Written By Kalina Vasileva

This September Paris Fashion Week hosted a party it never had before. Content creator and fashion icon Lyas founded La Watch Party - an inclusive event that brought many fashion enthusiasts together. Although there was some mixed reception, it was undeniably the product of an innovative mind within the fashion community.

It began this past summer when Lyas was not invited to the show for Jonathan Anderson’s debut as a director for Dior Men. Besides ranting sarcastically to his community, he got an idea - why wait for an invitation, when he could have a show himself. He organised a “watch party” of the show at a local bar, which ended up having a massive turnout with the ‘party’ gathering nearly 300 people. That is when the idea of ‘La Watch Party’ was born, which has since taken to Milan and London, in addition to the week-long fiesta in Paris.

The idea had a hugely successful turnout, considering that thousands of people were in attendance during the parties in Paris. They opened with a watch party for Yves Saint Laurent on Monday, September 29th, and went until the Chanel show on Monday, October 6th.

All parties had their own fun features, including free beers and hand-made merch. Participating in the organised games, one of the attendees won a ticket to go to the actual Courreges show! Two others won Courreges jackets, and Loli Bahia and Mona Tougaard made an appearance. Lots of connections and friendships were made, and while it was a new thing for the fashion community, everybody was ready to experience it.

I was able to speak to a few of the attendees. A male model from Kosovo commented on the party and how the fashion world contributed to his sense of community:

“Yeah, for sure, because his party is for everyone. He's (Lyas) the man of the people, so everyone can get here. There's no dress code, nothing, which is good. Every single person who's in town can just go. There's a fashion watch party in London, Milan, and Paris. So if you're there, there is a chance for everyone to go and see a show.”

His friend, Jens, was also a model. He was from Copenhagen, and was not interested in fashion at all, or at least not as much as the other watchers. He was more interested in basketball and other sports… “I'm in Paris now. I'd like to go see the museum with David Hockney and stuff like that”. Although he was not as interested in fashion as his friend, he had agreed to come to the party with him. “I think it's nice. It’s fun.”

*Lyas tasting the Doja Cat Mac Chocolate Lipstick* (Image Credit: Kaetanno Fernandes)

It is safe to say that most people, fashion-interested or not, had a positive experience. But is there ever a good viral event without some criticism? Bo, whom I interviewed after Jonathan Anderson’s debut for Dior women, by which he was not impressed, said “I love the idea, right now I love that we're like football fans and just sitting here and criticize and watch shows, but in the same time, I feel like the people here are kind of trying too hard to impress everyone else but basically nobody's here for them or for someone else but except for the show so there is no sense”.

What I discussed with most of the people that I talked to was how amazing La Watch Party is for its inclusivity. It is truly forward thinking - no entry fees, no security guard looking down on you and denying you entry, easy public transport access and accessible drinks. It was all that fashion almost never is - accessible. That might be understandable considering the fact that what we mostly consider as ‘fashion’ is high-fashion, or luxury brands. Yet, it is interesting how many people are still very enthusiastic about fashion even if they could not afford Margiela tabis. Maybe it is like appreciating art at the museum - you cannot have it, but you admire it. However, fashion feels like it needs more commitment. You continue to wish to find ways to acquire those art pieces, or at least the feeling of it, and you may never feel fully satisfied because that feeling can be reserved exclusively to a select few.

The fashion world is fascinating - expression, art, cinema, ego, and social networks all collide together. Yet, for some, it remains above all a community. La Watch Party gave this community excitement and admiration, while also provoking reflection and critique. It reminded us that nothing is limited and plain. Events like this matter, they invite us to question, observe, and think.

The Real Show Wasn’t at Dior - It Was at Rue Philippe de Girard

Written By Kalina Vasileva