The Bluetooth frock conundrum

Imagine, if you will, that you are a trendy girl about town.

You have your mobile phone with you, of course, and it rings. But you don’t hear it.

You are, after all, about town, which in this imaginary instance means in a busy and noisy bar. Thank goodness you wore that Bluetooth enabled frock (erm, I mean, cocktail dress). Its lights up, letting you know someone has called.

This is a wheeze dreamed up by a student exploring the relationship between technology and fashion. The idea won a competition organised by Sony Ericsson and media attention was almost guaranteed thanks to the presence of tennis player Maria Sharapova at its unveiling at London’s Liberty store last week (yes, there is a tennis link here as Wimbledon has barely kicked off as I write this).

Now, here’s my question.

If my dress lights up when somebody phones me, how do I see the lights? Unless, of course, I am in a darkened room and sense myself glowing, or I am constantly looking in mirrors.