November 28th, 2006

Filed under:
Mixed Bag, Sex
14 Comments »

Tragedy Strikes: No Victoria’s Secret in Canada

Apparently Victoria’s Secret acquired La Senza. I had no idea, and must pay more attention to the undies mergers and acquisitions marketplace. Alas, Victoria’s Secret remains one of the few major franchises that Canadians must still go south of the border for.

I’m blogging about this so that a) I can include a photo of a scantily-clad model and b) so that I can quote the awkward headline.

Victoria’s Secret not slipping its lingerie into Canada, La Senza boss says

Victoria’s Secret bras and panties aren’t likely to be available in La Senza stores (LSZ.TO) despite its U.S. parent company’s deal to buy the Canadian lingerie retailer.

La Senza will continue to operate independently and there also aren’t any immediate plans for Victoria’s Secret to open its own stores in Canada, Laurence Lewin, president and chief operating officer of the Montreal-based company, said Thursday.

Speaking of models, I was having a conversation about them the other day. Is the Era of the Super Model over? I (obviously) don’t pay much attention to the world of fashion, but I feel like there are far fewer models who are household names than, say, ten years ago. Is this true, or am I just out of the loop?

The person I was talking to pointed out that actors have taken away a lot of the advertising work that models used to do. If you open a magazine like Cosmo these days, you’ll see a lot of actresses doing makeup and fashion ads. Could this be a reason–that actors have bogarted the super model stardom?

UPDATE: As it turns out, Victoria’s Secret has some pretty dubious environmental practices.

Comments: 14 Responses so far

Meg
November 28th, 2006
12:35 pm

While there are still some fairly high name recognition models — the Giseles and Kates and Adrianas — strutting their stuff today on the runways and in print work, I’d say the era of the supermodel has changed significantly.

The girls who really made themselves famous — Cindy, Christie, Linda, Naomi, Tatiana, Frederique, Shalom, Amber, et al — are still modeling, but they model more as celebrities than clotheshangers, and most of them are acting or doing spokesperson work as well.

As you say, celebrities are the models in demand for the covers and the feature shoots, which pisses off a fair amount of models plying their trade, and has LONG been a point of contention in the industry.

Celebs are also snapping up the cosmetic campaigns.

But, interestingly enough, Victoria’s Secret tends to stick with actual models for their wildly popular shows and catalogs, as does Sports Illustrated, etc.

And runway work — although Paris will pop up now and again, for spectacle — is generally done by runway models, because most celebrities aren’t tall enough or skinny enough to work the sample sizes.

Magazines are really the bastion of celebrity modeling, because face recognition sells issues more so than actual fashion.

And yeah — I think about this stuff too much:).

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Heather
November 28th, 2006
12:37 pm

Grrr! Several of my fellow female coworkers and I were genuinely overjoyed about the prospect of access to V.S. underthings. Their bras, especially, are better constructed than those available at La Senza and seem to be based on actual sizes. Plus, Victoria’s Secret has an excellent footwear line.

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Michael
November 28th, 2006
1:30 pm

Looks like I’ll still have to accompany the gf on her trips to Bellis Fair.

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Derek K. Miller
November 28th, 2006
9:01 pm

Bellis Fair! Nah, you need to head down to Alderwood Mall in Lynnwood or University Village in Seattle.

Why? They both have an Apple Store. In U-Village, it’s right next door to Victoria’s Secret.

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Ada
November 28th, 2006
9:45 pm

I’m here to embarrassingly report that much of my underwear comes from Victoria Secret that I have purchased off of ebay.

Great deals.

No, it’s not used.

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Marc Snyder
November 29th, 2006
6:02 am

undies mergers and acquisitions

Mind if I add that “demergers” and “deaquisitions” of undies are more fun, as a thing to pay attention to?

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becky
November 29th, 2006
10:11 am

I’m just amused that I recognize the CO’s name — but only because I saw him on CBC’s show Dragon’s Den.

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Miss604
November 29th, 2006
11:01 am

Yeah I pounced on the news ASAP [MBV]

Derek: Alderwood is awesome, I was there last weekend - they have everything and yes, the Apple Store [Flickr]

Becky: Dragon’s Den, I caught that show for the first time the other night, too funny!

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Model Portfoilo
December 1st, 2006
7:53 am

Get you free model portfolio website at Talent Rock Pages, the largest talent community on the web.

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Natasha
April 8th, 2007
5:29 pm

Victoria Secret did not buy La Senza. The company that owns Victoria Secret (Limited Brands) bought all outstanding shares of La Senza. So Victoria Secret and La Senza have in no way merged. However most of La Senza’s bras/ panties are the same as Victoria Secret’s except given different names.

However, when Victoria Secret tried to sue La Senza’s “Itec” bra for immitating their “Ipex” they lost because other than the name similarity the two bras are in no way similar. Victoria Secret’s “Angels/ Secret Embrace” bra is identical to La Senza’s “Itec”. While Victoria Secret’s “Ipex” is just like La Senza’s “Technolite” bra. So essentially Victoria Secret sued for the wrong bra.

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oralia gonzales
July 11th, 2007
2:55 pm

I would like to know if you carry plus sizes at any of your stores or catalog.

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Danielle Ash
October 19th, 2007
12:38 pm

Within the last few months I’ve noticed that the new ’super’ LaSenzas are carrying VS’s ‘Body’ products (lotion, massage oil, etc). Hmm.. I hope there’s more VS product to come!!

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katrinahugo
January 30th, 2008
8:21 pm

Natasha::: or anyone else who may have information or know where to obtain information on what Natasha has claimed:: please email here

katrinahugo@hotmail.com

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katrinahugo
January 30th, 2008
9:22 pm

This is true, from the Victoria’s Secret website that VS has bought the rest of the oustanding shares and has taken over the company. January 2007.
http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2007/01/16/limited_brands_completes_la_senza_buy/

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