Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2013 : Behind the Curtain

Text by KARYN MONGET for WWD :

” NEW YORK — The fantasy world of a make-believe Snow Queen and her Snow Angels swathed in Swarovski Elements took over the Victoria’s Secret offices in Manhattan Wednesday evening.

In an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, Angels were being fitted into fairy-tale-inspired costumes, while artisans, beaders and costumers were literally sewing up the final details on costumes and accessories for the fashion extravaganza. The annual show is scheduled for Nov. 13 at the 69th Regiment Armory here.

Adding glitz and glam to the lingerie pilgrimage attended by the global media is Swarovski, which since 2002 has been providing crystals that adorn the costumes, as well as jewelry andfootwear created by Nicholas Kirkwood. This year, 20 custom Swarovski creations will be modeled by some of Victoria’s Secrets’ most famous Angels, including Lily Aldridge,Alessandra Ambrosio, Karlie Kloss, Doutzen Kroes, Adriana Lima, Behati Prinsloo, Candice Swanepoel and Lindsay Ellingson.

A special addition to this year’s venue will be 3-D printed technology combined with what Alexandria Nahlous, senior media manager for Swarovski North America Ltd., calls “custom-produced crystal fabric” — shimmering, multicolor coated crystals inspired by the northern lights, or aurora borealis.

“This is incredible for us because we’re looking at the future of costume design, instead of looking at archival pieces,” said Nahlous.

The “AB effect” will underscore the show’s Snow Angels finale, in which Swarovski and Victoria’s Secret will showcase a high-tech costume designed by architect Bradley Rothenberg from 3-D printing company Shapeways. The costume was made to precisely fit Ellingson from a 3-D scan of her figure, while 3-D computer printing technology was used to create the geometric filigree characteristics of the design’s snowflake motif, which will be encrusted with millions of illuminating Swarovski crystals.

“It will be the most elaborate show with the most elaborate costumes we’ve ever done,” said Monica Mitro, executive vice president of communications and events at Victoria’s Secret.

“The Snow Queen is the iconic ice queen, and her Snow Angels are very angelic. Almost everyone will have a wing, a crown or feathery-looking capes embellished with AB crystals,” said Mitro.

Sophia Neophitou-Apostolou, collection creative director, interjected, saying the technology and AB crystals used to create the Snow Queen costume is “very clever.
“It’s really an industrial material, but it looks like a really fine lace.…We wanted her to look like a snowflake, a very fragile snowflake,” explained Neophitou-Apostolou.” – wwd.com