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141-497: From 1995 through 2018, the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was a major part of the brand's image, featuring an annual runway spectacle of models promoted by the company as fantasy Angels. The 1990s saw the company's further expansion throughout shopping malls, along with the introduction of the 'miracle bra', the new brand Body by Victoria , and the development of a line of fragrances and cosmetics. In 2002, Victoria's Secret announced

282-569: A TV Parental Guidelines rating of TV-14 (a rating maintained for each broadcast presentation over the years), as a TV-MA rating is virtually unmarketable for advertisers on broadcast television. In 2002, the National Organization for Women protested the show calling it a "soft-core porn infomercial". They were joined in protest by the Parents Television Council and other watchdog organizations. Despite

423-549: A feminist movement developed. Parental authority was seen as important, but children were given legal protections against abuse and neglect for the first time towards the end of the period. Access to education increased rapidly during the 19th century. State-funded schools were established in England and Wales for the first time. Education became compulsory for pre-teenaged children in England, Scotland and Wales. Literacy rates increased rapidly, and had become nearly universal by

564-415: A lipdub for Katy Perry's " Firework ". As of 2010, 152 models have walked the show. In 2011, Kanye West started his song " Stronger " with a tribute to his mother who had died before his scheduled performance four years before, saying: "In 2007, I was supposed to perform this song on this show ...and I lost my superhero. Now she's my super-angel." In 2012, an outfit worn by model Karlie Kloss , which

705-472: A "wardrobe malfunction". In place of the fashion show, the company sent the Angels ( Tyra Banks , Heidi Klum , Gisele Bündchen , Adriana Lima , and Alessandra Ambrosio ) on an Angels Across America Tour in 2004 to promote the brand through visit to four major cities: New York City, Miami, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. Victoria's Secret sister brand PINK made its debut on the runway starting in 2006 and

846-675: A 16 percent stake in the company at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Supermodel Stephanie Seymour rang the closing bell at the NYSE as part of the publicity campaign after the event had been promoted by full page adds in the Wall Street Journal . The subsequent three annual shows were also held at the Plaza Hotel. In 1999, during Super Bowl XXXIII , Victoria's Secret announced a 72-hour countdown to

987-421: A 40-page catalog, and was grossing $ 6 million annually. Raymond sold the company to Les Wexner, creator of Limited Stores Inc of Columbus, Ohio, for $ 1 million. In 1983, Wexner revamped Victoria's Secret's sales model towards a greater focus on female customers. Victoria's Secret transformed into a mainstay that sold broadly accepted underwear with "new colors, patterns and styles that promised sexiness packaged in

1128-545: A comeback and was rebranded in 2023 as a Prime Video special titled, "The Tour '23”. The fashion show, at its peak viewership in 2001, had millions tuning in to watch and was known to be a lavish event with elaborate costumed lingerie, music by leading entertainers, and set design with changing themes. With dozens of the world's top fashion models selected to perform in it each year, the fashion show attracted celebrities, entertainers, and regularly featured special performers and acts. American network television broadcast

1269-478: A controversial comment that the company does not cast transgender or plus-size models in its annual fashion show "because the show is a fantasy." After a 40% stock plunge in a single year, Victoria's Secret announced the closure of 53 stores in the U.S. in 2019, as well as the relaunch of its swimwear line. L Brands, the parent company of Victoria's Secret, came under public pressure in 2019 from an activist shareholder of Barington Capital Group, L.P., who took issue with

1410-604: A democracy. The political legacy of the reform movement was to link the nonconformists (part of the evangelical movement) in England and Wales with the Liberal Party . This continued until the First World War . The Presbyterians played a similar role as a religious voice for reform in Scotland. Religion was politically controversial during this era, with Nonconformists pushing for the disestablishment of

1551-470: A documentary with Pulse Films , The Victoria's Secret World Tour , which will premiere September 26, 2023 on Amazon Prime Video . The special is being billed as "part spectacular fashion event, part documentary", and will follow the production of four Victoria's Secret curations in Bogotá, Lagos, London, and Tokyo. A World Tour fashion collection associated will the documentary will be offered on Amazon and

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1692-455: A fashion among employers for providing welfare services to their workers, led to relative social stability. The Chartist movement for working-class men to be given the right to vote, which had been prominent in the early Victorian period, dissipated. Government involvement in the economy was limited. Only in the post-World War II period , around a century later, did the country experience substantial economic growth again. But whilst industry

1833-546: A featured performer. Unlike the other shows, the runway was designed parallel with the audience seats. In 2009, the fashion show returned to the Lexington Avenue Armory and featured the "Victoria's Secret Model Search", a competition to find a new runway Angel with the winner announced as Kylie Bisutti . The 2010 Victoria's Secret Fashion show aired on November 30, 2010, on CBS, and featured performances by Katy Perry and Akon . A promotional ad featured

1974-401: A growing consumer preference for athleisure . The company canceled the circulation of their catalog in 2016. The brand struggled to maintain its market position following criticism and controversy over the unsavory behavior and business practices of corporate leadership under Wexner and Ed Razek . As of May 2020, with over 1,070 stores, Victoria's Secret remained the largest lingerie retailer in

2115-544: A lawsuit against the company for inaction following reports of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation at Victoria's Secret. Shareholders of parent company L Brands filed a complaint in the Court of Chancery of Delaware on January 14, 2021, stating that former chair Wexner, among others, created an "entrenched culture of misogyny , bullying and harassment" and was aware of abuses being committed by accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein , which breached his fiduciary duty to

2256-557: A line of reusable period panties. In 2022, Victoria's Secret & Co. announced they would no longer use cashmere in their product lines. The Victoria's Secret brand is organized into three divisions: 'Victoria's Secret Stores' (physical locations), 'Victoria's Secret Direct' (online and catalog operations), and 'Victoria's Secret Beauty' (bath and cosmetics). The change was made in 2016 by Wexner to "refocus on core business" and it required each division to have its own CEO. The physical store locations were an important part of establishing

2397-527: A lingerie store with an atmosphere and environment where even men would feel comfortable shopping." Raymond reportedly spent the next eight years studying the lingerie market. At the time when the Raymond's founded Victoria's Secret, the undergarments market in the U.S. was dominated by pragmatic items from Fruit of the Loom , Hanes , and Jockey , often sold in packs of three at department stores, while lingerie

2538-546: A mainstay for the company's image for the next 23 years. By 1998, Victoria's Secret's market share of the intimate apparel market was 14 percent and the company also entered the $ 3.5 billion cosmetic market. The following year, in 1999, the company added the Body by Victoria line. The catalog had achieved "an almost cult-like following". In May 2000, Cynthia Fedus-Fields stepped down as CEO after delivering record profits in 1999 and early 2000. Fedus-Fields later claimed that, up until

2679-445: A major employer and industry in their own right. Expected standards of personal conduct changed in around the first half of the 19th century, with good manners and self-restraint becoming much more common. Historians have suggested various contributing factors, such as Britain's major conflicts with France during the early 19th century, meaning that the distracting temptations of sinful behaviour had to be avoided in order to focus on

2820-585: A number of new spokeswomen, including Megan Rapinoe , Priyanka Chopra Jonas , and Naomi Osaka . Wexner's parent company, L Brands spun Victoria's Secret off to become an independent business (trading on the NYSE as VSCO) on August 3, 2021. Following this brand positioning, Victoria's Secret reported sales increase in all three completed quarters of 2021. Martin Waters was named CEO in 2021, replacing Stuart Burgdorfer, who had served as interim CEO. In July 2022, Victoria's Secret named Amy Hauk chief executive of both

2961-430: A rise in prosecutions for illegal sodomy in the middle of the 19th century. Male sexuality became a favourite subject of medical researchers' study. For the first time, all male homosexual acts were outlawed. Concern about sexual exploitation of adolescent girls increased during the period, especially following the white slavery scandal , which contributed to the increasing of the age of consent from 13 to 16 . At

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3102-546: A role in economic life but exploitation of their labour became especially intense during the Victorian era. Children were put to work in a wide range of occupations, but particularly associated with this period are factories. Employing children had advantages, as they were cheap, had limited ability to resist harsh working conditions, and could enter spaces too small for adults. Some accounts exist of happy upbringings involving child labour, but conditions were generally poor. Pay

3243-464: A sale in February 2020 to private equity firm Sycamore Partners for $ 525 million, with L Brands retaining a 45% minority stake. On April 22, 2020, The Wall Street Journal reported that Sycamore Partners wanted out of the deal, which included exceptions for a pandemic. The deal ultimately fell through. Wexner stepped down but maintains a role as chairman emeritus. In June 2020, a shareholder filed

3384-469: A show for them since 2000 since there was no viewer interest. Criticism of Razek for anachronistic and misogynistic business practices intensified, from both inside and outside the company, and he resigned in August 2019. In May 2019, it was reported that L Brands CEO Les Wexner had issued a memo questioning the future of the show, stating that network television was no longer the "right fit", and that

3525-573: A substantial part of the metropolis... In big, once handsome houses, thirty or more people of all ages may inhabit a single room Hunger and poor diet was a common aspect of life across the UK in the Victorian period, especially in the 1840s, but the mass starvation seen in the Great Famine in Ireland was unique. Levels of poverty fell significantly during the 19th century from as much as two thirds of

3666-475: A symbol of the British Empire. Queen Victoria died on 22 January 1901. The Victorian era saw a rapidly growing middle class who became an important cultural influence, to a significant extent replacing the aristocracy as British society's dominant class. A distinctive middle-class lifestyle developed that influenced what society valued as a whole. Increased importance was placed on the value of

3807-591: A tasteful, glamorous way and with the snob appeal of European luxury" meant to appeal to female buyers. To further this image, the Victoria's Secret catalog continued the practice that Raymond began: listing the company's headquarters on catalogs at a fake London address, with the real headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. The stores were redesigned to evoke the Victorian era . The New York Times reported in 1982 that

3948-687: A time when job options for women were limited and generally low-paying, some women, particularly those without familial support, took to prostitution to support themselves. Attitudes in public life and among the general population to prostitution varied. Evidence about prostitutes' situation also varies. One contemporary study argues that the trade was a short-term stepping stone to a different lifestyle for many women, while another, more recent study argues they were subject to physical abuse, financial exploitation, state persecution, and difficult working conditions. Due to worries about venereal disease , especially among soldiers, women suspected of prostitution were for

4089-461: A wide range of new inventions. This led Great Britain to become the foremost industrial and trading nation of the time. Historians have characterised the mid-Victorian era (1850–1870) as Britain's 'Golden Years', with national income per person increasing by half. This prosperity was driven by increased industrialisation, especially in textiles and machinery, along with exports to the empire and elsewhere. The positive economic conditions, as well as

4230-569: A wide-ranging change to the electoral system of England and Wales . Definitions that purport a distinct sensibility or politics to the era have also created scepticism about the worth of the label 'Victorian', though there have also been defences of it. Michael Sadleir was insistent that "in truth, the Victorian period is three periods, and not one". He distinguished early Victorianism—the socially and politically unsettled period from 1837 to 1850 —and late Victorianism (from 1880 onwards), with its new waves of aestheticism and imperialism , from

4371-437: Is an annual promotional event sponsored by and featuring Victoria's Secret , a brand of lingerie . From 1995 to 2018, Victoria's Secret used the show to market its goods in high-profile settings. Models under contract to the company, known as Victoria's Secret Angels , were key participants at the event. The fashion show was cancelled in 2019, the same year its organizer, Edward Razek , resigned under public pressure. It made

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4512-456: Is now called classical music was somewhat undeveloped compared to parts of Europe but did have significant support. Photography became an increasingly accessible and popular part of everyday life. Many sports were introduced or popularised during the Victorian era. They became important to male identity. Examples included cricket , football , rugby , tennis and cycling . The idea of women participating in sport did not fit well with

4653-530: The Church of England . Nonconformists comprised about half of church attendees in England in 1851, and gradually the legal discrimination that had been established against them outside of Scotland was removed. Legal restrictions on Roman Catholics were also largely removed . The number of Catholics grew in Great Britain due to conversions and immigration from Ireland . Secularism and doubts about

4794-755: The Georgian era and preceded the Edwardian era , and its later half overlaps with the first part of the Belle Époque era of continental Europe. Various liberalising political reforms took place in the UK, including expanding the electoral franchise. The Great Famine caused mass death in Ireland early in the period. The British Empire had relatively peaceful relations with the other great powers . It participated in various military conflicts mainly against minor powers. The British Empire expanded during this period and

4935-520: The Jeffrey Epstein sexual abuse scandal and Wexner's ties to Epstein. The last official broadcast of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was in December 2018. On March 5, 2023, Victoria's Secret chief financial officer Tim Johnson stated during an earnings call that the company was planning a "new version" of the fashion show. In July 2023, Victoria's Secret announced that it was producing

5076-570: The Pax Britannica , was a time of relatively peaceful relations between the world's great powers . This is particularly true of Britain's interactions with the others. The only war in which the British Empire fought against another major power was the Crimean War , from 1853 to 1856. There were various revolts and violent conflicts within the British Empire, and Britain participated in wars against minor powers. It also took part in

5217-460: The $ 2 million 2010 Bombshell Fantasy Bra were designed by Damiani . Listed below are the prices per set (including accessories) for the 2007 and 2013 editions, the 2013 bra alone is worth $ 10,000,000. The 2012 Floral Fantasy Bra was accompanied by a $ 500,000 perfume bottle. In 2014, for the first time, two fantasy bras were created. They were worn by Alessandra Ambrosio and Adriana Lima and were valued at $ 2,000,000 each. Since 2003, similar to

5358-587: The 'workshop of the world', Britain was uniquely advanced in technology in the mid-19th century. Engineering, having developed into a profession in the 18th century, gained new profile and prestige in this period. The Victorian era saw methods of communication and transportation develop significantly. In 1837, William Fothergill Cooke and Charles Wheatstone invented the first telegraph system . This system, which used electrical currents to transmit coded messages, quickly spread across Britain, appearing in every town and post office. A worldwide network developed towards

5499-648: The 15th Anniversary Swarovski outfit, which came out to a total value of $ 1,000,000. Last Walk In 23 editions (1995–2003; 2005–18; 2024), 14 models have opened the show. In 23 editions (1995–2003; 2005–18; 2024), 17 models have closed the show. Victorian era In the history of the United Kingdom and the British Empire , the Victorian era was the reign of Queen Victoria , from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. Slightly different definitions are sometimes used. The era followed

5640-587: The 1880s, sanitation was inadequate in areas such as water supply and disposal of sewage. This all had a negative effect on health, especially that of the impoverished young. For instance, of the babies born in Liverpool in 1851, only 45 per cent survived to age 20. It had been hoped that there would be a rapid improvement following the Public Baths and Wash-houses Act 1846. This was the first legislation to empower local authorities in England and Wales to fund

5781-578: The 1996 Million Dollar Miracle Bra during the 1999 fashion show. As of 2018, the fantasy bra has been worn 8 times by a Brazilian model, 5 times by an American model, 4 times by a German model, and 3 times by a Czech model. The $ 15 million price tag for the 2000 bra worn by Gisele Bündchen earned a place in the Guinness World Records as the most expensive item of lingerie ever created. The $ 3 million 2009 Harlequin Fantasy Bra and

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5922-440: The 1998 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. A consistent feature of each year's collection, wings were included as a part of some outfits. The idea to feature wings as part of the collection came in the wake of the immense success of the "Angels"-bra line, which was advertised with the models Tyra Banks , Helena Christensen , Karen Mulder , Daniela Pestova , and Stephanie Seymour wearing wings. The same models who were featured in

6063-413: The 19th century and germ theory was developed for the first time. Doctors became more specialised and the number of hospitals grew. The overall number of deaths fell by about 20%. The life expectancy of women increased from around 42 to 55 and 40 to 56 for men. In spite of this, the mortality rate fell only marginally, from 20.8 per thousand in 1850 to 18.2 by the end of the century. Urbanisation aided

6204-550: The 19th century for the first time in history, improved nutrition, and a lower overall mortality rate. Ireland's population shrank significantly, mostly due to emigration and the Great Famine. The professionalisation of scientific study began in parts of Europe following the French Revolution but was slow to reach Britain. William Whewell coined the term 'scientist' in 1833 to refer to those who studied what

6345-421: The 2019 fashion show had been canceled, citing its declining viewership and lack of immediate "material impact" on Victoria's Secret sales post-broadcast. He re-affirmed that Victoria's Secret was "figuring out how to advance the positioning of the brand and best communicate that to customers". The New York Times reported that the company was seeking to distance itself from the controversy following fallout from

6486-454: The Bible. A variety of reading materials grew in popularity during the period, including novels, women's magazines, children's literature, and newspapers. Much literature, including chapbooks , was distributed on the street. Music was also very popular, with genres such as folk music , broadsides , music halls , brass bands , theater music and choral music having mass appeal. What

6627-490: The British Empire, reform included rapid expansion, the complete abolition of slavery in the African possessions and the end of transportation of convicts to Australia . Restrictions on colonial trade were loosened and responsible (i.e. semi-autonomous) government was introduced in some territories. Throughout most of the 19th century Britain was the most powerful country in the world. The period from 1815 to 1914 , known as

6768-639: The Canadian fleet. Victoria's Secret opened a store at the Westfield Shopping Centre , Stratford, London in July 2012. Their flagship 40,386-square-foot- (3,752.0 m) store on New Bond Street , London followed in August 2012. Locations in the United Kingdom include the cities of Leeds , Manchester , Sheffield , Birmingham , Bristol , Westfield London , Bluewater , Brent Cross and Glasgow . As of June 2020, there were 25 stores in

6909-562: The FCC, following the 2001 airing, citing the First Amendment and stating that "sexual or excretory activities or organs in a patently offensive manner as measured by contemporary community standards for the broadcast medium" were not broadcast. In the initial 2001 airing ABC blurred the screen on particularly sheer lingerie. This enabled the show to pass muster with its internal Broadcast Standards and Practices department and to achieve

7050-472: The Fantasy Bra, one or more models are chosen to wear the "Swarovski Outfit" and the "Swarovski Wings" every year. The first Swarovski items that were shown on the runway were given to Alessandra Ambrosio . Victoria's Secret had worked with Swarovski for 9 years prior to the Swarovski items worn on the runway in 2011. Alessandra Ambrosio 's Swarovski outfit, worn in 2011, included a 60-pound wing which

7191-553: The Origin of Species (1859), which sought to explain biological evolution by natural selection, gained a high profile in the public consciousness. Simplified (and at times inaccurate) popular science was increasingly distributed through a variety of publications which caused tension with the professionals. There were significant advances in various fields of research, including statistics , elasticity , refrigeration , natural history , electromagnetism , and logic . Known as

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7332-521: The UK, and China but relied on franchises elsewhere in the world for its Victoria's Secret Beauty & Accessory (VSBA) locations. The drive for growth, coupled with a maturing American retail market, led to a shift towards expansion, first into Canada. In 2010, the first Canadian store opened in Edmonton, Alberta . In 2012, Victoria's Secret opened stores in Nova Scotia and Quebec . Several of

7473-541: The United Kingdom. That same month, Retail Dive reported that as the brand's UK arm filed the "equivalent of Chapter 11" bankruptcy, as it struggled with falling sales, profits, and market share. In 2016, it was reported that L Brands fully purchased 26 stores back from its franchise partners in China. The company announced plans to expand on the existing 26 Victoria's Secret Beauty & Accessory (VSBA) stores (boutiques which sold beauty products in airports or malls), through

7614-685: The United States. Victoria's Secret was founded by Roy Raymond , and his wife, Gaye Raymond, on June 12, 1977. The first store was opened in the Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto, California. Years earlier, Raymond was embarrassed when purchasing lingerie for his wife at a department store. Newsweek reported Roy Raymond stating: "When I tried to buy lingerie for my wife, I was faced with racks of terry-cloth robes and ugly floral-print nylon nightgowns, and I always had

7755-777: The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show considered it objectifying , lacking in diversity of body sizes , and repeatedly inclined towards offensive cultural appropriation with its designs. In 2024, Victoria's Secret announced a return of the show by posting an Instagram Reel featuring Tyra Banks. The first fashion show, introduced by Stephanie Seymour , was held at the Plaza Hotel in New York City in August 1995. The show also featured Beverly Peele and Frederique van der Wal . The inaugural show occurred two months before The Limited , parent company of Victoria's Secret owner Intimate Brands, sold an initial public offering of

7896-513: The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show during prime time . The first few shows in the 1990s were held in the days preceding Valentine's Day , linking the brand to the holiday's romantic theme. In 1999 and 2000, the show was webcast . Beginning in 2001, the event was shifted to take place ahead of the Christmas and holiday season . The show made its network television broadcast debut on ABC in 2001, with subsequent years (2002–2017) broadcast on CBS ;

8037-448: The Victoria's Secret Fashion show featured performances by Taylor Swift; Ed Sheeran , Ariana Grande , and Hozier . Swift performed " Blank Space " and " Style ". Ed Sheeran performed " Thinking Out Loud ". Ariana Grande performed " Love Me Harder ", " Bang Bang ", " Break Free ", and " Problem ". Hozier performed " Take Me to Church ". During the show, Ariana Grande was performing and was hit by accident by Elsa Hosk 's wings. In 2015,

8178-468: The Victoria's Secret and Pink brands. In November 2022, it was announced that Victoria's Secret had acquired the New York -headquartered lingerie brand, Adore Me for US$ 400 million. In October 2023, several media outlets reported about Victoria's Secret's planning on reverting their rebranding and going back to their marketing strategy before. The decision was made after the initial sales increase from

8319-440: The Victoria's Secret website. On May 15, 2024, the brand announced via Instagram that the show would return in fall 2024. and on August 28, 2024 the city of New York was announced as the host city of the return of the show and Tyra Banks as the host. Valentina Sampaio and Alex Consani became the first two transgender models to walk in the show, which took place on October 15, 2024. The wings were first introduced in

8460-408: The Victorian era covers the duration of Victoria's reign as Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , from her accession on 20 June 1837—after the death of her uncle, William IV —until her death on 22 January 1901, after which she was succeeded by her eldest son, Edward VII . Her reign lasted 63 years and seven months, a longer period than any of her predecessors. The term 'Victorian'

8601-420: The Victorian heyday: mid-Victorianism, 1851 to 1879. He saw the latter period as characterised by a distinctive mixture of prosperity, domestic prudery , and complacency —what G. M. Trevelyan called the 'mid-Victorian decades of quiet politics and roaring prosperity'. The Reform Act , which made various changes to the electoral system including expanding the franchise, had been passed in 1832. The franchise

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8742-638: The Victorian view of femininity, but their involvement did increase as the period progressed. For the middle classes, many leisure activities such as table games could be done in the home while domestic holidays to rural locations such as the Lake District and Scottish Highlands were increasingly practical. The working classes had their own culture separate from that of their richer counterparts, various cheaper forms of entertainment and recreational activities provided by philanthropy . Trips to resorts such as Blackpool were increasingly popular towards

8883-451: The West." The rapid growth in the urban population included the new industrial and manufacturing cities, as well as service centres such as Edinburgh and London. Private renting from housing landlords was the dominant tenure. P. Kemp says this was usually of advantage to tenants. Overcrowding was a major problem with seven or eight people frequently sleeping in a single room. Until at least

9024-504: The accuracy of the Old Testament grew among people with higher levels of education. Northern English and Scottish academics tended to be more religiously conservative, whilst agnosticism and even atheism (though its promotion was illegal) gained appeal among academics in the south. Historians refer to a 'Victorian Crisis of Faith', a period when religious views had to readjust to accommodate new scientific knowledge and criticism of

9165-659: The addition of flagship stores in Shanghai and Beijing . Reuters reported that, as of June 2020, Victoria's Secret had two dozen stores in Greater China. That same month, the company permanently closed its 50,000 square feet (4,600 m) flagship store in Causeway Bay , Hong Kong after only two years of operation. On January 25, 2022, Victoria's Secret announced a Joint venture partnership agreement with Regina Miracle International (Holdings) Limited. Under

9306-505: The annual fashion show featuring its angels, indicating a major change in marketing strategy. In January 2020, L Brands chairman and CEO Lex Wexner was in talks to step down. Reports of widespread bullying and harassment at Victoria's Secret surfaced in February 2020. On February 1, 2020, The New York Times published an exposé on "the culture of misogyny" at Victoria's Secret, which painted a picture of long-time influential executive Ed Razek's rampant sexual misconduct. The company announced

9447-849: The average Victoria's Secret store was 6,000 square feet (560 m). In 2000, the Los Angeles Times reported that the company continued the practice of putting on "a British air—or what the Ohio-based chain thinks Americans believe is British. Boudoirish . Tony. Upscale." By 2010, there were 1,000 Victoria's Secret lingerie stores and 100 independent Victoria's Secret Beauty Stores in the United States, mostly in shopping centers, then offering bras, panties, hosiery, cosmetics, and sleepwear. The international expansion of Victoria's Secret stores began in 2008. As of 2016, L Brands maintained control of operations at company-owned stores in Canada,

9588-411: The basis for welfare provision into the 20th century. While many people were prone to vices, not least alcoholism, historian Bernard A. Cook argues that the main reason for 19th century poverty was that typical wages for much of the population were simply too low. Barely enough to provide a subsistence living in good times, let alone save up for bad. Improvements were made over time to housing along with

9729-558: The billion-dollar cosmetics market in 1998, Victoria's Secret expanded beyond apparel in the 1990s. Victoria's Secret introduced the 'Miracle Bra' in 1993, selling two million within the first year. When faced with competition from Sara Lee 's WonderBra a year later, in 1994, the company responded with a TV campaign. At the same time, in 1994, Wexner discussed the creation of a company fashion event with Ed Razek . The first Victoria's Secret Fashion Show , held in 1995 in New York, became

9870-521: The bra to be used as a focal point for promoting the fashion show and as a centerpiece within it. However, only the centerpiece from the 2004 Heavenly "70" Fantasy Bra and the 2012 Floral Fantasy Bra and Gift Set have found a buyer. If not bought, the bras are usually dismantled after a year. Heidi Klum and Adriana Lima have worn the Fantasy Bra in three different years. Gisele Bündchen , Tyra Banks , Karolína Kurková , and Alessandra Ambrosio have each worn two Fantasy Bras. Tyra Banks also wore

10011-464: The brand and remained concentrated in the United States from 1977 until the early 2000s. Victoria's Secret stores took over the lingerie market during the 1980s by using a fabricated sense of Britain, featuring this romantic styling and soft classical music. In the early years, Wexner himself was involved in carefully orchestrating store interior design through the use of English floral wallpaper circa 1890, gilded fixtures, classical music, soft lighting,

10152-579: The broadcast. Performers at VS 2012 include: Rihanna, Justin Bieber, and Bruno Mars. The 2013 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show featured performances by Taylor Swift , A Great Big World , Neon Jungle , and Fall Out Boy . Swift performed " I Knew You Were Trouble ", A Great Big World performed " Say Something ", UK's Neon Jungle made their US television debut with " Trouble ", and Fall Out Boy performed with Taylor Swift in " My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark " and later performed "The Phoenix" . In 2014,

10293-466: The building of public baths and wash houses but, since the act was only permissive rather than mandatory, improvement was slow. Conditions were particularly bad in London, where the population rose sharply and poorly maintained, overcrowded dwellings became slum housing. Kellow Chesney wrote of the situation: Hideous slums, some of them acres wide, some no more than crannies of obscure misery, make up

10434-725: The business for a decade. Victoria's Secret was split into three divisions: Victoria's Secret Lingerie, Victoria's Secret Beauty, and Pink, each with a separate CEO. In 2016, direct sales only grew 1.6% and fell by 7.4% in the last quarter of the year, typically a high revenue period due to the holidays. The company discontinued its use of a print catalog and dropped certain categories of clothing, such as swimwear. Sales revenue continued to stagnate and drop in early 2017. In late 2018, CEO Jan Singer resigned amid declining sales. The Wall Street Journal reported that only one quarter showed an increase in same-store sales between 2016 and 2018. Singer's announcement came one week after CMO Ed Razek made

10575-399: The campaigns for the "Angel"-bra line, with the exception of Chandra North filling in the spot for Christensen, walked the runway with Angel wings on.. Over the years, the show featured various forms and sizes of wings, such as butterfly, peacock, or devil wings, which have become emblematic of the Victoria's Secret brand. The wings were, at times, ornamental back pieces worn by the models on

10716-445: The catalog continued to expand due to the addition of clothing, swimwear and shoes and wider circulation. Cynthia Fedus-Fields oversaw the company's direct business, including its catalog, from the mid-1980s until 2000.  During her tenure, total revenues increased to nearly $ 1 billion. In 1987, Victoria's Secret was reported to be among the bestselling catalogs. Victoria's Secret experienced quality problems with their product in

10857-444: The catalog. Beginning in 2000, Grace Nichols, CEO of Victoria's Secret Direct, led a similar change at Victoria's Secret's stores—moving away from an evocation of 1800s England (or a Victorian bordello). By 2006, Victoria's Secret's 1,000 stores across the United States accounted for one third of all purchases in the intimate apparel industry. In May 2006, Wexner promoted Turney from the Victoria's Secret catalog and online units to lead

10998-489: The children in school; in 1840 only about 20 per cent of the children in London had any schooling. By the 1850s, around half of the children in England and Wales were in school (not including Sunday school ). From the 1833 Factory Act onwards, attempts were made to get child labourers into part time education, though this was often difficult to achieve. Only in the 1870s and 1880s did children begin to be compelled into school. Work continued to inhibit children's schooling into

11139-526: The company planned to focus on "developing exciting and dynamic content and a new kind of event." Viewership of the show had fallen from 9.2 million viewers in 2014 to 3.2 million in 2018. Victoria's Secret had also been experiencing an overall decline due to increasing competition, as well as changing perceptions to the company's marketing—which a retail analyst described as encouraging women to objectify themselves to "impress men". On November 21, 2019, L Brands CFO Stuart Burgdoerfer officially confirmed that

11280-511: The company's stores in Canada are considered large by retail standards and span more than 10,000 square feet (930 m) each. As of 2020, the company's Canadian locations included cities in all ten provinces, from British Columbia all the way to the Maritimes . However, the company announced in May 2020 plans to permanently shutter 13 of its 38 Canadian stores, representing a loss of one-third of

11421-422: The company, causing devaluation of the brand. The complaint also names Wexner's wife, Abigail, current chair, Sarah E. Nash, and former marketing officer, Ed Razek , whose "widely known misconduct" was long allowed at the company. In 2021, after the resignation of Razek as well as the sale of the company by Wexner, Victoria's Secret's new ownership and management implemented policy changes and new partnerships with

11562-797: The diplomatic struggles of the Great Game and the Scramble for Africa . In 1840, Queen Victoria married her German cousin Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha . The couple had nine children, who themselves married into various royal families, and the queen thus became known as the 'grandmother of Europe'. In 1861, Albert died. Victoria went into mourning and withdrew from public life for ten years. In 1871, with republican sentiments growing in Britain, she began to return to public life. In her later years, her popularity soared as she became

11703-436: The early 1990s and was working to resolve the issues. In 1991, Howard Gross was assigned to fix the L Brands subsidiary Limited Stores. In 1993, Business Week reported that both divisions suffered. Grace Nichols, who worked to improve the product quality, succeeded Gross. The company's margins tightened, resulting in slower growth in profits. With the introduction of their own line of fragrances in 1991 and their entry into

11844-474: The early 20th century. 19th-century Britain saw a huge population increase accompanied by rapid urbanisation stimulated by the Industrial Revolution. In the 1901 census , more than three out of every four people were classified as living in an urban area, compared to one in five a century earlier. Historian Richard A. Soloway wrote that "Great Britain had become the most urbanized country in

11985-505: The elimination of swimwear, apparel, shoes, and accessories. In 2017, the company began to put more emphasis on bralettes (bras without underwire, often intended to be worn visibly) and sports bras (under the Victoria Sport label) to appeal to a younger customer base. In 2019, Victoria's Secret relaunched its product line of eyewear and footwear, in hopes of boosting struggling sales for the brand. In October 2021, Pink launched

12126-424: The end of period. Initially the industrial revolution increased working hours, but over the course of the 19th century a variety of political and economic changes caused them to fall back down to and in some cases below pre-industrial levels, creating more time for leisure. Before the Industrial Revolution, daily life had changed little for hundreds of years. The 19th century saw rapid technological development with

12267-453: The end of the century. Private education for wealthier children, boys and more gradually girls, became more formalised over the course of the century. The growing middle class and strong evangelical movement placed great emphasis on a respectable and moral code of behaviour. This included features such as charity, personal responsibility, controlled habits, child discipline and self-criticism. As well as personal improvement, importance

12408-470: The end of the century. In 1876, an American patented the telephone . A little over a decade later, 26,000 telephones were in service in Britain. Multiple switchboards were installed in every major town and city. Guglielmo Marconi developed early radio broadcasting at the end of the period. The railways were important economically in the Victorian era, allowing goods, raw materials, and people to be moved around, stimulating trade and industry. They were also

12549-524: The event as "the Super Bowl of fashion" in 2014. airing: December 2, 2018 re-aired: December 7, 2018 Typically, one model is chosen among the Angels to wear a bejeweled bra dubbed the "Fantasy Bra". It was first advertised in the Victoria's Secret catalog, but since 2001 has been worn in the fashion shows. Prior to each fashion show, Victoria's Secret contracts a renowned jewelry designer to craft

12690-464: The event returned to ABC for the final 2018 edition. The event was frequently held in New York City at the Plaza Hotel or the 69th Regiment Armory , in addition to special host cities including Miami , Los Angeles , Cannes , Paris , London , and Shanghai . Cancellation, officially announced in November 2019 amid declining ratings and sales and growing criticism of Razek, was influenced by both

12831-516: The family, and the idea that marriage should be based on romantic love gained popularity. A clear separation was established between the home and the workplace, which had often not been the case before. The home was seen as a private environment, where housewives provided their husbands with a respite from the troubles of the outside world. Within this ideal, women were expected to focus on domestic matters and to rely on men as breadwinners. Women had limited legal rights in most areas of life, and

12972-487: The fashion show did not cast trans women —whom he referred to using the now-rejected term " transsexuals "—because "the show is a fantasy". Razek apologized for the "insensitive" comments, noting that trans women have attempted to audition for the show in the past, but that "it was never about gender. I admire and respect their journey to embrace who they really are." Razek also faced criticism for similar comments regarding plus-size models , stating they had not attempted to do

13113-432: The feeling the department store saleswomen thought I was an unwelcome intruder." Roy also Stated "The women's lingerie section was extremely uncomfortable for a man. He wandered the aisles for a long time, feeling awkward, and the saleswomen couldn't help him because their work was exclusively focused on serving women. Raymond left the store without making a purchase. Instead, he was determined to realize his new idea – to open

13254-490: The financial success of the Victoria's Secret catalog influenced other catalogs by presenting lingerie as "romantic and sensual but tasteful", "in which models are photographed in ladylike poses against elegant backgrounds." Howard Gross became president in 1985. In October of that year, the Los Angeles Times reported that Victoria's Secret was stealing market share from department stores; in 1986, Victoria's Secret

13395-414: The first time. Whilst some attempts were made to improve living conditions, slum housing and disease remained a severe problem. The period saw significant scientific and technological development. Britain was advanced in industry and engineering in particular, but somewhat undeveloped in art and education. Great Britain's population increased rapidly, while Ireland's fell sharply. In the strictest sense,

13536-496: The first-ever segment in collaboration with another brand, French fashion house Balmain . The theme and designs were co-steered by Victoria's Secret and Balmain creative director Olivier Rousteing . Performers included Harry Styles (performed Kiwi and Only Angel ), Miguel (performed Pineapple Skies and Told You So ), Jane Zhang (performed a medley of Work For It , 808 , and Dust My Shoulders Off ), and Leslie Odom Jr. (performed Winter Song). A performance by Katy Perry

13677-448: The initial 20th-century webcast experience as having felt like he was "watching a striptease through a keyhole". Some critics have described the 21st-century televised editions of the show as pornographic, while others have described it as both "outright commercialism" and indistinguishable from an infomercial . The Federal Communications Commission has received complaints regarding the broadcast, but no fines have been imposed, with

13818-418: The launch of PINK , a brand that was aimed to teenagers and young women. Starting in 2008, Victoria's Secret expanded internationally, with retail outlets within international airports, franchises in major cities overseas, and company-owned stores throughout Canada and the UK. By 2016, Victoria's Secret's market share began to decline due to competition from other brands that embraced a wider range of sizes and

13959-406: The line would end and be replaced by a new line of activewear. The swim line was relaunched in November 2018. In March 2019, the swim line was made available in shops. In 2010, Victoria's Secret launched the 'Incredible' bra. The company released Victoria's Secret Designer Collection in 2012, described by Vogue as the company's "first high end lingerie line." In 2016, Victoria's Secret confined

14100-528: The lingerie market. The Los Angeles Times described the catalog in 2000 as having achieved "an almost cult-like following." The company was mailing more than 400 million catalogs annually in 2010. In May 2016, the brand decided to discontinue the catalog, which had run at a cost of $ 125 million to $ 150 million annually, due to concern that catalogs had grown stale as a marketing device and confidence that sales would not be affected. Victoria%27s Secret Fashion Show The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

14241-420: The management of sewage and water eventually giving the UK the most advanced system of public health protection anywhere in the world. The quality and safety of household lighting improved over the period with oil lamps becoming the norm in the early 1860s, gas lighting in the 1890s and electric lights beginning to appear in the homes of the richest by the end of the period. Medicine advanced rapidly during

14382-444: The middle of the 19th century to 'diminished cruelty to animals, criminals, lunatics, and children (in that order)'. Legal restrictions were placed on cruelty to animals. Restrictions were placed on the working hours of child labourers in the 1830s and 1840s. Further interventions took place throughout the century to increase the level of child protection. Use of the death penalty also decreased. Crime rates fell significantly in

14523-494: The middle- and working-classes a role in politics. However, all women and a large minority of men remained outside the system into the early 20th century. Cities were given greater political autonomy and the labour movement was legalised. From 1845 to 1852, the Potato Famine caused mass starvation, disease and death in Ireland, sparking large-scale emigration. The Corn Laws were repealed in response to this. Across

14664-405: The partnership will positively impact the speed and agility of the business to benefit consumers and provide us with a platform for a strong future in this important market." Prior to the emergence of e-commerce, the company's catalogs were a key aspect of successfully marketing a product considered risqué to consumers in the privacy of their own homes. According to Joseph Sugarman, the 1979 catalog

14805-446: The performance of Razek and urged the company to update its brand image and switch up its predominantly male board of directors. In August 2019, chief marketing officer Ed Razek resigned following a disastrous Vogue interview in which he made inflammatory statements about transgender models. Also in 2019, executive vice president April Holy stepped down after 16 years. In November 2019, Victoria's Secret announced it would no longer hold

14946-514: The population in 1800 to less than a third by 1901. However, 1890s studies suggested that almost 10% of the urban population lived in a state of desperation lacking the food necessary to maintain basic physical functions. Attitudes towards the poor were often unsympathetic and they were frequently blamed for their situation. In that spirit, the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 had been deliberately designed to punish them and would remain

15087-532: The program's timeslot and parental ratings, some affiliates have chosen not to air the program, including Fisher Communications ' CBS stations in Boise and Idaho Falls , Idaho, in the past. In 2009, the American Decency Association organized email letters of protests to sponsors of the show including AT&T , Kentucky Fried Chicken , Netflix , Nikon , and Reebok . CBS described

15228-408: The rebranding turned into plunging sales. In addition to the primary brand of lingerie for Victoria's Secret, the company has secondary product lines: namely, activewear known as Victoria sports, swimwear, and a beauty division with fragrances, make-up, accessories, and other bath and body products. The swimwear, introduced in 2002, was made available until April 2016, when the company announced that

15369-483: The reckoning of the Me Too movement , fourth-wave feminism , and the association of L Brands ' CEO Les Wexner with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein . Due to the immense amount of criticism, Victoria's Secret Fashion Show reconsidered its marketing strategy, which ultimately contributed to the end of the runway shows. The brand's focus changed to digital-platform marketing with the aim of restoring its reputation. Critics of

15510-473: The runway, with limited resemblance to traditional wings. Some models considered it an honor to wear the wings. Adriana Lima has worn the most winged costumes in the history of the show. With her count of 24 sets of wings, she is followed by Candice Swanepoel who has worn 20 pair of wings. The early webcasts were criticized for poor connection, and users that could connect were subjected to low video quality. One critic from The New York Times described

15651-469: The scent of old-fashioned sachet, and elegant perfume bottles that "look like your grandmother's crystal". During the 1990s, in-store sales at Victoria's Secret increased by 30% after the company tracked and applied data analysis of where specific styles, sizes, and colors were selling. The decade also brought an expansion of store size to triple from 1,400 square feet (130 m) to an average 4,500 square feet (420 m). The trend continued into 2002, when

15792-405: The second half of the 19th century. Sociologist Christie Davies linked this change to attempts to morally educate the population, especially at Sunday schools . Contrary to popular belief, Victorian society understood that both men and women enjoyed copulation . Chastity was expected of women, whilst attitudes to male sexual behaviour were more relaxed. The development of police forces led to

15933-596: The show featured performances by The Weeknd , Selena Gomez , and Ellie Goulding . The Weeknd performed " In the Night " and " Can't Feel My Face " for the show, while Gomez performed a medley of " Hands to Myself " and " Me & My Girls " for the PINK segment. Goulding was contracted as a replacement for Rihanna , who had canceled her appearance just one week before the show in order to focus on recording her album Anti . Goulding performed " Army " and " Love Me Like You Do " for

16074-683: The show was broadcast live on the internet. The May 2000 fashion show, held in France in sync with the Cannes Film Festival , was made with production help from Harvey Weinstein . The event raised $ 3.5 million for the Cinema Against AIDS charity. The 2001 show, hosted by Rupert Everett , returned to New York City and was held at Bryant Park in the Valhalla structure, designed by Rudi Enos. All proceeds went towards

16215-556: The show with his song "Sexy Back". This fashion show included the final walk of Gisele Bündchen . The 2007 show featured a performance by the Spice Girls , the first American TV debut of the band's comeback. After Kanye West canceled his appearance, will.i.am was called to perform in his place. The 2008 show coincided with the grand re-opening of the Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel and had Usher as

16356-451: The show's location. A major challenge faced with the show was the size of the building and how the show could be showcased on a small TV, as well as the natural lighting in the building, which would get in the way of the tradition of the show being held at night. The 2017 show was held in Shanghai , China and was the first Victoria's Secret Fashion Show to be held in Asia. The show featured

16497-554: The show. In 2016, the Victoria's Secret Fashion show featured performances by The Weeknd (performed " Starboy "), Lady Gaga (performed " Million Reasons ", plus a medley of " A-Yo " and " John Wayne "), and Bruno Mars (performed " Chunky " for the Pink brand and " 24k Magic " for the VS brand). The executive producer of Victoria's Secret, Ed Razek , chose Grand Palais in Paris, France, as

16638-402: The spread of diseases and squalid living conditions in many places exacerbated the problem. The population of England, Scotland and Wales grew rapidly during the 19th century. Various factors are considered contributary to this, including a rising fertility rate (though it was falling by the end of the period), the lack of a catastrophic pandemic or famine in the island of Great Britain during

16779-438: The terms of the agreement, Victoria's Secret will own 51% of the joint venture and Regina Miracle will own 49%. CEO Martin Waters commented, "I am delighted to announce this partnership with Regina Miracle, who has been a valued merchandise supplier partner for more than twenty years. Together with Regina Miracle, we aim to grow the China business through joint investment in product development, distribution, and marketing. We expect

16920-616: The time of her departure, the company had acted in accordance with the sensibilities of what a European woman would choose to wear. After her departure in 2000, the brand pursued an image that was "much more blatantly sexy." In May 2000, Wexner installed Sharen Jester Turney , previously of Neiman Marcus Direct, as the new chief executive of Victoria's Secret Direct to turn around catalog sales that were lagging behind other divisions. Forbes reported Turney stating, "We need to quit focusing on all that cleavage." In 2000, Turney began to redefine Victoria's Secret catalog from "breasts—spilling over

17061-426: The tops of black, purple and reptile-print underthings" to one that would appeal to an "upscale customer who now feels more comfortable buying La Perla or Wolford lingerie."; "dimming the hooker looks" such as "tight jeans and stilettos"; and moving from "a substitute for Playboy in some dorm rooms," to something closer to a Vogue lifestyle layout, where lingerie, sleepwear, clothes and cosmetics appear throughout

17202-689: The victims of the September 11 attacks . That year, the show made its broadcast debut on ABC , drawing millions of viewers as well as some controversy; the Federal Communications Commission received many complaints about the broadcast. From 2002 through 2005, it was held at the Lexington Avenue Armory in New York City. The 2004 show was canceled due to fallout from the Super Bowl halftime show controversy , an event known for accidental indecency with

17343-402: The war effort, and the evangelical movement's push for moral improvement. There is evidence that the expected standards of moral behaviour were reflected in action as well as rhetoric across all classes of society. For instance, an analysis suggested that less than 5% of working class couples cohabited before marriage. Historian Harold Perkin argued that the change in moral standards led by

17484-510: The webcast of their fashion show, which resulted in over 2 million viewers. Parent company Intimate Brands bought a $ 1.5 million, 30-second television advertisement during the Super Bowl broadcast and spent an additional $ 4 million on international newspaper publicity. The event, hosted by Broadcast.com , featured Tyra Banks , Laetitia Casta , Heidi Klum , Karen Mulder , Daniela Peštová , Inés Rivero , and Seymour. In 1999 and 2000,

17625-413: The whole company. In 2008, she acknowledged "product quality that doesn't equal the brand's hype." In September 2006, Victoria's Secret reportedly tried to make their catalog feel more like magazines by head-hunting writers from Women's Wear Daily . The company had about a third of the market share in its category in 2013. In February 2016, Turney stepped down as CEO of Victoria's Secret after being in

17766-421: Was "a lot more sensuous" and took the form of "an upmarket version of a Frederick's of Hollywood lingerie catalog." The New York Times reported that the success of Victoria's Secret catalogs influenced others to present lingerie as "romantic and sensual but tasteful" with models photographed in elegant settings. The company was known for accepting phone orders at any hour, which helped it establish dominance in

17907-399: Was canceled due to her visa to travel to China being revoked. A week before the show was due to be filmed, model Gigi Hadid stated that she had been denied access to the show. Russian models were also reportedly denied visas for entry to China. In November 2018, the company's chief of marketing Ed Razek was criticized for comments he made in an interview with Vogue , suggesting that

18048-534: Was expanded again by the Second Reform Act in 1867. The Third Reform Act in 1884 introduced a general principle of one vote per household. All these acts and others simplified the electoral system and reduced corruption. Historian Bruce L Kinzer describes these reforms as putting the United Kingdom on the path towards becoming a democracy. The traditional aristocratic ruling class attempted to maintain as much influence as possible while gradually allowing

18189-485: Was generally then known as natural philosophy, but it took a while to catch on. Having been previously dominated by amateurs with a separate income, the Royal Society admitted only professionals from 1847 onwards. The British biologist Thomas Henry Huxley indicated in 1852 that it remained difficult to earn a living as a scientist alone. Scientific knowledge and debates such as that about Charles Darwin 's On

18330-448: Was given to social reform. Utilitarianism was another philosophy that saw itself as based on science rather than on morality, but also emphasised social progress. An alliance formed between these two ideological strands. The reformers emphasised causes such as improving the conditions of women and children, giving police reform priority over harsh punishment to prevent crime, religious equality, and political reform in order to establish

18471-473: Was in contemporaneous usage to describe the era. The era can also be understood in a more extensive sense—the 'long Victorian era'—as a period that possessed sensibilities and characteristics distinct from the periods adjacent to it, in which case it is sometimes dated to begin before Victoria's accession—typically from the passage of or agitation for (during the 1830s) the Reform Act 1832 , which introduced

18612-401: Was low, punishments severe, work was dangerous and disrupted children's development (often leaving them too tired to play even in their free time). Early labour could do lifelong harm; even in the 1960s and '70s, the elderly people of industrial towns were noted for their often unusually short stature, deformed physiques, and diseases associated with unhealthy working conditions. Reformers wanted

18753-411: Was made out of 105,000 Swarovski crystals. The base of her wing was made out of 23-carat gold. Cameron Russell was given the "10th Anniversary" Swarovski outfit, worn in 2012, celebrating Victoria's Secret's 10th year working with Swarovski. The 2013 Swarovski outfit was a 3D printed piece given to Lindsay Ellingson , which included mini-micro Swarovski crystals. In 2017, Elsa Hosk was chosen to wear

18894-576: Was moved to the larger Powell Street frontage of the Westin St. Francis . In April 1982, Raymond sent out his 12th catalog at a cost to customers of $ 3 (equivalent to $ 9 in 2023); catalog sales accounted for 55% of the company's $ 7 million annual sales that year. Victoria's Secret was a minor player in the underwear market at this time, with the business described as "more burlesque than Main Street." In 1982, Victoria's Secret had grown to five stores,

19035-551: Was named in reference to Queen Victoria and the associated refinement of the Victorian era , while the "secret" was hidden underneath the clothes. Victoria's Secret grossed $ 500,000 in its first year of business ($ 2.34 million in 2023), enough to finance the expansion from a headquarters and warehouse to four new store locations and a mail-order operation. The fourth store, added in 1982 at 395 Sutter Street in San Francisco, operated at that location until 1990, when it

19176-743: Was regularly featured in a segment of the fashion show each year afterward. In 2006 and 2007, the Victoria's Secret fashion shows were held at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. On November 13, 2007, the company's Angels were honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame outside the Kodak Theatre as part of a celebration to mark Victoria's Secret's 25th anniversary on Hollywood Boulevard . Justin Timberlake opened

19317-422: Was reminiscent of Native American attire, sparked controversy due to its alleged stereotypical depiction of Native Americans, which amounted to cultural appropriation . Victoria's Secret released a statement of apology shortly after, saying that they will remove it from future advertisements and the broadcast. Kloss apologized on her Twitter account for the outfit and expressed her support for the outfit's removal in

19458-458: Was reserved for special occasions such as one's honeymoon . Considered niche products, lingerie items (such as lacy thongs and padded push-up bras) were only found in specialty shops like Frederick's of Hollywood , located "alongside feathered boas and provocative pirate costumes". In 1977, Raymond borrowed $ 40,000 from family and $ 40,000 from a bank to establish Victoria's Secret: a store in which men could feel comfortable buying lingerie. The store

19599-436: Was the only national chain devoted to lingerie. The New York Times reported that Victoria's Secret swiftly expanded to 100 stores by 1986. and described it in 1987 as a "highly visible leader" that used "unabashedly sexy high-fashion photography to sell middle-priced underwear." In 1990, analysts estimated that sales had quadrupled in four years, making it one of the fastest growing mail-order businesses. Sales and profits from

19740-468: Was the predominant power in the world. Victorian society valued a high standard of personal conduct across all sections of society. The emphasis on morality gave impetus to social reform but also placed restrictions on certain groups' liberty. Prosperity rose during the period, but debilitating undernutrition persisted. Literacy and childhood education became near universal in Great Britain for

19881-432: Was well developed, education and the arts were mediocre. Wage rates continued to improve in the later 19th century: real wages (after taking inflation into account) were 65 per cent higher in 1901 compared to 1871. Much of the money was saved, as the number of depositors in savings banks rose from 430,000 in 1831 to 5.2 million in 1887, and their deposits from £14 million to over £90 million. Children had always played

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