Following their latest runway extravaganza, Victoria’s Secret has received backlash following their old-fashioned and uninspired representation of women.
As society and fashion move forward, our beauty aspirations have also shifted. The beauty show seemed out of touch, as their representation of aspirational women consisted of a majority white, petite models, with no transgender or plus-sized casting in place. The brand is suffering from the refusal to embrace diversity, and poor public addresses from their Public Relations head Ed Razek has only exacerbated the situation.
Razek was put on blast following insensitive comments about transgender and plus-sized models, stating that he did not think they should include these models in their show. Despite a formal apology being released online, it seems people have already turned their back on this out of touch company.
Diversity in the representation of women in fashion is more important than ever to consumers, and it is being reflected in their brand loyalty. Rihanna’s new lingerie collection, Fenty, dominated headlines and featured an incredibly diverse cast of models, including a heavily pregnant Slick Woods. The brand represents women, all women, at every stage of their lives. Fenty found quick success, which collided with a 25 per cent drop in sales for Victoria’s Secret. This enormous shift demonstrates consumers preference for inclusive brands.
Victoria’s Secret once sat at the top of women’s fashion, but continued refusal to update their image may see them slip further into obscurity.
