Okay, I am just going to say it.
I think people are afraid to say it, but I have appointed myself as the designated person to say these things.
So here we go:
The shoes that people often confuse with converse are called Rick Owens Ramones, and I am tired of seeing them.
As a long time fan of Rick Owens, I hate seeing his clothes become the new “I’m into fashion” fashion.
Especially in New York, the US Fashion’s capital, there is a lot of pressure to be fashionable and trendy.
Unfortunately, this organic and edgy swag New York once had is becoming saturated by Instagram influencers and “I’m into fashion” try-hards.
Ouch, maybe I am being too critical.
Naturally, brands get more attention when rappers mention it, and Rick Owens has been the designer of choice for many hot artists such as: JT, Lil Uzi Vert, The Kardashians, Taylor Swift, and many more.
Rappers like A$AP Rocky who have built a career in the fashion industry, have been wearing Rick Owens. Rocky’s song Peso put a lot of us on Rick Owens along with many other brands in 2011. The reason we are seeing a lot more of Rick Owens is because the digital age has become way more prevalent in our daily lives.
Nonetheless, the cat is out of the bag now. While many of us are just finding out about Rick Owens, a lot of us are running to sell our pieces on Grailed before even his Mainline becomes too mainstream.
Like many designers, Rick Owens has several sectors of his brand. His DRKSHDW line is what is becoming more popular. With lower price points, cheaper materials, and more simplistic designs, DRKSHDW has made Rick Owens more accessible to those who can not afford his higher price points but still want to achieve his brand’s aesthetic.
I hate that Rick Owens has become the new band tees. There was this era when stores like Forever 21 and H&M started making Metallica tees, so of course everyone was wearing Metallica tees and know one really knew what Metallica was. A similar thing happened with Thrasher and many other skateboard brands. It can be very exhausting and almost offensive when people just wear things without knowing what they are and what they represent.
But I actually don't mind new fashion lovers. I love seeing people get into fashion and developing their own sense of style. Special shoutout to the late bloomers who are just now finding their style and expressing themselves through what they wear.
Now us fashionistas become annoyed when everyone is wearing the same thing, for no reason, and with no purpose.
What happened to our ornate, ostentatious and creative love for decorating our bodies? We can look at it through a simple lens of “its just clothes” but what we wear on our bodys and what we decorate our bodies with has always been a human’s sacred treasure. Whether its tattoos or religious garbs, what you wear says more about you than you may think.
Rick Owens is an artist who helped many people embrace their inner darkness from a place of grunge but chic.
Respect that.
Respect yourself enough to care about what you wear and what it represents.