Lately, our phones & our social media accounts have become our best friends – and mediums to stay connected with our real-life BFFs. Technology may have gained a bit of a reputation over the years, but in times of crisis, it has come to our collective rescue, hasn’t it? From attending concerts IRL to now watching them being live-streamed on YouTube channels, from going out every weekend to now scheduling virtual game nights with the gang, from regular gossip sessions with our colleagues over lunch to now sharing the same laughter over Zoom calls – everything is remote. It’s pretty difficult to imagine what we would have done without our 5-inch screens, no? 

There’s one other thing that changed as the world did, and that’s fashion week. Us fashionistas may have been bogged down in the beginning, but technology, once again, changed the game! In came the announcements carrying news about digital fashion weeks, and let’s just say that they made our calendars very happy! We already had tons of reasons to stay glued to our screens, but now we also have a little more purpose. 

In-flesh attendance isn’t a possibility right now – but who’s to say you can’t play pretend? We have some ideas about how you can enjoy digital fashion weeks, just as you enjoyed non-digital versions every season. 

Dress-up for shows as you would if they weren’t taking place online. 

We’ve all gotten ruefully comfortable with not having to pretty-up the way we used to. While adapting to The New Normal is not optional, we can surely redefine it for ourselves and keep some of our previous pleasures alive. Get down to planning your digital fashion week outfits the way you would if you were attending in person. Fashion is about feeling good, and nothing reinstates that better than a perfectly styled #OOTD.

Stream them on a bigger screen.

So what if you can’t watch your favourite models & designers take the runway by storm in person? Recreate that life-sized experience by streaming the shows on a bigger screen instead of watching them on your pocket-sized device. There are tons of ways to do that; the easiest one being projecting your phone contents onto the television screen. You can also make a house party out of it by inviting your closest friends over, provided they’re just as enthusiastic as you when it comes to the world of glitz & glamour.

Turn off or dim the lights for a better viewing experience. 

Remember the feeling you would get when you were in a movie theatre? The sounds & visuals of the film were the only things that got your undivided attention and the world around you seemed to disappear – even if only for a couple of hours! We say, take your show-watching experience a notch higher by dimming the lights and pulling the blinds. Everything from the special effects to the music will be extra appealing to all your senses, and that’s a promise. Plus, now that you’re attending fashion week from the comfort of your couch, there’s no stopping you from grabbing a tub of popcorn too.

Take notes as if you’re a fashion critic!

Now that we’re all front-row viewers, we can also act like it. Get yourself some stationery items that say down-to-business and start taking notes as the magic unfolds, one collection after another. Let the pages be filled with things like your favourite looks, notable brands, potentially trendsetting pieces, and maybe even a shopping list? We assure you that you’ll end up feeling like a sought-after fashion critic, even if only for a week.

Snap and share your favourite moments over Instagram stories!

We know, we know, this is an unsaid rule. But we thought you could use a little reminder or a push! Apart from stirring up conversations, it’ll also make your favourite designers happy. (We know we could all do with spreading a few extra smiles and appreciations right now.) When you share the moments you love, don’t forget to mention WHY you loved them, and tag the respective pages.

Now that we’ve pointed you in the right direction, all you have to do is look up show schedules and make a week out of it. Just don’t forget to keep it fun – and stylish!

Image Credits: Pinterest