La Watch Party: Fashion Week for All
Paris has long held its reputation as the fashion capital of the world, attracting students, creatives, designers, and tourists alike, all hoping to catch a glimpse of the glamor. Despite the global influence of Paris fashion and its fashion week, the industry remains largely inaccessible. The nature of fashion weeks is inherently exclusive, arranged through private invitations and undisclosed settings. For most, fashion weeks are experienced secondhand and digitally, as fans live vicariously through influencers and celebrities who provide an ephemeral window into shows and events on social media. But what if that window were blown open further so that more people could experience the artistry and community that spring from a shared passion for fashion?
The Birth of La Watch Party
French influencer and fashion critic Elias Medini, commonly known as Lyas, had the same thought after he was not invited to Jonathan Anderson’s Dior debut show in June 2025. Instead of accepting this defeat, Lyas decided to bring his own TV to a bar in Paris to watch the show, inspired by the culture of watching football matches in bars. He invited his followers, expecting a few to show up and join him, but in the end, more than 350 people were in attendance. The overwhelming success of this meeting, and the realization that others who engage with fashion culture might also want to watch fashion shows in a community setting, motivated Lyas to establish La Watch Party. A fashion show viewing party free of charge and open to all, the antithesis of what fashion week had previously represented.
The Viewing Experience
It was that format that drew in fashion lovers like me and AUP fashion major Briana Georgiev, who chose to attend La Watch Party after seeing social media posts about it and discussing the buzz with friends. I attended the Courrèges S/S 26 watch party in September at La Caserne, a Parisian fashion center in the 10th arrondissement. A few months after that first introduction with La Watch Party, I returned this January to take part in another fashion show viewing, the Dior F/W 26, held at the Ciné Pathé Palace Opéra in the eighth arrondissement. The format was the same as the previous show, but it was held on a larger scale, with a grander viewing screen.
Both viewings were hosted by Lyas himself, who orchestrated conversations, games, and the viewing itself, with a post-viewing rating system. He further enhanced the experience by giving out expensive gifts from the designer brands showcased or from other partnerships he had formed. That sense of community and element of surprise were memorable factors for attendees. “I loved the venue, how many people I met that all have inspiring stories to become someone in the fashion industry,” Georgiev said after attending the Hermès viewing this past fashion week. “It felt so inclusive. I got to react with so many people, and I even met Julia Fox.”
What Does This Change?
While the problem of exclusivity in Paris fashion has not been solved by La Watch Party, strides have been made to redefine what it means to participate in fashion. Existing in parallel to fashion week, La Watch Party does not attempt to replace it, but to offer a new way to interact with it. In this increasingly evolving digital age, people crave community more than ever. Lyas and La Watch Party have fostered a community of fashion lovers in Paris and beyond that will continue to grow, giving more people a voice and a sense of belonging.
