The "Victoria's Secret" Dilemma: Evolution Vs. Identity Crisis
Oct 21, 2024
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Explore the intriguing challenges facing Victoria's Secret as it grapples with its identity amidst changing consumer expectations. Discover how media branding and influencer culture complicate authenticity and the objectification of women. Delve into the brand's past fantasy narrative versus the current demand for inclusivity. The podcast also highlights the fashion show's evolution, balancing nostalgia with modernity, while providing a thought-provoking look at navigating brand identity in today’s market.
Victoria's Secret's record-breaking viewership in 2024 raises questions about genuine brand success versus underlying identity issues that still need addressing.
The brand's struggle with authenticity highlights the necessity of transparency in evolution to regain consumer trust and confidence moving forward.
Deep dives
Record-Breaking Live Stream Success
The Victoria's Secret fashion show has set a new record for the most-watched live stream of any entertainment brand in 2024, peaking at 2.32 million viewers on YouTube. This significant achievement surpasses the previous record held by the Eurovision talent show, which peaked at 1.5 million earlier in the same year. The fashion show was also available on other platforms like TikTok and Amazon Prime, boosting accessibility and viewership. The episode questions whether this high viewership equates to a genuine success for the brand or if it obscures underlying issues that still need to be addressed.
The Identity Crisis of Victoria's Secret
Victoria's Secret faced significant challenges with its identity crisis, particularly notable around 2018 when public sentiment began to shift. A controversial Vogue interview from their CMO, which asserted that plus-size and trans models did not fit the brand's image of 'selling fantasy,' sparked outrage and diminished goodwill among consumers. This public backlash coincided with the rise of competitors emphasizing inclusivity and comfort, allowing brands like Aerie to capture the attention of younger audiences. The fashion show’s perceived failure to adapt to societal changes contributed to a deteriorating brand image, culminating in its hiatus from live shows and significant drops in viewership.
Mixed Reception of Recent Attempts at Rebranding
In 2023, Victoria's Secret attempted to revitalize its brand with a pre-recorded event called 'The Tour,' which received a lukewarm response. Many criticized the show for lacking the live energy and iconic elements that characterized previous productions, leading to questions about its effectiveness as a rebranding strategy. Critics noted that it seemed to mimic models set by other successful shows like Savage X Fenty but lacked originality and excitement. This inability to re-establish the brand's significant presence in the fashion show landscape indicated a deeper struggle to redefine the company's core identity.
Lessons on Authenticity and Audience Expectations
The episode discusses the concept that audiences are more forgiving towards blatant imperfections compared to perceived deception, highlighting the importance of authenticity for brands. Examples from other public figures illustrate how failing to maintain a consistent and genuine identity can lead to a loss of audience trust. Victoria's Secret must learn from these lessons, as being transparent about its evolution and acknowledging past mistakes is essential to regaining consumer confidence. Moving forward, the brand has a unique opportunity to embrace inclusivity while staying true to its core offerings, ensuring that it engages effectively with its audience.
In today’s episode of “Ahead of the Curve with Coco Mocoe”, we will be discussing the 2024 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show that has the internet divided. What can we learn from looking at VSFS as a case study for how to evolve with a changing audience without having a branding identity crisis?
You can watch the video version of the podcast for free, exclusively on Substack. Become a paying member to unlock all extended versions of the “Ahead of the Curve” podcast: cocomocoe.substack.com/podcast
“Ahead of the Curve with Coco Mocoe” is a marketing podcast that covers internet and pop culture but from a branding angle. Coco Mocoe is a trend forecaster and marketing expert who loves diving deep into why things go viral on the internet and how you can apply that to your own brand or creator journey.