A guilty pleasure, a spectacle for voyeurs, a fashion fantasia, a model's dream, a designer's showcase... Whatever you think of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, its impact is far-reaching. This year's crop of long-legged models included young women who first walked in the show in 2000, and other models taking that career-making runway walk for the first time.
Pageantry and elaborate costumes were a part of ancient Egypt fashion, and some of the Victoria's Secret costumes, with jeweled collars, large jewels draped from shoulders to navel, sheer fabrics and exposed flesh echoed the aesthetics of Egyptian women's wear. Certain tomb paintings depict dancers and musicians performing bare breasted, and even noblewomen wore dresses that put the breasts on display, either barely covered by see-through linen or entirely bare. Sandals were the preferred footwear and jewelry and dramatic makeup were plentiful.
Models in Fantasy Costumes and Angel's Wings
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TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images via Laurent Jean Philippe, Flickr |
It's easy to imagine a pageant of the God's wives of Amon. In Egypt's distant history, women's spiritual roles were a source of power. One important position was as a wife of Amon.
Pharaoh's wives, including Cleopatra, at times took on the role of Isis, and wore wings.
The array of fantasy costumes somehow outdid last year's. As one model put it, "It's amazing what they can do with a bra and panties."
As with last year's show, camera angles that would be too crass to use in most other situations -- up-skirt shots that fill the screen were used excessively -- presumably the fact that it's an underwear show is the excuse. The models own the catwalk with grace and composure, despite all the backstage frenzy during the fashion show.