Student users discuss why they play the game, what makes it special
By GRACIELA TIU — features@theaggie.org
“Dress to Impress,” a fashion game that is a part of the online game platform Roblox, has been continuously growing in popularity, especially among younger generations. Officially released on Nov. 11, 2023, the game has had over 2.6 billion users.
“Dress to Impress” user Nicole Miquilarena, a second-year psychology major, described the premise of the game.
“It’s a dress-up fashion game on Roblox, a platform that has many games,” Miquilarena said. “You can play with your friends or with other people; basically, you’re a model. It gives you a theme and you have to dress up to that theme with the outfits that are available.”
The game’s fun features and intricate details make it even more enjoyable to play, users like Amelia Lipcsei, a second-year mechanical and aerospace engineering major, have reported.
“You can pick the color of the hair, nails, the color of all of the clothes, everything — and then you finish your avatar,” Lipcsei said. “You only get a certain amount of time, and then you go on the runway, where it shows every single person’s avatar and you get to do little ‘emotes’ with your character. Then everyone votes; at the end, whoever has the most votes gets first, second or third place — or you don’t place at all.”
Users of the game have described that “Dress to Impress” is a fun bonding activity among friends.
“I feel like it’s more fun because you’re competing against each other,” Lipcsei said. “And also you can work together because they have [a feature] where you can team up and be a duo. I feel like that’s more fun because you get to actually work with them to build the outfit. But I also feel like it is fun getting to compete against them and trying to sabotage each other.”
Others admit that they only choose to participate in the game when playing with friends.
“I would say I only really play when I’m with my friends,” Liesl Steffenson, a fourth-year animal science major, said. “It’s really funny, and it’s just like a good bonding experience. It’s always fun to make outfits together and joke around.”
“Dress to Impress,” as UC Davis students have reported, can end up being a fun activity that gives players an opportunity to bring out their fashionable side.
“It’s a fun thing to do on a girl’s night, or when I’m hanging out with my friends,” Steffenson said. “It’s very fun to just be creative and come up with the stupidest stuff you can, or the best outfit you can. It definitely brings fun times and bonding with people and brings my friend group together because we’re all addicted to [playing] it.”
The game also gives users the chance to expand on their own style and create looks that may not be part of their everyday wardrobe.
“I feel like it probably reflects my personal style a little bit, but it allows me to make outfits that I personally would never wear in public but I still think are cute,” Lipcsei said. “I just don’t have the confidence to wear those outfits out, but I feel like it allows me to know that I can build outfits that I like that I just wouldn’t go out and wear.”
Aside from the basics of the game, players also have access to features like a paid VIP option, where players can have access to different outfits, looks and more.
“There’s a VIP room that you can go in, and there are always way more [options] in there, so people make it work with the theme,” Lipcsei said. “It just gives you access to better things — they have teddy bears, little accessories and more interesting stuff like that.”
Part of the game’s allure comes from its viral presence on TikTok and other social media platforms, with many creators posting about their fun experiences with the game. “Dress to Impress” has incorporated this online culture into its updates, with a notable summer update that excited many players.
“They had a collab with Charlie XCX and they changed the game to be “brat”-themed,” Miquilarena said. “They put new outfit pieces that go with the brand that Charlie XCX is trying to cultivate right now. You could also do different poses that Charlie XCX does, there was “brat” music in the background and different “brat” colors that you could use.”
Although “brat summer” has come to a close, the game recently released its Halloween update on Oct. 19. The update includes spooky revamps to the lobby, runway and dressing room, as well as new poses, items and cosmetic looks. In addition, the update features a quest following the viral “Lana Lore,” which features an eerie hidden backstory about one of the figures in the game.
“Lana is the nail lady in ‘Dress to Impress,’ since when you’re playing, you can also do your hair and your nails,” Miquilarena said. “Apparently, there are Easter eggs in the game that hint at Lana’s backstory.”
Whether you play alone, with friends or for the sole purpose of investigating Lana’s backstory, “Dress to Impress” might be a fun pastime to help you connect with friends and tap into your inner creative side.
Written by: Graciela Tiu — features@theaggie.org
