Victoria’s Secret’s Revival in Full Spin

The Angels might not be enough to protect Victoria’s Secret. But where scantily clad divinity fails, the economics of being the market leader might buy the brand enough time to turn things around. Victoria’s Secret’s share of the U.S. intimates market fell to 24 percent last year from 32 percent just three years earlier, according to Euromonitor International. Despite the steep decline, that’s still has a big lead over the company’s nearest rivals. The brand, it turns out, continues to maintain an outsized clout on social media and strong name recognition. So far, Victoria’s Secret has not been able to use those advantages to full effect, but investors will get a fresh look at the brand’s progress on Wednesday, when parent company L Brands Inc. reports quarterly results after the market closes. Whether Victoria’s Secret shows first-quarter signs of a turnaround, the company is on the move. Tory Burch alum John Mehas was hired last year to lead Victoria’s Secret, which has also shuttered stores, reintroduced swimwear online and said the famous fashion show might not return to network TV next year. L Brands, meanwhile, has been shedding unprofitable divisions, including Henri Bendel and La Senza, and fending off activist investors.  Smaller lingerie brands and buzzy

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