Daily Front Row

2010 November 11

V for Victoria!

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Katy Perry leads the Victoria’s Secret Finale
Billy Farell Agency View Gallery

(NEW YORK) “This is like a fashion show stuck in a Baz Luhrmann film,” grinned Adam Levine, taking in the Victoria’s Secret set at last night’s primetime extravaganza at The Armory. “There's lots of pink, lots of glitter, and lots of important fashion people!” And that was before the first model (Adriana Lima) even hit the runway. Even by VS’s standards of excess, last night’s show was an epic, bombastic production.

The parade featured the entire US men’s gymnastics team, three sets of dancers, five set changes, hundreds of oversized balloons, adjustable chandeliers, and, of course, Katy Perry, who played along with the long-legged Brazilians and Eastern Europeans. And while Levine came to cheer for his current squeeze Anne Vyalitsyna with fellow Maroon 5 members (and gave her a standing ovation), Kings of Leon’s Caleb Followill gave the same treatment for his gal, Lily Aldridge, while attending the show with brother and bandmate Jared. “Last year was my first time at this thing, and I was nervous because I was afraid it was going to be bunch of bullshit, but it was amazing,” he smiled. “All we're missing are few nice beers!”

Aldridge enjoyed last night because she’ll be in the sky on November 30, when CBS broadcast the spectacular. “But hopefully I’ll take Jet Blue or something and see it live on the plane,” she smiled. Another unexpected guest at the Armory last night? Twitter founder Biz Stone. “This is my first fashion show ever, so I don't even know how it all goes,” he smiled. “I guess I'll have to pick my favorite Angel after it's all over.” While Stone was our highlight, there were other remarkable cameos all over the seating chart. Daniel Boulud, Alexander Wang, Gerard Butler, Vivi Nevo, Estelle,Stavros Niarchos, Zac Posen, Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, Carine Roitfeld, and The Situation were scattered all over the arena to root for Alessandra, Karolina, and Candice.  “I've watched this on TV for I don't even know how many years,” exclaimed Malin Akerman. “Being here is a fantasy, but I'll let the supers carry those wings!”

And while The Transformers director Michael Bay waited to see his newest star, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, on the runway, the Brit admitted that she was a little behind the other girls. “I missed the rehearsal last night, so I have no idea what I’m doing,” she smiled. “But I guess you have to go with the flow once you step on that runway.” And she did---to the lives tunes of Akon, no less, while Vin Diesel excitedly danced and fist pumped (for the singer) front row. Diesel admitted to us that he was a diehard Akon fan, and had this to say to summize the show. “I've traveled the world all my life but I've never been to a Mayan's Queen world,” he offered. "Don't say you've never met them!” Um...

Serena Williams arrived on crutches (she recently had foot surgery). “I had to see my best friend Selita do her thing,” she said. “I was dancing in my imagination!” After the show, practically the entire cast headed to Lavo, where Jessica Stam, Chanel Iman,  and Lily Donaldson held court at the after-party. Caroline Winberg was already dreaming of normalcy. “I can’t wait to get home, take a shower, take the extensions and make-up off, and be myself again,” she smiled.
VALENTINE UHOVSKI