Victoria's Secret: Our view from the front row

With a cast of 38 models reading like the industry’s first-name-basis roll call (Doutzen, Miranda, Chanel, Alessandra, Karlie, etc.), 69 over-the-top looks and 31 pairs of custom-designed wings, the show was always going to be a spectacular. Add in live performances from top musical acts, and the result is the annual must-see event that millions of Americans watch every year.

For 2011, producers choreographed the show around six themes. The first—ballet—began with dancers in red leotards, piano music, and a man in the row behind whispering, ‘I love ballerinas.’ Any reverence reserved for the ballet fell away when Candice Swanepoel emerged from backstage. Shrieks greeted the veteran Angel, whose nod to ballet was conveyed less in her bare backside than the ribbons criss-crossed up her calves.

Alessandra Ambrosio and her jewel-box-ballerina turn also garnered cheers, whilst Orlando Bloom proved himself Miranda Kerr’s biggest fan by standing and applauding every time his wife appeared.

And then there was Kanye. The rapper took to the runway wearing a