Due to a technical glitch on my end this week, Back Row’s Monday and Tuesday stories may not have reached the full list, so I’m resurfacing them here:
Loose Threads
Apparently Kim Kardashian’s viral thongs with fake hair on them have already sold out. (Some outlets have mentioned that John Galliano did the whole merkin thing in his Margiela couture show that became a sensation after it walked in early 2024.)
The European Commission fined Gucci, Chloé and Loewe for price-fixing, following a 2023 investigation. Per the AP, “The commission said that the three brands restricted the ability of independent retailers to set their own prices for high-end apparel, leather goods, footwear and accessories sold both online and in physical stores.”
We’re talking about underwear ahead today, and if you’re looking for practical pieces that are kind of the opposite of what much of Victoria’s Secret sells: the brand EBY recently sent me a few items to try, and am in love with this clasp-less bra and this T-shirt bra. (Pairs well with their bottoms.)
After two consecutive quarters of declines, LVMH’s third quarter results were up 1 percent from the previous year, beating expectations.
I had a hard time reading about the rib-cracking procedure that’s apparently all the rage in plastic surgery right now. Linda Wells did a great job covering it for the New York Times.
Victoria’s Secret Goes Back to 2005
Victoria’s Secret would like to go back to a simpler time, mostly.
A time when no one gave them hell for foisting unrealistic body standards upon generations of young women. A time when almost no one knew who Jeffrey Epstein was, or that Les Wexner, CEO of VS former parent company L Brands, had close ties to him. A time when Trump was mostly known for saying, “You’re fired!” on a reality show and showing up at the Met Gala (or Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show!) from time to time.
Can you blame them? The brand’s scandals have been myriad since the late 2010s, when the New York Times exposed its “culture of misogyny.” I wrote a story for Time magazine detailing how the brand’s dated idea of “sexy” seemed to be hurting business, and how executives like then-Chief Marketing Officer Ed Razek failed to see this.
After canceling its fashion show in 2019, the brand successfully revived it last year. The event started in 1995 and became Victoria’s Secret’s main holiday marketing vehicle — a television broadcast that booked talent like Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber. And last night, the brand aesthetically brought us back to 2005 by way of Mar-a-Lago.
Subscribe to Back Row to read the rest.
Become a paying subscriber of Back Row to get access to this post and other subscriber-only content.
Upgrade