victoria's secret fashion show 2024

Do We Miss Victoria’s Secret Fashion Shows?

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Victoria... still has a secret.

The angels have their wings back. But was it worth it?

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The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is the rose-coloured glasses personified. It was literally a very pink showcase of the American dream. At the peak of the Y2K scene, to watch the utter glitz and glamor of VS fashion shows meant not only a celebration of gorgeous lingerie, but also an ode to talented creatives in all fronts: from pop stars, theater-esque production, to intricate craftsmanship that birthed the beloved angel wings. Victoria’s Secret sure knows how to sell sexy. 

To tune in on the faces of Victoria’s Secret models, or fondly called the VS Angels, was considered a badge of womanly honor. With legends that include Giselle Bundchen, Naomi Campbell, Adriana Lima, Candice Swanepoel, and so much more, it was a core memory for certain girls in the 2000’s to see these models’ do their thing in silky pink robes and bodacious hair. 

But remove the pink sunglasses, and we see that it’s no longer the 2000’s. It’s the dawn of the 2020s and everything has changed. Was bringing the show back successful at wrapping up the girly bombshell that it was before? 

PINK DREAMS

Victoria’s Secret intimate apparel lived up to its lavishness. Acquiring over 12 billion dollars and over 900 retail stores since its first shop in San Francisco opened its magic in 1977, Victoria’s Secret was a catalyst for mainstreaming the grandeur of lingerie. Over time, the brand became a beauty staple; the release of their perfume line (we all know the iconic Bare Vanilla body spray) and eventually makeup, solidified their position further as a company that enhances the feminine essence– so you look sexy, smell divine, and just feel good

But it was not until in 1995 that the first ever VS fashion show happened, and to tell you the truth, it was actually on the demure side at its debut— picture cool lighting, classical music, models adorned in lilac silk sleepwear, with the Victoria’s Secret font in Times New Roman, it was anything but circusy.

@gossipgirll888 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2006 #victoriassecret #justintimberlake #giselebundchen #runway #goviral #fyp #fy #gossipgirl888 #gossipgirll888 ♬ original sound – gossipgirl888

It was in the 2000’s or in the pink glam of Y2K that Victoria’s Secret became what it is today. In fact, it won’t be an overstatement to say that its rise brought forth a new model standard, away from the ashy contours of heroin chic and onto the pink gloss of VS bombshells. The central allure of Victoria’s Secret was of course, being sexy, so ample double C’s, having flat abs, and being an overall conventionally attractive Brazilian bombshell or Slavic doll was all the rage– but that’s not so inclusive, isn’t it?

BOMBSHELL POP

Behind the glamor and messaging on what it means to be an ideal woman, Victoria’s Secret has had many flaws and mistakes over the years. And one of the most poignant ways this was revealed was in a mini series in 2022. A detailed and brutally honest documentary entitled Victoria’s Secret: Angels and Demons exposed their inner evil. Amid the applause for all things beautiful, the documentary peels back the curtain and exposed the unhealthy practices that helped build its empire. 

Angels and Demons confronts the ways in which Victoria’s Secret fostered an image that encouraged extreme diets which can eventually lead to the promotion of unattainable beauty standards for impressionable young women. Such practices weren’t just industry norms but were meticulously orchestrated to maintain a look that aligned with the miracle fantasy, often leading to the detriment of the very people embodying it. 

This standard wasn’t just about looking a certain way; it was shaped to appeal to the male gaze, a term referring to the way women are often presented through a lens prioritizing male desires. Victoria’s Secret didn’t simply celebrate beauty, it narrowed it down to a Westernized ideal. Once defined, this standard became a catalyst for babying the male gaze, perpetuating a culture of women that is fueled by toxic beauty ideals, injecting most women with body insecurities, and therefore, becoming vulnerable consumers of their products. Because it seemed we’re led to believe, how exactly can others fit in the fantasy bra these models pose and wink in? 

So even though Victoria’s Secret is a brand for women, it’s not really made by women. The documentary also raises allegations of exploitation happening beneath the glitter, with Les Wexner, the brand’s former CEO, allegedly overlooking abuse happening within the company due to his close association with Jeffrey Epstein. This discussion floating around doesn’t necessarily help Victoria’s Secret and instead is seen as affirmation on the flawed and scary side of the brand’s identity as a whole. Not only were the shows over, but the fantasy was all but demystified. But Victoria’s Secret wasn’t done and they’d soon come back with a new image, new advocacy, and a new fashion show.  

AN ANGEL’S PITALL

Victoria’s Secret started facing a significant decline in sales from 2019, as its growth was not only stunted because of the COVID-19 pandemic but also because of the poor viewership and controversies that forced them to stop hosting their annual fashion shows. Whether it was the shift towards body positivity that steered their original customer base away, the lack of diversity, or harassment allegations, these were just a combination of factors that ultimately forced an already wounded Victoria Secret into a five year hiatus.

So now, the show’s much-awaited return in 2024 was undoubtedly a new sight, one that looked to combine the nostalgia of yesteryears with the new mission of the brand’s modern iteration. But the result was a mixed bag. 

In comparison to their previous fashion shows, the 2024 one didn’t have an elevated stage, so the models walked in the same level as the audience. As per the designs, they were, for the lack of a better word, boring– often using the same color scheme of baby pink, deep red, and black and their wings were small in amount. Despite the countless icons included in the show, they didn’t present the same vivaciousness VS Angels were known for: the cheeky winks, the drawing of hearts, and blowing a kiss after they pose for the camera, were all absent. The camp was gone. Instead, they composed a face of little to no expression. 

So why exactly did the 2024 fashion show not hit the same anymore all boils down to one thing; poor understanding of inclusivity. Various internet observations state that it was kind of corny, almost sad to see them cling onto its glory from fifteen years ago and yet produce below expectations– from lackluster designs to unflattering cuts for their models. Despite the commendable addition of plus-sized and LGBTQIA+ models, it just didn’t feel the same because there was less emphasis on their new models’ charm and they were instead felt merely as elements to pipe the smoke, thrown there as a damage control solution.

Unlike before where the Victoria’s Secret YouTube channel would produce cutesy videos like “What Kind of Angel Are You?” and other promotional gimmicks, there was none of that today that featured their new advocacy. The absence of intimate details present in order to rebuild and reconnect their influence for avid lovers of modeling culture was a missed opportunity, because at its core, we all know the modeling industry has been rightfully scrutinized, time and time again. 

So has it lived up to its glory in 2024? Technically, it was able to push through– nostalgic faces were there together with recurring it girls like the Hadid sisters, and Tyla, Lisa, and Chappell Roan hits playing in the background. The criticism Victoria’s Secret also comes face to face with does not mean a complete denial of the meticulous art that was behind its success. But in consideration of all things mentioned above, the pink dream of the Victoria’s Secret brand may downgrade and become a niche, subcategory of feminine culture, and not its fantasy anymore. 

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