Whatever Happened to Victoria's Secret?


I first wrote about the downfall of Victoria's Secret here a good 5 or 6 years ago, but the topic is worth revisiting. A few weeks ago, VS sent me a new "Angel" card in the mail (their cutesy name for their store card) and a $10 birthday gift card. I thought I might be able to use it towards a nice blouse or at least a long-sleeved t-shirt. 

Then I started to notice something very weird as I went through their website. There were no jeans. No dresses. No suits. No blouses. Nada. There were some tops, but they literally looked like rags. 


What the bleep happened to all of the clothes?


I deferred to Google, and saw a news announcement from 2014 saying that Victoria's Secret was discontinuing a lot of their clothing line. Apparently, a lot equals everything but the undergarments, swimwear, and cheesy "PINK" line aimed at teens and college students. 


WTF, Victoria's Secret? Why? Most baffling about the corporate change is the fact that the clothing assortment made the company a lot of money; between $500 and $750 million annually according to sources. 


Now granted, it isn't the end of the world that Victoria's Secret no longer sells a wide variety of clothing; I've always had plenty of other retailers to choose from. But it's disappointing to me that they're choosing to cater to a younger, selfie obsessed demographic and ignoring the spending power of older women. (And by older, I mean women in their 30s and 40s.) 



And she's wearing gloves and earrings!
I realize, of course, that today's society has been dressing down so much with each passing year it seems. Young women are no longer expected to wear suits and professional clothing to the office, and corporate dress codes have been tossed out the window. It's all about wearing hooded sweatshirts, yoga pants, and other athletic "inspired" fashion, especially for those young 'uns. 

Sadly, that means today's image of Victoria's Secret is drastically different than the one I was a customer of a good 20 years ago. I no longer visit their stores. The last time I went was to stock up on cotton bikini panties, one of the few good things they still make (and I now get my underwear at Marshalls or T.J. Maxx for a much better deal and just as good quality.) The music was too loud, some of the customers looked way too young to be perusing sexy lingerie, and the shop itself with its techno modern interior felt cold. This is a stark 180 from what their image used to look like in the '80s and '90s. 


Throughout the years the chain has been through so many owners and management that kept changing the brand's focus, and that's part of the problem. In 2000, the new chief executive at that time, Sharen Jester Turney, complained that the catalogs showed too much cleavage and were a dorm room Playboy substitute; I actually think that describes today's incarnation of the catalog more accurately. 


I tried to locate a photo online of what the shops originally looked like, with no luck, so I guess I'll just have to briefly paint it with words. Picture, if you will, a storefront that looked like a French or English boudoir from the 1900s. Pastel shades, cozy waiting chairs outside the changing area, and classical music softly being piped through the walls (in 1991, the company actually hired the London Symphony Orchestra to record a CD that was sold in the stores.) And the clothes were beautiful; sexy yet classy. I think I was 19 or 20 when I first walked into one and began buying their clothing through their catalogs. 

Interestingly enough, VS was founded by a man and originally intended to be a place where a man could comfortably shop for lingerie for the woman in his life. Roy Raymond and his wife started the company in 1977 after Raymond became dissatisfied with the dowdy selection of female undergarments and lingerie being manufactured at the time; push-up bras and other sexy selections during the '70s were considered tacky novelty items and mostly sold by the slightly sleazy Frederick's of Hollywood.

A page from a 1979 Victoria's Secret catalog Image via DailyMail

Until Raymond sold the company in 1982, Victoria's Secret was mostly marketed to men. After the new owner, Leslie Wexner, took over he changed the focus to female customers. That included revamping the colors and patterns of the product line as well as the look of the stores and expanding them into malls across the U.S. (Sadly, Raymond committed suicide in 1993 by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge.)

Only their sleepwear and undergarments were sold in the stores; the regular clothing line was marketed through their catalogs. Many of the items were credited to a manufacturer called Moda International and some of it was made in Italy and the U.S. When I worked at a hotel during my college years and then secured my first office job about a year after I graduated, much of my wardrobe was comprised of purchases from Victoria's Secret. The quality of their clothing at that time was quite good; I had dresses and suit jackets from them that were lined and tailored. 

Victoria's Secret also sold the best jeans, their London Jean collected which was discontinued some time ago. To this day I've tried on and bought many other denim brands, but I've yet to find ones that fit me quite like LJ did. And the great thing about them was they came in a variety of styles and cuts...so if you don't like low-cut jeans that teeter precariously on the edge of your hips, VS gave plenty of options. 


And the models that were employed by VS back in the day compared to today...well, there's no comparison. Just look at my intro graphic at the top of my post. The models that made it into the catalogs were gorgeous and classy, and included Karen Mulder, Stephanie Seymour, Jill Goodacre, Naomi Campbell, Helena Christensen, Elle Macpherson, Tyra Banks and later, Heidi Klum. What used to be sexy and natural looking has now been replaced by over Photoshopped, underfed girls with no remarkable features in my opinion. Most of them are significantly younger than the models used during the '90s; still clearly in their teens. 

Ironically, Frederick's of Hollywood appears to me to have better quality clothing these days, and they still use attractive adult women for their models. 


I've done enough grumbling; the brand's old image is gone like the wind and it'll never be back. But my memories of the older catalogs have been saved online; here's some scans I found on a Tumblr page showing what Victoria's Secret used to sell and what the image looked like. Just take a look, and then visit the retailer's website to see what I mean. Talk about a fall from grace.  




Stephanie Seymour modeling a top and leggings that I seriously would choose over anything I saw on the Victoria's Secret website the other day. 




Jill Goodacre. 




Claudia Schiffer also modeled for the catalogs. 




A beautiful nightgown and robe being modeled by Tatjana Patitz for the catalog. Why they still can't sell clothing like this is beyond me. 






Honestly, this suit would still be in style today. I remember that I wanted it -- but $189 was a splurge for an office Christmas party outfit in the '90s!


Cafe Retro!


This is adorable. I would totally wear this sleepwear in the summer. 



I had a riding jacket from VS along with one of their turtleneck sweaters and wool skirts. 




Like I said, their London Jeans were the best...and that price! Seriously, you couldn't get better quality for the cost at the time. 




Heidi Klum modeling winter accessories. I still have (and wear) the white fur headband and gloves. 




Those London Jeans again...the best. 

196 comments:

  1. Yes, yes, yes—I'm disappointed too. I STILL wear a couple of amazing cashmere sweaters I bought there almost ten years ago. Today it's been years since I've crossed the threshold of one of their stores. And I absolutely agree with you: I wouldn't be surprised at all to see them start shuttering stores in the next few years. They've made themselves irrelevant to the very market that can fuel real, sustainable growth for the company.

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    1. I have $150 in gift certificates and no way to spend them. I was saving them for jeans but alas, that is no longer possible. What a waste.

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    2. Yes, totally agree. I just found the most amazing red short dress, red satin with rose imprints with corset boning and lace up corset back, it was Moda International from over 10 years ago. But too small on me now and a size 6 back then was true to size;) !!!

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    3. THIS! I loved their jeans and I'm 33 years old; I used to LOVE their suits and their classier clothing -- sweaters, dresses, etc. So bummed...

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    4. Oh my god! Get out of my brain!! I have a bra in my hand that I feel SURE came from VS in the 90’s. I can’t be certain because the tag is practically blank, I can only make out the size and a few care instructions but it fits me like a DREAM!! No overspill, it lies flat on my ribcage and the wide-ish straps have that rubberized stuff that prevents slipping!! Wonder of Wonders! Anyone know how I can find out for sure what this brand is so I can find more like it?? It’s pale baby-girl pink, all of lace, it’s a 40D, and has scalloped edges around the top of the cups and on the straps. It fits me PERFECTLY!!!!

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    5. I still have two chenille sweaters from 20 years ago. I cannot find that quality anymore. I found this website by searching for information about what happened to that brand. VS even discontinued their swimwear. I cannot find a bikini top that fits like a bra anymore. I'm very sad and think the company has lost its mind.

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    6. I used to buy all my clothes from there..The Velvet Christmas robe I bought in the 90s and ACCIDENTALLY thrown away,I've never been able to replace.It's all ugly garbage now.I couldn't agree more with this article..Sad 😣

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    7. Totally agree! I went to their website looking for a shirt, to my surprise, there weren't any! I was an avid catalog and online shopper and it has been years since I been in the store. I was looking to replace a very nice Moda International, White French Cuff Shirt, with the hidden buttons, that I purchased thru VS, as it has recently tore. I also have a Black one and a French Blue one. My husband who doesn't notice much, noted, that it was favorite shirt. He is right, I am so disappointed. I was searching for another shirt, found this article and decided to comment. Thank you, your article was thoughtfully written.

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    8. I'm so sad about the current vs clothes. It's basically all lounge wear and labels. I had the most adorable cashmere blend light purple bell sleeve top. It's was 2000, so of course it had small rhinestone trim, and I absolutely adored it. Plus it was so well made. So sad

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  2. Thanks for you comment, Allyson, and thanks for reminding me that they used to sell cashmere sweaters! Last time I looked at their sweater selection online it appeared to be made up of mostly sub-par styles, colors, and quality for what seemed to be outrageously high prices. I could do a lot better for the price at Macy's or the Limited. They've basically turned themselves into an Abercrombe & Fitch competitor for the dorm room crowd.

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  3. I enjoyed your article. Very nicely written. I never got into Victoria's Secret, and I didn't even know they carried a clothing line. It's funny how some companies evolve to their demise, isn't it?

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  4. Agree – virtually all my first classical music was Victoria's Secret. The store completely felt like a "Secret." A classy respite to Frederick's of Hollywood.

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  5. Yeah, as a guy, I'll put my two cents worth in - the old VS models were MUCH more "Sexy." Sorry, these modern lassies just don't do it for me. Have women forgotten how do look seductive?!?

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    1. They are selling on the cheap now. Poor quality and BRANDED, ick. My VS credit card will continue to gather dust

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  6. I am so pleased to have found this article and I couldn't agree more! Victoria's Secret was a class act many years ago and it has turned into trash. I never shop there, but now I am curious to go back into VS just to see what's been going on lately. I am a Baby Boomer and have fond memories of the "old" Victoria's Secret. Frederique van der Wal (Dutch model) was my all time very favorite VS model and you do not mention her name (that I noticed.) She is about 48 years old now. Gorgeous face and figure and would probably be considered "heavy" by today's standard because she was/is curvy... Incidentally, I have the same issue with Bath and Body Works. They used to have high quality products and now everything seems to be cheap and geared toward teenagers. The fragrances and containers are kids stuff. They stopped carrying high quality Slatkin candles and Coconut Lime Verbena was my favorite. They also used to carry a French fragrance line in green glass that was lime something - it was great! Thank you for the blog and the walk down memory lane.

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  7. I just read your post and yes I loved the London Jean and Moda collections as well...but I did find Stetson jeans for women on Amazon and absolutely love them, they fit great and I can get a smaller size because the cut is normal cut!!!

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    1. Hi Kim - Thanks for the tip! And Stetson is a retro brand. :)

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    2. I have been looking for years for Moda collection. I had an amazing jacket from them that I bought off VS. I lost the jacket and been looking all over to find it. Makes me so sad

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  8. I found this blog because I just found out that they did away with most of their clothing! All they sell now are low-quality beach wear and lounge wear. It used to be that I bought most of my clothes from VS b/c they had great work wear and casual wear that actually fit me. But I stopped buying from them a couple of years ago b/c I noticed everything I bought was of significantly lower quality. But the last time I checked, they at least had the best fitting t-shirts (both long and short sleeve). Imagine my surprise when I went on their website only to find that they no longer even sell their awesome t-shirts. It's all just oversized, gauzy type stuff that starts falling apart after a few washings. Ugh. I hope they realize the error they made.

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  9. I also found this blog in searching for VS clothing. I am sad but really not surprised. I shopped VS in my 30s, 40s, and 50s and have steadily watched the clothing quality sink to the bottom. Years ago, I along with my friends, kept a huge supply of cotton panties; they were the best quality, flattering, never rode up, and came in great colors. Again, the quality deteriorated so badly I stopped buying completely. The old "tee shop" had terrific quality tees in vibrant colors, with quality cotton material, and I bought dozens. Now, everything is tissue paper and sheer, ugly and bad quality. London jeans were great, again I bought dozens of those. VS clothing was really a quality line when it first came out. What a shame, but again not surprising to hear of the demise after watching the quality continually decrease. Who makes these decisions?

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    1. I totally agree with you and this blog. I had been shopping GS when I was in college 17. My first "neglige" was a beautiful silk slip. 2 yrs later the quality just wasn't. Yes, I did hoard tons of panties as well, since the quality didn't change shape, the elastic never wore out, even after I gained and lost wt! Well, I was decluttering and gave away all my sz smalls panties. Brand new! Years later, I found a couple that I missed, and used them again! They fit like a glove! The 2010 panties, after 3 washings gave way and nothing was holding right, a M was like an XXL. I am still wearing my 1999, like new hi cut briefs tonight! After decades 8f washing! And I miss their MODA line. That's how I got to this site! I was a sz 4 and donated the tuxedo suit dress in ivory! Boyz didn't bring back memories! That was my favorite outfit! I landed my first serious job because of that suit! And the evening dresses! All excellent quality and made in USA! I was in my 20s going to the Opera with those dresses and getting tons of compliments from older ladies who love the style and quality! There was a burgundy one with a short train! Oh how elegant those were! I don't fit a 4 anymore, but I am working my way down to fit them. Hopefully soon. I donated all my size 2s, but a few choosy 4s, I will keep. VS doesn't have the same quality and selection of work clothes any more! Sad and unfortunate. I have not purchased from them since 2010, as I have vowed not to. Wish they would bring back the high standards and quality! The good ol days. :(

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  10. I was also disappointed about this. I always bought Victoria Secret clothing and now only that awful pink line. I like classy and elegant clothing so when I saw Victoria Secret only having the pink line I was like ok not everyone likes to have graphic designs on there clothing and not always you want to be dress as a cheerleader or a school girl. Yet we are the ones that work and spend money and these teens not all of them have a job to buy Victoria Secret.

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    1. I agree completely !! I called them the other day and told them not everyone wants to dress like a little girl wit PINK written across their chest, butt, etc... She said Pink isn't just for little girls. I said , " Well, a woman in her 40' s looks pretty classless wearing PINK ".
      Just my opinion. I do wear the most lived yoga pants but those may be discontinued as well. Not childish enough I guess. Very disappointing.

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    2. I agree completely !! I called them the other day and told them not everyone wants to dress like a little girl wit PINK written across their chest, butt, etc... She said Pink isn't just for little girls. I said , " Well, a woman in her 40' s looks pretty classless wearing PINK ".
      Just my opinion. I do wear the most lived yoga pants but those may be discontinued as well. Not childish enough I guess. Very disappointing.

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  11. They deserve to go bankrupt and shut down. The VS catalogs were always great and I remember always looking forward to receiving them and buying from them. They also had great shoes. Now they have discontinued everything (even their lotions and signature fragrances) and offer nothing but underwear and lounge wear. It is a shame.

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    1. Yep, the Garden line has REALLY gone downhill lately. They keep discontinuing the classic scents and adding new ones only to discontinue less than a year later...changing the design of the bottles, too. Last week, they had a bunch of different fragrances. I go over there today to purchase some, and most of them are gone! And the ones that are remaining, most of them I already own. They REALLY need to get a grip.

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    2. Yep..their Garden line has really gone downhill. They keep changing the design of the bottles, then discontinue a few of the classic scents. Even recently...a week ago, they had a decent selection. I go there today to purchase some of their products & half of them are gone! The other half, most I already own. So ridiculous! Am about to call their customer service number and complain.

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  12. I miss the old VS so much. I think 90% of my wardrobe was bought from them in the early 90s onward. I also loved the fact that they carried pants in longer inseam lengths. Being 5'10" it was never easy to find pants that fit me properly. I have not bought anything in a few years now and find their selection appeals to teenyboppers and yoga enthusiasts only. I don't know why VS would have ever made such a decision. There are obviously many former disappointed fans out there!!

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  13. I miss it too, was searching on google for info as to why VS had decided to discontinue its clothing line and found this article....I used to order from them since the mid 90's and adored receiving the catalogs, my favorite line was the "bra tops" the few tanks and dresses I currently are always my go-to summer pieces, again, so disappointing.

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  14. Ladies (and gentlemen) I just posted this post's link to Victoria's Secret's Facebook page, where it can potentially be seen by millions of people. I asked them to at least read our comments at the end, even if they don't plan on reading the entire post itself. Power to the people! We want the old Victoria's Secret back.

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    1. Yes we do! With high quality clothes and Stuart Weizman shoes!

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    2. Yes I miss it also!

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  15. I really enjoyed this article as someone who only recently bought her first VS bra. I do remember seeing the "Old" Victoria's Secret catalogues many years ago but never shopped from them because the clothing was way out of my budget and the undergarments were as well. I had always bought my bras and panties from the mall stores when they had clearance sales or Ross or similar stores when they had my size. I never even considered shelling out VS prices for a bra! Then I had a teenage girl who was full-breasted and cheap bras just didn't offer her support. So we went to VS and got her properly fitted. She shops in the PINK department for bras and the ocassional yoga pants when they have sales. A little pricey for bras, but we wait for promotions. I only discovered VS bras for myself recently and I love the Body By Victoria bra line personally. About 95% of the store is irrelevant to me as a woman in my late 40's, but I do like those bras! I agree after seeing the photos from the older catalogues how much classier VS's image was going back a decade or two (or three)?

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  16. Yes, VS used to be very classy! I bought a lot of elegant clothing from them before the great shift from classy to...something else. It's terribly sad. But this is rather a reflection of U.S. society, as well...at least in general.

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    1. Icompletely agree ...their LOndon jeanand some of their business classy sexy waer was over the top awesome....now as you all have said who is going to wear the words PINK across your backside uless your are teenish or early 20's not an appealing look so what I guess is that they are not concnerned about the mother's of these kids that they are advertising tooand I think we need to put our foot down and boycott...beisdes who holds the purse strings hopefully it is not a pedophile

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  17. I am so glad I am not the only one!!! I never understood why the VS stores did not carry the clothing as that was the best, most unique, stuff they carried. Sad to think I won't be able to find that kind of clothing easily again. Such a wonderful mix of sexy and classy.

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  18. I hope they fire the managers who decided to get rid of Moda International... What an idiotic decision! They could have at least sold it... I used to shop at VS (and was always grateful for gift certificates) but not any longer.

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  19. Is there any company selling clothes like this today?

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  20. Bravo! You said exactly what I have been feeling about VS and their spiral from class to trash. I also wore a lot of their clothes when I first started working in the early 90s and loved their lingerie and accessories. It was a treat to go into those gorgeous perfumed stores with clerks who were always helpful and really knew the merchandise. Have a hard time going in now and only order the cotton panties online. So sad but clearly they don't care.

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  21. I have a bra-top dress that I wear all of the time from their old line and I get so many compliments about it. I used to pine for those clothes. The work trousers in all of the different cuts and colors. The sexy date/evening dresses for a night out. I only buy panties from them now because all of the fitness inspired clothing they offer can be found at better prices and with more eye-catching designs through other brands. If you have a TJMaxx near you (or you can go on online (www.tjmaxx.com)), I suggest checking it out because that would be the closest comparison I have found.

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  22. Many of us young ladies have quickly wised up to VS's game, too. I am 26, barely old enough to remember the VS you're talking about. I have fond memories of the very short and classy tv spots they used to have and the catalogues I used to browse in high school. I loved the look of the cozy sweaters and thought when I started working I'd like some VS separates--their dress shirts had such lovely soft colors and flattering cuts. Even as recently as 2009 it was still worth it to check out the semi annual sale. My mom got me some yoga pants then that are seriously still holding up. The ones I bought last year? Not so much. And don't even get me started on their horrible bras. Stiff, creaky cups, inconsistent sizing and bands that are always too stretchy to give any support. They've gone the way of so many big businesses --slave labor overseas, market the hell out of a low quality product, jack up the price, don't pay your salespeople. Maximize profits for as long as you can get away with it. And as the largest share of the market for lingerie, they are. Until someone challenges them.

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    1. I have a few moda international yoga pants that I still wear. I'm not sure I can fit into my London jeans. I loved there old pjs,but mine wore out. I have some velour that I love. I just looked on the website and found out that they don't
      have what I'm looking for. I may buy a sleep shirt,but other than that i don't think they have any clothing that I like anymore.

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    2. https://www.thredup.com/product/women-cotton-moda-international-dark-green-yoga-pants/3555409

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  23. I was just in my closet choosing a dress for work tomorrow and pulled out one of my favorite black dresses and it made me look at the label "Moda International" so I had purchased at Victoria Secret. I used to buy most of my clothing there for so many years and am so disappointed that they stopped selling them. They used to have some gorgeous clothing and much nicer sleepwear and loungewear. I hardly recognize the website and have not bought from them other than a couple of shelf cami's since they dropped their clothing line. Such a shame!

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  24. Hi Pam,
    Thanks for the post, I came across it because I was looking to buy a new pair of the best jeans I have ever owned (VS London Jeans) :( Sadly I stopped going to the stores about 5 to 6 years ago when the quality of the bras, I had purchased had seriously declined. The under wires were popping out after just a few wearings, The colors were not as vibrant after only a few washing's, and the fabric was just different in a cheaper sort of way. so I started shopping elsewhere, Still unhappy because nothing was as nice as what I was use to with VS I still have some of the bras I purchased before the change and they are still perfect. I wish whoever was running the company then still was today. I am wearing a pair of London jeans that I purchased about 10 years ago, and they are just starting to fray on the seams, Love these jeans and really want another pair. Long story short I got tired of garments I was getting elsewhere, lasting even less time, and just not being close to the quality of VS I had to see if it had gotten any better, so I went back a month or so ago and unfortunately:( No jeans, (or clothing; which I was not crazy about anyway), but the undergarments panties, thongs , and shorties can not be beat. Also there is the Sport line now which is Fabulous, I repeat fabulous! I won't speak on the strapless bra yet, as I have only used it once since purchase except to say after looking at more than a few places it was the best find as far as fit, without all the crazy padding. As stated above I do love the sport line, we will see how it holds up, it too is online as the clothing was before. I did also go into the store and it was not horrible, I did miss the old look which i noticed right away not crazy about the new look, but I understand things have to change but yes this was a disappointing. What I found horrible was the way the young sales girls were dressed (not all but most) the one that waited on me had on old black leggings that were worn (yes worn meaning more in some spots than others) and a ratty oversized olive green worn shirt she just looked like she should have been in the park, not selling intimates. I missed the Class the store personal use to have. They really need to bring the London jeans back:( I am 6 feet tall and there tall was perfect.

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    1. I too am bummed at the decline of VS. Back in the late 90's early 00's I bought a good deal of clothing from them. Moda International was a superb line of clothing, well-made, elegant - I have sweaters (including lovely cashmere 'boyfriend' sweaters, cardigans, etc) that I still wear nearly 20 years later, pants (beach pants, cargo pants), London jeans (3 pairs) and some dresses and jackets that not only have stood the test of time, but still look beautiful - I always get compliments when I wear vintage VS. And their underwear - best bras ever (lucky for me, I would buy multiples in their famous semi-annual sale) and the only gotch I've ever tried that don't bunch up when you get up and down, truly amazing. I have one sweater-coat in black that I have worn for literally 20 years and it still looks good and has only "pilled" a very little on the arms. I have 3 bikinis and a tankini, with matching cover-up beach pants that I still wear! And their cotton tees fill two drawers in my dresser, still wearing all of those every summer as well.

      I was very saddened to learn they had ditched their clothing brands except for the teeny bopper "Pink" - the company in my opinion has committed retail suicide by ditching all the things that made them so well-loved. Their sales were so great, prices slashed up to 80%.

      It's a shame to lose brands that were so well-made, stylish and elegant. I am very glad I bought when they were in their heyday. I shall treasure that part of my wardrobe and hope someone else comes up with clothes as good for a reasonable price.

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  25. So sad about this. I am 30 and I can still remember going in to the vs stores with all the smelly body sprays. I would run around like crazy while my mom tried to get my older sister something lacy and beautiful. Spraying fressia and plumeria all over the place. I was so excited about tje gum and mints they jad later when I was a teenager. My closet is still 25% Express tricot and 90's vs thanks to sister hand me downs/stolen out of sisters closet. So upset about the disappearance of the clothing. My favorite was the fall enlish looks and cotton sweater dresses. I heard they are now getting rid of swim which is the last straw...even though their swim wear has been tacky for the past few years anyways. Now you go in the store and there blasting crappy pop and the bras already have boobs in them. Real bummer. If anyone knows where else they sell moda international, please share.

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    1. Had no idea the swimwear is now about to go! Sounds like they truly don't have a brand left!

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  26. Me too. The old VS had the nicest career clothes, and awesome tees & jeans. I just wish Moda International would pop up somewhere else.

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  27. Truly miss the VS jeans...

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  28. I agree with everyone here.....I'm 42 and loved the VS clothing and catalogs of the 90's. And now I make a good amount of money that I could spend *(and I suspect there are many women like me).....but sadly some idiot decided that it would be a good idea to cater to broke, grungy college girls. What distinguished VS was always the class and assortment of classy/sexy clothing and undergarments. There's no shortage of places catering to the former, so nothing distinguishes VS now.

    Now they're just a step up from Old Navy and way more expensive. I buy an occasional bra and cotton underwear from them and that's pretty much it.

    And all of the models now look like 14 year old crackheads.

    We'll see how long it takes them to go under.

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    1. I too mourn the demise. And yes I am now making great money and would love to be buying clothing from them as well. I do have a closet full of their dress slacks and jeans. I loved the fact that I could buy longer inseams. My 22 year old daughter doesn't even care for them. Oh well I will just have to take extra care of the the beautiful closet full of "vintage" VS clothing that I own.

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  29. Well ladies, the number of comments I continue to receive on this post on a fairly consistent basis still amazes me! Thank you for throwing in your thoughtful an heartfelt two cents. I posted this blog post a while ago to the Facebook page for Victoria's Secret. No surprise, they had no comment. But they really should be listening to what their customers want, don't you think? And thank you to the person that compared them to an Old Navy store now -- spot-on description!

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  30. totally agree!! i am 32 and i started purchasing clothing from VS at age 24/25. they had the best clothing, with just the right mix of sexy and class. it truly was the BEST CLOTHING OUT THERE. it was original, beautiful, well fitted, there WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT! moda international used exceptional quality material! i know because i own clothing belonging to moda international VS, I HAVE PROOF! the london jeans were the best! the quality and the fit were superb! they would fit and look perfect regardless of what body shape and size one could be. i even loved their skinny jeans from 5/6 years ago! i have 4 pairs in different shades! those london jeans and their clothing in general, was the best that was out there, bar none! AND I DO MEAN THAT! what A SHAME VICTORIA'S SECRET! keep this up, and unfortunately, and inevitably, your demise will follow suite!

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  31. OMG! Someone feels as I do! 90% of my wardrobe wss from them. I bought from all seasons, formal to swimwear. I actually thought their clothing were by far superior to their underwear which were just pretty but didn't last. I bought some one of a kind pieces and enjoyed window shopping even when I wasn't buying. Their old mags had an aspirational quality to them, the staging of the scenenery, the beautiful models...you just wanted to be that girl. Prepubescent isn't aspirational to most women.

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  32. Found this article wondering about what happened to the VS Moda International line. I am sad they are gone too and am not interested in buying VS either...
    BUT there is a line where a person starts to sound like DAMN KIDS GET OFF MY LAWN and you cross it enough to come across as grumpy. Also, your ideas about beauty and women are outdated and sexist. And let's face it, nobody looked classy or good in a turtleneck and riding jacket. Let's not mourn it's loss.

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    1. Oh, there's plenty more "get off my lawn" posts here on Go Retro. Clearly, you're new here. That's who I am. And this post remains one of my most popular ones a year after I wrote it. If you don't like it, you can move along...

      Delete
    2. This article is Still sharing on fb... because this article is TRUE ....some folks need to start back wearing turtlenecks if you ask me. ..llbean catalog lol some moms just don't know where to stop with the cleavage and the stretched out P..I..N..K... on the bum

      Delete
    3. Thanks, Liz -- the funny thing is, I don't see the "grumpy" tone this person is griping about and I certainly wasn't angry or anything like that when I wrote it...nor do I see how saying I have a preference for the look of the models VS used to use and the clothing when compared to today is "sexist." She sounds like the angry one if you ask me...and it probably bothered her to see dozens of comments left from people that agreed with me or something. I didn't realize the post was getting shared on Facebook...thanks for letting me know!

      Delete
    4. Actually, lots of women look not just good, but damn sexy, in a turtleneck and riding jacket. It's all about what's underneath--and I don't just mean the lingerie.

      Delete
    5. Just wanted to say that I too believe that they will not make it. I'm very sad they no longer carry the items I liked. London Jeans boyfriend in particular. Dresses, blouses and a sweatshirt and shorts by mode. If any of you find the equivalent or brand names in under a different name, let me know please.

      Delete
  33. I too really miss their clothing line MODA INTERNATIONAL.... had great coats as well! I also had an Awesome classy jumpsuit from Victoria Secret that's back in style that I would loved to have ordered again ... so sad

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    1. I love jumpsuits! I remember their nice coats, too. I recently went on the VS site and was surprised at how pared down the clothing line is now.

      Delete
  34. I am so late to discover that they ended the clothing line!!! I too stumbled on this article after searching for their clothing, which I had no idea was discontinued. Its kinda funny that my 11 year old loves PINK, and I can't stand it. It is overpriced and doesn't fit the modern woman in my opinion. I actually thought the clothing was very classy with a little sex appeal. I guess it's true what they say that less is more;). I hope that this works so they can bring back the clothing line I so dearly miss. Does any one know if the clothing by Moda international is still manufactured? I don't care if it even comes from VS.

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    1. Thanks for your comments, Kendra. I Googled them and it looks like pieces are now only being sold via eBay, etc. but I did see several nice items on a site called Tradesy. Do a search for Moda International on a search engine and several resale sites should pop up. I don't think the label of clothing is actually being made anymore, sadly.

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  35. I came across this site when I found out Victoria's Secret no longer sells clothing. I noticed I hadn't been getting any catalogs lately and thought perhaps it was just because I changed my address. As a traveling consultant, it was nice to be able to order from the catalogs with complete confidence that what I was ordering was not only quality but would fit me. It was a very rare occasion that I would ever have to return something because the size did not fit and when they did fit, they always fit perfectly. I loved being able to have the option of low-cut, hipsters, or high waisted jeans. Being a person of only 5 foot 4 1/2, I also loved the fact that I could get my jeans in a short length without having to take them to the tailor to hem them. Not that I couldn't do it myself, but I as a traveling consultant, I had very little time on weekends and didn't want to spend it sewing clothes. I have not actively ordered clothes from Victoria's Secret for probably the last five years because the clothes last a long time because of the quality. I have to agree with the other women on this site that even though I ordered jeans and tops, I also ordered a lot of shoes and suits and real quality clothing I would wear to the office and or out on a date . I added up all of my purchases over all the years I have been buying Victoria's Secret catalog and it was well over $100,000. So I can't imagine why, if someone as myself has spent that much individually, they thought they were losing money on their clothing line. I am very sad to see that in the name of progress moving forward that it is actually taking something that was a quality experience both in visiting stores, ordering clothing, and the quality of the clothing has gone forward to go backward with cheap, teenage focused lingerie and sportswear only. The last couple times I have visited the Victoria's Secret store in the mall, I literally put my bag down and had to walk out. The young sales representatives were clearly too young to understand how to talk to a customer about buying personal items. Most of the time they were not be able to find what I was looking for and would waste my time trying to get me things I didn't want to when I would clearly explain to them what I was looking for. I will not be back to to a Victoria's Secret store anymore because the service is just terrible. Loud music, teenagers, teenage sales reps that are unskilled and unknowledgeable is not the kind of quality classy shop and shopping experience it used to be.

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    1. I cannot tell you how pleased I was to find this blog!! About a quarter of my wardrobe is from VS! I started shopping there some 20+ years ago and still wear some of the dresses, skirts, sweaters, sweatshirts, and jeans. The styles were classic and really don't look dated at all.

      While placing an order there today for yet another pair of leggings (because it is the ONLY place I can find them long enough for my super long legs), I shared the link to this blog with the saleslady. She thanked me and suggested that anyone who misses the clothing line and now the swimwear line should call customer service and tell them.

      My hope is that the company rethinks its plans to discontinue selling so many popular items. I's hate to see it go the way of Frederick's of Hollywood...

      Delete
  36. I loved this post and agree with everything you wrote, I found this lovely blog when I put this in google search "What happened to VS? I remembered those amazing quaint special VS boutiques and how special one would feel shopping in one. Even the last of the Angel Models with any tie to the past like Adriana Lima etc.. don't appeal to the "M" generation. For me there is nothing I am super compelled to buy their anymore! I too drooled and purchased many items from the old amazing catalogs of the 80's & 90"s and and even up to a year ago. I am a black Angel card holder. But for how long I just don't know. Thanks for this post!

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  37. Yes! I had a great white pantsuit from VS I wore for interviews/auditions that was well made and looked great and a pair of London jeans that always got compliments. I really didn't realize they stopped making clothing until recently, when I checked the tag of my favorite cut-off denim shorts that are getting a bit old and saw they were London Jeans and went online to see if I could get another pair.

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  38. It will be missed. I was a VS clothes junkie. I have some very wonderful pieces from their. So sad. I have called customer service to voice my disappointment, but the decision has been made. I will just add pieces to my wardrobe to wear with my pieces for VS and keep it moving. Their clothes are timeless.

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    1. I was a VS clothes junkie too! I first got their catalogs as a 10 yr old in the mid 80s chock-ful of Moda clothing that I loved. Then the rise of the VS Empire! I loved (most of) their clothes & the classic London Jean was the 1st pair of jeans that ever truly fit me! I drooled over the pages of a new catalog & got so much style inspiration! Thanks for letting me re-live some memories!

      Delete
  39. Researching London Jeans, couldnt remember who made them and they fit me perfectly so wanted to get another pair and found you! Hey what is your next go-to jean now?
    Your article is hilarious!
    I met John Mayer, too. You had the same exact experience and Im cracking up! SO NOT IMPRESSED. It was more recently though, probably 2011? Exactly as you said, a total douche and stoned or high. If I can find the picture I will send later. He could not have been more bothered by our meet & greet. Train on the other hand were AMAZING and could've hung out with them all night, great guys. Train was new then and the opening act.
    Take care and I would love a reply!
    ~ niki

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    1. Trains been around since the 90s. Lol.

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  40. Bought Victoria's Secret clothing for years - best quality, best fit, best styles. Bought ALL my jeans, shoes, and coats from them - wouldn't even waste my time looking elsewhere. They had great customer service - returns were easy and never any screw-ups! I am so disappointed that they have discontinued their clothing line. The high quality glossy page catalogs came almost daily - it was annoying and definitely wasteful. I wonder if it ever occurred to them to just cut back on their print and mailing costs - they obviously had a loyal customer base and did not need to send out all those catalogs! Does anyone know of a website that is selling their discontinued clothing?

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  41. About 75% of my clothes in the late 80's into the mid 90's were from VS and I always received complements whenever they were worn. I still have a few items such as a beautiful eggplant colored jacquard dress and even a pair of denim overalls. Still have my Miracle bra! Being now middle aged, it would be really nice to still buy some pretty lingerie to 'push up' the self esteem but unfortunately, the quality isn't there anymore...and like it was stated, the stuff you see now is meant for undiscerning teenagers...

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  42. You've expressed my VS angst perfectly. I used to get a lot of my professional wardrobe pieces at Victoria's Secret. The Christie Fit pant in seasonless stretch was my jam. The material was so great, you could wash in the washing machine, pop in the dryer and they'd come out like brand new. And they came in a 36 in inseam which was so hard to find. I still have about 12 pair but they are gradually wearing out and being retired. Sigh...
    It's up to ladies like us though to keep "Classy" alive so chin up. There is still style and quality to be had out there, just harder to find. Stay the course

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  43. Basically what happened was the the original Victoria's Secret was sold to The Limited. They apparently just wanted the name. They dumped the original concept and replaced the high class merchandise with their own private label stuff rebranded as VS. So, it is no longer a place for men to purchase a gift for that special woman. Very sad.

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    1. That's not new....Victoria's Secret was sold to The Limited in 1982.

      Delete
  44. I have been a VIP member for over a decade now. My first cc was the VS card. I absolutely loved this store, especially the shoes and clothing. (Dresses & sweaters) I'm afraid I'm going to lose my status with the company, and frankly I don't care. One can only have/need so much underwear/lingerie. As you stated, it's not like it did t make the company money. I'm just so frustrated because it was one of my favorite places to shop. I have angel rewards and Birthday rewards I'm still holding on to, because honestly there is just nothing I want. Which I might add, has never happened!! I hope VS gets their senses back and brings the clothing back!

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    1. OMG i feel the same way! I am so pissed! I got tons of yoga pants from them...a few of their shirts...tons of hoodies and work out gear. I loved their yoga pants. Im tall its the only store I could get long and wore these to work. I also loved their one piece dress swim shit that they no longer make. I am so bummed out! I have a hard enough time finding long pants. Very pissed about this. I have enough bras and panties to last me 5 yrs. I literally stocked up on new bras and panties have a whole two drawers full. Why the hell does victoria secrets want to cater to high school kids!
      What about us women in our 30s,40s and 50s
      Victoria secrets you better check yaself before ya reck the rest of the company u habe left.
      I wont be needing my credit card or points no more. I can only have so many bras and panties.

      #1fedupcustomer

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  45. You guys!! Yes!! I miss the old VS so much! I'm so scared something is going to get spilled on my awesome built-in-bra shirts that I'm scared to wear them! They're my favorites! And I can't find any good replacement lines of clothes. So so sad.. We should find the old manufacturers and start our own company. Who's with me?

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    1. Me!! Im tall and need my yoga pants

      Delete
    2. Me!! Im tall and need my yoga pants

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  46. Found this post trying to see if my all-time favourite oversized sweatshirts (think Jennifer Beals in Flashdance) were still being made by Moda Intl. Best rant ever! My husband had to hear the same rant about 5 years ago when a friend gave me a VS gift card. Tried going into the store for the first time in many years and was so dismayed by what it had become. Ended up buying fragrance and skin products because the clothing was SO tacky and cheaply made. I actually worked as a salesperson at VS in the early '90s and would regularly blow my tiny part-time paycheque in the store. I still have the cotton terry bathrobe I could only afford with my employee discount. There was always a 'luxury' dressing gown robe on display (changed seasonally) that was the most expensive item in the store. That was what you sold to the men shopping for a wife or girlfriend...although a lot got returned by the ladies later ;)

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  47. I see that I'm late to this party, but my sentiments totally agree with you! I am another one of those who had the jeans, slacks, sweaters, dresses, shoes, and swimwear. And of course my bras and panties were exclusively VS. Plus I miss the "pantyhose store" - there was a separate store that sold all their different lines of pantyhose, stockings, and garter belts...as well as a small selection of lingerie. I really miss the pantyhose. I've never found another brand that I liked as much (and sometimes you really need to wear pantyhose, like to a job interview).

    Thanks for the great post!

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    1. I miss the pantyhose as well. They were the best.

      Delete
  48. I had completely forgotten that VS sold clothes in the 80's and 90's! (A lot has happened since then!). But now that I've been reminded, it's all coming back to me. So sad. What a loss. I guess it's the whole trade with China deal. VS saw that the market was going to be flooded with cheap clothes, and they decided to end the clothing sales and focus on what they could make cheaply and sell lots of. I'm sorry about the clothes we have to buy today. Badly made, badly fitting and a lot of dark, depressing and weird patterns.

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  49. I too have shopped at VS since the 90's, and still do. I have noticed their bras are not the same quality, cheap fabric and underwire popping out! The pricing hasn't gone down though. I also can't stand that VS changed their employees to get commission on sales. If I had a dollar for every girl that gave me the sales pitch while walking through the store. Just leave me alone and let me shop. Getting the catalog in the mail was a highlight for me. The London Jean shorts in so many different colors and all of the sweaters! I too have emailed VS and told them of my disappointment and they told me to wear their PINK clothes! I'm 42 years old, I'm not wearing something with PINK going down my leg. I have a hard time believing they lost money!! So sad.

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  50. Well I agree. VS has gone down hill in my opinion as well. I am just shy of turning 31 and used to love buying clothes from VS. Their clothes really seemed to strike a balance between classy and sexy. The stores were pleasant to go in as well. I went in our local VS store this past Christmas season to get some new very sexy bra's. The ones that can be worn with or without straps. Anyway I looked and looked for them but could not find them anywhere. I finally asked a sales clerk and she began to lead the way. As she is walking to the drawer they were buried in, she hollers out to me asking what my bra size is. The store was full of men just standing around (probably taking in all the free porn on the walls) and I was horrified that I had to almost yell out my bra size in front of all of them. It was a totally uncomfortable experience. What a shame!

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  51. Well I agree. VS has gone down hill in my opinion as well. I am just shy of turning 31 and used to love buying clothes from VS. Their clothes really seemed to strike a balance between classy and sexy. The stores were pleasant to go in as well. I went in our local VS store this past Christmas season to get some new very sexy bra's. The ones that can be worn with or without straps. Anyway I looked and looked for them but could not find them anywhere. I finally asked a sales clerk and she began to lead the way. As she is walking to the drawer they were buried in, she hollers out to me asking what my bra size is. The store was full of men just standing around (probably taking in all the free porn on the walls) and I was horrified that I had to almost yell out my bra size in front of all of them. It was a totally uncomfortable experience. What a shame!

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  52. Wow! You just brought back good memories. VS has gone to the dogs so much that I had forgotten how much I used to like them. I agree with everything you said. I remember seeing Jill Goodacre with Harry Connick, Jr. at Jazz Fest in New Orleans when they were just dating. She had on one of those cute VS tops. I immediately ordered it. The models were so beautiful then. Now, there's such a sleazy element to it all.

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  53. I just had to throw out a beautiful forest green Victoria's Secret nightshirt I bought back in the 1990s-- too many holes in it where the fabric finally wore through. Unfortunately VS doesn't make them anymore-- long-sleeved, cotton, knee length and the nightwear they do make does not have the same quality of fabric, full long sleeves, nice colors, and simple name/logo on it (the newer 'graphics' are simply ugly, have tacky slogans, etc.)

    I still buy the basic bras and underwear and would happily buy the pjs again if they made them the way that they used to (and I am under 40.)

    I still listen to a CD that came with a VS purchase back in the 1990s-- nice, classical, relaxing CD. Nothing like that now. And the stores themselves don't have the same classy, relaxing atmosphere they used to have.

    I wish I had stockpiled a stash of the great pajamas they used to have, as well as the thicker cotton underwear they used to make!

    --EM

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  54. I'm throwing in my two cents. I loved this post and agree with everyone here. I am in my mid 50's and have been buying VC clothing since the 1980's. What I loved about their clothing line was that most of it was very high quality and most importantly, it fit me! I am petite but have (or used to have, LOL!) an hourglass figure. The VS London Jeans were the only jeans I used to be able to find that would fit both my hips and waist. Other brands were either too tight in the hip, or way too big in the waist. Now that my waist has spread a bit, I can wear Levi's and a few other brands, but I still miss the London Jean, along with the Moda International tees, shorts, skirts and dresses. I still have a closet full of them, with no way to replace them now as they wear out.
    I do have to say that I still love their bras, especially the Angel and Body lines, and their sports bras are the only ones that give me enough support for the horseback riding I do. I kind of stopped buying most of their other clothing several years ago because the quality has gotten so bad and most of their clothes were either too sloppy/baggy or too frilly/foofey. Ugh!

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  55. Hi - I never bothered with VS until the late 90's, because I thought that all they sold was lingerie, and I wasn't big on that. But once I learned of everything else they offered, I gave them a try and was hooked (eventually buying lingerie as well). I ended up here after spending more than a year unsuccessfully trying to replace my favs by shopping on Ebay, Tradesy, etc. Wouldn't it be terrific if someone came along, read all of these posts, and opened a business modeled after the old VS? And if you are that someone, please take heed that many of us are willing to pay more for higher quality merchandise.

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  56. I have found my people! I agree with everyone except the one (obviously not over 30) poster who thought the blogger was "grumpy." The blogger isn't grumpy, perhaps, but I sure as hell am, seeing how few choices young women have now. Everything has stupid-looking, unoriginal graphics or giant skanky ass-lettering. (Lettering across your ass is skanky, no matter what age you are. And seeing type of thing on little girls is just … ick. But I digress.
    It was fun to call VS to order clothes, and hear the recorded "Thank you for calling Victoria's Secret Catalog," in a posh British accent. That excessively civilized-sounding, polite voice made waiting on hold much easier to tolerate!
    I loved the two-piece outfits -- mainly the little skirt suits I wore to work, usually a short skirt with matching blazer-style jacket in a stretchy cotton blend that clung to my then-cute little bod (come to think of it, I miss that cute little bod even more than I miss VS!). Sometimes it was a cotton blend, casual skirt and top in an almost sweatshirt-type of material. And the slightly stretchy cotton V-neck T-shirts! So cute and flattering. I remember on vacation with my mom when I was about 33 years old and still pretty slender, I pulled out one of those tiny, white V-neck tees and my mom said, "That looks like something (my 3-year-old niece) could wear!" I put it on, and it stretched to fit without looking stretched out or indecent in any way, it was just a great little T-shirt!
    I bought work clothes, play clothes, the sexiest wide/deep-necked light sweatshirts, night clothes (sexy and/or comfy), shoes, boots, leggings … most of my wardrobe in the very late '80s and '90s was VSC. And I looked damn good. *finger snap*
    One more thought on the models back then: Another one I liked, in addition to those mentioned, was Laetitia Casta. She and the earlier-mentioned Frederique van der Wal were curvy and stunning; they and the other earlier models somehow managed to convey personality in still photos. Thanks for the trip into the past.

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  57. This just in, ladies...shocker. (And sorry that I cannot respond to every comment posted here about this particular post, but I read every single one!) http://money.cnn.com/2017/02/23/investing/victorias-secret-l-brands-sales/index.html

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    1. Poor sales? Gee, go figure. I wish they would read your post. That would tell them everything they need to know. Then they can read the comments that keep coming in. If they went back to what made them great, their sales would go wild.

      Delete
  58. I've shared the post on their Facebook page and tweeted it at them. Of course they ignored it.

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  59. I'm one of the young'uns who Victoria Secret is trying to market to (24.) When I was in High School I spent $15 for Candies bras. When I entered college, i decided I needed something a little better fitting. I spent $50 per bra for a couple bras. Found out later that I was not fitted correctly, AND they were poor quality and my older Candies bras lasted longer than these overpriced pieces of garbage.

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  60. I totally agree with most of the comments here. I purchased business suits, cocktail dresses, sweaters, shirts - even winter coats and boots - and yes, those FABULOUS JEANS!! I still have many of these items in my closet, and find they're as much in style now as they were back then. Please VS - bring back your clothing line (particularly London Jeans and Moda International)!!!

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    1. To this day I've yet to find a brand of jeans that fit me quite like London Jeans did. In fact, I still have a pair of VS's London Jeans in my closet and I only wear them sporadically these days because I don't ever want to wear them out! (Previous old pairs would eventually get threadbare around the knee area and develop a tear.) You can find a lot of Moda International pieces on eBay -- I'm tempted next winter to look for one of their winter coats.

      Delete
  61. I used to love moda international clothing! Victoria Secret sucks now. It's like how the Gap absolutely ruined Athleta.

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  62. Every season in my search for new clothing I visit VS site and after much frustration send them an email telling them what an awful business decision they have made. My card is paid off & I have no desire to purchase a bra with ten extra straps going across my back & chest. I love the comfortable tee shirts but DO NOT want PINK plastered across my chest, or my 40+ belly button peeking out from my waist. So disappointed in the selection offered, they can't get a bra style that is simply beautiful & comfortable. Email them, write them if I could I would show up at a stock holders meeting and present the comments on this site. I'm so disappointed but will find something comparable I'm determined.

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  63. Thank you so much for this article. Reading the comments, I feel as though I've stumbled into a support group. Janna, you've nailed the problem. Women don't want to dress like sorority girls. We want to look classy and sexy, professional but stylish. The old Victoria Secret made that achievable and it was relatively affordable. Women who don't want to look as though they just rolled out of bed but also can't afford haute couture are such a missed target market in clothing.

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  64. I bet if they brought back just the London Jean collection, their sales would drastically improve again. Does anyone else remember when they put out a "Country Collection" catalog that featured the jeans, casual wear, athletic gear, outerwear, etc.?

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  65. Excellent read & completely true ! Victoria's Secret has changed a lot as have other places. Victoria's Secret owns Bath & Body Works as well & I have stood by over the years watching them discontinue some of my favorite body sprays and lotions. I always wonder in those situations why they would purposely cease a financially lucrative situation? Who is in charge of the purchasing & merchandising contracts that supply the stores? At times it has felt as though it has been someone young, hip, & classy, while other times it has been clear the person in charge hasn't a clue what women like. Solely majoring in panties, bras, lingerie, pajamas & perfume is not enough when other competitors have all that and more. They are just not that exclusive & original as they used to be. They lost that "edge". As far as their future, interest is slipping away from the mature crowd but are the teens & 20 somethings actually obsessed with this stuff? It all is pretty boring to me, especially in comparison to other stores which sell edgy, youthful & sexy merchandise such as Dolls Kill, TopShop, Yandy, Rainbow, H & M, Forever 21 & Charlotte Russe, Etc. Classic stores like Frederick's of Hollywood and Playboy have both closed all of their retail stores & now do business from a lack luster website. You can't get a fraction of the good stuff you used to be able to in the "good old days", so they are pretty much worthless. It is March 7, 2017 & as of today all regular clothing & swimwear is absent from the Victoria's Secret website, however you can find a small selection of those things in the Pink section. I am one of those people with an old body & youthful spirit (a Betsey Johnson type lol) so at first I made the transition well from the classic clothing of yesteryear to then being addicted to the Pink brand. I loved the pastel colors, the glitter, the sequins, hoodies & yoga pants Etc. I looked forward to stocking up on these things every holiday & especially directly following the December fashion show. However the last few years have been a great disappointment. They have majorly toned down, all the way down. Also I am growing frustrated with their choices in how they design certain tops, for example, while in the store last weekend, my eye was drawn to the now rare sparkly shirt yet the sleeves ruined it for me. It was not a tube top, spaghetti strap top, tank top or cap sleeve t shirt. It had these macho ass cut off at the shoulder like sleeves. Yuck! I am in VS to surround myself with all things feminine, not plumberesque muscle tops. I swear, I can't even with them sometimes. The one positive thing I will say is that I noticed that while they still don't produce clothing for the plus size gals in size XL or larger, they have made the measurements for the sizes more generous & that is greatly appreciated. While it may be a refreshing change for my wallet, it's sad not being able to watch my collection of cute, girly stuff grow each year. Thankfully my hoarding tendencies have provided me the opportunity to still be in possession of many treasured items, if not there is always Ebay. It's funny, the reason I even found this article was because I was wondering what the heck happened & if I was the only one who felt this way, so I googled it. LOL.

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  66. Pam, you've expressed how I've been feeling about Victoria's Secret for quite some time now. I was a sales associate - or "Bra Specialist" - with VS in the late '90s to early 2000s, when I was in my early to mid-20s, and fortunately I still have a smallish collection of bra and panty sets from that time, as well as a few clothing items from the catalog, especially nice jackets/coats. I looked over their website just now, and it's a good thing I've been collecting some of their older real silk items via Ebay, because they don't have ANY now. Victoria's Secret has NO SILK. I don't even know what to say about that. Not to mention the lack of the nice clothing lines or the great variety of swimwear being gone. They've also discontinued one of my favorite bra lines from recent years, the Fabulous. And of course, there's the near-total lack of the elegance that used to define all aspects of the brand. It's almost as though someone is purposely trying to drive the company into the ground. SUCH a shame.

    For awhile I'd turned to White House Black Market for stylish, elegant-yet-sexy clothing that fit my curvy hips well, but they seem to be going downhill too. Their customer service leaves just about everything to be desired as well. Sigh.

    Ebay, Bonanza, Tradesy, and thrift stores it is, for now...

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  67. So glad I found this site...I used to buy from them back in the 1990s and early 2000s,but their panties and bras were being made of inferior quality...so I just stop going to the stores. Just yesterday I went on line to look for some of the light fragrances and maybe a pair of jeans, and sure enough they are depleted of the beautiful dresses and jeans they used to offer. I agree 100% with your article,the PINK line is mostly for college girls who dont have the buying power that women over 30 and beyond do. It is a shame since I have many of the London jeans and one or two dresses of theirs from the early 2000s and 1990s still in my wardrobe. What I miss most is the full coverage bras from the'90s,sadly I havent found any other store that is like theirs.

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  68. I totally agree!! I rant about this all the time, and am especially disappointed because I used to work there and would be treated to the 30% discount and free bras! I am also a tall woman and I absolutely love the cut and length of their clothing. It was suited for a more sophisticated crowd, and now I just can't bring myself to shop there. I see grown women shopping for PINK items not realizing they are meant for teens and college aged women. Then they have Victoria's Sport, but who wants to walk around in work out gear all day? I have a few items that I purchased back when they still sold clothing and I cherish them. They are sophisticated with an heir of sexiness. An off the shoulder tunic, with a matching bra and panty, you just can't get any better. Instead they have totally tanked the market to cater to children. If I didn't still buy panties, lip gloss, and body lotion from them, I would definitely get rid of my VS Angel Card.

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    1. As another tall lady, I totally feel you! They had blouses that actually covered my stomach! And as others have said, they had the best jeans ever and I don't know what I'm going to do the day my last two pairs wear out.

      I really can't think of any other store who has such a great collection of sexy, stylish, and yet classy work clothing for women. They had pieces I could wear to work and actually get excited about wearing. Why are manufacturers assuming everyone lives in athleisure these days? Don't most of us over 21 have jobs to go to five days a week and need to dress for?

      And as others have said, why are they turning their backs on the women with jobs who have the means to buy their clothing? It doesn't make sense to me.

      Delete
  69. I agree. I wore their clothes for years and was incredibly disappointed when they discontinued the line.

    I wore them in grad school and my classmates showing up in yoga pants would always complement how professional and put together I looked. They said I looked like I knew what I was talking about! I was a broke student at the time so I mostly shopped sales but even on a budget I managed to put together a sophisticated yet sexy mini-wardrobe that people thought exuded confidence. I always found it ironic when someone commenting on how put together I was had a PINK logo slapped across their butt. Yeah, I’m wearing VS, too…. but their classy stuff!!!

    I’m 32 now. I’m the demographic they used to cater to. I’m in a stable career with some disposable income and wanting to look put together with a hint of sexy for the world. I work in tech so nobody cares if I show up to work in a PINK hoodie with a whole can of dry shampoo in my messy bun (unless our VP is visiting our office for the day) but that’s not the image I want to give. I’m at the point where I am willing and able to buy the heck out of that whole line full price now as I’m sure many young women who grew up with that vision of the brand now are. We could be a huge revenue source for them. Unfortunately all they care about catering to are the college age kids with less disposable income and less care for quality.

    6 years ago I scrimped and saved and was proud to own a few nice VS pieces. I was looking forward to the day when I had a big VS wardrobe. Today I wouldn’t be caught dead in the “clothes” they carry and I haven’t used my Angel Card in over a year.

    I got a customer survey from them awhile back… maybe 2 years ago? Asking me to rate them on a number of things and compare them with Venus Swimwear, another company I shopped with (albeit not nearly as often as VS) who was competitive with VS on swim, slightly less business focused on the clothing, and with no real lingerie line. I thought it odd at the time but finished the survey, gave VS’s clothing great reviews and went about my day. At the time I was Victoria > Venus but these days I’m thinking I need to go pay attention to Venus’ catalogue again now that I’m a different size and need to replace some wardrobe staples.

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  70. I agree with all of you - 120%!!
    I have wonderful sweaters I bought from them years ago and can't find anything even close to replace them with, so I wear them ragged anyway because I love them so much. Ditto the pants and jeans, tops, so much! I used to spend the majority of my clothing money with them and now I simply can't find any good replacement brands. There is NOTHING I would be interested in now in their catalogs - I toss them as soon as they come. And gave up my Angel Card for good.

    As several of you have pointed out, they lost a large sector of loyal consumers that came into their own during their 20's and have even more spending power now! But missing the place they'd like to spend it!

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    1. I'm so happy you wrote this article, I agree 100% will everything you said. I really cannot understand why they would give up their clothing line. The clothes were beautiful and classy. I bought many items over the years and still have tops that I've worn over and over again and they still look good. They were timeless and beautiful colors. I think the stores are tacky and the perfumes are far too fruity. Nothing sexy there!

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  71. Hi all -- check out this article: http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/we-went-to-a-victorias-secret-store-in-nyc-and-saw-why-the-brand-is-struggling/ss-AAo6Mop?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=mailsignout#image=1

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  72. Glad I'm not the only one. I was dedicated to their clothing line, just like many of the other posters here. I bought all of my clothes from them! I was devastated when I found out they were discontinuing it, and bought as much as I could reasonably afford when it started going on clearance. I can't believe they're taking away swimwear now, too. It's just garbage now. I really have a hard time finding clothes that I like. I'm So Picky.

    Venus is okay, but they're not as high quality as VS used to be. They're also not as expensive, but a lot of their stuff is too sexy for work.

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  73. I am so happy to have seen so many people missing the VS clothes. I worked there in early 2000 and my ENTIRE wardrobe was VS. the Christie Fit and Flare was my all time favorite pant. Their line of stockings lasted forever. I still have cocktail dresses that I adored. I miss the classy business clothes that were always sexy and fit perfectly.

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  74. Ha!!! I knew couldn't be been the only one wondering why I cant find anything to order on their website. I dread the day my last London jeans/cords wear out and all the cute shirts are done, no more mix and match swim suites, no more cute wool pea coats and attractive office clothes. No, they would rather appeal to a generation spending their parents money and not the professional working class gal, that feels wearing workout clothes to the office is inappropriate. Disappointed they aim to please this demographic of customer. Bring it back VS, the classy, sexy clothes!!!

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  75. Last week I discovered that The Limited (another store I loved) filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy and the website no longer has any clothing for purchase. L Brands (the name of the parent company) also owns Victoria's Secret, as someone on this thread mentioned. I would have to predict that it won't be long before VS follows The Limited to the grave.

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  76. I agree!!! They​ evolved from classy and beautiful to cheap and less desirable options.

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  77. I was so disappointed not to find the VS smart, classy, feminine clothing online yesterday - - so I requested an online "chat" - and I was told the company is focusing on "what they do best". I told them what I thought, which was a compendium of all of the above insightful comments. My husband found this link - so happy to have found it. I was running around in a comfy Moda International cotton/spandex black dress yesterday and wanted more of the same. This blog confirms my disappointment and disgust. I hope elegance returns. Its time has come.

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  78. I too was a big VS shopper. Went online the year they quit carrying the line of jeans to order my yearly stock of London Jeans, the old boyfriend style sweatpants & the Mayfair pj's. NO jeans, NO sweats (now) & the new Mayfair pjs are cheap, fit differently and definitely not worth the money. I called last year and was told all were discontinued. I have coats, sweaters, old jeans, shoes,shorts, etc--you name it. My "Angel" card is being closed after reading this blog. I haven't used it since I bought some shirt that was so cheaply made(looked NOTHING near the picture) & tried the cheap ass Mayfair pjs. I had NO problem spending hundreds of dollars in one order cuz they USED to make things worth it. The two items I haven't been able to find a good replacement for - London jeans & I loved the "adult" version of the fleece boyfriend lounge pants. I'd throw them on to go running around & loved them. They didn't lose shape, held up well & came in styles a woman could wear. If anyone finds a store or online site that carries anything near what they decided to quit carrying, please post. I said a couple years ago that I thought they were slowly going out of business & it sounds like that's turning out to be true. I wrote a review about the Mayfair pjs, saying how much cheaper they seemed, the roomier fit - gone & wrote they could just keep the silly sleep mask & bring the old style back. That review got over 100 likes - So, they obviously pay NO attention to the feelings of longtime customers who helped make them profitable. I saw bad reviews all over the place. Only ones that seem to like are too young to remember what we're all complaining about. Young girls who love having the word, PINK, written across the ass or think their small line of clothes are great. I wish I could open a store with just the jeans, pjs & loungewear! Instant millionaire! Hope someone can give ideas (saw Stetson jeans post) for other sites to try if you like the loungwear (not yoga style), they carried. I still have a few, but mostly grey & black. I'd love some colors for summer! BTW-IF you haven't noticed on the pink boyfriend sweats -they only come in 32" length. They actually tell you that you can just cut them to the desired length! Yeah, spend over 50 bucks, than hack them to a 30, if you're me, so you can wear with tennis or sandals. I imagine they'd look a tad strange! Last time I wrote a review from a gift I returned, they emailed me they wouldn't post cuz I had again said Mayflower pjs were cheap, but added I wish they'd start carrying the old line of clothing! Think they were worried it would get too many ppl agreeing, or the "newbies" wondering WTH I was complaining about. They just lost one of their one time "preferred Angels", or whatever they call those of us who spent a few thousand every year - but that's when it was a store WORTH spending money in! I wouldn't go in a store if they sent me a "pick out an outfit for free" coupon. Haven't used any coupons I get in longer than I can remember. Now? Call and close the credit card. Everyone in here should. They just might have time to save themselves. Or, maybe it's just too late :-(

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  79. Pam and everyone I agree with you all 100%.

    I haven't purchased anything from the website for 2 years and only discovered last week that the clothing is gone, I thought there was something wrong with the website. I brought up the site map looking for Jeans and there wasn't anything, no dresses, no tops, no shoes. Nothing that I wanted to buy now or ever again. Googled Moda International and landed here.

    I use to do bi-annual shops of around $500 each during sale time to get the best value for my money. Looks like my 27 year love of VS has come to an end. Thank goodness on my last big shop I purchased 5 pairs of my favourite 3/4 length wide leg yoga pants that I live in - I only took them out of their plastic packets 2 weeks ago to wash them as I was going to retire the 4 pairs I have worn to death (may rethink that and do some mending instead)and 3 dozen pairs of cotton panties (the quality has gone down hill over last 10 years).

    My wardrobe bursts at the seam with my purchases over the years and I tend not to throw anythng out even when items no longer fit (maybe one day they will again). Love my collection of about 15 different styles of London Jeans collected over the years from black to pink and everything in between (boot cut, flares, shorts long and short, capri length - when they get holes they will get patched up but the distressed look is always fashionable these days, I have even redyed when they have faded out too much), stretch velvet dresses long and short, velvet sweats and zip front hoodies and velvet shirts - love my velvet, wool knitted dresses with matching cardigans, skirt dress and pant suits, long and short boots, leather coats, sequined jackets and dresses, crochet dresses and tops, satin jackets and pants, swimwear with matching sarongs. Lots of wooly jumpers. Countless casual dresses, tops, love the ones with built in hidden bras. Most of my bras and cotton panties are VS. I have so many items that are in suitcases, some never worn but will be slowly added as current items wear out.

    I never had the opportunity to shop in a VS store as I live in Sydney Australia. The catalogues were posted to me and I shopped online. They stopped sending catalogues about 7 years ago but added the current one when I purchased. It was always an exciting day when the UPS driver delivered my order, it was like christmas. Everything always fitted, there was never any doubt about sizing. I only ever had to return one purchase and that was a pair of mismatched shoes which was a shame as they also fitted perfectly.

    Looks like I will have to look to ebay for future purchases.

    Such a shame that a dramatic change in the business plan can destroy what was a very profitable business.

    Pink was always childish and unflattering (too tight and skimpy) and now it looks like children doing porn - the models look like kids doing dress up and putting silocone inserts into mummy's bras. Those sweat pants with PINK across the bum, well to me it could say SCANK as that is the image it projects.

    Did these people seriously have no idea of the demographic that the MODA International clothing line catered for, it wasn't teenagers it was the 25-100, to women not girls/teenagers/college students, to ladies with disposable income that wanted to look "dressed" and "professional" at work, feel "comfortable" and "elegantly casual" on weekends and "smart casual" in between. When they disposed of this demographic they disposed of their profitability and they are feeling it now in their Profit & "LOSS" statement.

    They say this is a throw away society and they sure found a way to throw away their loyal customers.

    R.I.P. Victoria Secret. We miss you.

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    1. I just remembered that I also have bed sheets that I purchased years ago in cream satin, pink satin and a white cotton set with a lovely lace trim. The home decor items were discontinued about 20 years ago. There is also a large collection of the VS gift boxes and they changed the pattern a few times over the years.

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    2. This is awesome. I forgot about their bed sheets and home decor line! If I had known they would be discontinuing their denim I definitely would have stocked up on some jeans, too. I still have one pair that I only wear every so often so I can hold onto them as long as possible. I had one of their velvet shirts, too, and I still have one of their velour jogging suits. I also still have a beautiful pair of cropped summer pants with a tropical print on them that no longer fit me but like you, I'm hanging onto them in case I can wear them again one day.

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  80. Morgen from TorontoJune 22, 2017 6:22 PM

    OMG, I was just wearing an MODAInternational dress today from Victoria Secret - still in style and still good quality. I was so disappointed when they stopped carrying that great line and googled "what happened to MODAInternational" an came across your very accurate, on-point article! Couldn't agree more!!! I used to buy most of my adorable things through VS on-line - couldn't believe when they changed to their ridiculous new image and stopped selling great clothes! I honestly don't find any of the adorable stuff I used to anymore and so spend a lot less on clothing.

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  81. Girl, you are so correct about VS. I have just spent the afternoon looking for their jeans on POSH. I have found 2 pair in my size. That's the ONLY jeans I've ever bought and I can't find them any where now. I just busted the seat out of my last pair. SIGH!!!!

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    1. Oh no! LOL Sherry! All you ladies may want to check out a site called ThredUP for Victoria's Secret/Moda International clothes. I just donated a ton of old clothing and anything they deem still in style and in good shape they post for resale. It's worth a shot. I wear my last pair of VS jeans sparingly so that they'll last me forever!

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    2. Hello Pam,
      Great article and great blog!
      Obviously lots of us feel the same.
      Did you ever find any jean that's similar to the London Jean? I especially loved the stretchy pencil jean.
      Thanks again,
      Elaine

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    3. Hi Elaine - not yet, but a friend told me to try Gloria Vanderbilt jeans (now there's a brand I've heard nothing about in years!) at JC Penney. The styles looked like they came up high enough on the waist w/o looking matronly and the prices are definitely reasonable.

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  82. I am extremely disappointed too. I have a ton of catalogs with my favorite pieces of clothing ear marked... I have been trying to find the manufacturer but I guess it was owned by VS?

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  83. It's 2017 and I am still upset about the clothing being gone!!! The coats, dresses, jeans, sweaters and of course swimsuits!!! Come back to us VS!!!

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  84. Thank you so much for posting this!! It's how I've been feeling since I first heard they were shutting down the clothing line....even in the years coming to that point I noticed how the marketing changed from elegant, feminine, classy to bed-headed, teeny-bopper waiting whose sole purpose is to look like a gypsy at Coachella. I only WISH I hadn't gotten rid of most of my London Jeans...I could seriously cry about it.

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  85. I am late to the party but I just today realized how much I miss the old VS for all the reasons you give! What I am looking for today is a denim skirt. I have an old Moda International one from back in the day, at least 20 years old, maybe 30 ... It is the PERFECT denim skirt and clearly very well made. I was a short little size 14 when I bought it, and I wore it through so many fluctuations in body weight. Now I am a steady size 10 and it slips off my hips so I just can't. But I have not been able to find a skirt that looks half as good as this one did, for years! And V/S is no help! They used to have such clothes ... such beautiful clothes. I still have a gorgeous wool pea coat that I wear every winter ... You just can't find such classic and well made pieces anywhere now. And the dresses ... such beautiful dresses. What happened? Why, why, why?

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  86. Me too!!!! I loved VS Moda International, I easily spent over $200 every time a new catalog came in. That was my go to brand for work, play & sleepwear. 90% of my daily lifestyle was lived in Moda International's clothing. I also purchased shoes they had wearable styles-not everyone wants the thin high heel stilettos���� Please someone bring back MODA INTERNATIONAL!, Please .
    Where did the designers for Moda International go. We need them back ASAP!!!! I still wear all their clothes to work till this day. The styles, sizing and tailored cuts were classy and top of the line gorgeous. Very professional looking and I just can't say enough about the variety of lengths they offered. I mostly ordered the 32!nseam to wear heels and only shoe the tip of my shoes. My favorite work pant that I still wear today I have 7 pairs was the Christie Fit !!! I don't know what I'd wear if I had not stocked up??? Seriously no alterations needed in a size 0. I'm no spring chicken either I'm in my mid 40's. I also have the jackets to go with the pants. They totally had it right offering the jackets in different lengths and styles to change up the look.
    I can't stand to see what has become of the VS shopping experience! So sad, I hate going there which I no longer do. I hate the fact that the entire families are in there, husbands, children, strollers, geez what the heck!!! Racks, shelves are packed with not a clean stress free place to shop. I don't like the pink line either. Seriously, get real clothes on to be out in public. This is where liberal America has gone so wrong. You can be comfy and still look respectful & not look like your at the high school gym, or are a hip hop dancer.

    Please someone bring back the same sizing and clothes line of MODA INTERNATIONAL!! Anyone I don't know why any past VS model wouldn't jump on this business opportunity??? Thanks for listening. Please do something about it!!!

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  87. Thank you for your post about Victoria’s Secret. I have been purchasing their Angel sleep shirts with long sleeves for the past 5 years. The quality over the years has gone down. The fabric used to be thicker, now it’s so thin it’s almost sheer. But they are comfortable and keep my arms warm at night. I just ordered some on Oct 2, 2017 today I went to look at more online and they were nowhere to be found. Customer service told me they were all sold out and have been discontinued.

    Sadly, the downfall of VS is a representation of the downfall of many things in society. Quality is overlooked to increase profits. The same is true for even high end brands. And it’s not just limited to clothing. Slowly we have become accustomed to cheaper materials and poor quality. When you look at older clothes you have stored in your closet, you can see the quality that used to be the norm.
    Consumers have played a role as well, we have demanded cheaper prices, therefore we get cheaper product. Just look at all of the dollar stores around. I can’t remember the last time I read Made in Canada (I’m Canadian) or USA on the label.
    I am 43, and it is very obvious that nothing is being catered to my generation, it is all about the millenial generation. I understand that they are a large portion of society, but they are not all of society. Companies are making the mistake of pushing away those of us 30+ who actually have money to spend and want to spend it on QUALITY items.
    Honestly, I don’t know where to shop anymore. So I don’t shop that often for clothes. I am relying on the older clothes of higher quality that are still in my closet. There is a reason we all have clothes that we loved that are still in our closet. They have stood the test of time and haven’t fallen apart in one wash.

    -Kristine

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  88. So totally agree. Their undergarments aren't even appealing. What are they thinking? I guess younger set doesn't have the ability to distinguish class, elegance, etc. from boorish.

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  89. I was in my mid teens when I started looking at their website, about eight years ago. I would look forward to the day I could afford and wear their clothing and underwear because it seemed more like mature, coming of age, womanly, sophisticated and classy type of clothing. 90% of my whole wardrobe would've been from them had they not trashed the quality good stuff for this new trailer trash style clothing with meaningless words and branding all over it. I'm deeply disappointed with what they've done and would not buy from them unless they kept going with what good thing they had going before.

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  90. I was happy to find this blog/article, because clearly I am not the only one sad and mystified by the degradation and destruction of this store. I used to love their pajamas, and would treat myself to satin pajamas and beautiful velour satin-lined robes. Their patterns used to be understated and lovely, and the cut of the pajamas was generous and comfortable, as sleepwear should be. I was sad to see their clothing line go, as I used to get lovely lounge wear and sweaters from them. As was mentioned above, like Bath and Bodyworks they have cheapened their line and geared everything toward 14-20 year olds. The cut of the pajamas is awful, the patterns are horrendous, the perfumes all smell sickly sweet, like bubblegum, and now evidently they no longer even sell satin pajamas. That was the final straw. I am done. I can't believe that someone doesn't see the gaping hole left in the marketplace. If someone were to bring back the quality fabrics, the option of silk pajamas and quality velvet robes, etc., with comfortable, generous cuts, along with quality loungewear and sophisticated fragrances, all in one place, they would be a HUGE hit with my demographic - women from 45-60 who know what elegance and quality are, and are willing and able to pay for them. It is hard to find quality silk pajamas with American sizing, and the big department stores have very little to choose from. Someone please step in and pick up where Victoria's Secret failed.

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  91. Agreed. VS used to be high quality, beautiful clothing and lingerie. I shopped there in the 90's and always could count on items I bought to last for years. Not so anymore--the underwear rips after washing, is made of flimsy material, etc. That being said, if you think VS is bad, you ought to check out PINK. I just got home from our local mall. I made the mistake of going in to see if I could get something for my teen daughters, as their aunt had given them some clothes from PINK about 4 years ago that were fairly decent. However, all I saw were shirts and sweatshirts made of thin, crappy material with no quality to the construction or the printing, and they were charging outrageous prices for it all. People were scooping it up like it was top designer wear. I walked out. I think VS is maybe one step above in quality but when PINK is on the bottom rung, one step us isn't saying much. Truly sad.

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  92. I thought I was the only one who loved Moda International clothing from Victoria's Secret! When I asked the customer service rep about discarding the line, they basically said that they wanted to market to a younger demographic. Complete BS. Never really liked the PINK line to beginning with and now it's so cheap and overpriced.

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  93. Love the blog post. VS was always my go-to. They don't even have good sales now or special pricing. It's very expensive and borderline trashy. I'm fine with a little bit "cagey" every now and then, but even their swimwear doesn't leave anything to the imagination. Barf! In in my 30's and always shopped here as did my mom. We're both very, very disappointed. Wah!

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  94. Anonymous December 22, 2017 11:05 PM

    You will never believe how I found this wonderful Blog! Well let me tell you, I wore a Moda International sweater that I got many years ago from V.S. and a co-worker complimented me about it. I told her that she would never guess where I got the sweater from and how old it was. When I made my reveal, we immediately went back down memory lane and talked about how the store has diminished in quality catering two teenagers, just as this Blog suggested. Because of my love for the Moda Clothing line, I did a google search to see if perhaps anyone was selling the line and that is how I stumbled upon this blog. My heart too still longs for the V.S. days of old.

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  95. The same thing happened to me! I went online looking to peruse the fabulous elegant clothing I used to so love, and lo and behold, there were no clothes to be found! When I went online hunting for an article to explain to me when and why this happened, I found this excellent and helpful article. Yes yes and YES. I couldn't agree more with everything you said, and definitely could not have said it better!!!

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  96. AGREE 100% so disappointed... the last splurge i did was for my Paris trip anniversary several years ago. glad i bought what i did when i did. but they are going to close shop soon bc they cater to kids who have no money. stupid decision IMO!!!

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  97. Agree, agree, and agree! I used to buy all my dress pants from VS--several fits, nice fabric, held up extremely well. I still have a silk/cashmere boyfriend sweater from years ago--it's in great shape. And now I'm disappointed that the cotton lingerie line has been discontinued--those were the only bras I bought! I've determined that I'm going to have to find another brand of underwear. It's so sad--VS used to be so classy and so versatile!

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  98. Thank you for posting this. I too miss the Victoria's Secret of old. I use to love their dress slacks and jackets. Colin Stuart boots and shoes were my all time guilty pleasure. It seems as though their new business model isn't working like they thought it would: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-04/victoria-s-secret-owner-declines-on-disappointing-holiday-sales

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  99. AMEN!! London Jeans were my favorite and go-to jean. Here I am googling London jean trying to find their jeans on eBay. I seriously loved their jeans and am still disappointed that they no longer sell clothing. I can't tell you how many jackets, t-shirts, dresses and blouses that I bought from them.

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  100. Don't waste your money on Victoria Secret yoga pants. They are not the spandex yoga pants of superior quality that they made 10 years ago. They are cheap, stretchy thin cotton material type pants that one could buy for $10 in a Walmart store.

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  101. Victoria Secret lost a customer in me. I started shopping there in my 20's . and when my buying power changed in my 30's, they made a decision to go rogue. perhaps VS does not really need customers cash. maybe they have bceome a sort of shell company... I am searching for a reasonable explanation as to why they would sell only torn shirts and pants called pink and a couple of ill fitting bras and panties I can get anywhere else for half the price. I bought dresses, coats, shoes, suits, tops from VS. some of them especially the coats and suits are my favourite. I still have them more than 6 years later. they are truly classic, but quite stylish, without ever going out of style..my weight is what affects them and nothing else. these suits and coats are still gorgeous and i still get compliments on them. VS sadly is done... they dont need the cash... they prefer the broke and younger set with less buying power.

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  102. I'm beyond disappointed .I bought my entire wardrobe from them in the 90's and early 2000's. Now there's hardly anything!Please someone! Bring the good quality clothing and shoes back. Moda International was my clothing life. I luve in Australia but preferred buting all my clothes from them. Been wearing togas and sheets since. I'm off to search my garage for that other life. That workd that mafe me feel classy and beautiful .

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  103. I miss vs and moda international clothes as well ��

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  104. I had a baby in 2016 and after the pregnancy + a year and a half I'm finally starting to get my body back. We're taking a trip to Italy in 6 weeks and I thought "I need to get on the Victoria's secret website so i can buy a couple of classic reliable staples..." hugely disappointed. I'm 41 and Victoria's Secret has been a favorite source for clothing, pajamas and lingerie since I was 16, eagerly reached after watching my older sister shop there for years ahead of me. I can't even find basic underwear on their website that I would want to wear. I'm so sad that I'll never be able to replace my favorite cotton boy shorts, my perfect high quality nightgown I've had for 16 years or buy their jeans or quality cotton separates again. I too can't stand all their logo gear and juvenile underwear and miss all the adorable tunic length tanks and knitwear they offered.

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    1. I hope you find something for your trip and congratulations on getting to your best self and your family!

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  105. I couldn’t agree more. I too watched as the change happened. I too have been disappointed in the new VS. I thought it was just me getting old !
    I used to absolutely love walking in there, smelling all the yummy scents and shop while listening to an incredible french playlist. I loved it so much that I bought the cassette tape ! I wish I still had it. It was all such an incredible shopping experience. Now, I don’t even go in anymore-

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    1. You definitely summed up the experience! Oh how I miss it. :(

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  106. I miss the CLASSICS from Victoria's Secret. You could be sexy yet classy,or conservative; there were choices. I hope someone reads this article and decides to brings back true fashion. I believe target has a London jeans line.
    Thanks for the article.

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  107. I love this article and feel exactly the same way as all you good people. Was heartbreaking to realize the clothing part (& other great products) of VS were being discontinued... Every Fall I couldn’t wait for the shoe/boot catalog to come in as I’d pick out a couple of pair of cute, reasonably priced boots that looked great & held up. I STILL get compliments on my Moon Boots & fuzzy bear “fur” boots that I purchased 8 years ago! I also miss the reduced price bi-annual catalogs where I could get loads of cute clothes for a steal (Sigh). I’m hoping someone within the company will realize how detrimental losing our demographic is to the their brand & perhaps initiate an offshoot or subsidiary that can bring us back the fashion/products that we truly appreciated and wholeheartedly miss! Thanks again, author!

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  108. I love this article and feel exactly the same way as all you good people. Was heartbreaking to realize the clothing part (& other great products) of VS were being discontinued... Every Fall I couldn’t wait for the shoe/boot catalog to come in as I’d pick out a couple of pair of cute, reasonably priced boots that looked great & held up. I STILL get compliments on my Moon Boots & fuzzy bear “fur” boots that I purchased 8 years ago! I also miss the reduced price bi-annual catalogs where I could get loads of cute clothes for a steal (Sigh). I’m hoping someone within the company will realize how detrimental losing our demographic is to the their brand & perhaps initiate an offshoot or subsidiary that can bring us back the fashion/products that we truly appreciated and wholeheartedly miss! Thanks again, author!

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  109. I'm just a passer-by, but I'd like to comment on this. I'm disappointed with the modern fashion too, it's difficult for me to find nice clothes - I'm very picky. I adore those tailored stiff jackets, really miss them. I was excited to see the revival of jackets in fashion, but what makes me really sad in this situation is that nowadays a classy jacket means a soft and baggy one. >:c Why? The fashion is degrading.

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  110. They lost the employee and customer loyalty. Everything was made all over the world, then gradually 99% was made in China. The second owner was too busy making a name for himself and let corporate misrun it. Just look at how many lawsuits and class action lawsuits they had and what they were for. The corporate vision changed to “ We want tomorrow’s money yesterday “ Greed + Human Nature = 0. Oh well, it’s the end of an era is how I see it.

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  111. Agree with every comment here. They are not even remotely the same store anymore, although back in the day I didn’t see or appreciate how great they were. Not until you have something so inferior to compare it to that you realize how great something was. My VS thing was their makeup. That had the best makeup ever. I used to wear in the late 90s-2009ish. I was so bummed when they discontinued it, as they did most of everything else that was quality and profitable. I was so happy to find some VS eyeshadows and lipglosses on Poshmark recently. It totally took me back to better days and cheered me up so much. It’s now my special ocsssion make up so I don’t run out LOL. If anyone is looking for “vintage” VS fragrances or other items, check out Poshmark. Thanks for writing this. Someone had to say it.

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  112. I really can't say it better. I TOTALLY MISS the Old VS. ALL my clothes came from there and a lot of my shoes.

    Dang. I too wish MODA would make a comeback.
    I am STILL ranting after all these years.


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  113. I wish I had been small enough to have purchase some of their clothing back in the 90s but my daughter could.The one thing I could purchase was the leg luxuries body and foot lotins in eucalyptus and mint from VS. Bath and Bodyworks had a bath salts in eucalyptus and mint with dead sea salt. I was in merchandising on my feet sometimes between ten to fourteen hours a few days a week combination of both products worked wonders on the aches. Twenty mminutes in the tub and all the stress of a hard day gone. Then VS body and foot lotion kept my feet in great shape. But they stopped selling it as did bath and body works they sold a different type but it wasn't the same. so sad they both stopped them and no reason why?. Thanks for the blog I enjoyed your recount of what VS was...Too bad the have lost site of those that loved their products. Brings another story to mind on the changes our Walgreens has made recently. They took out all the items I use to purchase from them. sad to say I don't for muchh there anymore.

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  114. OMG! I know this article is old but I thought I was the only one who felt this way. I'm in my 40's and haven't shopped with them since the mid 90's when things really started changing. My credit card was ALWAYS maxed out at that store. I loved their clothes and lingerie. As a matter of fact, that beautiful grey nightgown that Tatjana is wearing in your post. I still own that nightgown. I bought it in the store. Fortunately, I still have a number of clothing and sleepwear pieces that I bought from them back then. I own the classical music collection they put out also. God, I miss the old Victoria Secret. Sigh, I guess I am regulated to scavenging on ebay for vintage pieces and looking wistfully at old catalogue photos. I was doing precisely that when I came across your article. Good to know I'm not the only one who misses the classical, beautiful way women use to dress. It's funny, I still dress the way the girls in these photos do and people tend to stare at you and wonder what you are so dressed up for because everyone runs around in sweats and hoodies. So boring...ugh. Thanks for a great article......even if I am 3 yrs. late. :)

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  115. I enjoyed your article and felt sad nostalgia looking at the photos as I remember a lot of those covers and ads. I too had a closet filled with VS clothing from coats to lingerie. I was so upset when their quality dropped to clothes that were rags then they stopped selling just about everything. I still have items I bought in the 90's. The 100% wool sweaters still are holding up as are the jeans and dresses. My regret was all the clothes I gave away thinking I would replace them with newer items. If I had only known, I would have kept every single item. My biggest question is why they stopped a successful line of clothing from Moda; stopped a very successful and well known brand. No one else is doing diamond studded bras and have tv fashion shows. It was a great business model but someone lost that along the way. How sad for us consumers who just want good quality, attractive clothing but are unable to find that anymore at a reasonable price.

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  116. Wow! I very rarely read blogs, and am not known to comment on them. However, after reading this entire blog, I feel compelled to comment. I was recently in a yoga class where the teacher is a dear friend of mine for almost thirty years. At the end of class I complimented her on the fun, great patterned yoga pants she was wearing. I told her that my favorite yoga pants were from Moda International from VS. I bought two pairs in the early 1990's, possibly late 1980's. She broke out in a great smile and laugh and exclaimed, "Me too!'' We shared that ours are still in terrific condition, have not faded or ripped, and fit perfectly regardless of a weight gain or loss. Then we lamented that VS no longer sells them, and neither one of us have found a yoga pant that suits our needs as well as those did. I did an online search for Moda Int. tonight,after yoga class, while wearing those amazing yoga pants. Like many of you, I landed on this sentimental, rather funny, and entertaining blog. I had no idea there were so many of us "vintage" VS/Moda fans out there!

    I remember going into the store to buy my first sexy bra and panties there ,and feeling like it was a Rite of Passage from teenager to young woman. I remember classy store displays, kind and professional salespeople, and didn't need to leave because of annoying, loud music. I remember getting catalogs with great sales, and even though I wasn't making much money, I knew the clothes were an investment in me. I remember pouring over the catalogs and being in awe of the models, how glamorous and self assured they looked. The amazing part of going down memory lane with all of you, is that I am happy to report that I still have and happily wear all of my clothes from VS. I did wear my turtlenecks with jackets and they looked great. I have sweaters, a satin pajama set, a long gown covered with flowers and they still seem timeless, fashionable and sexy. I cannot believe I even remember the recorded message when ordering by phone. That was back in the day when ordering by phone was fun, easy and I don't remember ever needing to make a return. One birthday I was gifted with a VS satin purple robe from a good friend. This robe still makes me feels special. These clothes are almost thirty years old, have survived much washing, several moves and have outlasted much of my clothes from that time. I have a small black velvet pocketbook with a gold VS on it that I often took to fancy weddings. I am surprised I did not read about the bags and pocketbooks offered to shoppers if a certain a mount of money was spent. I have a very old heart shaped perfume bottle that I kept because it must be displayed on it's side, rather than standing up, which I thought was unique, clever and unusual.

    I am now sorry that I never tried the jeans and dresses. I was wearing the Gloria Vanderbilt jeans then, and now. I probably have a VS card card somewhere and certainly do not remember the last time I used it. I will not hold my breathe in hopeful anticipation that VS will suddenly revamp their products or additionally cater to those of us who loved their brand when we were just starting out professionally, or discovering how to be sexy and elegant at the same time. Instead, I will continue to wear these old treasures of mine, feeling grateful that I have them, and search for more Moda yoga pants on some of the sites mentioned in this "ode to great clothes/brand" that is unfortunately no longer available to us.

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  117. I'm a 25 year old woman. I remember being a teenager and very eagerly looking forward to buying from the Victoria's Secret clothing line. I loved it. I'd browse all the time. I liked that they had variety, you could dress conservative yet feminine and sophisticated. You could even up the flirtiness of the outfit without being distasteful. They had class and quality and now it's gone to appeal to a passing trend; branding and hypersexualizing young girls with cheap apparel and awful logos everywhere the eye can fuc*ing see.. Their brand says "Hi! :DDD,shop HERE where you can become a VS ANGEL (sl*t) who loves to ride the cock carousel!!! :DDD ". Every time I walk past a VS store I shake my head and sigh heavily to myself in disappointment. They sold out long term success to profit in the short term. And now they've really damaged their rep with this. Even if they went back, I wouldn't know to trust them or not. I feel like they'd do it all over again if the opportunity arose. It's like they don't care about what the market wants, the loyal customers who would keep buying. I would've bought all my clothes from them starting two years ago had they stayed the same (or gotten better - there was some room for that) and I would've persuaded a lot of my girlfriends to do the same.. Ugh..

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  118. LOVED your article! You are spot-on with your nostalgia; I too have often wondered why Victoria's Secret took such a drastic wrong turn and never looked back. The mall in a nearby city where we lived in the late 80's had a VS store; it was a marvelous haven, one my husband also liked to frequent -- not for the ridiculous cold, porn atmosphere but for the opposite reasons. Walking into a VS store back then was indeed akin to walking into what I imagined an Edwardian boudoir looked like; small tables covered with chintz tablecloths where you could sit and sip a cup of tea, soft classical music that soothed and encouraged shopping, a lovely fragrance, soft-voiced, helpful clerks -- all of which combined to remind you that this was a very special shopping experience. I had several nightgowns and teddies from that era, and ordered clothing from the catalog that was truly elegant and sexy -- not "pornish" -- and that I wish I still had today. One memorable suit was made of linen with an eggshell-on-eggshell windowpane pattern; the jacket had buttons down the front but ended at the waist with one side threading through the other and tying in the back, allowing it to conform precisely to my figure yet not displaying cleavage, fitting nicely over the high-waisted pencil skirt. I foolishly gave it away after my third child when it became apparent I would no longer be able to squeeze into a size 4 (I thought). Their clothing was romantic, classic and of excellent quality. What a pity VS sold out to teenie-porn and the slut factor. I find it very difficult to believe the original business model would not make money catering to us older professional women with money in our wallets who seek an enjoyable shopping experience for good quality clothing.

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  119. I concur - I have a pair of London Jeans (still my favorite since I can get into them again) and a few pairs of the yoga pairs. all purchased in the 90s. They are still in excellent shape. My 15 yo daughter wears a couple pair of the yoga pants. I got to thinking that I should spend my money there again because you obviously can't beat the quality, and like you, I was so disappointed to find absolutely nothing I would be inclined to buy. So sad!

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  120. I'm in my 20s and I wish Victoria's Secret was like this! Those outfits look stunning and I've been looking for lingerie exactly like the one pictured. It's so hard to find classy lingerie that's good quality and affordable. I can't buy Agent Provocateur all the time. The last time I purchased a nice lingerie set from VS was during the holiday season in 2015. Since then, they switched CEO's. They don't make classy, yet sexy lingerie anymore. Everything is either too gaudy and blingy or way too casual. They do make bra/panty sets but no garter belts to match and they stopped making stockings. I do buy some underwear at times but the quality has been horrible because they changed manufacturers. The prices have increased and there's no way to justify this. They've been loosing long time customers. It's such a shame because VS is so iconic.

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  121. I agree . When Victoria Secret discontinued their clothing line, what were they thinking?? The quality of the items now are of poor quality. When I go into their store, I am so disappointed. I still have some clothing items from back then, I wear to this day, especially the cotton yoga pants and the cotton tee shop tops- I hang on to them for dear life!



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  122. Just read 53 victoria secrets stores are closing! Hummm wonder why?

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  123. Just stumbled upon this article and fondly remembering the days when my sisters and I would share the catalogue around and mark what each one of us wanted. I remember that Cafe Retro catalogue with Frederique and thought she was so glamorous, poured over it for days. Sad to see VS now...never go in there

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  124. Absolutely agree. The old VS had beautiful dresses, suits, holiday wear, gown/robe sets and the best fitting jeans ever. Now I can only find their jeans on eBay and poshmark. Used to spend a lot more money at VS than I do now. Miss the catalog too. Very sad

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  125. Bring back Second Skin Satin

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  126. 100% agree! I used to buy their clothes from 2007 until around 2012. I loved their blouses and London Jean's! They were such high quality and fit so well. The store just looks lazy now and the quality has gone downhill. I rarely shop there anymore unless I need some seamless underwear.

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  127. COULDN'T AGREE MORE! Just yesterday I wore one of my favorite 100% cotton plaid oversized blouses, in pristine condition, that I bought maybe 10 years ago from V.S. They had some wonderful clothing--and so many choices. Total bummer that they went in a dramatically different direction.

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  128. i just bought the tuxedo suit on Poshmark for $100!

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  129. I just bought the tuxedo suit on Poshmark for $100!

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  130. VS came to my area around 1985. I had never seen anything like it. It was such a special place. Lovely lingerie, sachets, etc. The clothes in the catalog were both classy and sexy. Retail as a whole has really lost it's way.

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  131. I’m young (21) and have been working for VS for about 2 years. I never knew they sold nice clothes in there, I had never shopped in there before I worked there. Recently there had been some manufacturing changes I noticed, they started to sell pj’s that were very nice silk and these neat leather jackets! I don’t often find myself in pink even too shop, the clothes in there is all comfy sport stuff and they don’t go to XL over there so I couldn’t shop there anyway. Overall I would love to see a comeback of their clothing, all the catalog images i’m finding are so beautiful!

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  132. Well, I’m really, really late to this one. Stumbled upon this bc someone gave me some old sweaters which are in amazing condition and one of them was MODA Intl. 😃sadly it just didn’t fit me right :-/ so I was gonna put it up on my poshmark. Was checking on pricing when I found this. I too miss the clothes and am actually wearing my very worn London’s now. So sad. They also have discontinued every single body spray I always wore.. so frustrating!!!!!! Well, I won’t list it for a few days if one of you were interested. It’s a really adorable black sweater. I’m so not tech savvy so I didn’t know how to put a pic on here but here is a link to the only other one like it I could find in white. https://pin.it/1RNXy5d just look me up on poshmark bc I’ve been on there more than anything trying to stay afloat until we can go back to work. My poshmark is @lovenstuff . Hope this makes it to someone! Would hate for it to be grabbed by one of those folks that doesn’t appreciate it like us. Have a great day! ☺️ Oh yea. It’s a size Medium .

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  133. Hi, I know this is late, but I would like to see the photos of old store look if you still have them!

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  134. JUST put on a MODA International sweater today. Must be over 20 years old, but still in perfect shape. Can't find anything to wear anymoore..... Return everything.

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  135. I used to get the knit twinsets and loved them. They lasted forever and were classy and stylish. I wish I could still buy them today. I can't find a similar item anywhere. Victoria's Secret back in the day was amazing. I was so excited when the catalog showed up in my mailbox!

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  136. I’m trying to find who made the amazing cotton/spandex bra tops as these have been my mainstays for decades. The label said they were made in Sri Lanka so perhaps the factory still exists and is making them for someone else?

    I agree with everything said above. I had an amazing silk satin babydoll from VS which was so incredible and beautiful. Can one even find such beautiful items anymore or has craptastic fast fashion and the race to the bottom (line) profits over quality destroyed everything everywhere?!

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  137. This article makes me so happy! I too miss VS clothing - all of it, but especially the biz wear. My first Corporate job was at Vogue Travel and I wore a VS baby blue lined wool pencil skirt with matching lined longer blazer/jacket with a cream soft chiffon drape neck blouse that was see through so a camisole underneath. Hair in a french twist and to this day the owner is still my friend and she remembers that outfit. I still think it's the outfit that got me the job. It was unlike any other and very classy. I wish i had never rid of it. I have never found another close to it since. I wish the would reconsider bringing back their line. It still is better quality and timeless fashion than any of these current clothing companies. And just as someone stated above, most of it would still be in style today.....it truly was timeless fashion at a fraction of the cost. i miss it.

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  138. I remember girls in college getting their interview suits from VSC (mid 90s). I still love the aesthetic of the 90s catalogue, even though I could never fit into the clothes. Someone should do some sleuthing to find out what became of Moda International - who/where are they now?

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  139. ABSOLUTELY. Victoria's Secret catalogs in the 90s were my absolute dream. I purchased sleepwear, loungewear, and casual wear from them and they are still my all-time favorites to remember. I have saved off many of their old catalog images from eBay, because they were Iconic Anglophile Luxurious Elegance. Jill Goodacre, especially, just had some undefinable, endearing something that made me search for her look in each edition. Their Christmas gift catalogs were especially a dream: very London. I can smell the old "Victoria" perfume as I type this, and still have and love and play about seven of their London Symphony Orchestra cds: the cd covers are filled with romance and the music is transporting. Whoever headed it up in those years should do a new startup.

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  140. p.s. Elle MacPherson in the Mayfair Pajamas. ICONIC.

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  141. You said it all. Thank you. I miss their clothes so much. A third of my wardrobe is from VS, Clearance catalog, of course. I could not wait to receive that Clearance catalog each month. I have lots of sweaters. I'm addicted to sweaters, so I was always buying them. I love the quality. I think I may just post pictures to see if any of them will bring back any memories. At least twice a week in the winter, I'm wearing something from VS that I've owned ten years ago or more. I still get compliments. I tell you, those clothes look better than the ones I've bought the last seven years. I know they won't be back in business, so I'm going to enjoy every piece I have until they are worn out. Thanks Again!!!

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  142. I just typed a long paragraph about how much I miss VS and lost it somehow. I will try again. Thank you so much for all of the memories.

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  143. Omg I don’t think I could have summed it up better myself. I was in your shoes. My wardrobe bedding everything else the quality. My business attire to evening attire omg the fit and cuts choices. And yes older ladies appreciate the quality and don’t mind dropping coin on good shit. I’m disappointed in this company. I must admit when they changed I stopped shopping there as much. The quality is hot garbage and even more over priced than it use to be back way then.

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