The Death of the Fashion Show And the Rise of the Influencer

Remember when fashion shows were exclusive industry events, filled with editors, designers, and models who actually worked in fashion? Neither do I because in 2025, the reality of Fashion Week has become a social media spectacle where influencers and TikTok stars are the main attraction. The front rows where in the past were occupied by industry experts are now packed with content creators whose only credential is a viral moment.

Of course, this shift isn’t exactly new. The fashion industry has been heading in this direction for years, prioritizing engagement numbers over expertise, with this great easy freeway of marketing. Why reject that? But it’s officially gotten to the point where Fashion Week itself has become more about clout than creativity. The rise of influencers in these spaces has shifted the focus away from design and craftsmanship to aesthetics and virality, turning what used to be an art form into one big Instagram opportunity.

The Luxury of Privacy vs. The Influencer Paradox

In the past, fashion was synonymous with exclusivity. There was a mystique. The best designers and fashion icons felt untouchable. Now, influencers have blurred that line, making fame feel accessible to anyone with enough followers. But as influencer culture takes over, we’re starting to see a rebellion against this hyper-visibility. Celebrities like Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, who once embraced the media circus of early 2000s fashion, have banned phones at their The Row runway shows, prioritizing the experience over the spectacle.

This isn’t just about keeping the designs under wraps; it’s about reclaiming the aura of exclusivity that made fashion feel special in the first place. The Olsens understand that some things are more valuable when they aren’t constantly documented. And in this day in age where every influencer live-streams their invites, this kind of privacy has become the real luxury.

Why Are Influencers Dictating Fashion?

One of the biggest shifts in the industry is the fact that influencers: not designers, not editors, not even celebrities, are the ones dictating trends. In the past, you had to actually be in the industry to influence fashion. Now, it’s about who can go viral first.

Think about it: When was the last time a high-fashion editorial really set the trend cycle? Compare that to Emma Chamberlain casually throwing on a thrifted sweater and suddenly reviving early-2000s indie sleaze. The Business Insider article on the decline of social media points out that while traditional platforms like Instagram are dying, influencer culture is still alive and well, just evolving. TikTok is now the main pipeline for fashion trends, completely bypassing legacy media. This has led to an era where designers are forced to chase internet micro-trends rather than set the agenda themselves.

But here’s the problem: Influencers, for the most part, aren’t fashion experts. Their job is engagement, not innovation. The result? A trend cycle that feels more like a chaotic, algorithm-fueled mess than a curated evolution of style. This is why we’re seeing the same aesthetics regurgitated in different fonts: Clean Girl, Tomato Girl, Mob Wife, Balletcore, each one lasting about three months before being discarded for the next TikTok aesthetic.

Fashion’s Identity Crisis

So, where does this leave us? Fashion is in an identity crisis. It’s stuck between wanting to embrace digital culture and desperately trying to hold onto its prestige. The Guardian article, ‘No Pictures, Please’, highlights this tension, showing how major designers are slowly trying to reclaim control. But is it too late?

We still love to hate influencers, as Glamour’s article on Gen-Z social media stars points out, but we’re also addicted to their presence. The truth is, influencers aren’t going anywhere, and neither is their impact on fashion. But as designers like the Olsens push back, we might be seeing the early stages of a new shift, a return to privacy, craftsmanship, and artistry. Whether or not it sticks depends on how much the industry is willing to sacrifice its engagement-driven model.

Until then, enjoy the show, because whether you love it or hate it, fashion is officially in its influencer era.