Help me understand the Rick Owens style

[bob99]

I've seen a lot of Rick Owens stuff online, and I know that a few members of this forum are big fans of the clothing. I was hoping a few fans could help me understand what they like about it. I can appreciate that the really long shirts / drop crotch pants / strange shapes are unique, but the aesthetics don't do it for me.

I can get behind the sneakers and leather jackets, but they seem the most "normal" in their styling to me. Nobody I know dresses that way, so I'm not used to seeing it worn regularly. In addition, the prices seem very high, and not justified for what the items are.

I'm happy to chalk it up to a difference in taste / style, since I certainly don't need to love everything ever made, but as I learn more about different designers I'd like to hear the other side.

Thanks!

 

[indesertum]

i dont understand what you want to hear. what's so difficult to "understand" about rick owens. just go watch his runways. if you like it then you like it. if you dont then you dont and move on.

 

[Nouveau Pauvre]

He takes a lot of womenswear and couture elements and then uses a simple pallet and certain subculture influences to make it all real life wearable. There is also an element of architecture and art in his work - Brancusi and Corbusier being amongst his explicit influences.

Maybe the most appealing element is this world he has created. Whether it's his DRKSHDW denim line, his womenswear, his furniture or accessories he has created this really cohesive aesthetic world. Even if you don't want to live in it (I personally do) I think you have to admit it's very impressive.

 

[cb_32]

from what i gather its the gothninja look, imo its pretty cool

 

[softy]

+1 for a real answer, Magician

 

[Prada_Ferragamo]

Ask this question on SZ, then report back.

 

[Fycus]

Honestly if you watch or read interviews with Rick Owens he gives a little insight to what the line is all about. He talks about the perverse, the dark, the edgyness, adrogyness, but at the same time maintaining a sophisticated elegance among all the chaos. All of Rick's pieces have their own distinct look, whether it be from his leathers or his hightop sneakers. The reason he became so popular is mainly due to the absense of similar designers in his line of work. He took gothic clothing and glamourised it more or less. If you read further into his interviews you can see that Rick Owens is also totally obsessed with the body and body modification. Owens admits that he is a gym rat because the body itself is more important than the clothes and can accentuate what somebody is wearing. He said something about how working out is the most extreme form of modification because you are changing the physical structure of your body. He also pointed out that he works out in most of his clothes, but that is beyond me...

 

[indesertum]

@magician specific examples and pictures please


^ i go to poppin session in my rick owens sweats. does that count?

 

[Oldboy]

I have a pair of the woven cotton drawstring pants from the Strutter collection that I wear to the gym almost everyday. Fuckin' love em

The baggy pants/shorts, the sheer tees/tanktops, the hi-tops....a significant portion of what Rick puts out is basically high end gym-wear

Of course the outerwear is on another level

 

[shoreman1782]

Originally Posted by Magician

He takes a lot of womenswear and couture elements and then uses a simple pallet and certain subculture influences to make it all real life wearable. There is also an element of architecture and art in his work - Brancusi and Corbusier being amongst his explicit influences.

Lol art school

 

[GraphicNovelty]

Originally Posted by Magician

He takes a lot of womenswear and couture elements and then uses a simple pallet and certain subculture influences to make it all real life wearable. There is also an element of architecture and art in his work - Brancusi and Corbusier being amongst his explicit influences.

Maybe the most appealing element is this world he has created. Whether it's his DRKSHDW denim line, his womenswear, his furniture or accessories he has created this really cohesive aesthetic world. Even if you don't want to live in it (I personally do) I think you have to admit it's very impressive.

magician can you do this for every designer plz?

 

[Fuuma]

http://www.styleforum.net/showthread...Demeulemeester

 

[xchen]

lol dick ovens

 

[bob99]

Thanks for the replies, particularly Magician and Fuuma - I read that other thread and it's an interesting look at an alternative approach to style / fashion choices.

I'm interested in this specifically as it pertains to the non-runway pieces - runway fashion seems so foreign to me, as compared to stuff you can actually buy in a store.

The prices still seem way too high for a normal man like me... (Not attempting to start a huge "how do y'all afford this stuff!" thread, just commenting!)

 

[Contingency Plan]

Magician is spot on; read some of the guy's interviews and you'll understand what he's doing.