This week, the 29th Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (VSFS) took place, featuring performances from Missy Elliott, Madison Beer, Karol G and TWICE. It was a spectacle to be sure — a dear friend of mine even watched it live from the treadmill. Amidst the excitement, I found myself wondering what makes this fashion show so different from the rest of New York, Paris and London Fashion Week. The only answer, besides the insane lingerie, is the music. Thus, in honor of this year’s show, I bring you a playlist of songs bearing some kind of connection to the fashion industry — some made specifically for the runway, others lyrically inspired by it. Hopefully they make your struts to class feel a bit more interesting!
1. “Heroes” — David Bowie (1977)
Recorded by David Bowie in three languages — “Heroes” (English), “Helden” (German) and “Héros” (French) — this glam-rock classic is what designer Rick Owens considers to be the “constant subliminal soundtrack to a lot of our lives.” All three versions were mixed in his fall-winter 2025 show, “Concordians.” The show was named after Concordia, Italy, the industrial town where his brand’s factory resides.
2. “Octopus’s Garden” — The Beatles (1969)
While Ringo Starr, renowned drummer of The Beatles, and Anna Sui, legendary fashion designer, hail from different realms of artistic expression, they both share a particular fascination with aquatic mollusks. Sui’s ocean-inspired spring-summer 2024 collection was named directly after The Beatles’ “Octopus’s Garden.” It is a whimsical tune both written and sung by Starr after an enlightening trip to Sardinia during which he learned that octopuses collect shiny treasures.
3. “Wild Is the Wind” — Steve McQueen (2025)
This track is a reimagining of Johnny Mathis’ 1957 ballad “Wild Is the Wind.” Steve McQueen layers Nina Simone’s jazzy, mournful take on the original with David Bowie’s lovesick, rock-ballad rendition to create an uber cover of sorts. It is one that builds momentum for the runway it was made for – in this case, Bottega Veneta’s summer 2026 show.
4. “Disarm” — The Smashing Pumpkins (1993)
Maison Margiela’s fall-winter 2026 haute couture show ended with “Disarm” by The Smashing Pumpkins, a tasteful choice to fans who worship the alt-rock legends. Though, perhaps it was unsettling to those who find the slowly walking models wearing full-face masks and veils to be somewhat eerie as Billy Corgan belts, “The killer in me is the killer in you.”
5. “The Sun” — Tyler, The Creator (2022)
Tyler, The Creator composed an instrumental soundtrack titled “The Sunseeker” for Louis Vuitton’s fall-winter 2022 menswear show, performed live by Chineke! Orchestra. It accompanied the final collection designed by the late Virgil Abloh and closed with Tyler circling the runway on a bicycle.
6. “Rhythm Is a Dancer” — Alex Christensen, The Berlin Orchestra (2017)
An orchestral remake of the eponymous Eurodance classic by Snap!, Christensen’s version is of greater cosmic proportions than its ‘90s predecessor. This made it rather fitting for its placement in Chanel’s spring-summer 2026 show at the Grand Palais in Paris, which was redecorated with huge glowing planets and a galactic catwalk to resemble the solar system.
7. “SexyBack (feat. Timbaland)” — Justin Timberlake, Timbaland (2006)
While this may be a highly contentious superlative to put in print, I must deem Justin Timberlake’s performance of “SexyBack” at the 2006 Victoria’s Secret Fashion to be the best show opener in VSFS history. Legendary VS Angel Gisele Bündchen became known for “bringing sexy back” to supermodeling after walking in this show alongside Timberlake’s slick sonics.
8. “Jimmy Cooks (feat. 21 Savage)” — Drake, 21 Savage (2022)
In this catchy number, Drake puts it bluntly, “… don’t tell me that you model, if you ain’t been in Vogue.” It’s no coincidence that every designer and model I’ve mentioned thus far has indeed been in Vogue. Perhaps it really is the pinnacle of the fashion industry.
9. “I Think I Saw” — Chanel Beads (2024)
As one Reddit user so eloquently put it, many Chanel Beads songs sound like “an idea for a song” left unfinished — this is one such song. Perhaps it’s intentional, though, as Shane Lavers describes Chanel Beads as an experimental music project. When asked about the origin of the name, he simply replied that it was the “classiest name that came to me.”
10. “Peroxide” — Ecco2k (2019)
Months after walking in the ALYX spring-summer 2019 show, British-Swedish rapper and producer Ecco2k of the Drain Gang collective released “E,” an album he described to Vogue as “pixie music” with a “wild trickster energy.” In a similarly intriguing way, he summed up his personal style with the descriptors “Graceful Brutalist” and “Combat Ballerina.” I shall leave you with that.
11. “Louis Vuitton Mix” — Daft Punk (2008)
While it pains me to include another unreleased remix, Daft Punk never disappoints. Made exclusively for the 2008 Louis Vuitton show, this mix features Sebastian, Ratatat, Busta Rhymes and Kanye West. It’s a jam in its own right that makes a collection with far too many clear trench coats, for my taste, bearable.
12. “Born Slippy (Nuxx)” — Underworld (1996)
First made famous by its appearance in the film “Trainspotting,” this absolutely iconic electronica track has since appeared numerous times on the runway, notably in Walter Van Beirendonck’s spring-summer 1996, Givenchy spring-summer 2013 and Dior Menswear spring-summer 2019 shows. Play this, and even the most grim of walks will feel high-fashion.
13. “Sky”— Playboi Carti (2020)
Playboi Carti’s rap on his most famous track from “Whole Lotta Red” — “I got on Ed Hardy, she got on stilettos” — is a nod to the luxury brands known for Americana tattoo-inspired prints and dagger-like heels. To Carti, they are necessary components for any dripped-out couple.
