Podcast Summary: The Run-Through with Vogue

Episode: Adam Selman On His New Victoria’s Secret—“Everything’s a Fantasy”
Date: October 14, 2025
Guest: Adam Selman (Senior VP & Creative Director, Victoria’s Secret)
Host: Nicole Phelps (Director, Vogue Runway)

Episode Overview

This episode features a candid conversation with Adam Selman, the newly appointed Senior VP and Creative Director of Victoria’s Secret. Ahead of his first Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, Selman discusses his journey through fashion, collaboration with icons like Rihanna, his vision for reinvigorating Victoria’s Secret, and how he plans to blend fantasy, inclusivity, and modern storytelling at the legacy brand.

Key Discussion Points

Adam Selman’s Origin Story and Career Trajectory

[01:53–03:05]

• Started as a handyman, pattern maker, and then costume designer under Zaldi (known for working with drag and club culture).
• Worked on world tours for Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, and RuPaul.
• Key shift: branching off to work closely with Rihanna and launching his own brand.
• Roles included Chief Design Officer at Savage X Fenty, culminating in his appointment at Victoria’s Secret.

Quote [01:53 | Adam Selman]:

"To be completely honest, I think, like, stepping into this, it was so unexpected, actually. Like, I never really, like, saw myself doing this, but it's actually such a joy and it makes so much sense..."

Early Memories and the Cultural Impact of Victoria's Secret

[03:27–04:21]

• Selman’s upbringing was religious; exposure to Victoria’s Secret was through friends, not family.
• The “panty table” at the mall became an iconic memory that colored his perceptions of the brand.

Lessons from Mentors and Building Craftsmanship

[05:06–06:49]

• Learned discipline and directness from Zaldi; critical feedback prompted Selman to rigorously improve his skills.
• Emphasizes the importance of kindness, honesty, and mastery of craft in fashion.

Quote [05:53 | Adam Selman]:

“Whenever he told me I had to be better, I sat down for six months. I wasn't going out. I just sewed every single night... and by the end, I really felt like I could make anything.”

Collaborations with Rihanna and Iconic Fashion Moments

[08:08–11:58]

• Describes his organic creative process and shorthand collaboration style with Rihanna.
• Shares the behind-the-scenes story of the legendary Swarovski crystal dress worn by Rihanna at the CFDA Awards, highlighting the fleeting nature of fashion “moments” and the reality of hustling behind the scenes.

Quote [10:20 | Adam Selman]:

“It was such a giant moment… my name is splashed everywhere across the world...and that night, I had a 5:30am call time to be a tailor on a Nike job… so pretty surreal.”

Vision for the New Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show

[13:14–16:22]

• The show is designed as a fast-paced, “day-to-night” journey through different chapters, each linked to a fragrance archetype.
• Focus on storytelling, emotional connection, and featuring diverse models and their stories.
• Selman describes fantasy as central to the brand, but seeks to contextualize it in a modern, relatable way.

Quote [14:31 | Adam Selman]:

“Everything’s a fantasy, right. And it’s more about how you contextualize the fantasy…”

Reimagining Fantasies, Inclusivity, and Modern Relevance

[16:22–19:15]

• Aims for authentic inclusivity, resisting performative gestures or box-checking in casting and product.
• Addresses fashion’s systemic issues with size inclusivity, especially regarding sample and production costs for smaller brands.
• Victoria’s Secret’s narrative will expand from dictating “what sexy is” to inviting customers to define it for themselves.

Quote [16:46 | Adam Selman]:

“It’s still a lingerie show… but it’s more of an invitation… less about dictating what sexy is or what sexy needs to be.”

Maintaining a Women-for-Women Culture in Leadership

[20:09–21:22]

• Selman discusses efforts to keep leadership female-driven—an “80/20” hiring rule (80% women).
• He emphasizes learning from and being championed by powerful women throughout his career.

Redefining Sexy and Iconic “Angel Wings”

[22:18–24:47]

• Selman wants to infuse more joy and range of emotion, moving away from a rigid ideal of sexy.
• Recognizes the angel wings as essential “house codes,” but aims to recontextualize them for contemporary relevance.

Quote [23:56 | Adam Selman]:

“I think the angel wings, we cannot… it’s synonymous with the brand at this point. So it’s a code of the house… but to me it’s all about recontextualizing the wings.”

Beyond the Fashion Show: Brand Mission & Lingerie Dressing

[24:58–27:09]

• Aspires for Victoria’s Secret to play in culture beyond the runway—red carpets, music videos, and event dressing.
• Hopes to make “lingerie dressing” a signature of the brand, responding to cultural trends seen in recent fashion weeks.

Managing Pressure and Mindset Ahead of the Show

[31:17–33:28]

• Selman practices meditation and mindfulness (“tm”/Transcendental Meditation) to stay grounded through stress and creative demands.
• Candid about the emotional toll of closing his own brand, and the personal growth that’s enabled his current success.

Line-Up of Guest Performers and Show Details

[34:13–36:30]

• Diverse performer lineup includes Madison Beer, K-Pop group TWICE, Carol G, and Missy Elliott, highlighting both global scope and celebration of women.
• Notable first: athlete Angel Reese walking in the show as an ambassador of “strength and grace,” emphasizing inclusive, modern representations of “angels” on the runway.

Quote [36:08 | Adam Selman]:

“Angel is...the first pro athlete that we have walking the runway...she’s the perfect brand ambassador to really show, like, strength and grace.”

Advice for Young Listeners

[38:00–38:29]

• Selman prefers not to give sweeping advice, but shares:

“Do good work and people will notice… the more you do good work, the more people will cling onto that.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On realizing his VS role was fate:
  “Maybe it was right in front of me the whole time, but... whenever the opportunity came to me, I was like, wait, yes, this makes all the sense in the world.” [03:13]
• On inclusiveness:
  “It has to feel authentic. It has to be right. I also think it has to be the right product for the right size… lingerie is illusion and solution.” [18:10]
• On what customers really want:
  “They want those blowouts. They want the bombshell hair. They want the glitter. They want the thing that Victoria's Secret is so known for.” [35:42]
• On his evolution:
  “Having my own brand was part of that... now it’s a little bit more about like, what does dreaming mean again for me as I become, you know, more of a man?” [36:38]

Important Timestamps

• [01:53] Selman’s career background and journey to VS
• [05:16] Lessons from Zaldi and early design discipline
• [08:08] Working with Rihanna – anecdotes and creative process
• [10:20] Swarovski crystal dress moment & fashion’s duality
• [13:14] Previewing the new Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
• [16:46] Addressing inclusivity and defining “sexy”
• [20:41] Women in leadership and the “80/20 rule”
• [23:56] Angel wings, house codes, and cultural importance
• [24:58] Broader VS brand mission and “lingerie dressing”
• [31:17] How meditation and self-care shape Selman’s work
• [34:13] Performer lineup: Madison Beer, TWICE, Carol G, Missy Elliott
• [36:05] Angel Reese: First pro athlete walks the runway
• [38:00] Selman’s advice for young creatives

Tone & Style

The episode is open, collaborative, and insightful—balancing behind-the-scenes candor with forward-looking vision. Selman's voice is both self-aware and ambitious, exuding optimism, humility, and authenticity.

For listeners: This episode pulls back the curtain on Victoria’s Secret’s next chapter, blending nostalgia with innovation, and delivers a masterclass in creative reinvention. Adam Selman’s reflections on joy, inclusivity, fantasy, and craftsmanship are essential listening for anyone curious about the future of fashion’s most iconic runway show.