de bene esse: Victoria's Secret Catalogue 1979

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

Victoria's Secret is synonymous with luxury lingerie modeled by curvaceous women oozing sexuality.
But a vintage catalogue from the 70s tells a very different story.
This pre-Angel-era collection of photographs from 1979, complete with blank facial expressions and furry slippers is a far cry from the sultry and sensual looks of today.

The 1979 Victoria's Secret catalogue is a far cry from today's glitzy shows and shoots

The setting of the shoot is hardly glamorous and features a drab interior resembling a grandmother's house

It's a dog's life! The women pose with a sleeping dog and lounge on a chaise-long

The catalogue, which reveals a backdrop of strange printed carpets, dogs sleeping in corners, and fake skies lacks the sexy rhinestone barely-there lingerie and Photoshop perfection of today's offering.

The 'angels' can be seen donning their best 'school-mistress' fluffy ringlet hair and bright pink fluffy slippers as they lounge around reading leather-bound books.

The 70s look is much more demure than the barely-there rhinestone encrusted underwear of today

The women lounge around on a chaise-longue reading a lather bound book as they pose in fluffy slippers

The models look classy and elegant in their demure lace pajamas and fluffy slippers

The shots are extremely telling of just how much has changed and how the brand has evolved over the years.
But the overall aesthetic of the vintage catalogue lends itself to a different kind of glamour.
The awkward poses, the drab setting and the general ambiance differ enormously to the star-studded catwalk shows and photoshoots of today.
In the 70s Victoria’s Secret were selling lingerie, today they’re selling a lifestyle of perfection.