Our Favorite Victoria's Secret Angel Wings from 1999 to 2024

With last week’s highly anticipated return of the iconic Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show after a six-year hiatus, let's revisit some of the dreamiest, most memorable angel wings since the show’s 1995 debut. Although the (now) infamous wings didn’t appear on the fashion giant’s runway until 1998, the feathery accessory is the trademark piece de resistance Victoria’s Secret is exclusively known for, a sort of backpack that only Angels can adorn, that, in turn, us mere mortals can only aspire to.  Here’s a backward glance at Victoria’s Secret’s legacy wings, a not-so-subtle take on what heaven-on-earth looks like…

Karen Mulder, 1998

Where it all began…Karen Mulder in one of the first pair of wings to grace a Victoria’s Secret Runway at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.

Carmen Kass, 1999

Elegant in its simplicity, the origin of Victoria’s wings started out strong with an angelic and ethereal look worn by Carmen Kass in the 1999 Victoria’s Secret Show, held at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.

Adriana Lima, 2002

The vibrant wings worn by Adriana Lima were hard-to-miss neon orange, making a strong statement trailing dramatically behind Lima as she walked the runway at New York City’s Lexington Avenue Armory.

Heidi Klum, 2007

Renowned for donning the most extravagantly designed wings during her 13-year career as an Angel, one of Heidi Klum’s most memorable runway moments was wearing this pair of snowflake wings that opened up into a star with the pull of a string. Here she is at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles.

Karolina Kurkova, 2010

For her career finale, Kurkova sported this fantastical pair of enormous charcoal black wings featuring hundreds of bona fide peacock feathers with gold highlights, resembling both an open and closed tail of a male peacock. (Lexington Avenue Armory/New York City)

Behati Prinsloo, 2013

Nothing screams angel quite like these giant fluffy wings worn by Behati Prinsloo. These stunning wings blended beautifully with the winter wonderland themed runway at the Lexington Avenue Armory Show in New York City. 

Eniko Mihalik, 2014

Just because they’re called Victoria’s Secret Angels doesn’t mean they always have to wear angel wings. Hosted at Earls Court in London, 2014 was the year of a few first for Victoria’s Secret, including exotic designs resembling fairy and insect-like wings such as these holographic fairy wings.

Josephine Skriver, 2017

In 2017, Victoria’s Secret took a surprisingly edgy turn with a punk rock inspired show hosted at Mercedes Benz Arena in Shanghai, where Skriver’s wings brought a uniquely gothic, grungy vibe to the runway that we hadn’t seen before.

Devon Windsor, 2018

Sometimes big isn’t always better — these white and pink wispy wings worn by Devon Windsor in the 2018 show (at New York City’s Pier 94) beautifully complement her entire look with an angelic look/feel without being too over- the-top.

Gigi Hadid, 2024

These stunning pink wings that gradually stretched up and open as Hadid made her way down the runway were the perfect way to open Victoria Secret’s 2024 comeback show hosted at the Duggal Greenhouse in Brooklyn, NYC..

Honorable Mention: Lisa, 2024

Lisa, from the Kpop girl group Blackpink, brought out the Angel in all of us when she rocked these floral ice-like wings during her performance at the 2024 show. Fingers-crossed there will be more extraordinary wings like these for years-to-come; afterall, us mere mortals gotta dream!