Victoria’s Secret might not be public knowledge, but what people do know is that the lingerie at Victoria’s Secret is the best. From their line of casual wear, swimsuits, apparel, lingerie and even their makeup and beauty products, there seems to be nothing that Victoria’s Secret cannot do well. You might think you know all there is to know about this popular brand, but you don’t. Read on to find out 18 things you didn’t know about Victoria’s Secret.
Victoria is a Man
Victoria’s Secret was opened by a man, not a woman named Victoria with a secret to keep. In fact, the first VS was opened in Palo Alto in 1977 by a man by the name of Roy Raymond. He sold the brand to Limited Brands in 1982.
Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Victoria’s Secret
The Name
While a man was the one who created Victoria’s Secret, he designed the shop to be named after Queen Victoria. The purpose of this was created because he wanted the design of the store to resemble a Victorian boudoir. Where the secret comes from is still unknown, but then again, that is the purpose of a secret. And if you want a bit of a laugh – Queen Victoria was a prude. She’d probably roll over in her grave to know the world’s sexiest lingerie is named after her.
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Celebrity Angels
According to a senior creative director at VS, the company regularly turns down requests from celebrities each month to be considered honorary Angels. The company does not want to turn celebs into VS Angels, they want to turn VS Angels into celebrities.
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Angels must be tall
Victoria’s Secret will never hire a model less than 5 feet 9 inches tall. They have a very particular standard set for their Angels, which means any woman standing shorter than this will never be considered for an Angel position. This is another reason why many celebrity women don’t fit the Angle mold.
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VS Loves Women
It’s no secret that a lingerie store loves women, but what most people are unaware of is the fact that in a world of male executives, Victoria’s Secret breaks the mold – perhaps that’s the secret to their success. The company’s executive team is comprised of two-thirds female executives.
Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Victoria’s Secret
Down to Earth Angels
Another of the qualifications it takes to become a VS Angel is to be beautiful in a down-to-earth manner. While the Angels are nothing short of absolutely stunning, the company will not hire a model who does not have a down-to-earth, relatable, friendly beauty such as that possessed by Angels like Heidi Klum and Miranda Kerr. They want women to feel empowered and connected to the women in their pieces.
Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Victoria’s Secret
Fashion Show
Every year, VS puts on the biggest fashion show around. The first year the Victoria’s Secret fashion show was put on was 1995. At the time, the show cost $120,000 to produce and make happen. Last year, the fashion show cost more than $12 million to put on. It just goes to show that the Victoria’s Secret fashion show is one of the most popular fashion shows in the world.
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Planning Time
The Victoria’s Secret fashion show takes a while to plan. In fact, it takes 9 months to plan and execute this show. Even though it lasts only a short time, the fashion show takes 9 months of planning to create the perfect lighting, the perfect looks, the perfect makeup, the perfect lineup and the perfect music. No detail is left unplanned, and it shows.
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2013 Fashion Show
In 2013, there were 40 models in the Victoria’s Secret fashion show, which is the most in history. This required 26 makeup artists, more than 70 looks and 30 pair of Angel wings to pull off. Additionally, to see this show in person, one seat will run you approximately $14,000.
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Numbers
There are more than 1,000 stores across the world. There are more than 400 million Victoria’s Secret catalogs placed in the mail each year to consumers. The company passed the $5 billion mark in 2006 and doubled that number in less than four years.
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Modeling
There is one thing that’s certain about Victoria’s Secret – they use the most beautiful models in the world. However, it might surprise people to know that being a Victoria’s Secret model is not the same thing as being a Victoria’s Secret Angel. The Angel is the most coveted job in all of modeling. Being a Victoria’s Secret Angel is the single most coveted modeling job across the board – even more so than modeling jobs for the biggest designers in the world.
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It’s Complained About Often
Each year, the FCC fields numerous complaints about the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show on the night it airs. Groups that claim the show is indecent and inappropriate flood the FCC with their complaints, yet it remains one of the most watched television events of the night every year.
Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Victoria’s Secret PINK
The Owner Jumped Off the Golden Gate Bridge
The man who founded the company made quite a few unfortunate business ventures and investments after the sale of the company to Limited Brands, and in his desperation, he jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge in the 1990s. He was last seen walking near the bridge before his body washed ashore not long afterward in an apparent suicide.
Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Victoria’s Secret
Lighting
Something you didn’t know about the Victoria’s Secret store is that they use very deliberate lighting techniques. The store wants women of all shapes and sizes to feel beautiful and gorgeous, so they forbid bright lighting. Instead, they use upbeat music and dim, ambient lighting to help women feel more sensual in the store so that they’ll buy more pieces.
Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images
Models Have to be Fit
Believe it or not, several Victoria’s Secret models are asked to put on weight before the big fashion show every year. The company wants healthy models with curves and a great body, not just stick thin women with no curves. In fact, models such as Lindsay Ellington and Chanel Iman have been asked in the past to gain as many as 15 pounds prior to the fashion show, even while undergoing training to shape up for the event.
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Year-Long Commitment
According to Victoria’s Secret models, being a part of the fashion show is a year-long commitment. It requires daily workouts and a healthy diet so that models are not just thin, but well-toned. The brand wants the models to be muscular and real. They want women to know they work hard to maintain their good looks, that they’re not just starving themselves and binging dinner.
Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Victoria’s Secret
