After nearly six years, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is returning and important details are slowly being revealed.
The annual catwalk show was previously canceled in 2019 due to a decline in sales and low ratings on television; figures fell from five million in 2018 to just over three million in 2019. The brand was also mired in controversy following the exit of former CEO Les Wexner. Links to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein have been revealed.
There have also long been concerns about the show’s lack of diversity and inclusivity, especially when compared to Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty shows, the first of which debuted in 2018 and featured models of all sizes, as well as queer, trans and nonbinary models. casting (interestingly, VS has since hired former CEO of Savage X Fenty, Hillary Super, who joined in September).
But Victoria’s Secret announced plans to relaunch the show last year, claiming many fans of the lingerie brand had been pleading on social media for the glamorous fashion show event to return.
And the brand has announced a significant change from previous versions of the show; it’s about the now-iconic Victoria’s Secret angel wings.
The lingerie brand has previously used up to 620,000 feathers from chickens, Chinese pheasants and ostriches to create wings in a single fashion show.
But after dialogue with animal rights charity Peta US, Victoria’s Secret decided to use handmade fake feathers for models’ angel wings in its upcoming fashion show.
“It’s rosy for Peta that the return of Victoria’s Secret’s iconic fashion show will feature dazzling designs where no birds suffer or die,” Yvonne Taylor, Peta’s VP of Corporate Projects, said in a statement. “Exploitation of birds has no place in fashion,” and Victoria’s Secret sets a great example for other companies to follow.”
With the countdown to the show finalized, the brand also recently confirmed an all-female lineup of performers who will take to the stage once the runway models don their wings.
The official Victoria’s Secret Instagram page confirmed that Believe singer Cher will headline the event.
“It’s a woman’s world, so it seems you can’t have a fashion show without Cher, the mother of fashion! “We are thrilled to announce that the company will officially perform,” he wrote.
The brand announced that South African singer Tyla and K-pop rapper Lisa from the group Blackpink will also take the stage.
Brief information about what we can expect for 2024 was previously given in a teaser published on Instagram. In the trailer, Gigi Hadid is seen walking through a hotel lobby wearing a sheer, sparkly dress. As he rings the bell impatiently for service, he is stunned when Tyra Banks turns around and serves him with a golden envelope.
The envelope is then opened and reads: “You are invited to attend: Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2024.”
The date underneath says: “October 15, 2024: New York City.”
The two creative directors behind this upcoming extravaganza have previously revealed what we can expect when it returns this year and what changes have been made.
Speaking via the Victoria’s Secret Instagram account, chief marketing officer Sarah Sylvester and chief design and creative officer Janie Schaffer shared what fans can look forward to. Schaffer revealed that Victoria’s Secret’s iconic wings will return, with the team revealing classic sets and creating new shows for audiences to enjoy.
While Gigi and Tyra are confirmed, Schaffer also said that some of the brand’s most beloved angels will make a return for the new show. While previous Angels include famous models such as Adriana Lima, Gisele Bündchen and Candice Swanepoel, models such as Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid and Cara Delevingne have also appeared in the fashion show in the past.
Sylvester added that the brand will “introduce some new faces that fans will fall in love with.”
Perhaps the biggest change announced at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was that, for the first time, all items worn by the models will be instantly shoppable.
Schaffer concluded the piece with these words: “Know that the show will always be everything you loved, only better.”
The show’s return was previously confirmed by Victoria’s Secret CFO Timothy Johnson, who said: “We will continue to drive marketing spend to invest in the business and will also support the new version of our fashion show coming later this year.”
Johnson also hinted that the focus of the show — which may be a departure from the superficial glitz and glamor of her former appearance — will “strengthen our resolve to champion women’s voices and unique perspectives.”
The retail giant sought to rebrand and reinvent itself in 2021 by launching the Victoria’s Secret Collective and replacing the Angels with ambassadors who were brought in to inspire change and positivity and were not chosen solely for their appearance. “A growing group of successful women who share a common passion for leading positive change.” The brand has also launched a number of new charitable partnerships to support the lives of women around the world.
However, at the time, reactions to the show’s return were mixed. Users took to X (formerly Twitter) to share their feelings about the return of the VS Fashion Show: “I’ll reserve my anger until we see if they’re truly becoming inclusive or if this is all just for performance purposes,” one wrote.
I’ll reserve my anger until we see if these actually become inclusive or if this is all just for performance purposes.
— Desireé (@GogoLuthando) March 5, 2023
Another user wrote: “Glad it’s back but doubt it’ll be this amazing.”
Singer Lizzo, who has her own shapewear brand Yitty, also responded to the news on social media.
“This is a victory for inclusivity for inclusivity’s sake,” he wrote on social media platform. “But if brands start doing this just because they get backlash, then what happens when the ‘trends’ change again? Do the CEOs of these companies value true inclusivity? Or do they just value money?”
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