The season of autumn brings pumpkin spice, crisp morning air, orange and gold foliage and — for all fashionistas — fall fashion week. This season looks a little different, of course, and fashion houses have reimagined their shows.

Various designers opted to present their spring 2021 collections virtually and still achieved success in reaching large global audiences. While digital presentations save money and reduce carbon footprint, they eliminate potential buyers’ ability to visualize how clothing looks and fits in person. They don’t feed the press the same emotionally engaging experience as a physical display would by allowing consumers to connect so personally with the showpieces.

Landmark designers like Chanel were able to reignite the catwalk and deliver the magic of live fashion shows. What’s more, Chanel executed an exhibit with socially-distanced seating for guests at the Grand Palais for Paris Fashion Week. It unfortunately wasn’t as extravagant as in past years, and the pandemic’s travel restrictions stopped significant influencers and celebrities who usually fill the invite list from attending.

Stacey Bendet, creative director of Alice + Olivia, redesigned her project into an outdoor experiential show featuring local dancers and musicians throughout the streets of Manhattan. This innovative take on a red carpet perfectly embodied her new collection’s liveliness and playfulness.

Fashion artist Paria Farzaneh took after the outdoor experience trend and organized her London Fashion Week show at a farm in Buckinghamshire. Encompassing the theme of resistance, her COVID-friendly exhibition incorporated military elements like drones, firecrackers and smoke to elevate her storytelling and bring her creations to life.

These designer houses’ tenacity to reach equal levels of hype and brand exposure through adaptation and experimentation raises the bar for future fall fashion weeks.

words_emily louie photo_harper’s bazaar singapore, yahoo movies canada, pause her, globelife & michael lee on unsplash