That thesis project evolved into a unique fashion brand beloved by the likes of Gigi and Bella Hadid. Yeung, who designs the whimsical shoes often featuring the brand’s patented Wavy Outsole, told Footwear News that her grandmother is the main source of inspiration behind the brand, having created her thesis with her in mind. She recalled not only the matriarch’s zest for life — her belief that “as long as you keep your spirit up, age shouldn’t really matter” —  but also the fact that she practiced a sustainable lifestyle in a myriad of ways.

Debuting in 2017, iRi has since undergone a relaunch and is now placing a strong focus on transforming their production and distribution methods to be more environmentally-friendly.

Yeung told FN about iRi’s journey toward sustainable practices, explaining, “When we first launched, none of our products had anything to do with sustainable materials. But thankfully, once we moved our production to Korea, I was shocked that they have a lot of availabilities with sustainable footwear materials, finally, and they’re not too expensive. Or we don’t have to order 1000 yards of fabrics to actually use them. So moving the whole production site helped a lot to finally incorporate more sustainable materials into our designs.”

Yeung is proud to say that 65% of designs from iRi’s collection are now made with sustainable materials. The Wes sneaker, a low-top style featuring the brand’s signature Wavy Outsole, accounts for 65% of the company’s sales and is now crafted with recycled neoprene fabric.

The brand’s knit fabrics and part of the neoprene material utilize KrPet yarn made from recycled plastic bottles locally sourced from Korea. Yeung also showed FN a still-in-development outsole crafted from recycled polyurethane, a major step for the brand as that particular shoe component has proved a tricky piece to make both sustainable and durable.

Additionally, iRi insoles are now made from either corn fiber or coconut oil, both of which are bio-based materials. Changes have also been made with the brand’s leather products, with shifts toward recycled leather and non-plastic vegan leather. Yeung pointed out a greenwashing trend she’s experienced in the industry in which some leather alternatives are called “vegan” but still negatively impact the environment since they’re made from petroleum.

She explained, “But this supplier that we found here in Korea, they use a mix of some leftover vegetables, and they compress them. So using these alternative leather fabrics, we’ve also replaced a lot of the real leather products on our boots or heels into these greener kinds.”

Yeung reflected on what she’s learned about the fashion industry’s impact on the environment since working on iRi: “It’s so huge. At school, people talk about, ‘Fashion has to be sustainable, fast fashion, overconsumption.’ We learn that as students, but being in the industry, and actually in the factory, seeing how much waste is produced — [it] was kind of shocking to actually see that. And for shoes, because the components are small and some fabrics they have to cut out in certain ways, so it’s hard to make that zero waste pattern like how we can do with apparels.”

While Yeung noted that some companies discard “good fabric” out of convenience, she took inspiration from shoe brands that have chosen a different, more sustainable path. iRi collaborated with Cueclyp, a Korean company that focuses exclusively on upcycling, to create bags made from leftover materials, each featuring a distinctive pattern. And now iRi is venturing into the home decor space: as a gift-with-purchase, customers will receive upcycled drink coasters made from leftover neoprene and lining fabric. Available in various vibrant colors, the coasters are embroidered with the brand’s logo.

Looking ahead, Yeung hopes iRi can one day support a “360 lifestyle” for shoes in which products can be sent in to be fixed and returned to the owner. Additionally, having primarily built a presence online thus far, she wants to work on creating an in-person experience for customers as well; the team is in talks to create a pop-up in 2025 and transition more into the physical retail space.

While minimizing the brand’s impact on the earth, Yeung wants to create shoes that people of all generations can enjoy: “The core message has always stayed within the same realm of creating something playful, not too serious, but still wearable. Because my biggest dream is for 20-year-olds to wear our shoes, like our age, and then 60-year-olds, like our grandmas, to also rock in them.”

A Closer Look at the Shoes From Asian-Female-Owned Brand iRi NYC

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“There is simply no comparison between Judy Garland’s Ruby Slippers and any other piece of Hollywood memorabilia,” said Joe Maddalena, executive vice president of Heritage Auctions. “The breathtaking result reflects just how important movies and movie memorabilia are to our culture and to collectors. It’s been a privilege for all of us at Heritage to be a part of the slippers’ epic journey over the rainbow and off to a new home.”

No other pair of the slippers worn by Galrand had come close to Saturday’s sale. In 2000, another pair sold for 666,000, and 12 years later, Steven Spielberg and Leonardo DiCaprio shelled out $2 million for another pair donated tot he Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles.

What We Originally Reported:

A pair of the iconic ruby slippers from the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz” is now up for auction at Heritage Auctions through Dec. 7, with the current bid at $812,500. With the buyer’s premium included, the price is $1,015,625.

The story of Victor Fleming’s Golden Age classic is so deeply ingrained in our collective memory that even those who haven’t seen the film are familiar with Dorothy’s ruby slippers and the pivotal role they play in the movie. In the “The Wizard of Oz,” Glinda, the Good Witch of the North (Billie Burke), gifts Dorothy (Judy Garland) a pair of ruby slippers to keep her safe from the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) and help her return home to Kansas after a tornado transported Dorothy to the magical Land of Oz. 

“Then close your eyes and tap your heels together three times. And think to yourself, ‘There’s no place like home,” says Glinda.

While the shoes are instantly recognizable, not everyone knows the ruby slippers have a complex and fascinating history attached to them. Just four pairs of the shoes are known to have survived to this day, and one pair made a triumphant recovery after being stolen in 2005.

That very pair is currently up for auction and said to be “the cross-matched sister shoes to the pair at The Smithsonian Institution, most likely separated in the early spring of 1970.” Belonging to Michael Shaw, the shoes were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Minnesota, but were eventually found by the FBI in 2018 through a sting operation after a tip was received about the case.

Randy Struthers, described as a Ruby Slipper forensic expert and Smithsonian consultant, examined the film frame-by-frame and came to the conclusion that Judy Garland wears Michael Shaw’s shoes throughout the majority of the film, including some of its most famous scenes.

A description of the shoes found on Heritage Auctions reads, “The Ruby Slippers are a vintage pair of Innes Shoe Co. red silk faille heels with uppers and heels covered with hand-sequined silk georgette, lined in white leather, and the leather soles are painted red with orange felt adhered to the front foundation of each shoe. The bows are made of hand-cut buckram cloth and are slightly different in size. Rhinestones rim the bows, which are filled with bugle beads surrounding three center jewels.”

The shoes are also compared to each other: “The left shoe has a slightly thicker, shorter heel with a Cat’s Paw rubber top lift cap. The right shoe has a slightly taller, thinner heel with a leather top lift cap. Both lift caps are painted red. This Michael Shaw pair of slippers are darker in color than any other known pair-a rich burgundy-likely the result of careful storage out of direct light.”

Heritage Auctions also included this video in their page dedicated to the slippers.

Designed by Gilbert Adrian, MGM Studios’ former chief costume designer, the red slippers are known as one of the most iconic shoes in cinematic history. The footwear was reportedly covered in 2,300 red sequins — originally, the shoe was supposed to be covered in red jewels, but the prototype turned out to be too heavy — and featured a short block heel. 

Originally silver in L. Frank Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of OZ” book, which inspired the movie, the slippers were changed to ruby to take advantage of color photography. “The Wizard of Oz” was one of the first films to use Technicolor, a process using dye-transfer techniques to produce a color print.

Although it wasn’t confirmed how many pairs of ruby slippers were made for the movie, it’s believed that production worked with seven to ten different pairs throughout filming.

From the 1930s to the 1960s, movie studios failed to recognize the value of film memorabilia, often turning props and costumes into trash or donations. This changed in 1970 when MGM organized its first auction, selling thousands of dollars. Only then were the ruby slippers brought back to the spotlight. 

National Museum of American History

Costume designer Kent Warner, who was hired by MGM to help catalog and prepare for the studios’ auction in 1970, is known for finding and acquiring two pairs of ruby slippers from “The Wizard of Oz.”

One of the pairs was sold for $15,000 by an unidentified client during the auction. This pair is believed to be the one at the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. The museum received the pair from an anonymous donation in 1979. 

“These size-five shoes are well-worn, suggesting they were Garland’s primary pair for dance sequences,” says the museum. 

In 2016, the Smithsonian Institution raised more than $300,000 to renovate the shoes with help from the Museum Conservation Institute, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. 

The Stolen Shoes 

The other pair found by Kent Warner was sold to collector Michael Shaw, who loaned them to the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Mich. In 2005, the shoes were stolen by Terry Jon Martin. 

The FBI recovered the shoes in 2018 after a 13-year search. In 2023, Martin was indicted by a federal grand jury for the theft. According to his lawyer, Martin has never seen “The Wizard of Oz” and “got rid of the slippers less than two days after he took them” once he realized the shoes weren’t made of real jewels. Martin, 76, was sentenced in January 2024 while in hospice and was not ordered to serve time in prison for the theft.

The stolen shoes were sent to the Smithsonian Institution in 2018. The museum announced that the slippers donated in 1979, which were always slightly mismatched, corresponded with the recovered shoes.

National Four Star Club

A Tennessee woman named Roberta Jeffries Bauman won a pair of the ruby slippers in 1940, after placing second in a National Four Star Club “Name the Best Movies of 1939” contest. According to an article from the Los Angeles Times in 1988, Bauman used to keep her shoes inside her closet. After the other pair was sold for $15,000 at the MGM auction in 1970, Bauman transferred them to a bank security box. 

In 1988, Bauman signed a contract with Christie’s East auction house, which sold them for $165,000 to Anthony Landini. 

Landini partnered with The Walt Disney Company to exhibit the shoes at Disney’s and MGM Studios’ Florida Theme Park in 1989. In 2000, Landini sold the shoes for $666,000 to David Elkouby, who owns Starworld, a film memorabilia store in Los Angeles. 

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

In 1988, two weeks after Landini acquired a pair from Bauman, an unknown collector offered a pair to Philip Samuels, who was the under-bidder of Bauman shoes. Samuels bought the pair for $165,000 and used the shoes to fundraise for children’s charities. 

In 2011, house Profiles in History announced Samuels’ ruby slippers, which are considered to be one of the best conserved of them all, as the centerpiece of its “Icons of Hollywood” auction. The shoes were estimated at $3 million dollars. 

A syndicate organized by Leonardo DiCaprio, Steven Spielberg and others bought the pair by an undisclosed amount and donated to the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. 

Debbie Reynolds 

The first version of the iconic shoes designed by Gilbert Adrian featured a curled-toe silhouette. These “Arabian” shoes were given to Debbie Reynolds by Kent Warner. 

In 2011, Reynolds, who was a known collector of Hollywood memorabilia, sold the ruby shoes for $510,000 at an auction. She also sold Judy Garland’s blue Dorothy dress for $690,000.

7 Iconic Movie Shoes

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About the Author:

Renan Botelho is the senior Digital Editor for Footwear News, reporting on the latest fashion trends and celebrity style. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the Methodist University of São Paulo. He can be reached at rbotelho@footwearnews.com.

After Laura Dern, who starred in the inaugural episode of “Vivier Express Travelling Icons,” Roger Vivier has tapped Eva Green as the protagonist of the second installation of its series of whimsical short films aimed at spotlighting the label’s signature styles.

To be released on Thursday, the second episode further builds on the traveling theme staged in an Orient Express-like set, but with a new cinematic take nodding to the noir film genre. In the three-minute long video, Green is initially seen in her pink-hued coach in an Old Hollywood diva attire: her dark, wavy mane parted on a side matching her black skirt suit and crystal-encrusted sunglasses, in a glam look accessorized with the I Love Vivier red suede pumps at her feet and a Viv’ Choc handbag sitting closely to her.

As she flicks through a big book with quotes from the brand’s founder, an alter ego to her character is introduced. This new role – also played by Green – opens to a black-and-white segment during which the two characters interact and optical renditions of the same accessories make an appearance. The scene turns back to color and the episode closes with a plot twist, as a director calls “Action” and a movie-within-the-movie concept is revealed to viewers.

Roger Vivier’s creative director Gherardo Felloni defined Green “perfect” to convey his vision, inspired by “noir films from the ‘40s and ‘50s associated with a low key, black–and-white visual style that has roots in German Expressionism cinematography, a genre that has always fascinated me.”

“It is a world where shadows speak, and every glance hides a secret. I envisioned Eva Green as our modern-day femme fatale, not just wearing the shoes and accessories but bringing them to life, infusing them with a sense of danger and desire,” said Felloni, adding that the French actress channeled the allure of the likes of Lauren Bacall and Bette Davis.

“She is an extremely talented actress, there is something eminently glamorous in her,” he continued. “She is sophisticated and contemporary, yet at the same time mysterious and enigmatic.”

The designer and Green met a few months ago in the intimacy of a Parisian hotel patio. “We had a long conversation about our love for cinema and I was touched by her deep culture for fashion,” recalled Felloni.

Green shared that after the first encounter she attended the brand’s fall 2024 presentation, where she got to see the black-and-white pumps she would have worn in the film for the first time.

“It was a joy to meet Gherado in person,” said Green. “He is kind, creative and funny. These are three excellent qualities that I admire in a man.” About the brand itself, she said she appreciate its “brilliant ability to fuse elegance with fantasy – Gherado creates an alchemy which is sophisticated and intelligent. But it’s also an invitation for playfulness and dreams. It’s a brand that reminds us beauty can be both endlessly thoughtful and expressive.”

In addition to her acting prowess and her extensive work – which ranges from her iconic debut role in Bernardo Bertolucci’s 2003 film “The Dreamers” and playing Vesper Lynd in the James Bond’s franchise 2006 film “Casino Royale” to starring in the critically acclaimed TV series “Penny Dreadful” and appearing in several movies directed by Tim Burton, such as “Dark Shadows” and “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” – Green is renowned for her daring sense of fashion. Her gothic elegance and penchant for dark dramatic outfits contribute to making her stand apart on red carpets.

“I am one of those people who needs a bit of outside inspiration,” said Green about her approach to fashion. “Once acquired, I tend to gravitate towards classic silhouettes with a touch of bold edge. Putting together a red carpet look is a bit like crafting a character for the evening – each piece tells a story, capturing the theme and the mood of the event. My stylists are the unsung heroes, helping transform the idea into the reality.”

While the actress is already focused on her next project – director Bahman Ghobadi’s upcoming film, currently titled “The Trees” and centered on his experiences of living in exile for over 20 years, far from his homeland Iran – she recalled the shooting days on the Vivier set to be “a delightful experience – a real meeting of artistry and vision.”

“The Italian train set added an almost magical quality. The atmosphere felt alive, like a whirlwind of energy, with every scene capturing the romance and intrigue of travel,” she said. “My fondest memory is the quality of the set design and the lighting. There’s something brilliant about the Vivier Express that feels like a little marionette theatre where sweet dreams might – one day – come true.”

Known for his flamboyant vision and theatrical presentation concepts inspired by his passion for music and opera, Felloni has always infused a cinematic element in his approach to collections and relied on this medium since his appointment in 2018 to further telegraph the brand’s joie de vivre and eclectic styles. 

Green also believes the designer is “a good person to have in a director’s chair” as she revealed she’s “trying to encourage him to design shoes and direct his own films,” she said.

Felloni’s nature is very much in sync with Roger Vivier’s own strong bond with the world of cinema. The brand entered the pop culture pantheon on the heels of Catherine Deneuve’s role in Luis Buñuel’s 1967 movie “Belle de Jour,” in which the actress sported the original version of the Roger Vivier signature buckle pump.

Since taking the creative helm of the brand, Felloni has worked with renowned actresses who embody the label’s essence of romantic exuberance and playful creativity, including the likes of Isabella Rossellini, Isabelle Huppert, Christina Ricci, Susan Sarandon, and even Deneuve herself.

The Deckers-owned footwear brand has taken over the space until Dec. 7 by turning it into an igloo with comfy brown sofas and using the same fluffy materials that’s used in their shoes on the Christmas trees.

The brand has put a variety of products on display at the Corner Shop including the new Ugg Extreme collection that consists of cold weather shoes and apparel.

For a limited amount of time, the brand brought out new exclusive styles from its collaboration with Telfar. The new pieces come in colorways of black and chestnut, as well as denim.

To celebrate the opening, Ugg has invited British singer-songwriter Griff to perform a special acoustic set.

The luxury British department store is gearing up for the festive season and has already announced that this year’s theme for the store is “More the Merrier.”

Selfridges has summoned a Christmas team to bring the lights and magic alive.

Costume designer Max Allen has designed the outfits for Santa and the Selfridges Christmas entertainers; Emily Pugh has been enlisted as a Christmas tree stylist; the Oxford Street windows have been created in collaboration with the artist Andrew Logan with additional contribution from fashion designer Charles Jeffrey and the artist Flaminia Veronesi.

“The festive season at Selfridges is an antidote to the mundane; it’s our vibrant crescendo to 2024 as we transform our stores into high-octane wonderlands. We’ve collaborated with an incredible host of artists and creatives, bringing together different tastes and trends in an ode to imagination and a celebration of maximalism. We want our customers to share in this joy and to help them live brighter this Christmas,” said Laura Weir, Selfridges chief creative.

Anna Sui and John Fluevog have reunited once again.

Designed for Anna Sui’s upcoming resort ’25 collection, the two designers have remade a pair of boots they originally created in the early ’90s together.

Fans of Anna Sui will remember the butterfly appliqué boots made in collaboration with Fluevog for her spring 1993 show. “It was instantly a hit,” Sui said. “And it just came up again organically because so many people saw the picture in my book and said, ‘Why don’t you do these again? They’re so fantastic.’ Then when I was working on my resort’ 25 collection, it just kind of clicked with what we were doing.”

This time around, Sui and Fluevog created the Memento Chrysalis, which is out today, seen in blue and black denim. They also have launched the Softly Pirouette Mary Jane flats with embroidered butterfly appliqués. The shoes retail for $799 and $349, respectively.

“We speak the same language and John is so innovative with his materials and what he’s capable of doing,” added Sui. “These shoes become like treasures, and people keep them for years. They make you feel special. And I think that’s so much about why we get dressed and why we choose what we do. It’s our language, it’s our vocabulary, it’s our way to express ourselves without saying a word.”

Fluevog is ramping up his collaborations by also releasing a new collection with musician Olivia Jean today. The zip-up, platform ankle boots are inspired by Jean’s love of combat boots and go-to pink and black colorway.

“The name of those boots is called Stand Up,” explained Fluevog. “Because it’s for women. It’s a sense of empowerment. It’s stand up. Be counted. You are worthy. You are who you are. Stand up. You can move forward in them, and they just give you a lot of energy.”

The style, available now, retails for $499.

In August, Fluevog expanded his assortment by launching sneakers for the first time in his 50 years in business. “I sell a feeling and emotion more than I sell categories of shoes,” Fluevog told FN on why he’s waited to design sneakers. “The biggest driver was price point. It’s important for me to have more accessibility. I don’t really like to think that they’re a sneaker category, but I like to think that they’re a price point category.”

FKA Twigs is a fan of Sean McGirr’s McQueen. Though the designer’s debut for the British brand was controversial, the music artist sported two shoes from the line in the music video for her song “Perfect Stranger” off her upcoming album “Eusexua.”

For a majority of the music video, Twigs wears the Alexander McQueen encased heel-cum-boot. The shoe is beige. It features a faux leather second-skill boot that comes up to about mid-shin. That is encased in a mesh bag, giving the footwear a dramatic silhouette though the heel is uncovered.

The shoe was worn throughout the show. It is also available for purchase for $1,890. The company also sells it in black.

Later, Twigs appears in a scene walking bound on a treadmill. A shot of her feet reveals that she has gone back to McQueen: the brand’s Hoof boot in brown calf hair. The shoe is modeled after the actual leg and hoof of a horse, featuring a horseshoe on the base. They also zip up the back.

The brand, which also offers the boot in black leather (that version comes with a tail on the back of one boot,) debuted the design in McGirr’s first collection as well. While the black calf leather version is available currently, the calf hair version is not yet for sale. Both retail for $2,890. Rosalia notably wore the black calf version on “The Tonight Show” in May.

Twigs also wears a massive metallic platform heel that measures almost 18 inches high. With a sharp, sculpted spike on the back and silver cowhide leather straps, the shoe was a custom design by Wassim Hodayebi. Of the other notable shoe is a pair of black platform stiletto heels worn by Yves Tumor. The thigh-high second-skin boots are Windowsen’s Metal Dragon design, a silhouette FKA Twigs has been wearing since August, typically in brown.

The music video was styled by Georgia Pendlebury and Yaz Exall.

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The British accessories brand has staged another pop-up at the luxury department store’s Haussmann address following the success of the Champs-Élysées pop-up earlier this year.

Kurt Geiger has plastered its campaign with Emily Ratajkowski across the storefront and put up flags that replicate the brand’s diamond stained glass window print.

Inside the pop-up, two columns have been decorated with the stained glass windows and  teal green carpeting.

France has become Kurt Geiger’s fastest growing market in Europe and sits in 18 Galeries Lafayette stores, from Azure Coast to northern France.

“At Kurt Geiger we’re being very selective about our distribution and where we open stores — we’re willing to wait for the best location in a market,” said Steven Sousa, the brand’s chief international officer in March.

Kurt Geiger’s annual sales reached $466 million in the year ending February 2024, a 10 percent increase from the year-ago period. Earnings increased by 34 percent, exceeding $50 million.

The brand cited its “affordable luxury” handbags for its success.

“Quite simply, we stand out from the crowd. Our brand has [a] unique design aesthetic – fun, colorful and instantly recognizable. That, combined with a strong British DNA and an incredible value proposition – we’ve filled a white space with bold, maximalist silhouettes at an affordable price point,” said Neil Clifford, chief executive officer at Kurt Geiger.

“2024 is on track to smash all of our most ambitious predictions – with our global footprint growing exponentially, driven by handbags — now our largest product category in all markets. Not bad for an independent British brand, operating against a pretty tough economic backdrop,” he added.

Launching into the holiday season, Neiman Marcus has revealed its 2024 Fantasy Gifts, including two shoe options.

The retailer celebrates the holidays with a list of lavish gifts every year. For 2024, one of the Fantasy Gifts is a $55,000 Manolo Blahnik VIP shopping experience in London, which takes you “behind the scenes of luxury shoemaking.” Two guests will stay at the Connaught Hotel for three nights and visit some of Blahnik’s favorite spots in town. The trip includes a visit to the designer’s original Chelsea boutique, which comes with two pairs of free shoes for each person — and they can be monogrammed. Among other highlights of the trip, guests will have tea with CEO Kristina Blahnik to learn more about the design process and the inspiration fueling seasonal collections.

A second footwear-related gift includes Miron Crosby Celestial Boots and an astrological reading; the shoes feature a night sky scene against a black leather backdrop. Designed exclusively with Neiman Marcus, the limited-edition boots are a reinterpretation of the brand’s Margretta silhouette. The artisinal shoes feature pavé diamond stars set in 18-karat gold in addition to naturally sourced turquoise; each pair features over 3,000 stones. This $28,000 gift comes alongside an astrological reading from Rosie Cutter, known as the astrologer to the stars.

The Fantasy Gifts were announced as part of the season campaign “A Neiman’s Fantasy” and the release of the annual Holiday Book. With each Fantasy Gift purchase, a philanthropic donation will be made to The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation; the company also continues its relationship with The Boys & Girls Club of America with a point-of-sale fundraising campaign and seasonal hiring initiatives to help graduating Club members start their careers with Neiman Marcus.

“This year’s holiday activation and campaign is an invitation to embrace the magic of Neiman Marcus. The storytelling was inspired by the theatrical traditions and folklore during the period that the brand was founded,” said Neiman Marcus’ chief brand officer Nabil Aliffi.

Aliffi continued, “Through our comprehensive 360-degree marketing strategy, we will take our customers on a remarkable journey that transcends traditional shopping, immersing them in a world of fantasy both in-store and online. We invite our customers to step into this extraordinary realm, where every interaction is an opportunity to experience the excitement of the season, no matter how they choose to engage with us.”

Among other Fantasy Gifts is a $175,000 VIP style experience in Paris with Marylin Fitoussi, the costume designer for “Emily in Paris.” Last year’s Fantasy Gifts included trips to the Cannes Film Festival and the Paris Olympics.

In 1995, Ed Razek, a marketing executive, received a call from former CEO Leslie Wexner, which led to the creation of the annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. The show became a highly anticipated event featuring top musical acts and models, attracting millions of viewers. The renowned fashion event was canceled in 2019 due to controversies surrounding the brand and concerns regarding the lack of diversity on its runways. But this year promises to give fans a fresh take on the beloved show.

Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s event.

A Bold Return: What’s New for 2024?

The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2024 has been undergoing a transformation to better reflect today’s cultural and social climate. With a focus on celebrating all body types, ethnicities, and identities, the event aims to spotlight a wider range of models and redefine what beauty and confidence look like.

Expect the show to shift from its traditional format of featuring the “Angels” to one that highlights a broader spectrum of talent, including established supermodels and new faces who align with the brand’s evolving image.

Superstar Collaborations and Designers

One of the most exciting aspects of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is always the musical performances. In its return, the show will feature all-female musical performances from top artists Tyla, Lisa and Cher. Previous performances from the likes of Jay-Z and Kanye West, Taylor Swift, and Rihanna have set a high bar, and 2024’s show will be no different.

How to watch the 2024 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show

The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2024 is expected to air Tuesday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. EST. The venue is rumored to be one of the most exclusive locations in New York City, but the event will also be accessible to a global audience through a combination of live-streaming and on-demand platforms like Amazon Live and Prime Video, as well as Victoria Secret’s Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. 

VS is also hosting a watch party in New York City at THE PENN DISTRICT, starting at 5 p.m. EST. They’ll broadcast the live show, with food, a VIP experience, and more.

What to Expect on the Runway

The collections showcased at the 2024 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show are set to include a mix of classic lingerie styles, modern athleisure, and avant-garde couture pieces. Expect glamorous runway pieces created in partnership with Switzerland-based fabric house, Forster Rohner, from the faux feathers to each sparkling hand-placed gem to the Schiffli, or “bobbin capsule.” Tyra Banks and other models have been wearing René Caovilla heels in the promo clips about the event, which could be hinting at a possible collaboration.

Iconic Moments to Watch For

Every year, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show delivers unforgettable moments that make headlines. From extravagant fantasy bras to unexpected celebrity appearances, 2024 will be no exception. Look out for the unveiling of the 2024 Fantasy Bra, rumored to be adorned with millions of dollars’ worth of precious gems and worn by one of the show’s most celebrated models.

With major superstars on the runway, 2024 is set to be one of the most memorable years in the fashion show’s history. Among the Victoria’s Secret icons are Candice Swanepoel, Behati Prinsloo, and Tyra Banks, who hasn’t graced the runway since 2005. In a video posted on her and Victoria’s Secret’s Instagram, Banks expressed her surprise at her return to the runway. The show will also feature prominent names like Gigi Hadid and Imaan Hammam, alongside Taylor Hill, Mayowa Nicholas, Grace Elizabeth, Devyn Garcia and Jasmine Tookes.

Diversity & Inclusivity at the Forefront

Victoria’s Secret has been widely criticized in the past for a lack of representation, but 2024’s Fashion Show seeks to change that narrative. This year, the casting reflects a broader commitment to inclusivity, featuring models of all sizes and backgrounds. 

Paloma Elsesser is poised to make history as the first-ever plus-sized model to grace the VS runway. The renowned brand had never featured a plus-sized model in a campaign until 2019 and has yet to include one on the runway. However, for Elsesser, this is not her first time breaking barriers. In 2020, she made a similar mark by becoming one of the first plus-sized models to walk the runway at Fendi.

Stay tuned for more updates as the official show details are released, and get ready to witness a new era of Victoria’s Secret.

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For DeBose, deciding to partner with brands isn’t as easy as yes or no.

“When the rise of ‘Ariana DeBose’ happened, I realized I had more opportunity to work in this space and partner directly with brands. I took a lot of time to think about what I wanted that to look like,” she told FN. “I always look for companies with a purpose, with a soul, and Kenneth Cole, historically, the way that they have chosen to move through the business and the industry has 100% always had a heart and a conscience. And it’s not only about doing good business, but about affecting change in the world or in their own backyard, whether that be New York City or just in their small corner of the industry, and quite frankly, it’s not small.”

Kenneth Cole, the designer and company as a whole, is known for its dedication to social impact. Its current partnership with I AM A VOTER and upcoming jewelry collaboration aimed at raising funds and mental health awareness with the Mental Health Coalition Kenneth founded were touted during the event, for instance.

Plus, DeBose’s Kenneth Cole fall ’24 campaign is all about female empowerment and encouraging women to use their voices in the fight for change and equality.

She added, “I am someone with an identity that can frequently be politicized in different ways. So for me, every day that I wake up and I walk out my front door is a day that I am have an opportunity to express myself through fashion and make an even greater statement with who I am.”

DeBose, an activist in her own right, has been outspoken about reproductive rights, LGBTQIA+ issues, representation in Hollywood and more. She became the first openly queer Afro-Latina to win an Academy Award in 2022.

“[Fashion] is not really about the red carpet moment, it’s about the everyday,” she continued. “I have to feel confident and empowered every moment that I walk through the world. Clothing is my armor. It matters, and if I don’t feel confident or empowered or just encouraged to be my most authentic self in them, I don’t wear them. I’m very much wearing Kenneth Cole, and that tells you, in my opinion, everything.”