There’s something inherently flawed when a brand that is supposedly about female empowerment supports an image that makes a good chunk — if not most — women feel bad about themselves. Even those of us who have seen firsthand the hours of makeup and prep that go into getting Victoria’s Secret angels ready for the show (face, body, butt … everything gets endless camouflaging attention!) can find it hard to remember that comparing ourselves to that TV-ready image is absurd.
While it’s true that most of us do want an element of aspiration from the fashion brands we look up to, we also want to see ourselves reflected to some extent, which is precisely why Victoria’s Secret chief marketing officer Ed Razek’s comments about transgender and plus-size models are so hard to forget. All eyes will certainly be on the show’s casting this year, scrutinizing model picks more than ever before. In the meantime, Razek’s jaw-dropping comments have left the door wide open for competitors that embrace a more expansive view about what is beautiful to swoop in.
All that said, the lingerie business is a $9 billion industry and Victoria’s Secret accounts for about 62.8 percent of that. No matter what side of the fence you’re on, it’s important to remember that we can only push change by voting with our dollars. Check out the slideshow above for some of the best brands looking to give VS a run for their money.
[ Next: Learn Supermodel Secrets on Naomi Campbell’s New YouTube Channel ]
The Brands Hoping to Make Victoria's Secret Obsolete
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ThirdLove
ThirdLove is arguably the biggest thorn in Victoria's Secret's side — not only are they rapidly growing, after Razek's comments they took out a full-page ad in The New York Times slamming Victoria's Secret. In addition to being inclusive when it comes to size and model selection, ThirdLove bras are available in half sizes.
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MeUndies
MeUndies promotes comfort, self-love and inclusivity with their designs, campaigns and model choices. Besides a variety of bra and underwear styles, it's also worth noting that they they have fun prints (including cute, holiday-specific options) along with everyday staples.
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Knix
Knix is an inclusive brand that makes intimates ranging from those made of moisture-wicking fabrics to anti-bunching options; they even have leak-proof underwear! Sizes range from 0 to 22 and up to 42G, even in wireless.
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Aerie
American Eagle is a retail giant doing it right. Not only does the brand's underwear label, Aerie, not Photoshop any images used in ads, they have sizes that range from XXS to XXL.
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Negative Underwear
In keeping with its name, Negative Underwear is all about stripping lingerie down for simple, bare-bones comfort and designs.
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Lively
Lively is blending the aesthetic lines of lingerie, active and swimwear for a category that the founders call "leisurée." The brand relies on social media feedback to create new products. Their easy return policy (free shipping over $40 and free returns) and affordable prices (three bras for $80; three panties for $25) are also worth singling out.
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True&Co.
True&Co.'s goal is to make shopping for bras with the "perfect" fit, easy, even online. The process starts with a quiz to help shoppers find the most appropriate selection of bras, which they can then try on and return for free.
