In late September, Victoria Secret made their way back into the public eye, but not in the fashion runway strut as we know it. After 5 years since VS’s last show, they have released their fashion documentary, “The Tour ‘23” on Tuesday, September 26th and viewers can stream it on Prime Video.
The documentary follows along with the process of their first runway show since their pause in 2018 with more inclusivity, diversity, along with highlights of new featured designers. However, not all viewers forget their problematic past with limited ideals of body image and controversial comments about transgender models in the industry, which has begged the question if their new changes are enough.
“I used to watch the shows with my sisters,” said Spring Valley Senior Ivana Venegas. “I know this year they re-branded, so I’m hoping to see more inclusivity and diversity, but it really depends on their effort.”
The brand mainly appeals to teenage girls and young women as it has many different designs based on youth, beauty, and more. Many Spring Valley girls are seen around campus wearing VS and PINK jackets, shorts, and more.
“I personally wear the brand because the colors and designs are cute,” said Senior Jenna Acklin. “Personally I think they’re really expensive, but I know they’re like a staple for us [High School girls] and middle schoolers too.”
Back in the early 2000s, VS and PINK, their sister company, dominated the American lingerie market bringing a modern and French-inspired aesthetic to young women in the US. For more than 20 years, VS dominated the runway and fashion industry with high-class supermodels. As cancel culture became more apparent, VS started losing their popularity and sales for perpetuating thin models as beautiful rather than adding more body inclusivity and diversity. Along with their questionable relations with former sex offender and womanizer, Jeffery Epstein and former CEO’s comments regarding transgender models.
“As a whole I feel like Victoria Secret is pretty on the outside, but not on the inside,” Senior Mary San Nicolas said. “The things I hear about the company make me rethink supporting them.”
In light of the recent social shifts and awareness to different minority groups, consumers believe the company and fashion industry needs to broaden their message and approach to be more conscious of their impact on diverse audiences. With more awareness and thought to these audiences, viewers find it important to show diversity and love to all groups regardless of their shape, size, and more.
“At times Victoria does perpetuate certain beauty standards with their models,” Acklin said. “Even though they’re slowly changing I feel that they need to be more attentive to social change and show real bodies and people.”
However, other consumers believe that it is not the brand’s fault on the issue of body and beauty exclusivity, but the fashion industry as a whole for following strict beauty standards that many women struggle to obtain.
“The brand heavily encapsulates early 2000s beauty standards and scene,” Venegas said. “I get that they’re trying to be more inclusive, but they are built upon the pre-existing standards of white, skinny, and pretty models so it’s hard to change.”
