Did the first Victoria's Secret Fashion Show since 2019 appeal to you, or did it make you miss the previous versions?

[Anonymous]

The Victoria Secret Fashion show has been cancelled since 2019 after critics panned the show and the brand for lacking in plus size models, older models, trans, and POC models. The criticism in 2018 grew after then Exec Ed Razek, now retired, said that the show was supposed to be about fantasy and plus size and trans models didn't fit into that fantasy and no one would want to watch it. The tv version of the runway was then cancelled with some claiming it would never be back.

Well, it's back. After the show launched on streaming services only instead of the usual tv programming, it was praised for including all of the above, but fans and critics alike found the set boring and lacking in creativity, the fake clap/cheer track disingenuous, and the lack of size inclusivity online, disheartening.

The brand has been in a steady decline since around 2018 with stores closing every year and viewership of the show dropping steeply since it's heyday in the 90s and early 2000s.

What are your thoughts? Did you see the show. If you missed it, you can check it out:

https://www.youtube.com/live/A8n9wf0R1xo?si=F0RjkqZDAJOJ2w1c

[Smashingdoozy]

I watched a few over the years, I always found them entertaining especially with the singers fob x Taylor swift to name one.

I haven't watched this one, but from the clips I have seen the walks look awful. I'm not a model but I know that isn't what models are supposed to walk like. I don't know if the floor was slippery or shoes were too big but they looked like they were struggling. Especially with the wings. I know they can be heavy but previously the models handled the weight gracefully, maybe they were more fit I don't know.

Don't get me started on Tyra Banks historical mean girl.

[Finchie40]

I’m not going to lie some of the VS models were sexy AF and nice eye candy but that’s about it , I never really payed much attention to their corporation or where they were going with it , I did watch some of their fashion shows when I was scrolling through the tv but I didn’t watch it for long , I did like my girlfriends’ shopping there as well because they had some sexy items that she would wear for me that turned me on , but other than that i didn’t pay much attention to it , I always considered VS a store for girls’ to buy sexy outfits and underwear and bras and perfume as well. I only went in there with my girlfriends’ and suggested some items for her to buy and try on lol Other than that I had no clue about the fashion shows and the complications they are experiencing

[msc545]

The Victoria's secret fashion show is the most important thing in my life and I have been in horrible despair ever since I learned that the latest one was preceded by many that I Actually did not see. I am presently working on a time machine so that I can go back in time and see all of the very important ones that I apparently missed. I'm sorry you asked this question because I am in tears thinking of the very difficult problem this all presents for me. My life will be worthless unless I am able to see every Victoria's secret fashion show that has ever been made.

[jennifer_bloom]

I just watched it and I don't watch for the models that much, more the choreography and the music and artistic set up and display. It was okay, I would have liked it more if they were a little more typical in their choice of colour scheme and if they had used models that were more reflective of women my age. I did not like the fact they used models way older than me and I found the selection of models to be based on randomization and not aesthetic merit. I also don't like that all their Chinese models were 40 pounds skinnier then their white models, as if they do not believe its possible for a Chinese women to be attractive unless she is insanely thin.

[Asker]

The setup was rather lackluster compared to previous years which were far more flashy. The angels that came back were in their 40s and 50s though now, so they did incorporate older models, but I think this was a soft landing at best for a crumbling brand. Not enough and not more weirdly.

[AI Opinion]

The return of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show indeed had moments that were progressive, especially with its attempt at inclusivity. While it's commendable that they embraced diversity more than before, the set and presentation lacked the creativity and charm of the earlier years. The essence of the show seemed dulled by the uninspiring visuals and artificial elements. It's a step in the right direction model-wise, but the magic of its previous versions was missed. Past years perfectly blended fantasy with innovative aesthetics, which the recent show struggled to capture. Overall, it was more of a transitional effort than a triumphant return. 😌✨

[MrOracle]

"Woke-lite" is NOT Woke-FREE, and as such, it was a failure that isn't going to move the needle. Mainstream America no longer has any tolerance for woke ANYTHING, and any company that counts on mainstream consumers that tries to maintain any amount of wokeness is going to financially suffer and destroy the value of their own brand.

[strateguy632]

Even youtube censored now less anti woke! Usually anti woke is offensive for breaking p. c. rules despite harmless!

[MrOracle]

@strateguy632 Wokeness is pure evil and incredibly offensive, which is why woke companies are failing in huge numbers, and are abandoning wokeness. Not that they're letting go easily - most have to come close to bankruptcy before they get the message, and some won't survive, but those who do survive will be the ones who have dropped every last tiny bit of wokeness.

Merit is what's important, and merit can cross all races, all political parties, all sexes and sexual orientations, all religions, and so on. But wokeness doesn't want that, because wokeness is ultimately about accumulating power by those who are unable to earn it via merit. That's EVIL.

[caitycat21]

It was nice to see the og models but I miss the blow outs and the vibe they had in the early 2000s with the gorgeous lingerie and elaborate wings, they’ve lost a lot of money financially as a company tho so I suspect they spent a lot of the budget just paying for the models to be there 😭

[MzAsh]

I quit watching when all they had was bands and singers perform for every set. From 2005-2008 were the best shows because it was a focus on the girls, the fashion, and the experience. After that it was all about who’s singing which I just didn’t care for.

[NathanDavis]

to be honest, I've never seen none of them... so I don't really know about them

the one one I watched some of it... was this one, and if you ask me... this was a Katy Perry mini-concert in which some girls just kept walking around and onto the cameras

https://www.youtube.com/embed/Jn6_ixzHOfM

[NathanDavis]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFXWasusstQ

[KittygosMeoWW]

My niece and I were talking about this before the show, we were really excited because it was a tradition to watch it every year. We were excited to see the old stuff back like the big hair, the unique wings, and the performances. The show was so meh, very rushed and low quality in my opinion. I think they need sales to go up before they attempt another try.

[RingOfFire]

I doubt sales are going to be going up with their go woke and go broke strategy. Other brands and companies that tried this garbage ended up bankrupt.

[KittygosMeoWW]

@RingOfFire it’s just not what Victoria secret was created for.

[RingOfFire]

Correct. It's not Victoria's Social Justice. When companies go down this path they end up in trouble. Their business has been way off so they probably gave in to the pressure as a last resort. It could be the beginning of the end for them.

[Asker]

The show seemed like it was made in some friends warehouse because the real location got flooded. There wasn't enough pomp and circumstance for me like the old days.

[RingOfFire]

I worked for a major global cosmetics company for 4 years many years ago. I was in the business area. They would fly me all over the world to these fashion shows and other events related to their products. I really couldn't stand any of the shows, and I never learned a darn thing about it so I don't know anything. But I can imagine that you would want to see something really fancy and so if it didn't have that I can see why you would be disappointed.

[KittygosMeoWW]

The floor was so bad you can see everyone wobbling

[RingOfFire]

Ouch! 🤣

[jshm2]

VS was always a hype beast brand.

The material was crap, the style nothing special, and the models a bit boring. But the glamour and show was its main drive and attraction.

By trying to include queers, it broke the brand and it became another crass, overpriced lingerie factory.

You need to have some sort of "exclusivity" if you want to make it in the luxury business. VS was about young women wearing fantasy wear. Not former men crossdressing.

[avery58]

I don't care for it, it's become irrelevant at this point. We're not like 2008 or 2014... I think most people have moved on.

[Asker]

Agree. Back then, every girl and every girl's boyfriend was buying from there. Now, its not any type of status symbol. Even in resale, their stuff is SUPER cheap. No one wants it.

[Anonymous]

The show was so bad. It all looked so cheap and rushed. I’m with other people when they said that they should have just kept the TALL and skinny models on the runway. It didn’t feel like the 2000’s shows at all. The wings were hideous and they didn’t give the OG models enough time. The music was terrible too

[liabalia]

I personally find Victoria secret to be disingenuous as a brand in general so I didn’t care much. However I love the Hadids and it was nice to see Tyra walk again. I was annoyed at the amount of models struggling to walk because of the floor

[Asker]

At a certain angle you can see a lip from the riser, which if you're walking down a path at speed, is a terrible idea. A lot of people panned the models walks. Even the first model out making the weird faces was weird. I don't think this was enough to breathe new life into the brand.

[liabalia]

It’s like they try to make obstacle courses for the models to walk in. There’s no reason models should be at risk of falling because of the floors

[abc3643]

I think it's ridiculously stupid. It is something that future anthropologists will wonder what the hell were we thinking and this must've been a symptom of the insanity that led to the downfall of civilization.

[ManOnFire]

Forgot it existed actually. I haven't seen a VS show since like 2004 when Adriana and Heidi were doing them, and even those were starting to go downhill at that point.

[FreyaRed]

People want to see slender, long legged real women. Land whales and men who want to be women, create rather disgust reaction than positive one.

[Elliegirl]

I miss the previous versions. They seemed to have a more fun, vibrant, and well produced vibe than the 2024 show.

[debtfree_oneyear]

I agree. I miss seeing bands like Maroon 5 and Fall out Boy performing. The models were also smiling more and genuinely seemed happier.

[KingslayerC]

They just need to add more males to the show and then it will be a success.

[Anonymous]

Another case of woke culture destroying a good thing just because it didn't represent every possible cohort of people. Now that VS is trying to appeal to everyone, it appeals to no one. They can't win.

[KittygosMeoWW]

Absolutely agree it was a status symbol for models to have made it, unpopular opinion but I wanted to see the epitome of hard work physically and women with beautiful genes. I think the big hair, gorgeous tans, and bunny makeup was very feminine. This was their attempt to be all inclusive with the slicked back lesbian hair and thicker models that couldn’t even walk as good as the tall skinnier models. It was so meh, I wanted a fantasy not something I can see everyday.

[Nikki1989]

I didn't even know you could watch it. I guess that shows you how much I care.

[lexie_xo]

Yes this was nice especially having Adriana Lima and kate moss there but the early 2000s were the best

[RingOfFire]

Another example of a corporation going woke and going broke.

[Asker]

Actually they were going downhill before they went woke. Then got hit with scandal, bad press, and the pandemic, so...its more an issue of them not catching up with what can make them profit in time to be competitive with other brands.

[RingOfFire]

Yes they were going downhill, but this work business will finish them off. Wouldn't be surprised if their bankrupt soon.

[RingOfFire]

Woke

[RageBabe]

Adriana Lima was my favourite VS model! I couldn’t name any VS model name.

[Fireguy17]

I have never watched any of them.

I didn't know they were still in business.

[RoronoaZoro8]

Not a big fan of runway model shows. If Victoria's secret did a remake of one piece on the other hand, I'd watch that.

[Anonymous]

I just looked up Ashley Graham’s pics, she looks all busted up down below. All the cellulite, especially between her legs looking all used up.

[TheSpaceGnome]

I prefer cute busty cosplayers as far as models and fashion goes.

[Staximus]

I don't watch much tv and definitely not that crap

[Matt_M]

I didn't even know it existed. Fashion isn't real art and I couldn't care less about it.

[Anonymous]

Can't say I saw it. They jumped the shark a LONG time ago.

[Gwendoline]

Never my thing. I buy my stuff in wallmart.

[red-lipstick-girl]

It looks very average

[Effie1998]

They do my eyes like the show.