Livestream Let-Down

London Fashion Week, featuring 200 designers, encompassed a striking array of bold colors and mixed prints. If you were lucky enough to score a spot in the crowd, you witnessed the multi-textured jackets at House of Holland, a London street-style brand, and the sheer lace at Christopher Kane, an elegant British classic. For college students balancing the show times with busy class schedules, however, the livestreams didn’t live up to expectations.

It started off on a high note with Burberry’s official broadcast on its website, displaying a rainbow-filled collection that supported three LGBTQ+ charities, including the Trevor Project. As a livestream pioneer, Burberry made you feel like you were in the room, shooting the models up close and from above, zooming in on iridescent sequins and the signature plaid, and sharing glimpses of Anna Wintour in the front row. You could pre-order the collection immediately after the show, seamlessly transitioning between gawking and tangibly holding the clothes—that is, if you had at least $240 to spend on a cotton T-shirt, the cheapest item. 

I can’t give the same high praise for the other two shows. House of Holland and Christopher Kane livestreamed their women’s collections on Instagram. During both, the camera remained in the middle of the runway, the video froze and the models looked blurry. I felt like I was sitting in the last row, stretching my neck between the seats in front of me to catch a clear picture. While the official photos (linked above) beautifully display the intricacies of the pieces, the videos failed to do them justice.

Livestream technically saved my bank account—and my grades. But shoddy Instagram stories pale compared to physically being there. If more brands follow the Burberry prototype and professionally air on their sites, we could be on the brink of a virtual fashion week. Until then, us non-influencers must continue to save up for a post-graduation, international vacation.

Photos screenshotted from brand livestreams by Eden Lichterman