Learn about the rise, success and style of American lingerie label Victoria's Secret.
Transcript
Lingerie Label Victoria's Secret Bio Known for its sexy fashion shows and catalogues that men actually like to browse through, Victoria’s Secret is one of America’s largest and most successful lingerie lines. Established in the 1970s by a man who felt embarrassed when purchasing lingerie for his wife, Victoria’s Secret was all about creating a comfortable environment for men with helpful staff and underwear mounted in wall frames that were easier to look at rather than racks and racks of underwear. Not long after opening the first store, a mail-order catalogue was created and so was the love affair between men and Victoria’s Secret. Now with 400 million copies of the world’s famous catalogue are sent out each year. This seductive brand by the early 90s had grown into one of America’s largest underwear retailers with figures reaching $1 billion. But has since gone on to create more than just lingerie, it also features beauty products such as makeup and fragrances, as well as swimwear and women’s wear. The early 902s always saw the company begin its collaboration with supermodels for its advertising campaigns and fashion shows. The Victoria’s Secret Angels were introduced to the world in the late 1990s under the brands most talked about and media friendly models and spokeswomen being on hand for many of the company’s store openings and introductions of new products and lines. In recent years, Victoria’s Secret has introduced us to new makeup such as very sexy makeup which featured glosses for seductive lips to bronzes for glowing skin. It was a tightly edited portfolio of 30 high performance formulas and 200 must-have runway ready shades. 2008 saw the opening of the company’s flagships store in New York City and while it’s not the biggest store in the chain it’s certainly the most unique. Here customers can purchase products they cannot purchase anywhere else. It has a fragrance spa where customers can design their own scent. A monogram service will embroider any garment and there’s even a personal shopper to help primarily male customers find that perfect gift. And 2008 seemed a busy year for the Angels because it also marked the 10th anniversary since the beginning of the iconic models. And to celebrate they held an exhibition at their New York store. On display were costumes from their runway shows from 1998 to the present, as well as other honorary items the Angels received over the years including their star from the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the 12-foot long Angel wings that were worn by Heidi Klum. The giant wings worn by the models during their catwalk shows have now become known as their fashion trademark. 2008 also saw Victoria’s Secret most sophisticated ultra feminine collection of lingerie and lounge wear it’s ever created with supermodel obsessions, as well as the first time the women’s lingerie chain sold swimwear in its 300 stores across the United States. Known for their lavish onstage displays in 1995, the flirtatious brand held their first fashion show which was said to be the lingerie event of the century. The Victoria’s Secret fashion show tends to draw lots of attention each year for bringing the world’s most famous faces and the scantily clad bodies to the aisle ways. Working around the clock to make sure everything is ready, the show features mostly lingerie and a million dollar jeweled fantasy bra. Over the years it has evolved into a wild even with various themes, special performances and extravagant costumes that have made women across the world love Victoria’s Secret, and the men loving the women wearing Victoria’s Secret.