Victoria’s Secret Unveils The Tour ’23: A Transformative Moment for the Iconic Lingerie Brand
Victoria’s Secret took center stage with the highly-anticipated debut of The Tour ’23, alongside an exciting sneak peek of their revolutionary concept film. This grand event unfolded on the eve of New York Fashion Week, marking a pivotal moment in the brand’s history.
In the heart of The Manhattan Center, supermodel Naomi Campbell captivated the audience with a mesmerizing poem, while the renowned Gigi Hadid assumed the role of the charming host for the evening.
This dazzling showcase followed closely on the heels of Victoria’s Secret’s recent financial results, which revealed a net loss of $1 million in the latest quarter, accompanied by a 6% decline in net sales to $1.427 billion. The silver lining came in the form of a remarkable 25% growth in foreign sales, as reported by CEO Martin Waters.
The Tour ’23 brought together a diverse ensemble of 20 visionaries, including artists, fashion designers, musicians, and performers, carefully curated from four global cities: Lagos, London, Tokyo, and Bogotá.
While the brand’s North American stores continue to face stiff competition from Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty and shifting consumer preferences, Victoria’s Secret has embraced change. The brand’s once extravagant mega runway shows, featuring supermodels, have evolved to align with contemporary values, shedding the outdated and controversial elements of the past.
The brand has also been working diligently to distance itself from past associations, notably with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This event prominently featured transgender models, artists, and a multitude of plus-sized models, underscoring Victoria’s Secret’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity.
The Tour ’23 showcased a series of visually captivating vignettes, featuring diverse young artists in vibrant settings, interspersed with appearances by top models like Adut Akech, Adwoa Aboah, Candice Swanepoel, Guinevere van Seenus, Lily Aldridge, Winnie Harlow, Paloma Elsesser, and Imaan Hammam, all set against the backdrop of a modernist architectural masterpiece.
The Tour ’23 ensemble, affectionately known as the VS20, featured names such as Aoi Yamada, Bubu Ogisi, Cristina Sánchez Salamanca, Ebun Sodipo, Eloghosa Osunde, Goyo, Jen Fang, Kaito Itsuki, KOM-I, Korty Eniola Olanrewaju, Lorena Torres, Margot Bowman, Melissa Valdés Duque, Michaela Stark, Phoebe Collings James, Piisciis Canizales, Supriya Lele, Umi Ishihara, Wavy The Creator, and Ashley Okoli of Lagos. They took a triumphant bow at the finale, framed by the brand’s iconic pink, bulbous column. Behind this striking backdrop hung a collection of iconic outfits once worn by Victoria’s Secret «Angels» in previous shows.
Before the event, Naomi Campbell graced the occasion, sharing moments with luminaries such as Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Brooke Shields. Campbell added a touch of elegance with a poetic recitation, delivering lines like: «Do not gaze into a star’s eyes if you wish to survive. When navigating treacherous mirrors, dance into the night until your soul turns sweet, until your eyes radiate with the color of the sky.» This event paid homage to timeless literary giants like Wordsworth and Whitman.
Surprisingly, the concept film featured minimal lingerie or intimate apparel, with the real allure found in the fashion choices of the guests themselves. In a sense, this pays homage to the brand’s influence, making innerwear as outerwear a popular choice during New York’s scorching summer heatwaves.
