In November 2017 the day before the Victoria's Secret fashion show was set to film plus-size model, Sports Illustrated covergirl, and body positive activist Ashley Graham took to Instagram to post a lingerie-clad photo of herself strutting down a runway, complete with a photoshopped pair of angel wings. I loved being able to have the option of low-cut, hipsters, or high waisted jeans. Of course, there's always a chance Victoria's Secret could redeem itself by listening to consumers and taking note from the successes of their competitors but, as we know, the first step to any kind of recovery is admitting there's a problem. I seriously loved their jeans and am still disappointed that they no longer sell clothing. I wonder if it ever occurred to them to just cut back on their print and mailing costs - they obviously had a loyal customer base and did not need to send out all those catalogs! The fabric used to be thicker, now its so thin its almost sheer. So cute and flattering. I was happy to find this blog/article, because clearly I am not the only one sad and mystified by the degradation and destruction of this store. L Brands immediately issued a statement saying that a termination of the agreement is "invalid," and that it would "vigorously defend" the lawsuit and "pursue all legal remedies to enforce its contractual rights.". Found out later that I was not fitted correctly, AND they were poor quality and my older Candies bras lasted longer than these overpriced pieces of garbage. Victoria's Secret has NO SILK. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. I still have (and wear) the white fur headband and gloves. Thank goodness on my last big shop I purchased 5 pairs of my favourite 3/4 length wide leg yoga pants that I live in - I only took them out of their plastic packets 2 weeks ago to wash them as I was going to retire the 4 pairs I have worn to death (may rethink that and do some mending instead)and 3 dozen pairs of cotton panties (the quality has gone down hill over last 10 years).My wardrobe bursts at the seam with my purchases over the years and I tend not to throw anythng out even when items no longer fit (maybe one day they will again). This is a stark 180 from what their image used to look like in the '80s and '90s. $625.7 million. ", Read more: Former employees reveal what the billionaire head of Victoria's Secret is like as a boss as he faces backlash over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, In a statement to the press announcing the news, Wexner said that Sycamore has "deep experience in the retail industry and a superior track record of success," and that it "will bring a fresh perspective and greater focus to the business.". However, business analysts revealed in 2018 (via Slate) that Pink sales were steadily declining much like the rest of Victoria's Secret. I agree . Though the company's share of the U.S. women's underwear market dropped to 21 percent last year from 32 . Now? Even recentlya week ago, they had a decent selection. They were timeless and beautiful colors. It also began selling beauty products on Amazon. I hate the fact that the entire families are in there, husbands, children, strollers, geez what the heck!!! I totally agree with most of the comments here. 100% agree! Hi, I'm Pam - thanks for visiting Go Retro! It seems that pink just isn't Victoria's Secret's color which is unfortunate, considering the amount of time, energy, and money the company has invested in trying to make a success out of their collegiate-themed apparel line, Pink. All rights reserved. Victoria Secret lost a customer in me. Their old mags had an aspirational quality to them, the staging of the scenenery, the beautiful modelsyou just wanted to be that girl. There's no shortage of places catering to the former, so nothing distinguishes VS now.Now they're just a step up from Old Navy and way more expensive. BTW-IF you haven't noticed on the pink boyfriend sweats -they only come in 32" length. spokesperson for Victoria's Secret told Insider. In November 2018 only days after Ed Razek's controversialVogue interview hit the stands it was announced that Jan Singer, the chief executive officer of L Brands, had left her role after only two years with the company. I first wrote about the downfall of Victoria's Secret here a good 5 or 6 years ago, but the topic is worth revisiting. I wore their clothes for years and was incredibly disappointed when they discontinued the line.I wore them in grad school and my classmates showing up in yoga pants would always complement how professional and put together I looked. However, nothing stays the same forever. I dread the day my last London jeans/cords wear out and all the cute shirts are done, no more mix and match swim suites, no more cute wool pea coats and attractive office clothes. It comes in EDT, body mist, and body care collections. (Lettering across your ass is skanky, no matter what age you are. My heart too still longs for the V.S. Every time I walk past a VS store I shake my head and sigh heavily to myself in disappointment. People were scooping it up like it was top designer wear. It seems Victoria's Secret took this criticism to heart. It was not a tube top, spaghetti strap top, tank top or cap sleeve t shirt. Being a person of only 5 foot 4 1/2, I also loved the fact that I could get my jeans in a short length without having to take them to the tailor to hem them. I have a hard time believing they lost money!! While explaining why the lingerie retailer doesn't feature larger women or transgender women in their famous, yearly fashion show, Razek shot down the idea and wasted no time throwing shade at ThirdLove an online womenswear retailer offering an array of sizes for most every body type. The corporate vision changed to We want tomorrows money yesterday Greed + Human Nature = 0. Victoria's Secret plans to revive its annual runway show in the future only without its Angels this time. I am done. Wexner made a series of quick and fast changes: killing the catalog, swimwear, and apparel to focus solely on lingerie, the core part of its business. Heidi Klum modeling winter accessories. But I digress.It was fun to call VS to order clothes, and hear the recorded "Thank you for calling Victoria's Secret Catalog," in a posh British accent. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. The fashion is degrading. Barf! Ha!!! Thanks again, author! According to Women's Wear Daily, Singer (the former head of Spanx) had been hired to "help revive" the lingerie company, whose sales had been declining. They used to have high quality products and now everything seems to be cheap and geared toward teenagers. I went to their website looking for a shirt, to my surprise, there weren't any! They totally remain the property of their respective owners. I use to love their dress slacks and jackets. Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox. I used to buy all my dress pants from VS--several fits, nice fabric, held up extremely well. I no longer visit their stores. For anyone who needs help remembering, there is Victorias Secret: Angels and Demons, a three-part documentary from the director Matt Tyrnauer airing on Hulu just in time for the new campaign. Victoria's Secret will also test a number of off-mall locations, beginning this fall. JUST put on a MODA International sweater today. Years ago, I along with my friends, kept a huge supply of cotton panties; they were the best quality, flattering, never rode up, and came in great colors. "We believe Pink is on the precipice of collapse," Jefferies analyst Randal Konikwrote in a note to investors in March 2018, commenting on the level of promotions in store. They've made themselves irrelevant to the very market that can fuel real, sustainable growth for the company. He went on to open a handful of Victoria's Secret stores and launched its famous catalog. Exactly as you said, a total douche and stoned or high. After all, the lingerie brand has been the number one of its kind for years. There were some tops, but they literally looked like rags. I am so disappointed that they have discontinued their clothing line. Evercore ISI analyst Omar Saad echoed the sentiment that progress is being made but said there are still proof points to watch for. Well, I was decluttering and gave away all my sz smalls panties. I'm in my 40's and haven't shopped with them since the mid 90's when things really started changing. Since then, they switched CEO's. November 9, 2018. This included permanently closing as many as 250 Victoria's Secret and Pink stores in the US and Canada in 2020. Went online the year they quit carrying the line of jeans to order my yearly stock of London Jeans, the old boyfriend style sweatpants & the Mayfair pj's. In 2004, Victoria's Secret cast the model to spearhead its then-new Pink line and the rest is history! The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. Because of my love for the Moda Clothing line, I did a google search to see if perhaps anyone was selling the line and that is how I stumbled upon this blog. I'm not sure I can fit into my London jeans. (A lot has happened since then!). Victoria's Secret changed all that, and in the Bay Area, its sales continued to boomthanks in large part to its catalog, which reached customers across the country. I TOTALLY MISS the Old VS. ALL my clothes came from there and a lot of my shoes. It's such a shame because VS is so iconic. I loved VS Moda International, I easily spent over $200 every time a new catalog came in. (To be fair, plenty of people find plain and comfortable sexy. I called them the other day and told them not everyone wants to dress like a little girl wit PINK written across their chest, butt, etc She said Pink isn't just for little girls. I bought two pairs in the early 1990's, possibly late 1980's. That was my go to brand for work, play & sleepwear. "[Competitors] carp at us because we're the leader," Razek told Vogue. The models thatmade it into the catalogs were gorgeous and classy, and included Karen Mulder, Stephanie Seymour, Jill Goodacre, Naomi Campbell, Helena Christensen, Elle Macpherson, Tyra Banks and later, Heidi Klum. And this post remains one of my most popular ones a year after I wrote it. Those outfits look stunning and I've been looking for lingerie exactly like the one pictured. According to reports at the time, Turney wanted to remove the "hooker looks" in the catalog and made the aesthetic more like Vogue than Playboy. I am 26, barely old enough to remember the VS you're talking about. As a traveling consultant, it was nice to be able to order from the catalogs with complete confidence that what I was ordering was not only quality but would fit me. If you have a TJMaxx near you (or you can go on online (www.tjmaxx.com)), I suggest checking it out because that would be the closest comparison I have found. No suits. But I stopped buying from them a couple of years ago b/c I noticed everything I bought was of significantly lower quality. I have enough bras and panties to last me 5 yrs. Victoria's Secret. All you ladies may want to check out a site called ThredUP for Victoria's Secret/Moda International clothes. VS sadly is done they dont need the cash they prefer the broke and younger set with less buying power. But my memories of the older catalogs have been saved online; here's some scans I found on a. Stephanie Seymour modeling a top and leggings that I seriously would choose over anything I saw on the Victoria's Secret website the other day. https://www.thredup.com/product/women-cotton-moda-international-dark-green-yoga-pants/3555409. You just brought back good memories. Its PINK offshoot is still focused on catering to a younger generation of shoppers, but will stay away from marketing to the "beer pong" college crowd, management noted. Best rant ever! :). A beautiful nightgown and robe beingmodeled by Tatjana Patitz for the catalog. We're their first love. When Singer's departure from the brand was announced in November 2018,Bloomberg reported that the company's stock price was down about 39 percent. Sigh, I guess I am regulated to scavenging on ebay for vintage pieces and looking wistfully at old catalogue photos. She broke out in a great smile and laugh and exclaimed, "Me too!'' In April 2019, it was announced that Victoria's Secret would be closing 53 stores across North America throughout the year. I was an avid catalog and online shopper and it has been years since I been in the store. I'm just a passer-by, but I'd like to comment on this. I'm so scared something is going to get spilled on my awesome built-in-bra shirts that I'm scared to wear them! It is hard to find quality silk pajamas with American sizing, and the big department stores have very little to choose from. Ad Choices, It's Official: Victoria's Secret Will No Longer Sell Swimwear, Clothes, and Accessories, The 51 Best Mothers Day Gifts to Buy This Year, 63 No-Fail Gift Ideas for Every Guy on Your List, 53 Genius Gifts for People Who Have Everything, At 76, Cher Proves the Moto Jacket Trend Is Not Just for Gen Z, Kendall Jenners Vintage Chlo Slip Dress Is a Piece of Fashion History, Katie Holmes Combined Another Controversial Y2K Trend With a Classic White T-Shirt, The Internet Cant Stop Thirsting Over Gwyneth Paltrows Hot Lawyer. I'm no spring chicken either I'm in my mid 40's. I still have a silk/cashmere boyfriend sweater from years ago--it's in great shape. If I can find the picture I will send later. I had several nightgowns and teddies from that era, and ordered clothing from the catalog that was truly elegant and sexy -- not "pornish" -- and that I wish I still had today. it was original, beautiful, well fitted, there WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT! I only ever had to return one purchase and that was a pair of mismatched shoes which was a shame as they also fitted perfectly.Looks like I will have to look to ebay for future purchases.Such a shame that a dramatic change in the business plan can destroy what was a very profitable business.Pink was always childish and unflattering (too tight and skimpy) and now it looks like children doing porn - the models look like kids doing dress up and putting silocone inserts into mummy's bras. Hopefully soon. As a matter of fact, that beautiful grey nightgown that Tatjana is wearing in your post. They were the best. Still have my Miracle bra! Tower Records 3. Victoria's Secret has changed a lot as have other places. "There's a lot of white space out there, where we can grow into new or adjacent categories, areas that the Bath & Body Works customer would love to see," Arlin said. I still have about 12 pair but they are gradually wearing out and being retired. I have angel rewards and Birthday rewards I'm still holding on to, because honestly there is just nothing I want. moda international used exceptional quality material! Here, Paloma Elsesser. And V/S is no help! I was so excited when the catalog showed up in my mailbox! If Victoria's Secret continues to make decisions uninformed by their consumer base the majority of which is female the company will almost certainly soon be their own undoing. I have coats, sweaters, old jeans, shoes,shorts, etc--you name it. Bought Victoria's Secret clothing for years - best quality, best fit, best styles. Let's not mourn it's loss. "The Investor Day put much more definition around the 'sexy for she instead of sexy for he' strategy we've seen over the past few quarters," Saad said. Total bummer that they went in a dramatically different direction. I miss the CLASSICS from Victoria's Secret. It looks at how the company got from the mythic Victoria a well-bred Brit with a bit of a sensuous side to angels emerging from a spaceship in silver bomber jackets with laser guns and matching undie sets. (Dresses & sweaters) I'm afraid I'm going to lose my status with the company, and frankly I don't care. Plus it was so well made. The Limited 12. Pink Cotton Short Sleeve Campus T-Shirt. Train was new then and the opening act.Take care and I would love a reply!~ niki. It's almost as though someone is purposely trying to drive the company into the ground. 151 reviews of Victoria's Secret "This review isn't for Victoria's Secret. Post Comments I too miss VS clothing - all of it, but especially the biz wear. One month later, under Wexner's leadership, the company acquired Victoria's Secret's six stores and its catalog for $1 million. And let's face it, nobody looked classy or good in a turtleneck and riding jacket. I had a great white pantsuit from VS I wore for interviews/auditions that was well made and looked great and a pair of London jeans that always got compliments. They took out all the items I use to purchase from them. The Sharper Image 9. Find Victoria's Secret for women at up to 90% off retail price! I loved the pastel colors, the glitter, the sequins, hoodies & yoga pants Etc. Come back to us VS!!! It will be missed. Forbes writer Pamela N. Danzinger cleverly asserted in a 2018 article, "Comfort, not sex appeal, is the secret today and Victoria's Secret doesn't fit. They keep changing the design of the bottles, then discontinue a few of the classic scents. And I miss their MODA line. I found this website by searching for information about what happened to that brand. And of course my bras and panties were exclusively VS. Plus I miss the "pantyhose store" - there was a separate store that sold all their different lines of pantyhose, stockings, and garter beltsas well as a small selection of lingerie. I finally asked a sales clerk and she began to lead the way. I can't buy Agent Provocateur all the time. (Previous old pairs would eventually get threadbare around the knee area and develop a tear.) And gave up my Angel Card for good.As several of you have pointed out, they lost a large sector of loyal consumers that came into their own during their 20's and have even more spending power now! To revisit this article, select My Account, thenView saved stories. Ended up buying fragrance and skin products because the clothing was SO tacky and cheaply made. I never got into Victoria's Secret, and I didn't even know they carried a clothing line. I'm in my 20s and I wish Victoria's Secret was like this! I loved their yoga pants. glad i bought what i did when i did. I still have the cotton terry bathrobe I could only afford with my employee discount. I would've bought all my clothes from them starting two years ago had they stayed the same (or gotten better - there was some room for that) and I would've persuaded a lot of my girlfriends to do the same.. Ugh.. Was checking on pricing when I found this. Do a search for Moda International on a search engine and several resale sites should pop up. When the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show taped on November 8, there were some things we knew to expect: pink satin robes, glossy air kisses, bedazzled push-up bras, elaborate . I'm a 25 year old woman. They say this is a throw away society and they sure found a way to throw away their loyal customers.R.I.P. This is adorable. I have a bra-top dress that I wear all of the time from their old line and I get so many compliments about it. I started shopping there in my 20's . I buy an occasional bra and cotton underwear from them and that's pretty much it.And all of the models now look like 14 year old crackheads.We'll see how long it takes them to go under. They sold out long term success to profit in the short term. Has the world-famous lingerie brand lost its mojo? I still wear all their clothes to work till this day. So sad about this. I just busted the seat out of my last pair. Just look at my intro graphic at the top of my post. I just donated a ton of old clothing and anything they deem still in style and in good shape they post for resale. Someone should do some sleuthing to find out what became of Moda International - who/where are they now? I rant about this all the time, and am especially disappointed because I used to work there and would be treated to the 30% discount and free bras! I brought up the site map looking for Jeans and there wasn't anything, no dresses, no tops, no shoes. I actually worked as a salesperson at VS in the early '90s and would regularly blow my tiny part-time paycheque in the store. For me there is nothing I am super compelled to buy their anymore! I wish they would read your post. It's funny, the reason I even found this article was because I was wondering what the heck happened & if I was the only one who felt this way, so I googled it. Not to mention the lack of the nice clothing lines or the great variety of swimwear being gone. I used to love moda international clothing! I never knew they sold nice clothes in there, I had never shopped in there before I worked there. Bring the good quality clothing and shoes back. I still have a few items such as a beautiful eggplant colored jacquard dress and even a pair of denim overalls. Victoria's Secret Chief Executive Martin Waters issued a mea culpa during the meeting, vowing to make the brand relevant again with women. L Brands acquired Victoria's Secret in 1982 for $1 million, adding it to Les Wexner's war chest of mall brands that already included Express, Lane Bryant and The Limited. After 2007, it became a brand, . In November 2018, Razek sent the internet into a frenzy after he made controversial comments about transgender and plus-size models. Now, want to find your perfect swimsuit? The work trousers in all of the different cuts and colors. No blouses. I came across this site when I found out Victoria's Secret no longer sells clothing. Most of the time they were not be able to find what I was looking for and would waste my time trying to get me things I didn't want to when I would clearly explain to them what I was looking for. Victoria's Secret is getting rid of swim, clothing, shoes and some catalogues. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. Its time has come. What will spring-break style even look like next year? Also I am growing frustrated with their choices in how they design certain tops, for example, while in the store last weekend, my eye was drawn to the now rare sparkly shirt yet the sleeves ruined it for me. The Real Reason Victoria's Secret Is Closing So Many Stores. I agree with everyone except the one (obviously not over 30) poster who thought the blogger was "grumpy." Take a closer look at how the concept was born and why the lingerie chain thinks Angels are no longer relevant. My VS thing was their makeup. Danzinger backed up her claim by citing a blog post from a former professional bra fitter named Courtney who used Victoria's Secret advertisements to detail just how ill-fitting their bras really are. Victoria's Secret is still eyeing bigger growth opportunities in China, its largest international market, and online. And of course, there's the near-total lack of the elegance that used to define all aspects of the brand. Picture, if you will, a storefront that looked like a French or English boudoir from the 1900s. They are just not that exclusive & original as they used to be. Back in April we learned that Victoria's Secret would soon eliminate all swimwear, but this update confirmed our worst fears: Those sultry sundresses and beach-ready sandals on Victoria's Secret's website are also about to become a thing of the past. Sales associates pounding the lacquered floors at one of Victoria's Secret's many retail locationsin 2016, there were . Now that my waist has spread a bit, I can wear Levi's and a few other brands, but I still miss the London Jean, along with the Moda International tees, shorts, skirts and dresses. Oh how I miss it. VS used to be high quality, beautiful clothing and lingerie. from boorish. those london jeans and their clothing in general, was the best that was out there, bar none! I actually thought their clothing were by far superior to their underwear which were just pretty but didn't last. Graham added a winking emoji to the caption, writing, "Got my wings!" "Seven for $35" "Five for $25" "Buy one bra, get another for only $15!" When these words are posted on Victoria's Secret signs, emails, and flyers, most women can hardly hold themselves, let alone their wallets, together. ", Victoria's Secret, however, has made little-to-zero effort in making themselves seem more accessible to "normal" women. I ended up here after spending more than a year unsuccessfully trying to replace my favs by shopping on Ebay, Tradesy, etc. Major celebrities have seemingly had enough with the famous lingerie brand and, in the age of social media and instant gratification, they're better able to start a ripple effect among their followers by voicing their opinions and bringing to light their own issues with the retailer. It doesn't make sense to me. But it's disappointing to me that they're choosing to cater to a younger, selfie obsessed demographic and ignoring the spending power of older women. I had an amazing jacket from them that I bought off VS. I just read your post and yes I loved the London Jean and Moda collections as wellbut I did find Stetson jeans for women on Amazon and absolutely love them, they fit great and I can get a smaller size because the cut is normal cut!!! I would have to predict that it won't be long before VS follows The Limited to the grave. At the time, Victoria's Secret operated only six stores in addition to its catalog business. So I dont shop that often for clothes. Starting this month, Victoria's Secret will eliminate swimwear, shoes, accessories and apparel online and in-stores. I told her that she would never guess where I got the sweater from and how old it was. one Instagram userwrote. I shall treasure that part of my wardrobe and hope someone else comes up with clothes as good for a reasonable price. I am 30 and I can still remember going in to the vs stores with all the smelly body sprays. The ones I bought last year? You are spot-on with your nostalgia; I too have often wondered why Victoria's Secret took such a drastic wrong turn and never looked back. The styles were classic and really don't look dated at all.While placing an order there today for yet another pair of leggings (because it is the ONLY place I can find them long enough for my super long legs), I shared the link to this blog with the saleslady. And it . Its assets included six stores and one . I first wrote about the downfall of Victoria's Secret. The Victoria's Secret annual runway show. Women who don't want to look as though they just rolled out of bed but also can't afford haute couture are such a missed target market in clothing. The last couple times I have visited the Victoria's Secret store in the mall, I literally put my bag down and had to walk out. Sometimes an out-of-whack cycle isnt a big deal. My husband who doesn't notice much, noted, that it was favorite shirt. SIGH!!!! Its either thongs and naughty maids on Jessica Rabbit bodies or comfortable cotton undies in neutral tones on lots of bodies. Years after Victoria's Secret pulled the plug on its yearly TV spectacle, consumers of the lingerie and fashion brand are offered a closer look at what happened in Hulu's Victoria's. Thank you for your post about Victorias Secret. Very pissed about this. They are selling on the cheap now. I was in merchandising on my feet sometimes between ten to fourteen hours a few days a week combination of both products worked wonders on the aches. I remember on vacation with my mom when I was about 33 years old and still pretty slender, I pulled out one of those tiny, white V-neck tees and my mom said, "That looks like something (my 3-year-old niece) could wear!" I was a broke student at the time so I mostly shopped sales but even on a budget I managed to put together a sophisticated yet sexy mini-wardrobe that people thought exuded confidence. If anyone knows where else they sell moda international, please share.