How Dress to Impress captured the hearts of Gen Z

By Alina Kazmi

Roblox has taken the world and Gen-Z by storm (Getty)

Dress to Impress is a game that has been trending all over social media and has stolen the hearts of Gen Z and even of celebrities.  

The multiplayer fashion minigame, which can be found on Roblox, was created in October 2023 but didn’t really take off until the summer of 2024.  

By that summer the game was rated top of Roblox’s most popular list and was trending on social media sites such as TikTok and Instagram. 

The interactive fashion show has even reached popularity with non-Roblox’s fans due to collaborations with famous artists such as Charli XCX with her ‘BRAT’ album.  

Superstar Charlie XCX is just one of many celebrities who love the online game (Getty)

Celebrities such as Madison Beer and Kai Cenat have video streamed the multiplayer game, adding to its ongoing popularity within Gen Z. 

The game, which emulates a fashion contest with a timer of 325 seconds, allows players to dress in iconic fashion pieces.  

You are also responsible for hair and makeup according to a set theme. Players must follow the theme to rank highly in voting during the fashion show.  

Many players love the game as it has an almost nostalgic feel to games Gen Z would play when they were younger, such as Stardoll and GirlsGoGames.  

Many people on TikTok have called the game “therapeutic” and have confessed it soothes their “inner child” and Beer said: the Roblox’s game is “healing” her.  

Dress to Impress follows current fashion trends such as ‘Y2K’ and ‘fairy core’ to attract the likes of Gen Z, who are a generation known for expressing creativity and having their own individuality when it comes to fashion. 

The game helps to fulfil Gen Z’s desire for authenticity and self-identity with the customisation of avatars and unique fashion and accessory pieces.  

The social interaction of the game allows players to connect and compete with their friends, judging the outfits in a fashion show.  

The game also helps to build a sense of community with players and adds to its addictiveness.  

Roblox is also accessible and free-to-play without the inclusion of any add-ons, such as the VIP pass. This also attracts Gen Z, as all you need to play the game is Wi-Fi and an account with Roblox.  

The fashion game does a fantastic job of appealing to the younger generation with its diverse range of fashion individuality and unique competitiveness. With its growing popularity with celebrities, maybe Roblox is just the starting point for this interactive game.