When I think of the 2000s Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, I think about the colorful outfits, big angel wings, playful runway settings, beautiful models and their strong walks. All of it was so fun, and it made me want to be just like them. Now, when I look back it gives me a lot of nostalgia, but should Victoria Secret only be about nostalgia when it has been more than 20 years?
After they came back from their five-year hiatus, the show they debuted with in 2024 was not the best I had seen. I’ll admit it was not fitting to the iconic brand they had built after so many years. I remember seeing so many complaints about how bland everything looked. They had girls in, “clean girl” looks, with slick backs and a very simple stage setup. Obviously, it was difficult for consumers to see such a drastic change after so many years of built up anticipation.
But these past 2 years, I have actually really liked the fashion shows. They brought back the big hair, big wings and glittery stage. I think if they reverted back to how they used to do the shows, they would get a lot of attention. But given the attention span of the internet, I’m not too sure how long that would last. After some time, people would likely ask for something new and different.
In my opinion, Victoria’s Secret used to be such a big competitor in the lingerie industry, but now there’s so many other competitors that are at the same level. A lot of what is keeping Victoria’s Secret relevant to some consumers is the Victoria’s Secret Fashion show.
Ever since they started producing these shows again, there's been a lot of dispute on whether or not influencers should be walking on the same runway as these professional models. Some of the established supermodels they hire are gorgeous and have amazing walks, but they don’t have as much influence as a big influencer who’s constantly creating content. What Victoria’s Secret needs now more than ever is popularity. Unfortunately, for those who don’t like seeing influencers on the runway, that is a good tactic to use.
Each year after their new show debuts, the internet blows up and constantly compares the old show aesthetic with the new look. No one will ever agree on just one look for the show, but I think more people should take into consideration that they will never bring back the old shows. Honestly, I’m in the same boat as most of the internet, but I think if viewers want to keep seeing any shows at all, it’s important to keep an open mind and look forward to what’s coming in the future.
Bio: Karen Paxtor is a public relations graduating student at CSUN. She is currently the head of social media for CSUN’s Student Success Peer Coach Program. She’s passionate about the beauty and music industry. She’s excited to start her career and learn more about all things PR.