Aerie vs. Victoria's Secret: Which brand should you buy? [2026]

Aerie focuses on affordable, comfortable lingerie with an emphasis on body positivity and inclusivity, using unretouched models and a wide range of sizes. Victoria's Secret maintains its iconic glamorous and sexy aesthetic, offering higher-priced, fashion-forward lingerie with more luxurious materials like lace and satin, though it is now working to be more inclusive.

Let's break down everything you need to know to choose the right lingerie brand for your style and values.

Aerie: The Leader in Comfort & Body Positivity

Owned by American Eagle Outfitters, Aerie has become a go-to for shoppers who prioritize everyday comfort, authentic representation, and affordability. The brand's commitment to the #AerieREAL campaign, featuring unretouched photos and diverse models, resonates with a generation tired of unrealistic beauty standards. They cater to a customer who wants to feel good in their own skin without sacrificing style.

• Product mix: Extensive collection of bras, panties, loungewear, activewear (OFFLINE by Aerie), and swimwear designed for practical, daily comfort.
• Price point: Very accessible, with bras generally ranging from $15 to $50 and frequent 10 for $38 panty deals. Sales and bundle offers are constant.
• Quality: Focus on soft, breathable, and durable materials like cotton, modal, and recycled fabrics. Pieces are made for everyday life and hold up well to washing.
• Style: Casual, trendy, and often sporty. Expect comfortable bralettes, smooth t-shirt bras, and cozy sleepwear rather than intricate, structured lingerie.
• Sizing/Fit: A major strength. Aerie offers one of the most inclusive size ranges on the market, with bras from 30A to 44H and consistent, true-to-size fits.
• Sustainability: Actively working toward sustainability goals by using recycled materials and emphasizing ethical manufacturing.

Aerie is the clear choice for comfort-driven, budget-conscious shoppers who value inclusivity and a natural aesthetic in their lingerie and loungewear.

Shop Aerie: ae.com/aerie

Victoria's Secret: The Iconic Lingerie & Glamour Brand

Victoria's Secret built its empire on a foundation of glamour, sexiness, and aspirational marketing featuring supermodels. While the brand has recently undergone a major shift to embrace a more inclusive and modern image, its core DNA remains rooted in a more sophisticated and alluring aesthetic. They cater to shoppers looking for beautiful, fashion-focused lingerie, fragrances, and sleepwear that feels luxurious and special.

• Product mix: Wide array of lingerie including push-up bras, bridal sets, and bodysuits, alongside sleepwear, apparel, popular beauty products, and fragrances.
• Price point: Mid to high-range. Bras typically cost between $30 and $70 and panties from $10 to $30. Their Semi-Annual Sale is famous for deep discounts.
• Quality: Materials often include luxurious lace, satin, silk, and intricate embroidery. The focus is on aesthetic appeal, which sometimes means pieces require more delicate care.
• Style: Glamorous, feminine, and often overtly sexy. Known for its structured push-up bras, vivid colors, bold patterns, and dramatic details.
• Sizing/Fit: Bra sizes generally range from 32A to 40DD, though the brand is expanding its offerings. Historically a pain point, VS is actively working to improve size inclusivity and fit consistency.
• Return policy: Straightforward 30-day return policy for unwashed, unworn items with tags attached, both online and in-store.

Victoria's Secret excels in creating lingerie that feels like an indulgence, perfect for those who want a more glamorous style for special occasions or everyday wear.

Shop Victoria's Secret: victoriassecret.com

Aerie vs. Victoria's Secret Comparison

Price Comparison

Aerie is significantly more affordable than Victoria's Secret across the board. An Aerie bra might cost $30, while a similar style at Victoria's Secret could be $55 or more. Aerie's strength lies in its bundle deals, especially for panties (e.g., "10 for $38"), making it much easier to build a full lingerie drawer on a budget.

Victoria's Secret positions itself as a more premium brand, and its prices reflect that. However, their famous Semi-Annual Sales offer substantial markdowns, making it a great time for shoppers to buy their higher-priced items for less.

Quality & Materials

The brands prioritize different aspects of quality. Aerie focuses on durable, ultra-soft fabrics you can live in comfortably, like cotton, modal, and seamless blends. Their construction is built for longevity and frequent washing, ideal for everyday pieces.

Victoria's Secret leans into luxury materials. You'll find delicate lace, smooth satin, and intricate detailing that looks and feels high-end. While the quality is generally good, these more delicate materials can require more careful handling (like hand-washing) to preserve their appearance over time.

Product Selection & Style

Aerie's style is casual, natural, and comfortable. They are famous for their bralettes, unlined bras, and cozy essentials that align with their body-positive messaging. Their offline activewear line is also extremely popular for its crossover leggings and workout tops.

Victoria's Secret offers a much more glamorous and sexy aesthetic. Their signature items are push-up and balconette bras designed to create a specific silhouette. Their collection is filled with matching lingerie sets, bodysuits, and satin robes that serve a more fashion-forward, statement-making purpose.

Fit & Sizing

Aerie is the market leader for inclusive sizing between the two. With bra sizes up to 44H and a wide range of bottoms from XXS to XXL, they cater to a much broader spectrum of body types. Their online sizing tools and customer reviews are excellent resources for finding the perfect fit.

Victoria's Secret has faced criticism for its limited size range in the past. While they are actively expanding their sizes and featuring more diverse models, their offerings still lag behind Aerie's. Their fit can sometimes be inconsistent, making it a good idea to get a professional bra fitting in one of their stores.

Sustainability & Ethics

Aerie has made sustainability a core part of its brand identity. They openly share their goals to reduce water consumption, use sustainably sourced materials like recycled polyester, and ensure ethical manufacturing practices. They are transparent and proactive in their approach.

Victoria's Secret has a longer road to travel on this front but is making changes. They have introduced initiatives for more eco-friendly packaging and responsible sourcing but still face scrutiny over supply chain transparency compared to brands like Aerie, who have built their reputation on this from the start.

Which One Should You Choose?

The right choice really depends on your priorities - style, comfort, budget, or brand values.

Choose Aerie if:

• Comfort is your #1 priority, you live in bralettes, leggings, and soft fabrics.
• You are on a budget and want to get the most for your money with bundles and sales.
• You need a broad range of sizes and want a brand that prioritizes inclusive fitting.
• You value body positivity, unretouched marketing, and sustainable practices.

Choose Victoria's Secret if:

• You prefer a more glamorous, sexy, and fashion-forward lingerie style.
• You are shopping for a special occasion or want lingerie that makes a statement.
• You love luxury materials like intricate lace and shiny satin.
• You are a fan of their signature fragrances and beauty products.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Aerie or Victoria's Secret cheaper?

Aerie is consistently cheaper. Standard bra prices at Aerie are often 30-50% lower than at Victoria's Secret, and their panty bundle deals offer significantly better value for everyday items.

Which brand has better quality?

The quality is comparable, but they serve different purposes. Aerie's quality is geared toward durable, comfortable, everyday wear. Victoria's Secret's quality is focused on luxurious-feeling materials and aesthetic details, which can be more delicate.

Which brand has more inclusive sizing?

Aerie has a much more inclusive size range, offering bras from 30A to 44H and a full spectrum of bottom sizes. Victoria's Secret is improving and has traditionally run a more limited size range.

Is Victoria's Secret good for everyday bras?

Yes, Victoria's Secret has several popular collections of everyday bras, like their Body by Victoria and T-Shirt Bra lines. However, Aerie's focus is almost entirely on everyday comfort, offering more variety in super soft and simplified styles.

Which brand is for younger audiences?

Aerie is often viewed as catering more to a Gen Z and younger millennial audience due to its focus on social issues like authenticity and sustainability, its lower price point, and its casual, trendy styling.

Do both stores have good sales?

Yes. Aerie runs promotions almost constantly, particularly online and through their app. Victoria's Secret is famous for its massive Semi-Annual Sale, which happens twice a year and offers deep discounts on almost everything.

Is VS Pink similar to Aerie?

PINK is Victoria's Secret's sub-brand that caters to a younger customer and is the most direct competitor to Aerie in style and price point. Both PINK and Aerie offer comfortable loungewear, undies, and casual apparel with a youth-focused branding.

Can you return items easily at both stores?

Yes, both brands have straightforward return policies. Aerie, thanks to its partnership with Happy Returns, allows for easy, box-free mail returns at thousands of partner locations. Victoria's Secret allows in-store and by-mail returns with a full refund within 30 days of purchase.