The VS semi-annual sale is the best time to stock up on your favorite lingerie, loungewear and beauty staples. The retailer drops prices up to 70% off regular price and discounts clearance items even more. You can save big on everything from a new bra to a silk sleep set. However, the best deals are limited and it’s important to shop early because things sell out quickly. If you’re a VIP member, you can score first access to the sale.
The retailer was founded in 1977 by Roy Raymond, who had grown frustrated by the lack of sexy undergarments available for women at department stores. He started with a catalog and five stores and the brand grew rapidly, expanding into a multi-billion-dollar empire that has since become one of the world’s biggest lingerie companies.
During the early 1990s, Victoria’s Secret began to hire top models like Stephanie Seymour, Karen Mulder and Yasmeen Ghauri to star in its televised ads and fashion shows. These supermodels lent an air of glamour and sexuality to the company that appealed to young, female shoppers. The new image was a departure from the refined image that had helped the company gain its initial success, with stores modeled after Victorian boudoirs.
But as the culture around them changed, the company became a target of sexual harassment and assault claims. Its leaders reportedly created an environment in which sexual misconduct thrived. Former executive Sharleen Ernest alleged that she was “repeatedly abused” while working at the company and described an unquenchable thirst for power and money as the motivation behind a series of decisions by management that led to her departure in 2016.
In the wake of #MeToo, Victoria’s Secret has begun to make changes in how it operates. The retailer has moved to include more plus-size models in its advertising and is working on making its products available in a wider range of sizes in stores and online. It has also rolled back on the amount of retouching it does to its models. Retail analyst Jessica Ramirez says the company is taking steps in the right direction, but it’s too early to say whether they will be successful.
The company has also dropped the infamous fashion show and replaced the Angels with a group of trailblazing women that include lesbian soccer player Megan Rapinoe, trans activist Paloma Elsesser and trans model Valentina Sampaio. The company has reimagined its annual fashion event with a more inclusive feel and plans to expand its “VS Collective” globally.
While the Victoria’s Secret empire continues to grow, it faces competition from a variety of retailers, from small boutiques to large department stores. The retailer’s primary competitors are Frederick’s of Hollywood, Maidenform and Sara Lee. It also competes with a host of up-and-coming lingerie brands, including third-party e-commerce and catalog companies such as Adore Me and Lively.