Victoria's Secret is an American lingerie, clothing, and beauty retailer founded in 1977 by Roy and Gaye Raymond. Les Wexner acquired the company in 1982 and significantly expanded it. By the early 1990s, Victoria's Secret had grown to 350 stores nationwide and achieved $1 billion in sales, becoming the largest lingerie retailer in the United States.
June 12, 1977: Victoria's Secret First Store Opens
On June 12, 1977, Roy Raymond and his wife Gaye Raymond founded Victoria's Secret and opened the first store in the Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto, California.
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1977: Victoria's Secret Founded to Cater to Men
In 1977, Roy Raymond founded Victoria's Secret with the aim of creating a lingerie store where men would feel comfortable shopping, by investing $40,000 he borrowed from family and $40,000 from a bank.
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1977: Victoria's Secret Founded
In 1977, Victoria's Secret was founded by Roy and Gaye Raymond as a lingerie, clothing and beauty retailer.
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1977: First Store
In 1977, physical store locations were an important part of establishing the brand and remained concentrated in the United States.
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1979: Sensuous Catalog
According to Joseph Sugarman, the 1979 Victoria's Secret catalog was "a lot more sensuous" and took the form of "an upmarket version of a Frederick's of Hollywood lingerie catalog."
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April 1982: Catalog Sales Account for Majority of Revenue
In April 1982, catalog sales accounted for 55% of Victoria's Secret's $7 million annual sales that year.
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1982: Victoria's Secret Sold to Les Wexner
In 1982, Roy and Gaye Raymond sold Victoria's Secret to Les Wexner, who would then expand the company rapidly.
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1982: Influence of Victoria's Secret Catalog
In 1982, The New York Times reported that the financial success of the Victoria's Secret catalog influenced other catalogs.
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1982: Expansion to Fourth Store
In 1982, Victoria's Secret added its fourth store at 395 Sutter Street in San Francisco.
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1982: Victoria's Secret Sold to Les Wexner
In 1982, Victoria's Secret, which had grown to five stores and a 40-page catalog, was sold to Les Wexner for $1 million.
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1982: Name Changed
In 1982, the company's business name changed from Victoria's Secret, Inc. to Victoria's Secret Stores, Inc. after the sale to Wexner.
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1983: Revamping of Sales Model
In 1983, Les Wexner revamped Victoria's Secret's sales model, focusing more on female customers and tastefull sexy underwear.
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1985: Howard Gross Becomes President
In 1985, Howard Gross became the president of Victoria's Secret.
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1985: Howard Gross promoted to president
In 1985, Howard Gross was promoted to president of Victoria's Secret Stores.
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1986: Expansion to 100 Stores
By 1986, Victoria's Secret had swiftly expanded to 100 stores.
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1986: Les Wexner meets Jeffrey Epstein
In 1986, Les Wexner, the founder of Victoria's Secret, reportedly met Jeffrey Epstein, who would later be known as an American sex offender and pedophile. This marked the beginning of their association.
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1986: Only National Chain Devoted to Lingerie
In 1986, Victoria's Secret was the only national chain devoted to lingerie.
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1987: Victoria's Secret as a 'Highly Visible Leader'
In 1987, The New York Times described Victoria's Secret as a "highly visible leader" in the lingerie market.
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1987: Best Selling Catalogs
In 1987, Victoria's Secret was reported to be among the best-selling catalogs.
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1989: National advertising campaign launched
In 1989, FCB/Leber Katz Partners and Victoria's Secret launched a national advertising campaign with a ten-page insert in various magazines to announce their expansion into toiletries and fragrance business.
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1990: Sales Quadrupled
In 1990, analysts estimated that sales had quadrupled in four years, making Victoria's Secret one of the fastest-growing mail-order businesses.
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1990: Relocation of San Francisco Store
In 1990, the Victoria's Secret store at 395 Sutter Street in San Francisco was moved to the larger Powell Street frontage of the Westin St. Francis.
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1991: Abandonment of male models in catalogs
By 1991, Victoria's Secret abandoned the catalog marketing practice of featuring female models accompanied by men.
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1991: Grace Nichols becomes president
In 1991, Grace Nichols succeeded Howard Gross as president of Victoria's Secret Stores.
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1991: Howard Gross Assigned to Fix L Brands
In 1991, Howard Gross was assigned to fix the L Brands subsidiary Limited Stores due to quality problems with Victoria's Secret's product.
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1991: Introduction of Fragrances
In 1991, Victoria's Secret introduced its own line of fragrances.
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1993: Divisions Suffered
In 1993, Business Week reported that both divisions suffered.
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1993: Miracle Bra Introduction
In 1993, Victoria's Secret introduced the 'Miracle Bra', selling two million within the first year.
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1994: TV Campaign Response to WonderBra
In 1994, Victoria's Secret responded to competition from Sara Lee's WonderBra with a TV campaign, and Wexner discussed the creation of a company fashion event with Ed Razek.
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1995: Victoria's Secret Fashion Show begins
From 1995, L Brands used the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show as a significant marketing tool.
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1995: Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Established
In 1995, the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show began, becoming a major part of the brand's image until 2018.
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1995: First Victoria's Secret Fashion Show
In 1995, the first Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was held and broadcast on primetime American television.
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1995: First Victoria's Secret Fashion Show
In 1995, the first Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was held in New York, becoming a mainstay for the company's image for the next 23 years.
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1997: Angels underwear collection marketed
In 1997, Victoria's Secret marketed its Angels underwear collection with a TV commercial featuring supermodels and Welsh singer Tom Jones.
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December 4, 1998: E-commerce Website Launched
On December 4, 1998, Victoria's Secret officially launched its e-commerce website.
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1998: Victoria's Secret Market Share and Entry into Cosmetics
By 1998, Victoria's Secret's market share of the intimate apparel market was 14 percent and the company also entered the $3.5 billion cosmetic market.
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1998: Intimate Beauty Corporation Created
In 1998, Intimate Brands Inc., the parent company of Victoria's Secret, created a new entity: Intimate Beauty Corporation to manage and develop the bath, fragrance and cosmetic products for Victoria's Secret.
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1998: Robin Burns hired as CEO of Victoria's Secret Beauty
In 1998, Robin Burns was hired by L Brands as CEO of Victoria's Secret Beauty.
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1998: Entry into Cosmetics Market
In 1998, Victoria's Secret expanded into the billion-dollar cosmetics market.
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1998: Angels' Runway Debut
In 1998, the Angels made their runway debut at Victoria's Secret's 4th annual fashion show (Chandra North filled in for Christensen).
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February 2, 1999: First online fashion show streaming
On February 2, 1999, Victoria's Secret's first online streaming of their fashion show occurred, which at the time was the Internet's "biggest event" since inception but encountered some technical difficulties due to the inability to meet the online user demand.
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February 3, 1999: First Online Fashion Show
On February 3, 1999, Victoria's Secret hosted its first online fashion show, the largest online streaming event to date, reaching an estimated 1.5 million viewers.
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1999: Addition of Body by Victoria Line
In 1999, Victoria's Secret added the Body by Victoria line.
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1999: Super Bowl ad drives website traffic
In 1999, a 30-second Super Bowl advertisement resulted in one million visits to the Victoria's Secret website within an hour.
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1999: Database creation through webcast
In 1999, the webcast created a database for Victoria's Secret of over 500,000 current and potential customers by requiring users to submit their contact details to view the webcast.
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May 2000: Cynthia Fedus-Fields Steps Down
In May 2000, Cynthia Fedus-Fields stepped down as CEO after delivering record profits in 1999 and early 2000. After her departure, the brand pursued an image that was "much more blatantly sexy."
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May 2000: Sharen Jester Turney appointed as chief executive
In May 2000, Sharen Jester Turney succeeded Cynthia Fedus-Fields as chief executive of Victoria's Secret Direct.
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May 2000: Sharen Jester Turney Appointed CEO of Victoria's Secret Direct
In May 2000, Wexner installed Sharen Jester Turney as the new chief executive of Victoria's Secret Direct to turn around catalog sales. Turney began to redefine Victoria's Secret catalog and Grace Nichols led a similar change at Victoria's Secret's stores.
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2000: Cynthia Fedus-Fields Leaves Victoria's Secret
In 2000, Cynthia Fedus-Fields oversaw the company's direct business, including its catalog.
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2000: Priyanka Chopra, Miss World 2000
In 2000, Priyanka Chopra won Miss World, subsequently becoming part of the VS Collective in 2021.
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2000: British Air
In 2000, the Los Angeles Times reported that the company continued the practice of putting on "a British air—or what the Ohio-based chain thinks Americans believe is British. Boudoirish. Tony. Upscale."
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2000: Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in France
In 2000, the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was produced in France with the help of Harvey Weinstein.
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2000: Cult-like Following
The Los Angeles Times described the Victoria's Secret catalog in 2000 as having achieved "an almost cult-like following."
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2002: Store Size Increase
By 2002, the average Victoria's Secret store was 6,000 square feet.
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2002: Intimate Brands Combined with Limited
In 2002, Intimate Brands was combined with The Limited, then renamed Limited Brands.
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2002: Swimwear Introduced
In 2002, Victoria's Secret introduced its swimwear line.
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2002: PINK Brand Launched
In 2002, Victoria's Secret launched PINK, a brand aimed at teenagers and young women.
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March 4, 2003: U.S. Supreme Court rules against Victoria's Secret
On March 4, 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Victoria's Secret in Moseley v. V Secret Catalogue, Inc. due to insufficient proof of trademark harm.
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August 2004: Jill Granoff and Sherry Baker take over Victoria's Secret Beauty
In August 2004, Jill Granoff and Sherry Baker succeeded Robin Burns at Victoria's Secret Beauty, with Granoff as COO and Baker as president.
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2004: Angels Across America tour
In 2004, Victoria's Secret did not hold a fashion show due to fallout from the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy, and instead marketed the brand via a tour called Angels Across America.
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2004: Bob Dylan appears in Victoria's Secret ad
In 2004, Victoria's Secret released an advertisement featuring Bob Dylan, which proved to be memorable but unsettling for viewers.
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2005: UK Boutique Opened
In 2005, Victoria's Secret Beauty opened a provisional UK boutique at Heathrow Airport through partnership with World Duty Free.
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2005: LLC Revision
In 2005, the name was revised to Victoria's Secret Stores, LLC.
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May 2006: Christine Beauchamp named president and CEO
In May 2006, Christine Beauchamp was named president and CEO of Victoria's Secret Beauty.
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May 2006: Turney Promoted to Lead Whole Company
In May 2006, Wexner promoted Turney from the Victoria's Secret catalog and online units to lead the whole company.
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September 2006: Victoria's Secret Head-Hunts Magazine Writers
In September 2006, Victoria's Secret reportedly tried to make their catalog feel more like magazines by head-hunting writers from Women's Wear Daily.
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2006: Victoria's Secret Beauty Sales
By 2006, the Victoria's Secret Beauty division had reported sales of nearly US$1 billion.
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2006: Revenue
By 2006, the majority of the revenue for Limited Brands came from Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works.
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2006: Agreement for environmentally friendly catalogs
In 2006, Victoria's Secret agreed with a conservation group to make the catalog more environmentally friendly, requiring recycled paper and avoiding certain source forests.
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2006: Financial Times reports low wages in Thailand factories
In 2006, the Financial Times reported that Victoria's Secret paid factory workers in Thailand $7 per day.
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July 2007: Interest Sold
In July 2007, Limited Brands sold a 75% interest in Limited Stores and Express to Sun Capital Partners, in order to focus on expanding their Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works units.
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November 13, 2007: Angels receive star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
On November 13, 2007, the Victoria's Secret Angels were awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
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2007: Lori Greely takes over Victoria's Secret Stores
In 2007, Lori Greely became the head of Victoria's Secret Stores, succeeding Grace Nichols.
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2008: Turney Acknowledges Product Quality Issues
In 2008, Sharen Turney acknowledged "product quality that doesn't equal the brand's hype."
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2008: International Expansion Begins
In 2008, Victoria's Secret began its international expansion, opening retail outlets in international airports, franchises in major cities overseas, and company-owned stores in Canada and the UK.
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2008: Research article warns against Victoria's Secret marketing practices
In 2008, an academic research article titled "Victoria's Dirty Secret: How Sociocultural Norms Influence Adolescent Girls and Women" cautioned that Victoria's Secret's marketing practices send a message that their models are a realistic standard of beauty, negatively affecting women.
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2008: Angels take part in Fontainebleau reopening
In 2008, the Victoria's Secret Angels participated in the grand reopening of the Fontainebleau in Miami.
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2008: International Expansion Begins
In 2008, the international expansion of Victoria's Secret stores began.
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2009: Shashi Batra Appointed President
In 2009, Shashi Batra was appointed president of Victoria's Secret Beauty.
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2009: Nationwide competition for Runway Angel
In 2009, Victoria's Secret held a nationwide competition for a new Runway Angel, with Kylie Bisutti winning.
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2010: Store Count
By 2010, there were 1,000 Victoria's Secret lingerie stores and 100 independent Victoria's Secret Beauty Stores in the United States.
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2010: Michael Bay directs TV commercials
In 2010, Victoria's Secret TV commercials, directed by Michael Bay, were released with mixed results and regarded by critics as macho and misguided.
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2010: International Franchises Expand
In 2010, Victoria's Secret expanded with Victoria's Secret Beauty & Accessory (VSBA) franchises internationally.
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2010: 'Incredible' Bra Launched
In 2010, Victoria's Secret launched the 'Incredible' bra.
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2010: Bombshell Tour
In 2010, Victoria's Secret organized the Bombshell tour featuring the Angels.
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2010: Annual Catalog Mailing
In 2010, Victoria's Secret was mailing more than 400 million catalogs annually.
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2010: 'Wild Things' segment causes controversy
In 2010, the 'Wild Things' segment of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show caused controversy due to "tribal style" outfits, particularly one worn by Emanuela De Paula, which was considered an appropriation of African culture.
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2010: First Canadian Store Opened
In 2010, the first Canadian Victoria's Secret store opened in Edmonton, Alberta.
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November 2011: Caribbean Location Opened
In November 2011, a Caribbean Victoria's Secret location opened at Plaza Las Americas in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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2011: Fashion show budget increases
By 2011, the budget for the Victoria's Secret fashion show was $12 million, up from $120,000 for the first show.
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2011: Huffington Post reports on poor working conditions in Jordan
In 2011, The Huffington Post reported that factories producing Victoria's Secret items in Jordan had working conditions comparable to slave labor.
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July 2012: Store Opening in London
In July 2012, Victoria's Secret opened a store at the Westfield Shopping Centre, Stratford, London.
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July 2012: Store Opening in Bogota
In July 2012, a Victoria's Secret store opened in Bogota, Colombia.
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July 2012: First Polish Store Opened
In July 2012, the first Polish Victoria's Secret store opened at the Złote Tarasy shopping mall in Warsaw.
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August 2012: Flagship Store Opens in London
In August 2012, Victoria's Secret's flagship store opened on New Bond Street, London.
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November 2012: Susie Coulter becomes president
In November 2012, Susie Coulter became president of Victoria's Secret Beauty.
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2012: Barbara Palvin's fashion show debut
In 2012, Barbara Palvin made her fashion show debut with Victoria's Secret.
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2012: Michael Bay directs TV commercials
In 2012, Victoria's Secret TV commercials, directed by Michael Bay, were released with mixed results and regarded by critics as macho and misguided.
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2012: Use of organic and fair trade cotton
In 2012, Victoria's Secret began using organic and fair trade-grown cotton to make some of its panties.
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2012: 'Go East' collection criticized for racist stereotypes
In 2012, Victoria's Secret faced criticism for its 'Go East' lingerie collection, featuring a 'Sexy Little Geisha' outfit, which was accused of using racist stereotypes. The collection was later removed from the website.
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2012: VSX Tour
In 2012, Victoria's Secret organized the VSX tour featuring the Angels.
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2012: Designer Collection Released
In 2012, Victoria's Secret released the Victoria's Secret Designer Collection, described as its "first high end lingerie line."
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2012: Manufacturing bras in Guduvancheri, India
In 2012, Victoria's Secret was manufacturing bras in the South Indian city of Guduvancheri.
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2012: Native American headdress outfit sparks outrage
In 2012, at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, an outfit in the 'Calendar Girls' segment, meant to represent November, featured Karlie Kloss wearing a Native American headdress, causing outrage for its cultural insensitivity. The outfit was later cut from the final broadcast.
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2013: Lori Greely's departure
In 2013, Lori Greely left her position as head of Victoria's Secret Stores.
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2013: Market Share in 2013
In 2013, Victoria's Secret had about a third of the market share in its category.
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2013: Swim Tour
In 2013, Victoria's Secret organized the Swim tour featuring the Angels.
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2013: Name Change
In 2013, parent company Limited Brands officially changed its name to L Brands.
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January 2014: Serbian Store Opened
In January 2014, a Serbian Victoria's Secret store opened at the Nikola Tesla Airport in Belgrade.
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2014: Ellingson, Kroes, and Kloss depart
In 2014, Ellingson, Kroes, and Kloss departed Victoria's Secret after the fashion show.
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2014: "The Perfect Body" campaign controversy
In 2014, Victoria's Secret's "The Perfect Body" campaign for its Body bra line elicited controversy for promoting a limited and unhealthy body type.
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2015: Angels featured on the first Swim Special
In 2015, Angels featured on the Victoria Secret's first Swim Special including Elsa Hosk, Martha Hunt, Jac Jagaciak, Stella Maxwell, Lais Ribeiro, and Jasmine Tookes, along with model Joan Smalls.
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2015: Leomie Anderson walks the show
In 2015, Leomie Anderson began walking in the Victoria's Secret fashion show.
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February 2016: Turney Steps Down as CEO
In February 2016, Sharen Jester Turney stepped down as CEO of Victoria's Secret after being in the business for a decade and Victoria's Secret was split into three divisions.
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April 2016: End of Swimwear Line
In April 2016, Victoria's Secret announced that the swimwear line would end and be replaced by a new line of activewear.
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May 2016: Catalog Discontinued
In May 2016, Victoria's Secret decided to discontinue its catalog, which cost $125 million to $150 million annually.
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2016: VSBA Franchises
As of 2016, L Brands had more than 370 VSBA franchise shops worldwide, with the company's largest international market reportedly in Turkey and the Middle East.
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2016: Declining Sales
Between 2016 and 2018, only one quarter showed an increase in same-store sales.
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2016: Grace Elizabeth walks the show
In 2016, Grace Elizabeth walked in her first Victoria's Secret show.
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2016: Greg Unis becomes CEO of the beauty division
In 2016, Greg Unis was hired to serve as CEO of the Victoria's Secret Beauty division.
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2016: Jan Singer becomes CEO of Victoria's Secret Direct
In 2016, Jan Singer succeeded Sharen Jester Turney as CEO of Victoria's Secret Direct, after Turney stepped down.
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2016: Expansion in China
In 2016, L Brands fully purchased 26 stores back from its franchise partners in China and announced plans to expand with flagship stores in Shanghai and Beijing.
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2016: Elimination of Swimwear, Apparel, Shoes, and Accessories
In 2016, Victoria's Secret confined the elimination of swimwear, apparel, shoes, and accessories.
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2016: Divisions Restructuring
In 2016, Victoria's Secret reorganized into three divisions - Victoria's Secret Stores, Victoria's Secret Direct, and Victoria's Secret Beauty, each with its own CEO - to "refocus on core business."
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2016: Market Share Decline and Catalog Cancellation
In 2016, Victoria's Secret's market share began to decline due to increased competition, and the company canceled the circulation of their catalog.
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2016: Cultural appropriation accusations during 'The Road Ahead' segment
In 2016, at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, the 'The Road Ahead' segment was accused of cultural appropriation for drawing inspiration from Chinese and Mexican culture, leading to criticism over the use of cultural garments by women of other descents.
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2016: Peak in Net Sales
Victoria's Secret recorded peak worldwide net sales in 2016 of $7.78 billion.
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2017: Alexina Graham walks the show
In 2017, Alexina Graham walked in the Victoria's Secret fashion show.
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2017: Emphasis on Bralettes and Sports Bras
In 2017, Victoria's Secret began to put more emphasis on bralettes and sports bras to appeal to a younger customer base.
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2017: Victoria's Secret settles discrimination cases
In 2017, Victoria's Secret reached a $12 million settlement in California and New York and a $179,300 settlement with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, resolving major complaints of racism, profiling, and discrimination.
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2017: Further cultural appropriation allegations in 'Nomadic Adventures' segment
In 2017, the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show faced additional allegations of cultural appropriation for the 'Nomadic Adventures' segment, which appropriated Native American and Indigenous African cultures.
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2017: Sales Revenue Stagnation
In early 2017, sales revenue at Victoria's Secret continued to stagnate and drop.
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November 2018: Ed Razek's controversial comments on transgender models
In November 2018, Victoria's Secret president Ed Razek made controversial comments in an interview with Vogue, stating that he didn't think the brand should include transsexuals in the show, leading to immediate backlash.
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November 2018: Swim Line Relaunched
In November 2018, Victoria's Secret relaunched its swimwear line.
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2018: Victoria's Secret Fashion Show held for the last time
From 1995 to 2018, L Brands used the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show as a significant marketing tool; the show was held for the last time in 2018.
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2018: Barbara Palvin returns to the fashion show
In 2018, Barbara Palvin walked in the Victoria's Secret fashion show, after her debut in 2012.
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2018: Jan Singer departs as CEO
In 2018, Jan Singer left her position as CEO of Victoria's Secret Direct.
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2018: Final Fashion Show with the Angels
In 2018, the Fashion Show and the Angels were closely connected, but it was the final year that event was held.
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2018: CEO Jan Singer Resigns
In late 2018, CEO Jan Singer resigned amid declining sales.
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2018: Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Ended
The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was a major part of the brand's image from 1995 until 2018, when it ended.
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March 2019: Swim Line Available In Shops
In March 2019, Victoria's Secret made the relaunched swim line available in shops.
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August 2019: Valentina Sampaio becomes Victoria's Secret's first openly transgender model
In August 2019, Victoria's Secret hired Valentina Sampaio, its first openly transgender model, to work for PINK, marking a shift toward inclusivity.
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August 2019: Ed Razek Resigns
In August 2019, chief marketing officer Ed Razek resigned following a disastrous Vogue interview.
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November 2019: Fashion Show Cancelled
In November 2019, Victoria's Secret announced it would no longer hold the annual fashion show featuring its angels.
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November 2019: Victoria's Secret cancels runway show
In November 2019, Victoria's Secret canceled its runway show.
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2019: John Mehas appointed CEO
In 2019, John Mehas was appointed CEO of Victoria's Secret Direct.
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2019: New Angels added to the roster
In 2019, Leomie Anderson, Grace Elizabeth, Alexina Graham, and Barbara Palvin were added as new Angels to the Victoria's Secret roster.
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2019: Store Closures and Swimwear Relaunch
In 2019, Victoria's Secret announced the closure of 53 stores in the U.S. and the relaunch of its swimwear line after a 40% stock plunge in a single year.
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2019: Relaunch of Eyewear and Footwear
In 2019, Victoria's Secret relaunched its product line of eyewear and footwear in an effort to boost the brand's struggling sales.
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2019: Worldwide Net Sales Decrease
In 2019, Victoria's Secret worldwide net sales had receded to $6.81 billion.
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2019: Mitro's Allegations Against Razek
In 2019, after Razek left Victoria's Secret, Monica Mitro reported she had been repeatedly verbally abused by Razek during his time there. In late 2019 Mitro indicated she was pursuing legal action against her dismissal.
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2019: Initiatives to protect models from harassment
In 2019, nonprofit advocacy group Model Alliance and several other publications reported on initiatives underway in California, New York and the United States aiming to protect models from harassment and sexual abuse.
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January 2020: Lex Wexner in Talks to Step Down
In January 2020, L Brands chairman and CEO Lex Wexner was in talks to step down.
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February 1, 2020: NYT Publishes Exposé on Misogyny
On February 1, 2020, The New York Times published an exposé on "the culture of misogyny" at Victoria's Secret, detailing sexual misconduct by Ed Razek.
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February 2020: Sale Announced to Sycamore Partners
In February 2020, Victoria's Secret announced a sale to Sycamore Partners for $525 million, with L Brands retaining a 45% minority stake.
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February 2020: Reports of Widespread Bullying and Harassment
In February 2020, reports of widespread bullying and harassment at Victoria's Secret surfaced.
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April 22, 2020: Sycamore Partners Wants Out of Deal
On April 22, 2020, The Wall Street Journal reported that Sycamore Partners wanted out of the deal to purchase Victoria's Secret.
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May 2020: Victoria's Secret Remains Largest Lingerie Retailer
As of May 2020, Victoria's Secret remained the largest lingerie retailer in the United States, with over 1,070 stores.
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May 2020: Store Closures in Canada
In May 2020, Victoria's Secret announced plans to permanently close 13 of its 38 Canadian stores.
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June 2020: UK Arm Fails
In June 2020, Retail Dive reported that the brand's UK arm filed the "equivalent of Chapter 11" bankruptcy due to struggling sales, profits, and market share.
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June 2020: Flagship Store Closure in Hong Kong
In June 2020, Victoria's Secret permanently closed its flagship store in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, after only two years of operation.
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June 2020: Shareholder Lawsuit Filed
In June 2020, a shareholder filed a lawsuit against Victoria's Secret for inaction following reports of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation.
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November 2020: John Mehas steps down as chief executive
In November 2020, John Mehas stepped down as chief executive of Victoria's Secret.
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November 2020: Martin Waters replaces John Mehas as CEO
In November 2020, Martin Waters took over as CEO, replacing John Mehas.
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December 2020: Raul Martinez appointed head creative director
In December 2020, Raul Martinez was appointed head creative director of Victoria's Secret, following the departure of John Mehas.
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2020: Number of official Angels known
As of 2020, the Victoria's Secret brand has had at least 3 dozen official Angels.
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2020: Mitro settles with Victoria's Secret
In 2020, it was reported that Monica Mitro had settled with Victoria's Secret for an undisclosed sum.
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January 14, 2021: Shareholder Complaint Filed
On January 14, 2021, shareholders of L Brands filed a complaint alleging a culture of misogyny and harassment fostered by former chair Wexner, who they claimed was aware of Jeffrey Epstein's abuses, leading to devaluation of the brand. The complaint also implicated Abigail Wexner, Sarah E. Nash, and Ed Razek.
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July 2021: Plans to relaunch show without Angels
In July 2021, Victoria's Secret announced plans to relaunch the fashion show, but without the Victoria's Secret Angels.
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August 3, 2021: Victoria's Secret Becomes Independent Business
On August 3, 2021, L Brands spun Victoria's Secret off to become an independent business, trading on the NYSE as VSCO.
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October 2021: Pink Launches Reusable Period Panties
In October 2021, Pink launched a line of reusable period panties.
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2021: Martin Waters Named CEO
In 2021, Martin Waters was named CEO, replacing Stuart Burgdorfer.
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2021: Victoria's Secret compensates Thai garment workers
In 2021, Victoria's Secret provided funds to over 1,250 Thai garment workers who were owed $8.3 million after their factory closed.
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2021: Angels Discontinued for VS Collective
In 2021, the Victoria's Secret Angels were discontinued in favor of a new concept known as the "VS Collective", which features a more diverse array of models and influencers as spokespeople.
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January 25, 2022: Joint Venture Partnership
On January 25, 2022, Victoria's Secret announced a joint venture partnership agreement with Regina Miracle International (Holdings) Limited, with Victoria's Secret owning 51%.
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July 2022: Amy Hauk Named CEO of Victoria's Secret and Pink
In July 2022, Amy Hauk was appointed as the chief executive of both Victoria's Secret and Pink brands.
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November 2022: Victoria's Secret Acquires Adore Me
In November 2022, Victoria's Secret acquired the lingerie brand Adore Me for US$400 million.
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2022: Victoria's Secret & Co. Discontinues Cashmere Use
In 2022, Victoria's Secret & Co. announced they would no longer use cashmere in their product lines.
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2022: Emira D'Spain hired as first Black transgender model
In 2022, Victoria's Secret hired Emira D'Spain as their first Black transgender model, signaling further steps towards diversity and inclusion within the brand.
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October 2023: Plans to Revert Rebranding
In October 2023, media outlets reported that Victoria's Secret planned to revert their rebranding strategy due to plunging sales.
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2023: Cost of Catalog
In 2023, $3 in 1982 had the same buying power as $9.
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2023: Revenue Comparison
In 2023, $500,000 in 1977 had the same buying power as $2.34 million.
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2023: Alex Consani joins Victoria's Secret for rebrand
In 2023, Alex Consani became part of the Victoria's Secret rebrand during the 2023 fashion show, aligning with the company's efforts to modernize and evolve its image.
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May 2024: Intention to Bring Back Fashion Show
In May 2024, PageSix reported that Victoria's Secret intends to bring back the fashion show after a five year-hiatus.
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