Rick Owens Deconstructed

The California-born fashion and furniture designer Rick Owens has developed a unique style that he describes as “luxe minimalism.” As has been the case with many American icons, the French were among the first to recognize Owens’s distinctive Goth flair. Former Vogue Paris editor Carine Roitfeld was an early adopter, and (tellingly) she’s frequently photographed in a Rick Owens coat that’s been in her closet for at least five seasons.

Though his designs are simple and spare, Owens thrives on theatricality — producing wildly original runway shows featuring gender-fluid models of all ages and shapes. Inspired by his longtime partner and muse, Michele Lamy, clothes and furniture alike feature dark grays, blacks and browns. Like his frontier forebears, Owens finds his strongest influences in nature — his furniture and housewares have simple, organic shapes, and a few items even feature his distinctly 21st-century take on antlers. (They’d look exquisite in a Bond villain’s Alpine hideaway — not a Wild West saloon). He’s also drawn to unorthodox materials like bone and petrified wood.

For many aficionados of Owens’s clothes, the gateway drug is a distressed leather motorcycle jacket. He describes the look as “glunge ”— a portmanteau of “glamour and “grunge.” Owens uses only the finest materials, although they’re not always visible from the outside. If you’re lucky enough to be swaddled in one of Owens’s edgy, sable-lined creations, you’ll know where the good stuff is hidden — and you’ll never want to take it off. Take a look at the offerings on these pages and be inspired.

Find a collection of original Rick Owens clothing and furniture on 1stDibs.

From museum-worthy vintage Oscar de la Renta evening dresses and jackets to audacious T-shirts and trousers from provocative punk designer Vivienne Westwood, one thing is abundantly clear: If the clothing available on 1stDibs could talk, it would certainly make a statement. 

For fashion lovers, the 1990s have become associated with styles adopted by today’s supermodels and influencers — think Galliano and Cavalli — but maybe ‘80s accessories are among your (guilty?) pleasures. Playful, boldly colored coats and outerwear from Moschino and other titans of the era can take a simpler ensemble to the next level, while chic and practical suits from the likes of Christian Dior and Chanel remain classic for haute couture advocates and beyond. By exploring the vast array of vintage collections on these pages, you can transform your closet into a retreat that is as retro as it is royal. 

Velvet cocktail dresses and silk evening gowns designed by French-born American couturiere Pauline Trigère — who dressed Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor — have proven timeless since their mid-century debut, while an overcoat by Alexander McQueen is the perfect finishing touch. In fact, an emerald one stays in rotation for Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge.

Those seeking modern high-fashion brands are also in luck. Turn your day-to-day into a runway with selections from Dolce & Gabbana, Yves Saint Laurent and Versace or complete that fresh look with stunning footwear classics from the likes of Gucci and Christian Louboutin. The future — and glamorous past — of fashion is yours for the wearing. 

Build your collection of covetable and iconic vintage garments by shopping on 1stDibs. No matter where you roam, our diverse apparel and accessories will keep you covered in the hottest styles and comfiest black hoodie imaginable.