Victoria's Secret Fashion Show To Return as a Feature Film
With an all-new format, the lingerie label looks to “reimagine” its once-famed, now-controversial runway, five years later.
After a five-year hiatus, the controversial Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is preparing to make a grand return. This time, though, in lieu of the angel-flooded runway shows the scandal-ridden brand was formerly known for, the event will come back as a feature film, titled The Victoria’s Secret World Tour.
The documentary-style movie intends to “unite fashion, film, art and culture” with an emphasis on “emerging global trailblazers,” in an effort to reinstate the once-praised show. According to the brand, the “reimagined” film will welcome the “VS20,” a band of 20 creatives who will curate four fashion concepts from cities including Bogotá, Lagos, London and Tokyo. Their own creations will be showcased alongside custom Victoria’s Secret designs, and the film will feature a behind-the-scenes look at the whole process.
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Victoria’s Secret has struggled to salvage its public image since the show’s cancellation, which followed highly insensitive comments from then-marketing chief Ed Rezak. In 2018, he told Vogue that he did not believe transgender models deserved a spot in the fashion show, nor did he think there was any television interest in a plus-size runway.
The brand’s image was further tarnished in 2020, following the release of a docu-series, titled Victoria’s Secret: Angels and Demons, which chronicled the label’s decline. In addition to spotlighting the brand’s harmful perpetuation of toxic beauty standards, the show emphasized L Brands’ CEO Les Wexner’s longtime connections to accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Since then, Victoria’s Secret has largely remained in the shadows. But with the show’s return announcement, it’s evident that the brand is now looking to find redemption.
“This film is the ultimate expression of the Victoria’s Secret brand transformation,” said Raúl Martinez, executive vice president and lead creative director at Victoria’s Secret. “It will be driven by fashion, glamour and entertainment with a nod to beloved iconography from the past but in a bold, redefined way.”
“We are so honored to offer our platform and have it explored through the lens and artistry of global creatives who celebrate the individuality of women’s stories and perspectives,” he added.
The Victoria’s Secret World Tour is “coming this fall,” alongside a live fashion event.
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