Meet the wind beneath Victoria's Secret's iconic wings

The catwalks across Milan and Paris may get their acclaim from the front row but year after year, the Victoria's Secret runway continues to be more beloved than any other. The supermodels who stride down the ramp in glittering lingerie and precarious heels may own that walk but what truly sets it apart from any other fashion runway anywhere else in the world isn't the lace bralettes and faces wearing them—it's the wings that flap behind them.

From an ordinary lingerie showcase, the concept of the VS angel came to life in the mid-90s and has since, only grown larger with every edition. From faces recognised by millions across the world to bras studded with thousands of carats of diamonds, the annual Victoria's Secret is now a global phenomenon. And it certainly wouldn't be possible to term it as angelic if it didn't have its fair share of wings; some bejewelled and maximalist, others heavier than a set of dumbbells.

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An angelic journey

Behind many of Victoria's Secret wings is a craftswoman who knows a thing or two about making this beautiful fantasy become a reality. Meet Marian Hose, sculptural artist par extraordinaire and the woman behind Victoria’s Secret’s wings. A costume designer and a wing-maker, Hose has a background in opera, television and Broadway over 35 years. Marian built her career around transforming imaginative concepts into wearable art, with her work resting at the intersection of fashion and theatre. Her association with Victoria's Secret began in 2009, and her work has since formed a part of the elaborate visual work that surrounds the Victoria's Secret show.

The woman behind the wings

For an artist like Marian, a spectacular costume is about more than just its appearance. It must be structurally sound enough to hold its shape throughout a performance and comfortably accessorise the performer. Hose ensured these considerations came together for her creations to appear visually striking while remaining practical enough for a model to wear on the runway.

For the audience, the finished wings are part of a seamless performance. For the people making them, they represent hours of planning, construction, adjustment and finishing. It doesn’t matter if the wing is dramatic or simple; it calls for a process of patience and attention to detail. The finished pieces may appear weightless as they glide down the runway, but their creation involves a considerable amount of skill, patience and meticulousness to ensure it looks like the final pictures. A silhouette must be carefully engineered. Decorative details must be incorporated without compromising the structure. It is a reminder that runway glamour is rarely effortless behind the scenes.

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Bringing theatre to fashion

Hose’s experience in opera, television and Broadway is possibly what brings unique perspective on her work. Theatre costumes are created for performance. They communicate not just character but allow for movement and work within a larger visual production. These same principles are relevant to the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, where every look contributes to a carefully constructed atmosphere. Hose has proven that the wings are not simply accessories added at the last moment. In fact, they are a pivotal part of the storytelling which the whole linger look hinges on.

A light, feathered design can showcase softness; a dark, dramatic silhouette can create a more mysterious mood. Metallic finishes and crystals can catch the stage lights, adding movement as the model walks. The creative challenge lies in making each piece feel distinctive while ensuring it belongs to the larger vision of the show, and Hose does that perfectly.

Behind the scenes

The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is built on models, wings and grandeur, but its most elaborate accessories reveal another side of fashion: the work required to make extraordinary ideas wearable. Yet a production of this scale relies on an extensive network of craftspeople whose work is essential to the final image. Marian's creations help shape the visual identity of a runway show, even as the finished pieces become inseparable from the models who wear them. For Hose, the wings represent a meeting point between theatrical costume design and the demands of a high-profile fashion production. They must be imaginative without losing their structure, dramatic without becoming impractical, and beautiful from the moment the model steps onto the runway. 

Text by Vidhi Dhadiwal

Edited by Dayle Pereira-Alemao

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