This past Tuesday, my sorority sisters and I congregated around the TV to watch the 2010 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. With viewing treats, like cookies and Christmas candy in hand, we gaped at the gorgeous Angels and their lingerie as they strutted down the runway. As they walked, we discussed who we liked better, Adriana or Alessandra, how we felt about Miranda Kerr’s babyface and her recent marriage to Orlando Bloom and what was our favorite look and theme from this show.
The highly anticipated show brought in 9 million viewers this year, compared to last years 8.3 million. With star models like Doutzen Kroes and Miranda Kerr missing due to pregnancies, the show still held strong with other veteran supermodels, Adriana Lima, Candice Swanepoele, and Alessandra Ambrosio. Unfortunately, I wasn’t impressed as impressed with this show as I was last year. Continue reading →
Miranda Kerr, Victoria’s Secret model and wife of actor Orlando Bloom, continues her transition into high-fashion by becoming the spokesmodel for Jil Sander. The spreads, shot by Willy Vanderperre will be released in the fall.
Victoria’s Secret. It’s on everyone’s lips. Her products are close to women’s hearts. Clearly, Victoria’s Secret is one of the largest lingerie retailers in the world with sales as high as $5 billion per year. But what is the story behind the store that so many women love? And who is Victoria? And what’s her secret?
Victoria’s Secret: A Brief History
In 1977, Victoria’s Secret was founded by Roy Raymond, a graduate of Stanford’s business school, in San Francisco, California. Raymond was frequently embarrassed about shopping for lingerie and underwear for his wife in a public department store setting. He wanted to make a more approachable environment for men who were like him–shopping for their wives. Raymond made sure that the physical attractiveness of the store was inviting; so, most of the walls were covering with woodwork. Raymond also added to the comfortability factor by hiring receptive, friendly saleswomen.
Roy Raymond, Founder and Former President
A short five years later, Raymond sold Victoria’s Secret to Limited Brands in 1982 and moved on to his new business opportunity. His second venture failed miserably and his company went bankrupt. Because of the devastation of his company and the growing success of Victoria’s Secret, Raymond took his own life in 1993 by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge.
Despite Raymond’s departure, Victoria’s Secret continued his legacy and quickly became one of the most popular lingerie retailers in America and the largest branch of Limited Brands. In 1995, Victoria’s Secret started putting on fashion shows as a way of advertisement, but also as a way to keep the label respected. (Every year there are thousands of FCC complaints.)
Now, Victoria’s Secret hosts an annual fashion show, has over 1,000 stores, and continues to expand everyday.
The Victoria’s Secret Angels
Originally, the Angels started out as a lingerie line, which is still continued today. The supermodels that represent the brand was named after this popular collection of bras. Shockingly, the women that are chosen to be Angels are picked because of their appeal to women, not men. Since the company is run mostly by women, a board of women executives chooses the Angels. This explains the mass appeal of the models, such as Tyra Banks and Heidi Klum. The Angels are known for their stunning goddess-like beauty, but also their sensibility and down-to-earth attitudes. Victoria’s Secret has turned down many celebrity endorsement proposals to maintain the positive image of the women.
Who is Victoria? What’s Her Secret?
The origin of the store’s name remains a mystery today. However, it has been suggested that Victoria is named after the 19th century British queen Victoria because of the Victorian architecture. Unfortunately, her secret is still hidden. But if everyone knew, it wouldn’t be much of a secret.
Victoria’s Secret Angel, Doutzen Kroes, 25, announces that she is three months pregnant with boyfriend DJ Sunnery James’s child. The couple has been together since August 2009 and are very excited about the situation. Doutzen says she will continue modeling for Victoria’s Secret as long as her pregnancy allows her to.
Recently, Victoria’s Secret has welcomed Jourdan Dunn, 19, to the Angels in Doutzen’s absence. Similarly, Jourdan herself was pregnant last year and gave birth to her child in December of 2009.
Alexander's Eyes 