By Evelyn Lucado
Elm Staff Writer
The Victoria’s Secret fashion show made a less-than-dazzling return after its six year hiatus, leaving many fans and critics disappointed and questioning the future of the brand.
The show, which took place in New York City, was streamed live at 7:00 p.m. on October 15. The show saw performances from legends such as Tyra Banks, Adriana Lima, and even pop icon Cher.
However, compared to previous shows, the 2024 show lacked the iconic spectacle and glamor the brand is known for, leaving many fans disappointed and questioning what is next for the brand.
Substack writer Amy Odell reviewed the show, sharing her disappointment in the lack of so-called chic and sexy fashion.
“‘Do you believe in life after love?’ was not only the perfectly earnest song to include in this show, but it also seemed like a good question for Victoria’s Secret, which has been working hard for years to have a comeback,” Odell wrote.
Despite being beloved by many, Victoria’s Secret has a long and controversial history. The return of the show prompts viewers to remember why it left in the first place.
According to Today, the brand saw a wave of controversy in the 2010s following the #MeToo movement, also being criticized for exclusion, lack of diversity, and sexism. With this wave of criticism came a massive decrease in viewership for the fashion show; 2018 saw the lowest viewership in the show’s history.
The brand has also faced criticism for excluding transgender models.
According to Today, “In 2018, Ed Razek, then-chief marketing officer for L Brands, faced backlash for saying in an interview with Vogue that he did not think ‘transsexuals’ should be included in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.”
Victoria’s Secret has also been heavily criticized for excluding plus-size women from their brand as year after year they solely presented straight-sized models.
“But as I watched thin model after thin model take the runway, I was catapulted right back to my childhood living room, watching women who didn’t look like me set a beauty standard most women will never meet,” Aiyana Ishmael wrote in a Teen Vogue article.
Sexism is also prevalent in the brand, with the company focusing on unrealistic beauty standards that cater to narrow definitions of femininity. Some have gone as far as to claim that the brand perpetuates harmful stereotypes and reinforces the notion of women being objects of desire.
For example, the 2001 Victoria’s Secret fashion show was hosted by British actor Rupert Everett, who spent the majority of the show making vulgar and inappropriate jokes at the expense of the models, saying things such as, “The security is tight and so are the girls.”
After six years of rebranding, the show made its return with a new message of diversity, inclusion, and empowerment for women.
According to Teen Vogue, the 2024 show was marketed to “reflect who we [Victoria’s Secret] are today.” The show also featured models Alex Consani and Valentina Sampoi, who are both transgender women.
Including talents like Cosani and Sampoi on the runway shows an effort to be more inclusive. By showcasing models who represent different backgrounds and body types, the brand can resonate with a wider audience and challenge traditional standards of beauty and femininity.
While it is incredible to see more diversity in the world of fashion, the show itself was underwhelming.
The outfits were well done, the models performed great, the musical performances were incredible, but the runway was barren and somewhat sterile.
While the flashy performances from Cher, Banks, and Lima were entertaining, the fashion failed to impress. Victoria’s Secret has been in business since 1977. What was groundbreaking then falls flat now without a new take. Using lingerie as a mode for artistic expression is innovative; however, without pushing boundaries, the fashion flounders.
The 2024 Victoria’s Secret fashion show lacked the inspiration and spectacle of the older shows but has made steps toward becoming a more inclusive brand as a whole.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Photo Caption: The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is well-known for performances that astound viewers.