“If I still like something enough after styling it in dozens of outfits on Stardoll, then I know it’s something I actually want to wear.”
I was styling outfits with jorts on Stardoll in 2021, almost two years before I bit the bullet and got myself a pair. When I finally bought them, I already knew exactly how I would wear them.
If you had to fight your siblings for a turn on your family computer in 2009, odds are you’ve dabbled in online fashion games. From Barbie Fashion Designer and My Scene Games to my personal favourite, Stardoll, these games sowed the seeds for my (and many other people’s) love for fashion. As we grew up, most of these games were forgotten about – nothing more than a nostalgic childhood memory.
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But that’s not the case for me. Mentally and physically, I’m still here. I’ve been using the same Stardoll account since 2009. Admittedly, I’ve also been a paid member this entire time (please do not do the math – Stardoll is cheaper than therapy).
On Stardoll, you can dress up celebrities, design and sell clothing and even decorate your own home. One of the biggest draws for me has always been the ‘Starplaza’, which over time has included real collections from some of the world’s biggest fashion houses. From Blumarine to Maison Margiela, I was able to style clothing that I could never dream of owning in real life.
In styling these looks, I’ve developed a better understanding of what my style is, what clothing I feel comfortable in, and how to incorporate trends into my wardrobe while still keeping my personal flair. Experimenting with trends on Stardoll is also a more cost-effective method of style exploration.
If I buy chunky biker boots and don’t end up wearing them, I’ve just wasted $400 on a trend that I shouldn’t have bought into. Given the current cost of living crisis, I can’t afford to be reckless with what I buy. If I still like something enough after styling it in dozens of outfits on Stardoll, then I know it’s something I actually want to wear.
When speaking with Dress to Impress players Claudia Olney and Tahlia-Belle Ingram, they tell me that “playing online fashion games is a form of expression that we can’t regularly experience.” For them, the game is a safe way to experiment with fashion that doesn’t contribute to over-consumption.
Looking at the rising popularity of Dress to Impress, it feels like a positive creative outlet for chronically online Gen Zs. I hope it inspires a whole new generation of fashion girlies to find their own personal style.
However, these games are not without their faults. There’s a noticable lack of size inclusivity and racial diversity that’s important to note. In my limited experience on Dress to Impress, there are very few People of Colour (POC) avatars and it always seems like the prettiest, blondest, whitest avatar won the challenges.
With that in mind, I have to credit Stardoll for helping me find my personal style and giving me the space to experiment, fail and thrive without the judgment of an audience. It’s a game that helped raised me and one that I will continue playing until the server goes down.
For more on Dress to Impress, head here.
