Victoria's Secret CEO Grace Nichols greeted Simon and an unexpectedly present Irene Lande at a Brooklyn studio. Noticing something unusual, she couldn't help but point at Simon's reddened left ear, asking, "What happened there?"
"Bitten," Simon replied, causing Irene, clinging to his arm, to blush and give him a gentle pinch.
Grace picked up on the playful energy between the two and smiled, choosing not to comment further.
There was no need for Simon to explain. It was actually related to that nursery rhyme from earlier. In the car on the way here, Irene had been humming it with delight. Worried she might embarrass herself in public, Simon mischievously decided to teach her a "proper" version of "Two Tigers Running Fast." But Irene quickly caught on and gave him a hard time for his prank.
Ah, good deeds go unappreciated.
Noticing Simon's gaze, Irene bared her small white teeth in mock threat.
They entered a spacious, factory-like studio space dedicated to Victoria's Secret fashion show designs, where costumes and angel wings were crafted.
But the biggest problem Irene noticed was that the studio was filled with tall, stunningly beautiful women. She instinctively held Simon's arm tighter and asked, "Isn't it Saturday?"
Simon nodded, "Yes, it is," then gestured broadly and said, "That's why I'm so wealthy. Everyone's working over the weekend."
Irene rolled her eyes, "You really think I don't know? They're all here for you."
Before she could finish, a group of models, drawn by some irresistible force, started gathering around. Feeling the pressure from this group of tall, long-legged women, Irene couldn't resist raising her chin slightly and keeping her arm around Simon.
Heidi Klum was the first to approach.
The savvy model didn't immediately greet Simon but instead opened her arms with a smile to Irene. "Irene, I didn't expect to see you here."
Good manners and upbringing kicked in, and despite a hint of animosity, Irene instinctively released Simon and exchanged a light hug with Heidi Klum.
But internally, she couldn't help but think, "Are we really that close?"
Then she realized her mistake.
Heidi's hug was brief, barely a pat on the back, as if she were pressed for time. Before Irene knew it, the "big fairy" had thrown herself into Simon's arms.
Witch!
In that moment, Irene thought bitterly about how this model's future with Estée Lauder might suddenly dry up. Yes, not even a single endorsement!
And when Heidi finally let go, another voice came from beside her. "Hi, Irene."
It was Stephanie Seymour—who was married, yet somehow even more problematic.
As expected, Stephanie turned to Simon right after saying hello, and sure enough, she wasn't the least bit reserved.
Unbelievable…
One after another, these models—Heidi Klum, Stephanie Seymour, Cindy Crawford, Amber Valletta, Claudia Schiffer, Christy Turlington, Fernanda Lima, Daniela Pestova, Karen Mulder, Tricia Helfer, and Roberta Chirko—all greeted Irene first before turning to Simon. Without realizing it, Irene found herself squeezed to the edge of the crowd.
Fine. I'll remember all of you!
Eventually, Simon extricated himself from the group, arm wrapped around Christy Turlington, and another hand resting on Fernanda Lima's waist. When he came over to Irene and pulled her close, her frustration faded a bit.
Alright, at least he knows what's good for him.
The studio was divided into sections, with each area representing a different theme.
Naturally, the models were here for Simon.
However, professionalism was still key, and after accompanying Simon for a bit, they dispersed, pretending to be busy.
Grace Nichols reappeared to introduce Simon to the first theme area: "Midnight Seduction."
As the name implied, this one focused on a dark, alluring aesthetic.
The Victoria's Secret show primarily worked with colors like black, white, and pink, but each show needed to innovate with music, sets, and wings. Since its successful debut, each new show began preparations almost immediately after the previous one ended. Now, it was mid-July, four months before the November show, and most of the six core themes were well underway.
The theme music was also a big draw.
These days, many artists were as eager to perform at the Victoria's Secret show as they were for the Super Bowl halftime, given the millions of viewers and the long-term exposure from reruns and video recordings.
For this reason, artists would often create music specifically for the show, avoiding the messy, disjointed vibe of shows where themes and music didn't align. And for those wanting higher fees? Too bad—on to the next!
Soon enough, models began to strut around in Victoria's Secret outfits, each donning a look prepared just for Simon's visit.
Of course, if Simon weren't here, the fitting duties would have been handled by less-known models, and there wouldn't be so many famous "big fairies" gathered in one place.
But today was special.
In the fashion world, there were limited opportunities, and these were women who wouldn't let them slip by. For instance, Roberta Chirko had recently wowed audiences with a small yet striking role in Spectre and was rumored to be invited to audition for Terminator 3.
To land such a role would be a breakthrough, comparable only to the likes of Christy Turlington, who had also started making waves in Hollywood.
With modeling being a short-lived career, switching to acting was the goal, although it wasn't easy. Even Cindy Crawford's Fair Game had flopped, despite Simon's prior attempts to feature her in guest roles in movies like Batman.
Despite her recent setbacks, Cindy Crawford was here today.
In short, opportunities are valuable, but the right ones are even more so.
Simon Westeros was the man who could provide those opportunities. Moreover, he was young, handsome, and, most importantly… incredibly wealthy.
And though these "big fairies" had already achieved success, if they wanted to hold onto their status, they couldn't let any new models gain a foothold. Which explained why no fresh faces were in sight—only the established elite.
In terms of drama, each of these "big fairies" was a nine-dan master.
Irene, who initially worried about Simon's intentions, gradually relaxed as she watched him enter work mode, focusing on Grace's presentations, listening intently, and offering his opinions. Content, she followed him from one theme area to the next.
All six themes took over two hours to review.
The models were all focused and professional, with the occasional teasing slip-ups as small distractions.
"Christy is perfect for this year's Fantasy Bra," Simon said as they lingered in the final "PINK" section around noon. "However, the wings should be toned down—the Fantasy Bra alone is eye-catching enough. As for the PINK theme music, the rhythm is fine, but the lyrics are off. Swap them out. If nothing suitable is found, stick to instrumental. And the opening act—let's give it to Roberta. Her vibe fits this collection, and her popularity is high this year."
After everyone noted down his instructions, Simon added, "There's one more thing I wanted to mention in advance so you can all prepare."
All eyes turned to him.
Simon continued, "This year marks our fifth show, and I'm pleased with how far we've come, with each one achieving great success. But…"
He paused, and there was a collective feeling of unease among the models and staff.
Sure enough.
"…I've noticed that Victoria's Secret has become increasingly dependent on this annual event. Marketing is essential for any brand, but if it's heavily reliant on a single event, it could spell the end if that event loses its public appeal. I don't want Victoria's Secret to fall into that trap."
The implications were clear.
Irene couldn't help but feel satisfaction as she saw the stunned expressions of the models around her.
Let's see you keep showing off now.
Simon then delivered the final blow, "So, after this year, Victoria's Secret will be putting the show on hiatus."
"What…" A few gasps escaped from the group.
Grace Nichols, as the CEO, couldn't contain herself and asked, "But, Simon, the show's been so successful. Why stop it?"
Looking at the dedicated CEO, Simon explained, "Precisely because it's been so successful. I want the show to pause while it's still cherished. If we keep running it into the ground, it may end up forgotten. This way, it leaves people with fond memories."
Grace caught on to a crucial detail in Simon's words, "You're saying this is just a pause, not a permanent cancellation?"
Simon nodded, "At the right moment, it will return. Perhaps two, three, or even five years from now. I think the turn of the millennium would be a good milestone for a comeback."
"I understand. You might feel the show is becoming too frequent and losing its novelty. If that's the case, how about we make it a biennial event? No need to stop it entirely."
The hopeful eyes of the models turned toward Simon.
But he was firm. "As I said, pausing the show isn't an end in itself. I want Victoria's Secret to explore new marketing approaches outside of this show. I've also reviewed some reports showing that customers have concerns about the products. Improving product quality and enhancing customer experience will be Victoria's focus in the coming years. Grace, you and the management team should work on a post-show operational plan to present to me. That's it."
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