Rick Owens
Getty Images / Estrop / Contributor
BORN
November 18, 1962
HOMETOWN
Porterville, California
BASED
Paris, France
WHO IS RICK OWENS?
Rick Owens is an American-born, Paris-based designer whose groundbreaking collections have earned him the nickname The Lord of Darkness. Influencing countless designers, his gothic aesthetic boasts a fashion-sportswear hybrid with gender neutral design in the hottest color of the season…always black. His cult-like status means his designs can be seen everywhere from the racks of obscure boutiques to dressing the hottest names in hip hop, including A$AP Rocky who rapped “Rick Owens usually what I’m dressed in” in his 2011 hit “Peso.”
WHO IS RICK OWENS’ WIFE?
Rick Owens has been married to legendary French culture and fashion figure Michèle Lamy since 2006. Lamy has been called Owens’ muse and was the star of a zine which accompanied the release of his 2018 Birkenstock line. She’s known as A$AP Rocky’s “fairy godmom,” acting as a creative mentor according to the rapper. Lamy currently designs jewelry with Loree Rodkin and has appeared in music videos including for FKA Twigs.
WHAT IS RICK OWENS KNOWN FOR?
You know Rick Owens when you see it. The fashion designer juxtaposes high-quality fabric with an exaggerated, often dark, minimal, and industrial aesthetic —occasionally mixing in various occult motifs. He’s redefined various men’s and women’s clothing silhouettes while giving a new take on athletic leisure.
WHAT ARE THE RICK OWENS CONVERSE?
Rick Owens’ ongoing converse collaboration sees the designer rework popular Chuck ’70 in both high and low-top variants. The shoe is Owen’s take on the iconic Ramones silhouette. The collaboration between the fashion house and sportswear brand has continued to grow in popularity over the years, expanding into clothing and other popular converse silhouettes. You can shop the collaboration at the Highsnobiety shop.
DO RICK OWENS RUN BIG?
Rick Owens shoes generally fit true to size. The main line and DRKSHDW shoes come in half sizes (men’s US 5 to US 13, women’s US 4 to US 12).
All in all, although your regular size is likely to fit, most regular Rick Owens customers opt for a size down for a more fitted and comfortable fit.
HOW OLD IS RICK OWENS?
Currently he is 60 years old.
NET WORTH
6 million dollars
1990
Owens is hired by designer Michelle Lamy to work on her clothing line Lamy. The pair later become business partners and later marry.
1994
Owens opens his fashion line out on Hollywood Boulevard in LA, with a debut in womenswear.
2001
The first Rick Owens show takes place at the New York Fashion Week’s Spring/Summer 2002 season. The show is sponsored by American Vogue with help from Anna Wintour, after Kate Moss was spotted wearing an Owens leather jacket in French Vogue earlier that year.
It was during this show Owens began to work with stylist Panos Yiapanis in 2001. Yiapanis has worked on every single Owens presentation since.
2002
The designer is appointed artistic director at Revillon, the French fur company. He continued to design there until 2007.
Owens’ breaks into menswear. He becomes known for his twist on classic silhouettes and of course as much black as you can muster.
2003
A run in with a mugger in LA solidifies a move to Paris for Owens and his wife. The duo have operated from the French capital ever since.
2006
Owens launches his first sneaker, the Dustulator Dunk.
2010
For the first time the designer exhibits a furniture collection – with pieces originally designed for his Paris HQ. Inspired by shapes from Californian skate parks to the work of Eileen Gray – the collection first opened in Berlin.
2013
Owens unveils the first of his now-legendary adidas collaborations.
Owens presents his “Prehistoric” furniture collection at Carpenters Workshop Gallery in London, with the seven piece collection appearing in only white and black.
The Spring/Summer 2014 runway show makes waves with a collection of step dancers from four different sororities – Washington Divas, Soul Steppers, The Momentums, The Zetas – replacing models.
2014 -2017
The Lord of Darkness celebrates 20 years of his label adding an eerie twist to Selfridges, with four window displays and a curated area that not only boasts an exclusive collection, but a 35ft sculpture of Owen’s himself on the exterior.
Owens makes headlines with his fall 2015 collection with some strategically placed holes and gratuitous male nudity.
Owens and adidas announce the end of their collaboration as Owens’ moves to Hood Rubber.
Owens’ first museum exhibition and retrospective, chronicling over 20 years of his life’s work, entitled, “Subhuman Inhuman Superhuman” opened at the Triennale di Milano
2018-2021
The California designer collaborates with Dr. Martens, giving us a grunge masterpiece.
Rick Owens and Birkenstock invent a new genre of clogs.
Rick Owens gives us an inside look into Spring/Summer 2022 men’s collection, entitled FOGACHINE for our Not in Paris collection.
You can now buy Geobaskets for your baby
The California fashion designer drops another beautifully dark collaboration with Veja.
2022
Rick Owens announces a collaboration with Australian skincare label Aesop on Instagram
Rick Owens gives us his most wearable Chuck Taylor yet.
The Lord of Darkness launches his third collection with Champion — heavy on the pentagrams.
2023
Rick Owens dropped Transparent Leather.
Rick Owens embarks on a fourth year with Champion.
Rick Owens presents Spring 2024.
