Lauren Sherman and Chantal Fernandez on the Rise and Downfall of American Icon Victoria’s Secret

Today on the show we are talking about Victoria’s Secret, the retail giant that, as my guests Lauren Sherman and Chantal Fernandez write in their new book Selling Sexy: Victoria’s Secret and the Unraveling of an American Icon, “defined a generation’s idea of sexy.” Selling Sexy is out October 8 and tells the story of a company that, at its peak, pulled in $8 billion in annual sales. We talk in today’s episode about Les Wexner, what Victoria’s Secret was like at its apex, its ubiquitous presence in malls, its revolutionizing of bras and underwear, its Angels, and its fashion show. We talk about how Victoria’s Secret fit into the business conversation (including a look into its business model), how Victoria’s Secret fit into the fashion conversation, and how Victoria’s Secret fit into womanhood and girlhood for a generation of women, including myself. We also talk about its downfall, from an American icon to where it is today. How is Victoria’s Secret doing today, you may ask? Well, you’ll have to listen to find out. Here to guide us through it all is Lauren Sherman, who hosts one of my favorite podcasts, “Fashion People.” Lauren has been reporting on the fashion industry for more than 15 years and is a special correspondent at Puck. Prior to that appointment, she was Business of Fashion’s chief correspondent, and before that a reporter at Forbes. You may have seen her work in The Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, Women’s Health, or The New York Times. Chantal Fernandez is a writer that covers fashion, retail, luxury, and beauty with a focus on business and culture. She is currently a features writer at New York Magazine’s The Cut, which I am completely obsessed with and read every day. She, like Lauren, is a Business of Fashion alum, where she was a former senior reporter. You may have read Chantal in The New York Times, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, or The Financial Times, and these two women are just about as knowledgeable and impressive as it gets. I enjoyed this book and this conversation so much. Take a listen.

Selling Sexy: Victoria’s Secret and the Unraveling of an American Icon by Lauren Sherman and Chantal Fernandez