Today, Explained Victoria’s Secret wants you back
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Oct 17, 2025 Lauren Sherman, fashion correspondent and co-author of 'Selling Sexy', and Amy Odell, fashion journalist and host of the Back Row newsletter, dive into Victoria's Secret's controversial history and latest relaunch. They explore the show's transformation into a cultural phenomenon and its nostalgic appeal, alongside the brand's struggles with changing beauty standards. They discuss the backlash over inclusion and how the recent 2025 fashion show attempts to blend nostalgia with a more inclusive approach to win back younger consumers.
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Showmanship Built The Brand
- The Victoria's Secret fashion show transformed lingerie retail into mass entertainment and cultural spectacle.
- It turned a product demo into a broadcasted event that drove brand status and sales.
A Reporter’s Golden Ticket
- Amy Odell recalls the invitation to the Victoria's Secret show feeling like a golden ticket early in her career.
- She describes backstage interviews, body rooms, and the stadium-style evening spectacle she covered.
Beauty Rituals Became Public Scripts
- The show normalized extreme diet and fitness regimens by foregrounding models' preparation routines.
- That emphasis later drew scrutiny as cultural values shifted away from objectifying displays.
