The Evolution of the Victoria Secret Fashion Show: From Glamorous Runway to Canceled Event

The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was an annual event that brought together some of the world’s most beautiful women, wearing fantastical lingerie that often seemed to defy gravity. The show was typically a fanfare of glitz and glamor, featuring famous performers, intricate costumes, and, of course, the signature wings. However, in 2019, the show was canceled, amid reports of declining ratings and criticism about the brand’s perpetuation of stereotypical beauty standards. In this blog post, we will examine the evolution of the Victoria Secret Fashion Show, and how it came to be more than just a lingerie runway, but a cultural phenomenon.

From the 1990s to the Early 2000s: Glamour and Fantasy

The Victoria’s Secret Fashion show began in 1995 as a simple lingerie show that aired on television. Over time the show grew more elaborate, incorporating elaborate sets, exotic locales, and more famous models. In the early 2000s, the show became a cultural phenomenon, drawing in millions of viewers each year and cementing Victoria’s Secret’s status as the go-to brand for lingerie. The show’s glamour and fantasy became its signature, with models wearing elaborate costumes and iconic wings.

From the Late 2000s to the 2010s: Big Business and Pop Culture Crossover

In the late 2000s and early 2010s, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show grew even larger in scale, becoming a major event in the fashion industry and a key landmark in pop culture. The show’s broadcast was an annual event that drew millions of viewers, making it not just a lingerie runway but a massive marketing opportunity. In addition to featuring famous models, the show also started to include high-profile performers like Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and Taylor Swift, among others. These performers brought a new level of entertainment to the show, drawing in even more viewers and turning the show into a cultural phenomenon.

Decline and Cancellation

Despite the show’s massive success, cracks started to form in the early 2010s. Critics began calling out the brand’s perpetuation of unrealistic beauty standards, and the #MeToo movement brought new scrutiny to the brand’s use of hyper-sexualized imagery. Meanwhile, ratings for the show began to decline. In 2018, the show had its lowest ratings in years, drawing just 3.3 million viewers, down from a high of 10 million in 2011. In response, Victoria’s Secret canceled the 2019 show and announced that it would be rethinking its marketing strategy.

Conclusion

The Victoria Secret Fashion Show was a cultural phenomenon that redefined lingerie and brought glamour and fantasy to the world of fashion. However, the show’s decline and cancellation underscored the need for change in the industry. As criticism mounts, it is likely that future lingerie runway shows will need to find new ways to celebrate beauty and femininity while also addressing concerns about representation and body positivity. For Victoria’s Secret, this means a reckoning with its past and a new approach to marketing to modern women.

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