Wiekes weetjes: 10 verrassende feitjes over Victoria’s Secret
The first time I went to the United States, it was genuinely in my top 5 things to do: ‘visit a Victoria's Secret store.’ Of course, I wanted to buy something, but I was a poor student and all the items were ridiculously expensive. So I kept it very modest with just one set, but I was completely sold. Those stores were already a party: the whole atmosphere, the overly nice employees; of course, I wanted to have everything.
In the meantime, they have (finally) a store in the Netherlands, but I still make sure to visit the Victoria's Secret stores in New York (also because shopping in NY is just the most fun). Now we know the Angels and their famous fashion shows, but did you know this about the lingerie brand?
1. ‘Victoria’ doesn't exist
Confession: when I first heard about this brand, I was very young and thought it was from Victoria Beckham. But it isn't, and it's not from another Victoria either. Founder Roy Raymond said he chose this name because he thought it suited the chic appearance of the store, which was inspired by English style at the time.
2. A ticket for the show was quite pricey
If you weren't on the list, a ticket could cost up to $18,000. You had to be willing to pay for the experience of seeing such a show live.
3. Initially, the stores were set up for men
Founder Roy Raymond wanted to buy lingerie for his wife, but his experience wasn't very positive. He felt that store employees thought he didn't belong there, that he was creepy and unwelcome; lingerie shopping was for women. That's why he wanted to make the Victoria's Secret stores accessible to men as well.
4. They had a fake headquarters
To maintain that English posh appearance, they long listed no. 10 Margaret Street, London as the address of their headquarters. Where it really was? In Columbus, Ohio.
5. The heaviest wings ever were worn by Alessandra Ambrosio
Who was pregnant at the time: the wings weighed almost 30 kilos. She was four months pregnant then. Was that noticeable? Well... See for yourself.
6. The show was always recorded twice
Huh? Quite awkward. But because the show is initially really recorded for TV, all models and artists have to do everything twice, so that the cameras capture all angles. After that, everything is smoothly edited.
7. Larger sizes are also more expensive
...and they get quite a bit of hassle about it. Rightfully so, I think. But the larger the cup size, the more expensive the bra becomes.
8. Always so jealous of those wavy curls of the models? No need.
Or well, feel free to be jealous, but also be aware that it's absolutely not real. All models get extensions, so those beautiful, full locks are not au naturel. Plus, it also takes hours to put them in.
9. And also so jealous of those beautiful bodies and smooth skin? No need.
Almost all models are airbrushed before they hit the runway, and this also takes hours. They are sprayed from head to toe with a kind of tanning spray that makes all forms of cellulite and imperfections disappear.
10. It wasn't until 2019 that the first ‘plus size’ model was seen in their lingerie
Which also caused a lot of criticism, because Ali Tate-Cutler, who had this honor, wasn't that plus size. No, in terms of inclusivity, Victoria's Secret still has a thing or two to learn.
