We visited Victoria's Secret stores in the US and the UK, and found an uneven, sprawling product selection as the lingerie brand struggles to transform
The brand first came on the scene in 1977 and later became a staple in shopping malls. However in recent years, owing to internal struggles and changing beauty standards, the company has experienced a number of difficulties as its tried to shed its overtly sexy image.
In 2020, the company shuttered 250 stores in the United States and Canada. A year later, Victoria's Secret's former parent company L Brands spun off the retailer. The newly-independent company now says it operates around 1,400 locations worldwide.
Insider recently visited two Victoria's Secret stores to check-in on the transformation. We visited a shop in the United Kingdom and a location in the United States. Here's what we saw:
The Victoria's Secret in the UK that we visited was located in a city-center shopping mall in Leeds, northern England.Trinity Leeds, a large shopping mall.
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The Victoria's Secret store was easy to spot thanks to its signature bright pink exterior.The exterior of a Victoria's Secret store in Leeds, northern England.
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There were a couple of small displays showing some of its products, but most of the wall space was taken up by the pink wall, and the displays didn't seem as festive compared to the other stores in the mall.A shopper walks past a Victoria's Secret store in Leeds.
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The central display focused on what Victoria's Secret is most famous for — lingerie.The entrance of a Victoria's Secret store in Leeds.
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The interior was very dark, with a lot of black furniture and dim lights.Displays in a Leeds Victoria's Secret store.
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The inside of the store seemed very carefully curated, like these digital screens on either side of the entrance, with the company's perfumes displayed underneath.A photo display in a Victoria's Secret store in Leeds, northern England.
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Sections of the store were dedicated to sleepwear ...Clothing displayed on the wall in a Victoria's Secret store in Leeds.
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... and perfume and beauty products ...Products on a shelf in a Victoria's Secret store in Leeds.
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... though it mainly showcased Victoria's Secret's lingerie.The interior of a Victoria's Secret store in Leeds, northern England.
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There was an area dedicated to Victoria's Secret's more sexy lingerie, too.Mannequins display different lingerie options in a Victoria's Secret in Leeds, northern England.
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Not all the items were so sexy, though.White bras, shirts, and robes hang on the wall in a Victoria's Secret store in Leeds, northern England.
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Under each display were rows of drawers ...Tables containing rows of large drawers in a Leeds Victoria's Secret.
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... which store products, sorted by size.A drawer of underwear in a Victoria's Secret store in Leeds, northern England.
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A lot of the drawers seemed mostly empty, though ...Two bras sit in trays in a Leeds Victoria's Secret.
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... like this paltry offering.A single corset sits in a tray at a Victoria's Secret store in Leeds, northern England.
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Most of the store looked tidy, and staff on the store floor kept neatening up the stock ...Products from the "Dream Angels" collection hang on the wall of a Victoria's Secret store in Leeds, northern England.
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... though a couple of the displays needed some work.A bra hangs incorrectly on a mannequin in a Victoria's Secret store in Leeds.
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One of the focal displays was dedicated to the brand's perfumes ...Perfumes sit on a table at a Victoria's Secret store in Leeds, northern England.
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... though other fragrance products were randomly dotted around the store, too.A table containing fragrances, clothing, and purses at a Victoria's Secret store in Leeds, northern England.
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A couple of areas at the back of the store deviated from its dark color scheme and were instead bright pink.Mannequins display Victoria's Secret lingerie in a store in Leeds, northern England.
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There was a huge screen at the very far end of the store, too ...A table containing Victoria's Secret merchandise in a store in Leeds, northern England.
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... that played videos showcasing the brand's products.A large screen playing videos of models in a Victoria's Secret store in Leeds, northern England.
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Signs dotted throughout the store advertised bra fittings.Robes, pajamas, and bras hanging on the wall at a Leeds Victoria's Secret.
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At one side of the store, next to a display of underwear ...Lingerie displayed in a Victoria's Secret store in Leeds, northern England.
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... there was an opening into the Victoria's Secret Pink store next door.The door connecting Victoria's Secret store with a Victoria's Secret Pink location in Leeds, northern England.
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The Pink store had a separate external entrance, too.The exterior of a Victoria's Secret Pink store in Leeds, northern England.
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The store was much more brightly lit, and its displays seemed tailored to younger shoppers. A lot of the customers appeared to be teens.The entrance way of a Victoria's Secret Pink store in Leeds, northern England.
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The displays were incredibly neat and colorful ...Inside a Leeds Victoria's Secret Pink store.
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... and the drawers largely seemed much better stocked than in the Victoria's Secret next door.A drawer of merchandise in a Victoria's Secret Pink store in Leeds.
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Though most of the store contained clothes and gym gear.Sports bras are displayed on the wall of a Victoria's Secret Pink store in Leeds, northern England.
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There were QR codes you could scan to book a bra fitting ...A sign displays a photo of a model and a QR code in a Leeds Victoria's Secret.
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... as well as signs encouraging you to order online if you couldn't find what you wanted in store.A sign displayed in a Leeds Victoria's Secret.
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We also swung by a Victoria's Secret store located in a mall in Indianapolis, Indiana. Compared with the Leeds location, its entrance was a bit less flashy.The exterior of a Victoria's Secret store situated in mall in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Áine Cain/Insider
In the United States, Victoria's Secret is, of course, best known for its lingerie products.Mannequins display different colored bras and panties in an Indianapolis Victoria's Secret.
Áine Cain/Insider
The store seemed to be divided into several distinct sections, including basic, everyday underwear ...Lingerie, panties, and bras hang on the wall in a Victoria's Secret store in Indianapolis.
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... perfumes , makeup, and toiletries ...A table of Victoria's Secret perfumes and other products in a store based in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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... and, of course, lingerie for special occasions.A grey piece of lingerie in a Victoria's Secret store in Indianapolis.
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The store was well-lit with meticulously-organized displays and attended staff, on hand to answer questions and take bra measurements.A section of non-lingerie Victoria's Secret products in a store in Indianapolis.
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We were struck by all the various displays touting different perfumes and fragrant lotions.A collection of "Velvet Petals" line products in a Victoria's Secret store in Indianapolis.
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The air in the store was filled with sweet smells from those aromatic products, although we'll note that stores like this can be tricky for anyone susceptible to migraines.A row of lotions and creams in a Victoria's Secret store in Indianapolis.
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Most of those displays seemed to offer pretty pricey options, something you'd buy as a gift for a special occasion rather than an everyday purchase.A collection of "Heavenly" line products in a Victoria's Secret store in Indianapolis.
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In general, the store was laid out like a fancy, highly feminine destination. That could be viewed as aspirational by prospective customers.A table of perfumes and lotions displayed in a Victoria's Secret store in Indianapolis.
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But it could also be a little intimidating for anyone looking to buy a regular bra or extra underwear.A row of Victoria's Secret bras displayed in a store in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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Although the store did offer plenty of casual options ...Wireless push-up bras in a Victoria's Secret in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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... and even pajama products that trended more towards "cozy" than outright "sexy."A table displaying flannel pajamas in a Victoria's Secret store in Indianapolis.
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Like in the Leeds store, the shop was filled with drawers, each containing panties, bras, and other products sorted by size.Tables with drawers containing Victoria's Secret products in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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But special offerings or new, seasonal lines seemed to each receive their own display.Bras and panties for the "Dream Angels" collection in Victoria's Secret in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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Many of the items we looked at had prices up-front and clearly labeled, unlike the displays in the UK store."Demi" bras and panties hung up on the wall of a Victoria's Secret store based in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Áine Cain/Insider
The Indianapolis shop was by and large a clean, well-organized store that lent itself to a positive shopping experience for the customer.A table displaying products in a Victoria's Secret in Indianapolis.
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All in all, it will be interesting to watch Victoria's Secret pivot its brand in the coming years, as the company attempts to bounce back by selling a more inclusive vision.Bras and panties hung up on the wall of a Victoria's Secret in Indianapolis, Indiana.
