Victoria's Secret

With its glossy quartz floors, black walls and leopard-print padded bras, Victoria’s Secret is as different from Marks & Spencer’s trusty undies departments as you can get. The American giant, founded in 1977 by Roy Raymond, is known for its brash ad campaigns featuring scantily clad ‘Angels’. Being a Victoria’s Secret Angel has kickstarted the career of many a young model, Miranda Kerr and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley included. It’s just opened its first UK store in Westfield Stratford City with plans to open a flagship on New Bond Street later this summer. We can confidentally say feminists and French women won’t be queueing up. Victoria’s Secret does not do subtle– think polyester thongs and low-waisted briefs (‘Cheekies’) many of them £10 a pop (or three for £24) in lurid neon shades. Some are smattered in eye-popping floral designs (part of a special limited edition London range, apparently) and presented on numerous round black display tables through the store. Frustratingly, few pieces on display seem to have prices on them so you are forced to ask one of the army of ultra-attentive staff. On our recent visit, the majority of customers seemed to be Hollister-clad teens. Not sure if this is their target market, but with bulbous padded bras at £49, they need to be saving their pocket money.