Seven Things About Victoria's Secret You Were Too Afraid to Ask
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‘Moonlight’ shines brightest at Trump-focused Gotham Awards WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2016 38 Models of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show pose for a group photo before the celebrity-filled catwalk event of the year inside the Grand Palais, in Paris. — AP/AFP photos Seven things about Victoria's Secret you were too afraid to ask he US lingerie giant Victoria's Secret is holding its hugely hyped annual fashion show in Paris for the Tfirst time today. The brand has already flown in its "angels"-including supermodels Bella and Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner-in what it called the "world's most glam- orous airplane" for the star-studded event at which Lady Gaga will perform. Here is everything you need to know about the blingiest event on the underwear calendar: Victoria who? Victoria's Secret may be a household name in the US, but it is almost totally unknown in France, the country that invented lingerie. It has only one small shop at Paris Orly airport. Having a long tradition of high-quality sexy under- wear, French women have so far been sceptical of its claims to make "the world's best bras and sexiest lingerie". Who are the angels? Each year the brand assembles some of the most glam- orous lingerie models for its show, with Lily Aldridge, Alessandra Ambrosio and Martha Hunt often featuring in Models of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, from left front row, US model Lily Models of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, US model Jasmine Model of the Victoria's Secret its cast of "angels". This year supermodels the Hadid sisters Aldridge, US model Martha Hunt, US model Gigi Hadid, US model Rachel Hilbert Tookes, left and Swedish model Elsa Hosk pose for a group photo. Fashion Show, Brazilian model and Jenner-Kim Kardashian's half-sister-will join "veterans" and US model Zuri Tibby, and US model Kendall Jenner, center back, pose for a Adriana Lima poses for a group on the catwalk, Adriana Lima, Josephine Skriver, Lily group photo. photo. Donaldson and the aptly-named Joan Smalls. its 21st year, it will be shown in 190 countries from ultra-slim and said she would no longer model for the Why Paris What's the secret? December 5. Alongside its winged "angels" modelling its brand. Market leader in the US with nearly 1,000 shops, the Victoria's Secret has nothing to do with Queen Victoria's colourful lingerie, the centrepiece of the show-which cost Sports trainer to the stars Valerie Orsoni told AFP that brand is still a minnow in the lucrative European market. famously voluminous silk knickers. No "Victoria" ever exist- $20 million in 2014 -- is a concert featuring major music some of Victoria's Secret models "have fantastic genes but Industry analyst Yves Marin of consultants Wavestone said ed, although the brand's name is a play on Victorian prud- stars. This year's headliners are Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars and few are what you would call healthily toned". The San choosing Paris as it venue shows "they want to invest in ishness. It was the brainchild of Californian Roy Raymond the Canadian electro star The Weeknd. Francisco-based coach said she suspected that to stay thin the continent because apart from Britain, they are not real- who was so embarrassed about trying to buy lingerie for But the highlight of the night remains the unveiling of before shows many models use juice-based diets. ly present in Europe." his wife that he set up a mail order company to save his the year's jewel-encrusted "fantasy bra". This year is set And their timing could not be better. "It's a great brand blushes. He sold it in 1982 to its present owner Les Wexner with emeralds and diamonds and costs $3 million. Military preparation and commercial lenders are looking for new brands," he for $1 million, who sprinkled his stardust and upped prices. To win their wings, Victoria's Secret models have to suffer. said. — AFP The rest is history, with sales hitting $7.6 billion last year. The perfect body Casting starts months before the show, and this year the While his old business boomed, Raymond had less luck The brand has regularly faced criticism for presenting brand has hyped up the build-up on social media with the and killed himself in 1993. women with an unrealistic body imagine. In 2014 it caused hashtag #trainlikeanangel, showing models working out to a social media storm with its slogan "The perfect Body" for get in shape for the catwalk. Orsoni said it was a very clever Making a show its new line of Body bras. Faced with the anger, it changed piece of "marketing to make us believe they are just like us". Victoria's Secret marketing centres on an annual star- the slogan to "The Body for every body". This year former The campaign is also about promoting the brand's new studded fashion show and musical extravaganza. Now in "angel" Erin Heatherton denounced the pressure to stay sportswear line, which has replaced its swimsuit range. ‘Imagine’ a picture book inspired In this 1971 file photo, singer John Lennon appears during a press by a John Lennon song conference. Publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt said Monday magine a new picture book based on a famous song. "Imagine" comes out Sept 21, the United Nations' that it was publishing Houghton Mifflin Harcourt told The Associated Press on International Day of Peace. It will be released in partnership ‘Imagine,’ inspired by IMonday that it was publishing "Imagine," inspired by the with Amnesty International, which will receive some of the the John Lennon classic John Lennon classic of the same name and authorized by his proceeds. In recent years, Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" of the same name. — AP widow, Yoko Ono. With illustrations by Jean Jullien, the book and Bruce Springsteen's "Outlaw Pete" have also inspired pic- will feature Lennon's lyrics as it tells of a young pigeon's mis- ture books. — AP sion to advocate for peace..