Ahead of the 2025 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, L'OFFICIEL looks back at its origin story.&nbsp;

L&rsquo;HISTOIRE explores fashion history moments you should know, from what actors wore on a red carpet to celebrities who made cameos on the runway. Some are unsung, and some are better known. Each is part of the fabric of today&rsquo;s fashion world, be it barrier breakers or culture makers.
As the world gears up for another Victoria&rsquo;s Secret Fashion Show&mdash;the second since its 2019 hiatus and following its highly anticipated comeback last year&mdash;all eyes are on the 2025 edition. <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/victorias-secret-fashion-show-2025-models-adriana-lima-alex-consani" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This year&rsquo;s show</a> is poised to bridge eras, featuring legendary Angels like Adriana Lima and Alessandra Ambrosio alongside a new generation of stars, including Alex Consani, Quenlin Blackwell, and Barbie Ferreira.
But before there were rhinestoned bras, wings larger than the models themselves, and a global livestream watched by millions, there was the very first <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/naomi-campbell-slip-dress-fur-coat-hermes-kelly-victorias-secret-fashion-show-1997" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Victoria&rsquo;s Secret Fashion Show</a> in 1995&mdash;a modest beginning that set the stage for a cultural phenomenon.
Held inside New York&rsquo;s iconic Plaza Hotel on Aug. 1, 1995, the debut show was a far cry from the spectacle it would later become. Hosted by supermodel Stephanie Seymour, who also walked the runway, the intimate event featured a lineup of &rsquo;90s icons including Veronica Webb, Beverly Peele, and Frederique van der Wal. The models strutted down a carpeted runway in simple yet very on-brand looks&mdash;lace bodysuits, satin robes, slip dresses, corset bustiers, and Victoria's Secret classic black lingerie sets. There were no <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/victorias-secret-fashion-show-2025-headliners-performers-singers-karol-g-madison-beer-twice-missy-elliot" target="_blank" rel="noopener">musical performances</a>, no cell phones to post on social media, just the clothes and the supermodels sporting them.&nbsp;

The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 1995. Getty Images.

Though it lacked the fanfare of later productions, the show captured the public&rsquo;s imagination and sparked the demand for an annual event. It was a recipe for success, as who wouldn't want to tune in to see the world's most beautiful supermodels, stripped down to nothing but lingerie? By 2001, The Victoria&rsquo;s Secret Fashion Show had transformed into a televised event, with A-list musical performances, intricate set designs, and the world&rsquo;s biggest and most beautiful supermodels commanding the stage.
At this time, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/bella-hadid-explains-return-to-victorias-secrets-after-controversy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Victoria's Secret</a> was easily one of the most iconic and sought-after lingerie brands, setting the scene for the late nineties and early 2000s. Their variety for women at the time was unmatched, offering everything from classic bikini briefs to a sexy matching bustier set. With a stacked supermodel casting each year to back the brand up, it appeared to be an unstoppable cultural force&mdash;until <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/rise-and-fall-victorias-secret-timeline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">it wasn't.</a>&nbsp;
In the late 2010s, the brand legacy became tired for many younger generations stepping into womanhood, and began embracing newer, fresher lingerie brands. With the <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/rise-and-fall-victorias-secret-timeline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">steady decline</a> of this, also came the distaste for the fashion show itself. Its eventual cancellation in 2019 followed criticism over inclusivity and cultural representation, as many were quick to point out that it felt out of touch, and the idea of only casting one body type became outdated. Still, its <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/victorias-secret-fashion-show-2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revival in 2024</a> signaled a new chapter, inviting all body types to put on a pair of wings.&nbsp;
As Victoria&rsquo;s Secret continues to redefine itself for the modern era, the humble beginnings of that 1995 Plaza Hotel show remain a reminder of where it all began.&nbsp;
Click through the gallery below to see looks from the very first Victoria's Secret Fashion show in 1995 at New York's Plaza Hotel.&nbsp;

L'HISTOIRE: The Very First Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 1995

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