An Ode to Rick Owens
Graphic by Margeaux Rocco.
There’s no one taking the fashion industry by storm right now like Rick Owens. The California designer started his own clothing line in 1994 in his home state before moving to Paris with his wife and launching their fashion company in 2003. Since then, Owens has won many awards for his fashion shows and has established himself as a notable force in the industry. His label has exploded in popularity in recent years because of his collaborations with brands such as Birkenstock, Moncler and Champion. But now, much of his recent pop culture status can be attributed to big-name rappers such as A$AP Rocky, Lil Uzi Vert, Kanye West and Playboi Carti name-dropping Owens in their songs or wearing his clothes. This increased popularity for a high fashion brand that pushes the borders of streetwear has brought many self-proclaimed fashion experts into the limelight, many of whom thrive on TikTok — but their “expertise” is questionable, to say the least.
They slap on some Rick Owens pants, Rick Owens shoes and a Rick Owens shirt, and, all of a sudden, they’re better than everyone that goes to FIT. They’ve become the grandmasters of fashion just because their outfit costs $7,000. And you’re right; I’m definitely jealous. I wish I had so much money that I could get a $7,000 outfit and not bat an eyelash. But I don’t have to spend that much to prove I have a sense of style.
I'm not saying I don't like Rick Owens. I appreciate his designs, the concepts behind his shows and the way he toys with gender expression. His creations are very innovative, and his ability to make his signature colors, white and black, look completely different every season is a testament to his talent and creative eye. Owens is rightly considered one of the best and most influential designers in the fashion world right now.
Images courtesy of Vogue.
But that doesn’t mean wearing an outfit composed of only Rick Owens means you have a sense of style. Exhibit A: the black shirt with the Gucci logo paired with Gucci sweatpants topped off with Gucci shoes. I think this is one of the most horrendous outfits I’ve ever seen. And it’s horrendous because there is no personality in it.
Image courtesy of Pinterest.
Fashion should be a reflection of who you are. Wearing brands is fine – I love wearing brands myself – but using them to show off your wealth rather than to make what you wear an extension of yourself and your personality defeats the purpose of fashion. A perfect example of someone who wears Rick Owens while still incorporating his own sense of style is TikTok and Instagram fashion influencer, Wisdm.
Wisdm gained popularity over TikTok for his movie-inspired outfits, so much so that he caught Vogue’s eye.. He is now represented by IMG, a modeling agency that includes some of the highest-paid models. Wisdm wears a lot of Rick Owens, but he adds his own personality through his styling. One of my favorite Rick Owens looks by Wisdm is a black, white, and beige ensemble.
Every article of clothing he is wearing is Rick Owens, but the way he styled each piece showcases his unique personality. The clothes come together as a cohesive, well-thought-out look, rather than a bunch of clothes randomly put together to avoid the fashion faux-pas of cross-branding. In his post, Wisdm sums up the transformative power of fashion beautifully and powerfully: “ I don't aim to deliver the daily dose of fashion inspo but rather to demonstrate the transformative capabilities [of] garments. That's at the core of me, and I'm super thankful that it's been appreciated. Love.”
Image courtesy of Instagram.