Victoria’s Secret is one of the most iconic clothing brands out there.
But since it was founded in 1977 by American businessman Roy Raymond, people have been scratching their heads about who exactly ‘Victoria’ is. The lingerie shop was established by Raymond and his wife, Gaye, after he struggled to buy her underwear. The businessman was reportedly unhappy with how “ugly” the pre-existing market for things like nightgowns and robes for women was.
He opened up to Newsweek about how he felt “uncomfortable” in lingerie shops: “When I tried to buy lingerie for my wife, I was faced with racks of terry-cloth robes and ugly floral-print nylon nightgowns.
READ MORE: Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show’s hottest looks as Bella Hadid branded ‘queen’
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“And I always had the feeling the department store sales women thought I was an unwelcome intruder.”
To counter this, the romantic bloke took it upon himself to set up a lingerie shop that could offer a different experience. Raymond set up Victoria’s Secret Models, named after Queen Victoria as a nod to the ‘secret’, frowned upon, nature of underwear during her 63-year reign.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Raymond named the brand after the 19th Century monarch to match the vibe of Victorian-era boudoirs. The Sun reports he wanted his brand and outlets to evoke a sense of old-school sophistication while maintaining an erotic-esque suggestion of women’s ‘secret’ underwear.
These days, the clothing giant is well-renowned for its catalogue of supermodel affiliates and its behemoth annual fashion show. A-list celebrities to have appeared in Victoria’s Secret clothing include Kendall Jenner, Adriana Lima and Heidi Klum.
(Image: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
The uber-glam and super-sexy runway show was a highlight of the year from 1995 until 2019, when it was axed for a number of boring business reasons.
It would showcase the best of the lingerie brand, with supermodels slipping into the slinkiest looks, complete with “wings” of various design to compliment the idea of a Victoria’s Secret Angel.
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