Let’s talk about underwear.
That thing that everyone wears (or should wear) literally every day? There’s no reason to be shy of the topic when it’s such a necessity in our lives.
More specifically, let’s talk about where to get your underwear. What do you value in a store? Maybe selection or pricing? Personally, I’ve always valued a morally-sound company that is transparent with their beliefs. Two popular stores for the task are Victoria’s Secret (VS) and Aerie.
I’m here to tell you why Aerie is the (undoubtedly) superior choice between the two.
- Aerie is more inclusive
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Aerie’s models and ads are consistently more diverse than VS. Even at a quick glance, it’s evident that Aerie has a wider variety of models, ranging from women who aren’t skinny to women in wheelchairs. VS uses models with the same body type for every product — each following mainstream beauty standards.
- Sticky notes on mirrors
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Similar to number one, Aerie not only advertises inclusivity, but practices it as well. In each dressing room, you can usually find a little box of sticky notes and markers attached to the mirror. You’re encouraged to write a positive note to anyone else who will use the same dressing room in the future, while seeing notes that previous shoppers have left. Honestly, it’s a total confidence booster.
- Victoria’s Secret’s CEO is transphobic and generally a terrible person
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In an interview, VS’s Chief Marketing Officer, Ed Razek, explicitly said that the brand does not imagine ever including transgender people on the runway. Razek justified his claim by saying, “Well, why not? Because the show is a fantasy. It’s a 42-minute entertainment special. That’s what it is.” This is not the kind of toxicity that we need in a brand, and as such a prominent brand, it’s unacceptable for VS to employ people with such views.
- Aerie is way less expensive
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This one is a huge factor for me: Aerie is simply less expensive. Necessities like bras and underwear should not break the bank, and with Aerie, they won’t.
- Despite being cheap, the quality is way better
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Despite being more reasonably priced, Aerie’s quality is just as good as VS, if not better. I’ve had countless pairs of (expensive) VS underwear rip after being washed maybe twice. I have not had this issue with Aerie, so there’s no competition here.
- Aerie isn’t sexualized
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Sure, obviously we go to places like Aerie and VS for lingerie at times. But what’s great about Aerie is that while they definitely have products that are “sexy,” they don’t make a brand off of this idea. They make a brand off of the idea that they want their customers to feel good, not just look good.
- Aerie has a far more welcoming vibe
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If you’ve ever been in a VS store, you know that the lights are low and the atmosphere is fairly dark and not very inviting. Every Aerie store I’ve been in has been very bright and welcoming. It really is the little things, and in this case, Aerie is my #1.