Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Victoria's Secret's Potential Downfall

Iskra Lawrence Adore Me

We are all still reeling from the loss of the Victoria's Secret bathing suit line. If you are anything like me, you are frantically looking for bikinis that don't cost a kidney and aren't going to fall apart the second they hit the water. We may end up missing all of Victoria's Secret products in the future if they continue to ignore the shift in the lingerie and modeling industry. 

Victoria's Secret is well known to have the hottest models (do more guys watch the VS fashion show than girls? probably). Entering the store, you see pictures of these models plastered all over the walls doing some scary back arch in sexay lingerie. My first thought- that girl needs a hamburger. My second thought- I probably should stop eating hamburgers (and french fries). Tall, stick thin models have always been the face of Victoria's Secret. However, recent industries have been turning to more realistic looking models to promote self acceptance and natural beauty, and consumers are loving it. 

DISCLAIMER: I am in no way body shaming the VS models. If they can look like that and they feel good well then hell yeah girlfriend you do you. The problem is that there are very few people who look like that- or even have the potential to look like that. We can't make looking like this the standard for looking sexy. 

Adore Me, a lingerie company that has set its eyes on shutting down Victoria's Secret, has hired Aerie's popular spokesmodel Iskra Lawrence (pictured above) who is curvier than the typical model. Lawrence and Tweed-Simmons were two of Adore Me's best-selling models on the company website in July 2016. Guess what- both plus sized models- SLAY GIRLS SLAY.

American Eagle's lingerie line, Aerie, pioneered this movement with the honest #AerieREAL. About 3 years ago, Aerie vowed to make a change and no longer retouch their images or exclusively seek out supermodels. "We want every girl to feel good about who they are and what they look like, inside and out". YASSSSSS AERIE YASSS. In the most recent quarter, Aerie's sales soared 32%. Sales have constantly risen since the start of this campaign. A simple glance at Aerie's Instagram page shows that they are holding true to their statement, with curvy girls, skinny girls, short girls, you name it.

For spring 2017, runways are planning on showcasing the most diverse group of models in history. Race, plus-sized, aged, and transgender models hit the runway more than ever this year. Why? This is what the industry is demanding. Victoria's Secret has made no indication that they are moving towards the movement.

In 2014, VS came under scrutiny for it's "Perfect Body" campaign. While the intention was to promote the Body by Victoria Secret line, it sparked outrage on Twitter with the birth of #iamperfect. Not a good look VS. It doesn't help that VS doesn't sell a plus size line and only goes up to a certain size in stores. Make moves VS. 

17 comments:

  1. This was a really good article!! I've had these views about VS for awhile. Their lack of inclusivity and respect for curvier women hasn't been very well-received. While they do have a lot of popularity and GREAT swimsuits (R.I.P.), you are very right in saying that they need to make moves to keep up with the industry's demand for more sizes and more racially diverse models. awesome article!!

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  2. Wow I have been purchasing Aerie bras and underwear for a while now and have been aware of their #AerieREAL campaign, but I didn't know how it impacted their sales! I'm so glad to hear that many women are responding positively!

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  3. I love Arie's campaign! I think this is a trend we, especially young women, need to see in the industry.

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  4. Wow, this is one of the most real and entertaining blogs I have read in a long time. The physical standards of women are nearly impossible to attain. I'm al for eating healthy and exercising, but this movement of being "real" is critical for future generations. If we don;t put a stop to what the media and society is defining as the perfect standard, women and men are destined to be insecure. Dove does a great job of this as well!! Check out this commercial https://youtu.be/XpaOjMXyJGk

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  5. I absolutely how much Aerie addresses the need for women to be in love with their bodies and who they truly are. VS Model standards are impossible to attain and only favor one out of a thousand different body types. I am so glad to see that this has impacted their sales, and your article has definitely changed the way I see Aerie.

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  6. Great article! I completely agree with you and think that more companies need to be like AERIE!!

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  7. I think it's interesting that Aerie's sales went up that much. I've always read articles about brands trying to diversify their image in that way, but they never talk about how it really has a positive effect on sales. I've actually recently looked at Aerie for swimsuits and it's really nice to be able to see them on more normal looking models, not even because they aren't stick thin but because as a consumer I can tell better how I would look in the product.

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  8. I love Iskra!! SO beautiful and finally some body goals that don't make me feel gross about myself. Aerie is my favorite place to buy underwear-- so cute and most styles are at least 90% cotton!

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  9. This is a great article! I am not surprised by Aerie's spike in sales, though, I wonder how VS sales are doing since the recent surge of these real body campaigns. From an outsider's perspective, it seems that VS has no plans on changing, so maybe they haven't been affected yet? I guess we'll see what they end up doing (if anything)!

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  10. As a guy, obviously this isn't my forte, but I am so glad that this is becoming a hot button issue. Too many girls are sadly suffering from self esteem issues because of VS types of models in the world. While those women are obviously beautiful, it doesn't take away the beauty of girls of other shapes and sizes.

    Big shouts to these other companies for realizing there was an issue in the beauty community and reaching out to fix it.

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  11. I definitely like Aerie's campaign compared to Victoria's Secret. They also have better prices. I am happy to support a company that promotes a healthier body image.

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  12. Totally agree! I love Aerie than VS since the price and the quality! VS even though has better design, the quality always disappoints me.

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  13. RIP to the Victoria's Secret swimsuit line. Seriously I do not know where I am going to buy swimwear! I love the Aerie real movement. I think that we should definitely be teaching and encouraging girls to be healthy and eat right! Most models are pressured to continually lose weight by their agents and hopefully with the rise of Aerie real that can stop! I do not think it will end the victoria's secret models careers, but I do hope it has a positive change on the industry!

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  14. Loved this article! I worked for Aerie back in high school and remember being extremely impressed with their #aerieREAL campaign. Also with spring break so close, feeling the loss of the VS swimsuit line.

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  15. This article was awesome. I think it is important that companies portray a realistic body image with their models and I feel like if VS doesn't switch over to that soon, they may begin to lose customers.

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  16. This was a great article! I've honestly never really shopped at Victoria's Secret mostly because I've never felt like I fit into their target market. Aerie on the other hand is such a great brand and love buying from them. I'm glad that their new campaign has had such a good impact on their sales.

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  17. I love VS, and I always shop there. It is a shame that they are getting rid of the swim line. Its hard to find affordable swimwear these days. VS should change their image and cater to all sizes, like other companies do. It is sad that the average woman has to compare herself to the VS models, bc they are not average women.

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