book clubs, and now, fashion watch parties
Fashion Takes Over the Streets of Paris: J.W. Anderson’s Dior SS26 Debut
If you happened to stroll by Le Saint Denis – Rue du Faubourg Saint‑Denis – in Paris this June, you would have thought it was game day. The streets were packed with hundreds of fashion students, style writers, and hype tourists, all shoulder-to-shoulder, spilling out onto the streets with free drinks in hand – courtesy of Instagram, of course.
But this wasn’t just any game day. This was the highly anticipated debut of J.W. Anderson’s Dior SS26 menswear collection. And the energy was so electric, it put the actual front row to shame.
The New Hot Spot for Fashion: Not the Front Row, But the Streets
When did the fashion crowd decide that the streets – not the front row – were the place to be? It all started when Lyas, a fashion critic and TikTok sensation known for his raw fashion takes under the handle @ly.as, didn’t receive an invite to the exclusive SS26 Dior show. Not one to stay quiet, he took to social media to announce that he would be live-streaming the show at a local Parisian bar, inviting his followers to join him.
The spontaneous idea quickly went viral, with hundreds of fashion enthusiasts flocking to the bar to watch the show together and bond over their shared love of fashion. It was a powerful reminder that the hottest conversations in culture don’t always happen behind closed industry doors.
Following the success of this event, Lyas announced plans for a Fashion Week watch party tour, stating in an interview with Hypebeast, “I want to host watch parties in every major fashion capital – New York, London, Milan, and of course Paris. I want to create a special experience that feels respectful to the audience. Not another PR moment for brands, rather a moment for people with a real passion.”
‘La WATCHPARTY’: Where Fashion and Culture Collide
With Fashion Month SS26 already in full swing, Lyas has officially launched ‘La WATCHPARTY’ with a teaser video on Instagram. “La WATCHPARTY will kick off in London, in collaboration with the British Fashion Council, followed by Milan, supported by Meta x Whoopsie. The series will culminate in Paris with the largest edition yet, running from September 29 to October 6 at La Caserne,” says Lyas’s team.
According to Lyas, “Paris will host up to three screenings a day for a total of 1,000 guests, transforming the space into a hybrid between a festival and Fashion Week.” It’s clear that this is not just your average fashion show viewing – it’s a cultural experience.
The Rise of Remote Fashion Viewing
While remote viewing of fashion shows is not a new concept – Helmut Lang and McQueen were live-streaming runways back in the late ’90s and early 2000s – it was the pandemic that truly solidified the digital format. Suddenly, major luxury houses like Louis Vuitton, Burberry, and Miu Miu had to embrace their own version of live-streaming to stay relevant and present their new collections.
From this new format, an underground wave of Discord runway breakdowns, TikTok live commentary, and live YouTube streams emerged as a way for fashion enthusiasts to watch luxury runways and engage in real-time fashion discourse.
IRL Linkups: The New Trend for Gen Z and Millennials
But now, in 2025, Gen Z and millennials are tired of being online 24/7. They’re craving real-life connections and experiences. And that’s where the rise of IRL linkups comes in – from run clubs to book clubs, and now, fashion watch parties.
So if you’re looking for the hottest spot to be during Fashion Week, forget the front row – head to the streets and join the party at ‘La WATCHPARTY’ for a truly unique and immersive fashion experience.
