Are Fashion Watch Parties the New Spectator Sport?

If you happened to be on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis in Paris this June, it would have felt like a major event. The street was packed with fashion students, stylists, and people eager to see what was happening, all enjoying complimentary drinks provided by Instagram.

This wasn’t a soccer game; it was J.W. Anderson’s first menswear collection for Dior, for the Spring/Summer 2026 season. People watched it live, in a bar, on a temporary TV setup. The atmosphere was so energetic, it actually made the official front row seem rather subdued.

When did the fashion crowd decide that this – not the front row – was the place to be?

The drama started when Lyas, a fashion critic and popular TikTok creator (@ly.as) known for his honest opinions, wasn’t invited to Dior’s SS26 show. Instead of staying silent, Lyas announced he would livestream the show from a bar in Paris and invited his followers to watch with him.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lyas (@ly.as)

What began as a simple idea unexpectedly became a huge, popular event for fashion lovers. Hundreds of people came together to celebrate their passion, proving that the most exciting trends and discussions don’t always originate within the fashion industry itself.

I was so excited to hear that Lyas is planning a watch party tour after how well the last event went! He told TopMob he wants to bring the experience to all the major fashion capitals – New York, London, Milan, and Paris, naturally. What I really love is that he’s focusing on creating something special *for us*, the fans, and not just another branding opportunity. He wants it to be a genuine moment for people who really love fashion, and that’s awesome!

As Fashion Month for Spring/Summer 2026 begins, Lyas has announced ‘La WATCHPARTY’ with a short video on Instagram. According to Lyas’s team, the event will start in London, working with the British Fashion Council, then move to Milan with support from Meta and Whoopsie. It will finish in Paris from September 29th to October 6th at La Caserne, becoming the biggest event yet. The Paris location will feature up to three screenings daily for around 1,000 attendees, blending the atmosphere of a festival and Fashion Week.

Let’s be clear though, remote viewing fashion shows isn’t a new concept.

While designers like Helmut Lang and Alexander McQueen experimented with live-streaming shows in the past, it was the pandemic that truly made digital runways mainstream. Major luxury brands, including Louis Vuitton, Burberry, and Miu Miu, quickly adopted live-streaming to continue showcasing their collections. This shift sparked a new online culture, with fashion fans using platforms like Discord, TikTok, and YouTube to watch shows live and share their thoughts and reactions in real time.

Gen Z and millennials are increasingly burnt out from constant online activity. As a result, they’re creating real-life communities – like running groups, sauna meetups, creative workshops, and casual dinner parties – to connect with others. This desire for in-person interaction is now influencing fashion, as younger generations redefine what it means to connect face-to-face.

For fashion lovers who don’t have connections to exclusive events, or just anyone wanting to talk fashion with others, these watch parties are becoming incredibly important. They offer a way to be included, feel like you belong, and connect with a community – bridging the gap between those in the fashion industry and those who are passionate about it.

Lyas describes this as something bigger than just a fleeting trend-it’s a cultural shift. While the presentation is seen from an outside perspective, the goal is to make everyone feel part of it. Lyas believes the true spirit of fashion lies with young people who are passionate about learning, expressing themselves, and enjoying what they wear.

Lyas will share the complete London, Milan, and Paris schedule for La WATCHPARTY on their Instagram account.

Read More