Here are some of Barbara’s style secrets on how to bring the Rick Owens look into your wardrobe.
How do you describe the look of the line?
Rick's vision is totally focused on the here and now. At the same time, it gives the wearer the feeling of being way ahead of the game in terms of versatility, wearability, and sheer luxury. He has perfected THE LOOK for dread dead, end of the world glamour and decadence.
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Tell us a little bit about the Rick Owens dream customer-- what is she like, her age, lifestyle, joie de vivre?
He /she/ is a woman/man/child, ambiguous, and androgynous sole who is creative, ageless, and who passes effortlessly from his/her masculine to feminine side, daywear to eveningwear like a shadow. Rick brings the woman or man into sharp focus, and the wearer is hooked the moment he/she sees that age is irrelevant in Rick's world.
There is a most definite avant-garde fashion point of view, yet there is something rather classic in its way. What makes a Rick Owens garment both timeless and ageless?
Mannequin at the Rick Owens, Paris shop
We literally work with adolescents of 16 to icons of 70+. Rick’s work is timeless and ageless in the sense that in this day and age, when fashion has become disposable, the owner of a Rick piece never gets tired or wants to part with his treasure. It is a rare day that a Rick piece will show up in a resale store and if it does it is snatched up almost immediately.
What looks would you suggest to someone new to the collection who wants to experiment with new styles?
Clients enter the changing cabin for the first time with skepticism but their invariable phrase as they exit the cabin, in all languages boils down to "Eureka, I feel fantastic!"
To start with for a medium sized to tall woman, begin with a basic silhouette: a pair of bias cut georgette trousers which are sooooooo flattering and comfortable, a men's long racer back T-shirt draped over the tummy, and a sublime cashmere wrap.
Low heel boots by Rick Owens
For a smaller woman, opt for a georgette bias cut skirt instead of the trousers. Everyone will LOVE his cashmere leggings and don't neglect to try on at least one of his legendary leather jackets... a pair of wedge ankle boots will immediately update your silhouette and are so comfortable that one can wear them shopping all day, and go on to a cocktail and late dinner without the slightest twinge of fatigue or discomfort.
Please tell us about who wears Rick’s clothes and about the shop’s clientele. We’d love to hear some celebrity names...
Rick’s vision has been adopted by the most amazingly diverse clientele imaginable: the planet’s rock and roll elite, successful underworld characters, movie stars, rock stars, film producers, fashion savvy millionaires/billionaires, opera divas, fashionistas, bankers who are tired of looking like bankers, students who save their dollars painstakingly for months to buy a T-shirt, famous and not so famous models, architects, authors, football stars, basketball stars and their wives, and god knows who else…
The lifelike statue of Rick in his Paris shop.
Brad Pitt buys our T-shirts and an occasional leather jacket. Bruce Springsteen is a fan of our jeans and Lenny Kravitz is a client. Courtney Love was among the first to discover Rick’s line a zillion years ago in LA-- Courtney is still among the first clients to place an order every season. Fergie comes into the store and wears EVERYTHING so well. Daphne Guinness pops in and so does Eugenie Niarcos, Lindsay Lohan, Vanessa Traina, Zhang Ziyi, Vivi Nevo, and the Spielberg Family….
If you tell us just one thing about Rick Owens, what would it be?
No matter how hard we try to unveil the secret of his genius, Rick Owens, the man, will remain a mystery. BUT, whatever you spend in a Rick Owen's store, you will NEVER REGRET IT. -- Richard Nahem, The Paris Insider
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In Paris:
Rick Owens
Jardins du Palais Royal
130-133 Galerie de Valois, 1st arr.
Metro: Palais Royal
Tel. 01 40 20 42 52
rickowens.eu
Photos, this page only, Richard Nahem
Lead photo of Rick Owens from the Gareth Pugh Spring / Summer 2010 fashion show
Published on February 02, 2010
