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October 30, 2007

Something I've often wondered about...

I often see women walking down the street carrying a Victoria's Secret bag. Since it can't possibly be the case that some woman coming from a residential neighborhood and going to a commercial one, well anyway. These bags are almost always being used for things like lunch, or other type of auxiliary baggage. I never see other types of bags used for this.

Why Victoria's Secret? Is it the status thing? If so, why not Nordstrom? Is it a way of declaring (subtly) something about the woman's sexuality? If so, why do I not see Fredrick's bags? Is it something about the bag itself? Does the bag have intrinsic qualities which make it superior for holding day to day items? This is my leading theory at the moment-- those bags really do seem sturdier than other bags.

Except... Now that I think about it, Apple Store bags are-- very different-- equally sturdy. Perhaps the relative dearth of Apple Store's accounts for this. Still, the "sturdy" theory seems most likely.

So: I wonder Does VS know the use to which their bags are being put? If so, do they encourage this bit of free advertising? Or does it cheapen the brand by making their wares seem more common? The questions never end...

Posted by Andrew at October 30, 2007 07:07 AM

Comments

I think you have explained something I have been wondering about for a very long time!
The relevant LJ entry: http://mealesbia.livejournal.com/1448.html?mode=reply

Basically, I was fairly sure there was a VS bag in the CNN fridge, but I couldn't figure out why in the world someone would refrigerate their underwear. (Especially at work.)
Clearly, it just held something other than underwear.
I have no idea why this possibility never occurred to me before, but thank you for solving the mystery.

Posted by: Eloriane [TypeKey Profile Page] at November 6, 2007 09:26 PM

VS bags have flat bottoms, unlike other bags. Nordstrom bags have that too, but Nordstrom bags are

1) bigger - so not very good for lunch or other things like that, and
2) don't have string handles. Those string handles are really great because they don't break or bend like other ones do.

The flat bottom allows you to keep things flat so your lunch doesn't go flying and the like.

*But* I do think it's something that a woman either consciously or unconsciously may do as well. Frederick's implies a more robust sexuality - generally something more fetishy than general underwear - and Nordstrom implies you're flaunting money or status. Victoria Secret only implies that you have a sexuality. It's a sexy thing, rather than a sex thing.

Posted by: Wanton Expressions [TypeKey Profile Page] at November 9, 2007 11:27 PM