Showing posts with label Rick Owens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rick Owens. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Rick Owens Paris AW10 interview and review for Dazed Digital






After last season’s mix of Russian techno and denim, the autumn winter collection from Rick Owens was a bit of a surprise, albeit a pleasant one. For his Friday lunchtime show just south of the Seine, the American designer tried out his tailoring skills. And even though he claims this was just a fad, it was an impressive suit effort from Owens.


His androgynous models wore formal coats, some in slight silver or golden shades, and often over a turtleneck jumper. Other models appeared to be wearing a male version of halter neck tops, and others preserved Owens’ mojo by showing a bare and sexy back.


Just because denim was out this season didn’t mean leather followed suit. We saw jackets and coats in leather - which is Rick Owens’ trademark material – and often they came out in brown, black or beige colours. Layering and Owens’ characteristic play with the length of garments also persisted, ditto his love for of fur. But even though we were treated to a surprisingly mature collection, there were clear signs of the old forward pushing designer we have come to love; duvet jackets and platform boots in snakeskin made everyone leave in an even better mood.


DD: What was your source of inspiration this time around?
Rick Owens: This season was about opulence for me. I’ve focused on austerity for the past men’s season, which I’ll probably go back to soon…


DD: It was rather a tailored collection for you, wasn’t it?
Rick Owens: Yes, last season was such and indulgence in denim, and this one was more of a library.


DD: Library?
Rick Owens: Tweeds and cigars. It had a country manor feeling to it.


DD: Do you feel it was a mature collection because of all the tailoring?
Rick Owens: It’s a mature option, not a mature direction. I will always have my leather! And also it’s a great challenge – you don’t normally think of Rick Owens when you see tailoring. A like a challenge to react to, it’s a good base for a collection.


DD: There were a few quite sexy pieces though – like the bare back tops…
Rick Owens: Yeah, well you know, tailoring can get boring. You gotta put a bit of sex into it!


DD: Any favourite pieces from the show?
Rick Owens: I’m going to be wearing the black tailored coat made out of silk and wool all winter long!

Thursday, July 02, 2009

Rick Owens Paris SS10

When you go to a Rick Owens show the words ‘what it says on the tin is what you get’ springs to mind. Most designers have signature details and garments, but Rick has a signature look. But that’s not bad though. If you want preppy button down shirts you go to Thom Browne, if you desire a casual double-breasted jacket visit a Dries van Noten shop, but whatever you do, don’t go to Owen’s new South Audley Street in London (or to any other branch, for that matter), because that just ain’t him! No, Owens does techno fashion. It’s about pushing clothes – the fabric, fit, shapes, colors, accessories, everything – to its very limit.



On Friday, in south Paris’ Bercy area, that’s exactly what the LA born-and-bred designer did. No fooling around, no tiptoeing – just pure hardcore attitude. Naturally there was transparent t-shirt fabrics and distressed leather jackets, but there was something else in the air; a knowledge – from both Rick and the audience – that this is it, this is a core Owens collection. The angular collar shapes, the layered tops and bottoms, the long knitwear dresses diagonally cut to the armpit, the cropped trousers and simple black boots, beautifully cut waistcoats and necklaces that was more like Roman breastplates than anything else, stood out.


Sure, the trainers were big and weird and I’m not too crazy about the multi-coloured leather jackets (white, beige and black) and why were they wearing beanie hats in a summer collection, but that’s all details. The bigger picture is as close to a Rembrandt as Paris got. And the Russian techno soundtrack rocked – my ears ached for hours!

Monday, July 28, 2008