, we just ended up with burnt hair and disappointment.
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The Logistics of a $12 Million Production
The budget for the 2013 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was roughly $12 million. To put that in perspective, a standard high-fashion show in Paris might cost anywhere from $200,000 to $1 million. Victoria's Secret was spending 10 times that.
The wings were heavier than they looked. Some of the elaborate pieces weighed upwards of 30 pounds. If you watch the 2013 footage closely, you can see the slight strain on the models' shoulders. They were basically athletes in heels. They trained for months with trainers like Justin Gelband, doing "ModelFit" workouts that focused on small twitch muscles so they wouldn't collapse under the weight of a Swarovski-encrusted wing set.
Criticism and the Benefit of Hindsight
It wasn't all perfect. Even in 2013, the cracks were starting to show if you knew where to look. The "British Invasion" segment was fun but bordered on costume-party territory. The "PINK" segment, aimed at college-aged girls, was becoming increasingly neon and frantic.
More importantly, the lack of body diversity was glaring. In 2013, the "fantasy" was very narrow. While the world was beginning to move toward a broader definition of beauty, VS was doubling down on a very specific, hyper-fit physique. This stubbornness is what eventually led to the show's cancellation years later. But for that one night in November 2013, the world didn't seem to care. The ratings were massive—over 9 million viewers tuned in on CBS.
Impact on Social Media
This was one of the first years where Instagram really dictated the show’s "afterlife." The models were posting behind-the-scenes "selfies" (a word that was just becoming a thing) with their pink silk robes. This created a secondary layer of marketing that made the event feel accessible. You weren't just watching a TV special; you were following their "journey" to the runway.
The 2013 show turned the models into "influencers" before that was even a formal job title.
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Behind the Scenes: What You Didn't See
The backstage area was absolute chaos. It’s a cramped space filled with 40 models, hundreds of hair and makeup artists, and a literal army of dressers. For the 2013 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, the "look" required 28 pairs of wings and 67 separate outfits.
Each model has a "dresser" whose only job is to get them into their outfit in under 30 seconds. In 2013, there was a minor wardrobe crisis where a wing strap snapped minutes before a segment, and it had to be sewn directly onto the model's outfit while she was standing in the wings. They used fishing line because it's invisible and strong.
Legacy of the 2013 Event
When people look back at the history of fashion entertainment, 2013 stands out because it was the last year the show felt like it had no competition. Rihanna had performed the year before, and Taylor Swift was there in 2013. The brand had successfully bridged the gap between a fashion show and a Super Bowl halftime performance.
It was the blueprint.
Every brand that has tried to do a "spectacle" show since—including the Savage X Fenty shows—owes a debt to the pacing and production of 2013. It was the year they perfected the formula of:
- Pop Star + Supermodel + Extreme Wealth = Viral Content.
How to Capture the 2013 Aesthetic Today
If you’re a creator or someone into fashion history, the 2013 show is a goldmine for "vintage" 2010s inspiration. Here is how that look still influences things:
- The Glow: The makeup was all about "Angel Skin." This meant heavy bronze, but with a dewy finish that looked like they’d just finished a workout.
- The Statement Accessory: Whether it was the Union Jack cape or the literal soccer ball, 2013 was about props. High-fashion is currently returning to this "performative" style.
- The Soundtrack: Go back and listen to the 2013 setlist. It’s a masterclass in high-energy "runway" music that doesn't distract from the visual.
The 2013 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show remains a time capsule. It represents a specific moment in pop culture where we were obsessed with a very specific, glamorous, and somewhat unattainable dream. Whether that's good or bad is up for debate, but you can't deny the impact it had on the decade.
To dive deeper into this era, look up the raw footage of the "Shipwrecked" segment. Notice how the lighting changes from warm gold to a cold, misty blue. It's one of the best examples of production design in the show's entire 20-plus year run. Watch the way the models timed their walks to the beat of "Say Something"—it's a lesson in theatrical timing that most modern runways lack.