I’ve had the most amazing, small, close-knit clique of friends for over ten years now. We like to consider ourselves sisters. We all met during the iconic era of Tumblr when we’d congregate daily in what would sometimes end up being 12-hour-long Skype calls. Back then, we’d gab and gossip about mutual interests like pop culture, fashion, art, and our shared love for Beyoncé.

Nowadays, our latest obsession is playing Dress to Impress together on Roblox. Like any other friend group, we go through phases where we may not always be the best at keeping in touch. But eventually, without fail, we always reunite. And whenever we do, it feels like we’ve picked up exactly where we left off.

A Divination to Dress to Impress

A few months ago, one of my best friends Maya mentioned in passing that she had a strange dream. It was about all of us playing a game together on Roblox. I remember not thinking much of it because it seemed so random to me at the time– isn’t that a children’s game? Plus, the group hadn’t gotten together in a call for a while. It was hard enough to get all the girls on the phone at the same time, let alone to play a video game together.

Little did I know just how prophetic this dream of Maya’s would turn out to be.

This brings me to the girls’ and my newest fascination: Dress to Impress on Roblox. For those who don’t know what that is, it’s a virtual fashion game complete with shoes, hairstyles, custom makeup options, and clothes that reference real designer pieces. Players have the option to pay 800 Robux (equivalent to $10) to receive access to the all-exclusive VIP room, where some of the game’s finest gems are hidden. The players are given a theme at the start of the round (some are more inspiring than others) and the objective of the game is to put together the best outfit in the allotted five minutes.

Then, you storm the runway. As a digital fashion show ensues, the players all vote for their favorite looks, resulting in three winners.

Upon playing (and winning) my first round, it became exceedingly clear to me that this was the best video game to have ever been invented. The game’s selection of prints & patterns as well as its full RGB color wheel allow for a surprising amount of creative freedom. You can clip certain pieces together to manipulate them into different kinds of fabulous silhouettes.

This game feels like it came from the future and yet, there’s a nostalgia that comes with playing it that transports me to childhood memories of playing online Flash games like Barbie Fashion Show on my mom’s old iMac.

And now, miraculously, as if all of a sudden it was 2013 again (wouldn’t we all love to go back?), the girls and I have been staying up late almost every single night bonding on Discord, watching cult classics, listening to music, and quite literally dominating together in Dress to Impress.

It’s been unexpected having a game designed for kids ignite this major and much-needed resurgence of the friend group that had been by my side during my most formative years in life. While I may not have realized it was happening at the time, I regret allowing the ebbs and flows of my life to get in the way of our relationship.

Nevertheless, I’m grateful for the role Dress to Impress has played in reuniting us, and what it’s taught me about sisterhood.