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Selling sexy in the age of wellness

Selling sexy in the age of wellness

Lately, lingerie behemoth Victoria’s Secret is trying to claw its way back to relevance after a spectacular crash. How did a brand that once defined the culture fail to keep up?

Lately

January 17, 202534m 39s

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Show Notes

Lately, lingerie behemoth Victoria’s Secret is trying to claw its way back to relevance after a spectacular crash. How did a brand that once defined the culture fail to keep up?

Our guests, Lauren Sherman and Chantal Fernandez, tell the story of a retail giant’s rise and fall in their new book Selling Sexy: Victoria’s Secret and the Unraveling of an American Icon. 

They chart the company’s evolution from a fledgling sex toy business to a global fast-fashion pioneer. But when social media transformed the meaning of sexy, and the CEO’s association with Jeffrey Epstein made headlines, the fashion shows got canceled and the shares crashed. We’re asking where that leaves Victoria’s Secret today... and who is Victoria anyway?

Plus, Vass reveals her new advertising partnership with an underwear brand from her youth.

Subscribe to the Lately newsletter, where the Globe’s online culture reporter Samantha Edwards unpacks more of the latest in business and technology.

Find the transcript of today’s episode here.

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Topics

businessvictoria's secretbrandfemininityfashiontechbookmarketingvalentinevalentine's daycommercialmodelrunwaymasculinitysocial mediaclothingselling sexyeconomylingeriefashion showunderwearsalesmodelssexybraangels