Return Of The Wings – Is The Victoria's Secret Show Making A Comeback?
It has been over six years since Victoria’s Secret last held a runway show, but it now appears that the 'Angels' might be making a comeback—wings and all.
Earlier this week, the lingerie brand revealed plans for a big return by sharing a video to Instagram showing original 'Angel' Candice Swanepoel messaging in a group chat called ‘The VS Squad,’ typing: ‘We are back.’
The return announcement comes after the tides changed around the presentation of the label's models on the VS catwalk and rumoured culture of misogyny behind the scenes in the post #MeToo and #TimesUp era.
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Before the brand closed the curtains on the show in 2018, the public regularly called the company out for a lack of inclusivity and voiced discontent over the vigorous training routines the models endured to get runway-ready.
In 2019, the longtime Victoria's Secret marketing executive and the brains credited with creating the fashion show and its 'Angels', Ed Razek, stepped down from his position. It came after numerous controversial comments he'd made about plus-size and trans models, as well as complaints about alleged inappropriate conduct, which were reported in the New York Times in 2020.
In response to the latter's claims, Razek wrote in an email to the Times: 'The accusations in this reporting are categorically untrue, misconstrued or taken out of context. I’ve been fortunate to work with countless, world-class models and gifted professionals and take great pride in the mutual respect we have for each other.'
The demise of public opinion surrounding the once giant of the lingerie market coincided with the rise of brands like Rihanna's FENTY.
The shows, which sent models down the runway in lingerie and wings, ran from 1995-2018 and were, at their fever pitch, a hotly anticipated event that saw the likes of The Weeknd (who remembers that Bella Hadid moment post break-up?) Taylor Swift, and Lady Gaga perform, as well Naomi Campbell and Gisele Bündchen walk.
In 2023, the lingerie label released a digital tour to replace the classic runway format, but according to the Instagram caption, posted May 15, we can expect 'glamour, runway, wings, musical entertainment and more!'
Though it remains to be seen what a 2024 version of the Victoria Secret runway could actually look like, all is set be revealed sometime in autumn.
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