Is New York Fashion Week Dead?

The overuse and overconsumption of social media have changed the landscape for many industries: fashion, relationships, reading, music, and breaking news. Now that a [platform] is so easily accessible, just about anyone—without any prior knowledge, experience, or education—can go online, press record, and become regarded as an authority in the field. Consumption fatigue is hitting us hard and fast. With social media—short-form videos and fast content consumption—our brains are increasingly relying on fast thinking, which has negative effects.

In Daniel Kahneman’s book, Thinking, Fast and Slow, he describes two cognitive systems:

• System 1 (Fast Thinking): Automatic, instinctual, and subconscious. Used for quick decisions like recognizing faces or reacting to danger.

• System 2 (Slow Thinking): Deliberate, logical, and conscious. Used for complex problem-solving, deep thinking, and critical analysis.

Fast consumption affects the brain by reducing our attention span, decreasing memory retention, lowering critical thinking skills, and impairing emotional regulation, as well as providing an overload of dopamine and fostering addiction. Some of us may crave long-form content that is deliberate and requires reading and critical thinking skills, but the vast majority of consumers are accustomed to fast, bite-sized content that triggers dopamine releases. This forces producers to churn out content more quickly, resulting in a decline in quality.

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Nowadays, if you want to appeal to the masses, you need to be overly accessible, which kills value. Exclusivity used to mean that creators could take their time to create, and those invited to share in those moments could relay the message to the masses, eventually funneling attention back to the creators. Consumers would then invest in the content, finding value in it because (a) it was made with meticulous care and attention to detail, and (b) it was being recommended by someone trustworthy with authority in their respective field (e.g., a journalist or reporter).

Today, things like Fashion Week, brand launches, marketing campaigns, and—slowly—sports events are no longer regarded as standards of excellence. Fashion Week used to be a major event because journalists would attend, and we would hear about the shows from trusted editorial publications such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and The New York Times. But now, influencers are part of the mix, propping their phones up and being used as marketing tools for these brands to reach a larger audience, now that print is slowly becoming "obsolete".

The problem isn’t that influencers are attending these events; the problem is that these influencers are declassing the events due to their accessibility to the masses. For example, Kim Kardashian is a glorified influencer and reality star, yet her presence at these shows does not diminish their value; in fact, it helps to amplify it. Fans have access to her life through a globally televised series, making her position far more reputable than that of a “let them eat cake” influencer.

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Brands are desperate for sales, and it shows—no longer finding value in an editorial piece because fast thinking and consumption have dominated the masses. Sports events are now losing their appeal as well, with Super Bowl performances being regarded as one big music video. It’s not enjoyable to the audience members, only to the people watching from home. The audience at home is larger, yes, but the reality is they are at home and did not invest in the show, so why does their viewing experience remain the top priority?

We’ve strayed far away from value and have engrossed ourselves in mediocrity for too long—so much so that events that were once a big deal (ahem, Coachella, I am also looking at you) have become a mere shell of themselves, trying to appeal to a larger audience that is not even willing to invest in the content in the first place. As more and more people start to look away from big events, we will see more of what is happening now—the loss of individuality and the decline in sales.

As technology continues to evolve and more brands and companies start to tap into its power, we will only see less individuality and more commonality, further driving down the things we’ve come to value over time—whether this is with the music we listen to, the relationship advice we consume, or even our fashion choices. We see it happening already, with almost everyone adopting the ‘baddie’ aesthetic. Where are the emo girls? Punk rock?

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As a society, we were never meant to have access to so many things at the same time, ramping up our illusion of choice and driving down our self-esteem. If you don’t look like the girl wearing Dior and 30mm lashes, then you’re not conventionally attractive? When did this happen? Your individuality came from the things you consumed from other creators who were unique in their own way. The King Kylie era is still heavily discussed among women today—those who followed Kylie during that time. “I miss King Kylie,” one user shared.

But what they really mean is they miss when people were different, and it was acceptable. NYFW is no longer for that man or woman looking for inspiration to revamp their wardrobe; it has now become a circus with tripods propped up, and everyone hoping to appeal to everyone all at once, instead of that special guy or girl who wants to feel comfortable in their skin.

We need to bring back exclusivity and value in the things that are sought out with intention. An influencer attending a Chanel show should not be seated in the front row, live-streaming for her fans and spectators to be taken along for the journey. Her audience may not even be able to afford the brand, but a journalist for Vogue who caters to an affluent audience is best suited for the chair.

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Fashion Week is dead because it has become a marketing campaign rather than a moment for journalists and real celebrities to connect with designers on a personal level—offering honest reviews, sharing fashion innovation techniques, and appearing in looks that inspire on the red carpet and should later be welcomed into a consumer’s wardrobe. A revolution is happening, but not in a good way.

She’s SINGLE Magazine caters to modern, ambitious, single women looking for ways to embrace singlehood confidently, ages 24-45. Fashion brands and designers such as Victoria’s Secret, Tolu Coker, ASAI (featured looks throughout), Lisa Nicole Collection, Chanel, J.Crew, Tory Burch, Zara, LUEQ, and The Row are just a few of the shows our audience would benefit from.

by Lisa K. Stephenson & Samara Morris