The Reemergence of Victoria’s Secret
The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is back, but not in the way that you know it. VS has completely reimagined their iconic show, full of bombshell and fantasy bras, and has rebranded as the Victoria’s Secret World Tour 2023.
While the collective showcase took place on Sept. 6 for the celebrity industry to enjoy, the showcase and some behind-the-scenes features will debut on Sept. 26, on Prime Video, for the whole world to critique.
Image Courtesy: VS Pressroom
According to VS Pressroom, the showcase and film features the VS20– “a group of 20 innovative global creatives who will conceive four fashion curations from the vibrant cities of Bogota, Lagos, London and Tokyo.”
These creatives were given the opportunity to create something entirely their own– to celebrate their own individuality. Anything from film to design to music to visual fields were fair game to mesh with the custom Victoria’s Secret designs that were presented to them.
This showcase is unlike anything the brand has done before. After viewing the trailer for the showcase, it seems that the brand's goal is no longer to just celebrate the tall, slim supermodels in lingerie. The trailer features people of different colors, shapes and sizes.
The VS fashion show, as we know it, last took place in 2018 due to controversy surrounding the brand. I think we can all say the last thing that we traditionally think of when we hear Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is inclusivity. The last straw for many people was when the chief marketing officer in 2018, Ed Razek, made some extremely distasteful remarks.
In an interview with Vogue, just hours before the 2018 fashion show, when discussing diversity Razek said–
“Shouldn’t you have transsexuals in the show? No. No, I don’t think we should. Well, why not? Because the show is a fantasy.”
As a result, we saw the brand take a step back from its annual shows—but did not fire the man responsible for stirring up so much drama because of his hurtful remarks.
While doing research for this piece I found in an article from The Guardian that Razek did not resign from his position until August of 2019—days after the brand hired their first transgender model. Now while I don’t know if those directly coincide or if it is just a mere coincidence— I thought it was worth noting.
The brand found itself in many other controversies during this time, *cough* *cough* entanglements between the owner and Jeffery Epstein. But that is a whole other can of worms that I will not open today.
The moral of the story is– the brand needed some time to think about their actions.
Anyways, I digress. I think that all women have probably been impacted by the VS fashion shows, whether good or bad.
Speaking for myself, I know that I grew up watching the shows and probably at way too young of an age. I loved watching the shows with their extravagant designs, gorgeous models and unbelievable celebrity guests.
Image Courtesy: Glamour UK
I can still picture Justin Bieber performing during the colorful VS PINK show in 2012 and Rihanna belting Diamonds while covered in pearls at the same show, before Savage X Fenty was imagined.
Though I remember these shows fondly, I am so unbelievably glad that VS has decided to try a different route for this showcase, and I hope that they give young girls diversified beautiful bodies and minds to look up to.
There’s no denying that VS has a huge impact on our society and the impressionable young women in it. And though many people are criticizing VS’s choice to not put on a traditional fashion show while still being inclusive and diverse, I can appreciate and acknowledge that they are trying to separate themselves from the old and often, extremely toxic, brand they developed over many years.
Victoria’s Secret created a fashion show and an empire that only showcased the tallest and slimmest of women. Physiques that the majority of women will never physically be able to achieve. While it has taken them too long, I am glad they are making an effort to celebrate and showcase everyone.
I guess only time can tell how the VS World Tour will be received. I know I definitely will be tuning into Prime Video on Sept. 26 for its debut and I’m sure even if you don’t watch it, you will hear all about it.
Strike Out,
Writer: Reanna Haase
Edited by: Nina Rueda and Sarah Harwell
Orlando
Reanna Haase is the Editorial Director Assistant for Strike Magazine Orlando. She is the mom to her cat, Stevie (like Nicks) and her leopard gecko, Harry (like Potter). Follow her writing journey @byreannahaase on Instagram or reach her at reannahaase@gmail.com.
