The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is Bringing Sexy Back

October 17, 2024By Carolina Juanico

Following a four-year hiatus, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show has made its comeback.

Background

The show made its debut in 1995 at the esteemed Plaza Hotel. Three years later, the show would draw in over 2 million viewers for its first online broadcast. As the show’s popularity grew, it cemented its role in pop culture, with watch party groups flocking, models gaining Hollywood Walk of Fame stars, and celebrity performances driving Twitter discourse.

The show’s cracks began to form in the early 2010s, worsening as the brand faced an onslaught of criticism throughout the decade. The retailer met allegations of cultural appropriation, fatphobia, and gender discrimination—just to name a few. Following a slew of bad press, a drop in viewership, and negative public sentiment, CEO Les Wexner stated the show was no longer the right fit for network television.

Bringing Sexy Back

So why come back now?

As Gen-Z rises into the “adult world,” young women are turning towards more mature clothing selections, ascending into the roles of their womanhood. She works full-time, has a bouncing social life, holds an array of responsibilities, and consistently strives toward her dreams. When she starts her day, she wants to feel her most confident and sexiest self, for her own satisfaction.

While it is important to remember that the fashion show is but a marketing tool for a worldwide retailer that has engaged in extremely shady practices, and as consumers, we do not owe them our attention. However, could the show still serve as a cultural indicator of women wanting to reclaim their femininity and sex appeal? Perhaps these two can be true at once.

Teen Vogue’s Catherine Mhloyi offers a different perspective behind the shows meaning, “Even with all its flaws, the old Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show always felt like a celebration of women. Nothing about these models walking down the runway in drag-esque lingerie looks gave “this is for men”.”

Show Recap

In an effort to introduce itself to a younger demographic, this year’s show was live-streamed on social media for the first time, drawing in 12.4 million viewers. With performances from Lisa, Tyla, BLACKPINK, and Cher, the night featured an all-female setlist.

Known as ‘TikTok’s big sister’, influencer Tefi hilariously cohosted alongside Olivia Culpo.

With models ranging in race, age, and size, the show embraced more diversity than ever, proving it’s catching up with the rest of us. OG models like Tyra Banks, Kate Moss, Adriana Lima, and the Hadid sisters returned to the stage, reminding audiences of the meaning behind being a Victoria’s Secret angel.

The show displayed a variety of lingerie looks, from the iconic, ultra-girly VS pink stripes to edgier, soft-grunge lace pieces. You can browse the looks here.