The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is back, and despite attempts to update its image, many question whether it should have returned at all. Over the years, the show became an icon of glamour, extravagance, and excess. It featured supermodels with extravagant wings and dramatic lingerie, from crystal-studded bras to barely-there thongs. The runway was more than a place to showcase fashion; it became a spectacle that merged music, celebrity, and high fashion in a way that almost felt like a Broadway performance.
But what used to feel edgy now appears increasingly out of touch. The fashion landscape has changed, with more emphasis on inclusivity, diversity, and redefining beauty standards. Victoria’s Secret has faced criticism for its outdated portrayals of beauty and its lack of body diversity on the runway. With that kind of track record, many felt it was time for the brand to move on, or at least substantially rebrand itself. After a hiatus, the show returned, but while some changes were apparent, many of the same tropes remain, leaving some to wonder if Victoria’s Secret truly learned from its mistakes.
This year’s show still featured the iconic wings, though redesigned. The elaborate designs now come in various forms, from quilted and tulle to faux-feathered creations. The models still parade down the runway in bras adorned with crystals and silky lingerie, and the celebrity performers still bring the glitz, with big names like Lisa from BLACKPINK, who strutted her stuff in edgy leather, and Cher, a testament to both the show’s nostalgic appeal and its enduring star power. Supermodels like Gigi and Bella Hadid, Ashley Graham, and even ‘90s icons like Tyra Banks made appearances, each showing that they’ve been shaped by a legacy that transcends decades.
However, while the fashion show’s production values and star power remain sky-high, the very premise of parading scantily clad women to sell a fantasy is increasingly at odds with contemporary sensibilities. The brand made attempts to present itself as more inclusive. Paloma Elsesser and Valentina Sampaio, plus-size and transgender models respectively, made their way down the runway, and this nod to inclusivity is notable. However, the show still lacked the broader representation in body types and ages that the public has come to expect in the era of body positivity. While it’s a start, Victoria’s Secret’s version of inclusivity feels somewhat forced, almost like a box-ticking exercise rather than a meaningful embrace of a new beauty standard.
Victoria’s Secret has tried to overhaul its image before, perhaps most notably with its VS Collective. The initiative aimed to replace its previous “Angels” with inspirational women from diverse backgrounds, signaling a shift toward a more inclusive approach. But as the return of the iconic show has demonstrated, the shadow of its past brand identity remains deeply ingrained. Models with rail-thin bodies and perfect faces still dominate the stage, and the overall atmosphere harks back to an era where the male gaze held more sway over fashion choices and beauty ideals.
Another lingering concern is the way this rebranding effort sidesteps the brand’s past controversies. Former executives have been called out for fostering a toxic, misogynistic environment that affected both employees and the models themselves. For years, Victoria’s Secret defined sexiness on its own terms, presenting a narrow view that wasn’t so much about women as it was about a male fantasy of what they thought women should be. Attempts to erase this history have left some wondering if the brand can ever fully shed its problematic legacy.
Consumers today seek more from their favorite brands. Companies like Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty have stepped in to redefine what a lingerie show can be. Featuring models of all shapes, sizes, and gender identities, Savage x Fenty offers a production that feels modern, inclusive, and genuinely celebratory. It doesn’t reduce beauty to a one-size-fits-all standard. This makes the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show’s return look even more outdated and, perhaps, irrelevant.
Though the spectacle remains enticing, the question of whether this type of show still holds a place in 2024 lingers. The glitz, the glamour, and the nostalgia are alluring, but society’s understanding of beauty has evolved. And as the world moves toward embracing a broader, more inclusive definition of beauty, Victoria’s Secret’s attempt to update its image feels like an effort to preserve an outdated fantasy. As long as they cling to the past, it will be difficult for them to move forward and fully resonate with today’s audience.
The show’s return is a reminder of a brand trying to find relevance in a world that has outgrown it. While the familiar wings and dazzling performances evoke a sense of nostalgia, it’s clear that Victoria’s Secret must do more if it hopes to make a lasting impact. For now, the show’s return raises as many questions as it does cheers, leaving many to wonder if some things are better left in the past.
Despite Victoria’s Secret’s efforts to modernize, the show’s return seems to emphasize the divide between the brand’s perception of beauty and what today’s consumers expect. Younger audiences, in particular, now gravitate toward brands that not only reflect a variety of body types but also value authenticity and self-expression. This shift isn’t a passing trend; it’s a deeper, more meaningful cultural change that demands brands to move beyond superficial inclusivity. To meet this moment, Victoria’s Secret would need to engage with customers in ways that resonate beyond the runway, aligning their values with those of a more progressive audience.
The disconnect is further highlighted by the fact that the fashion industry is increasingly championing sustainable and ethical practices. Modern consumers are wary of the environmental and ethical implications of fast fashion and extravagant productions, and the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show’s elaborate display feels at odds with this growing awareness. If the brand wants to remain relevant, it may need to reevaluate not just its representation of beauty but also how it sources its materials, conducts its business, and presents its products. The current generation is savvy, demanding transparency from brands, and as such, a flashy runway show that lacks substance is no longer enough.
There’s also the issue of how the show perpetuates unrealistic beauty standards. While Victoria’s Secret has incorporated a few models outside the conventional mold, the overwhelming majority still fit the traditional fashion archetype—tall, thin, and airbrushed to perfection. This continued narrow portrayal of beauty not only feels out of touch but also reinforces harmful expectations for women and young girls. With mental health being a crucial topic, particularly around body image, brands like Victoria’s Secret must be more mindful of the impacts their imagery and messaging have on viewers.
The question remains whether Victoria’s Secret can genuinely evolve, or if it will forever remain tethered to its past. Rather than making incremental changes that come across as performative, the brand has an opportunity to reinvent itself fully. They could use their platform to promote inclusivity in a way that feels authentic and impactful, reflecting the diversity of their customer base and aligning with the values of today’s society. For now, however, the spectacle of the show seems more like a nostalgic attempt to reclaim the brand’s former glory rather than a bold step into the future.
Ultimately, the world will keep changing, and beauty standards will continue to broaden. If Victoria’s Secret can embrace this evolution wholeheartedly, it might find a way to adapt and thrive. Until then, the show’s return serves as a reminder of a brand trying to hold onto an ideal that no longer aligns with the times. Victoria’s Secret faces a choice: to transform in ways that are genuine and far-reaching, or to stay confined within its glitzy yet increasingly irrelevant past. As fashion moves forward, so too must the brands that wish to remain a part of it.