Rick Owens isn’t known for making pretty turtlenecks… but he’s certainly known for making interesting ones. He has been able to elevate the hoodie into an art form with some amazing creations, such as his architectural looking outerwear. But how does Owens tackle the classic shirt? In this video, we get to see what goes on behind the scenes when Owens creates a new piece of clothing – and I’m telling you right now there are many different ways that one can alter a typical white button-up.
Signature Silhouettes: Deconstructing the Classic
The Camicia line leans towards a relaxed look, with camp or Cuban collars and short-sleeved options available. Owens’ iconic signature is his emphasis on volume. https://officialrickowens.com/ uses this to exaggerate certain parts of the shirts. For instance, he created the Jumbo and Tommy lines, both of which have exaggerated volumes. The Tommy line shirt is available in a boxy-fit with short sleeves, chest pockets and trim detailing. In comparison, Jumbo versions are even more exaggerated, taking things even further with sleeveless varieties and snap fronts. Another standout piece is the Concordian shirt. With a below-hip length and long sleeves, along with snap cuffs and v-necks, these are considered some of Owens’ more refined shirts. He made slight modifications to the Concordian line by making them sit slightly lower behind where they meet in the back (this is a trademark element for him). Additionally, there’s a cotton webbing strap across the back yoke.
Materials and Craftsmanship: Substance Meets Innovation
Work Shirt Crafted using 100% organic cotton with buffalo horn buttons, Owens’ love for good materials continues on display here. Island Made up of 100% cupro with buffalo horn buttons. Lightweight satins offer a soft drape that’s not typically associated with traditional cotton shirting. Rev – Owens has gone full-on experimental with his latest design, incorporating embroidery featuring abstract artwork inspired by Martin Rev, a founding member of punk duo Suicide. (He used their hit “Cheree” for his very first runway show.)
The DRKSHDW Translation: Accessible Provocation
These designs have already gained traction among collectors but are now available to a broader public through diffusion line of shirt designs. Both the Magnum Tommy and Camicia Magnum Tommy models come equipped with classic collars, button-ups, and short sleeves that feature either graphic prints or two flap pockets on their chests.
For an example of how Owens translates his aesthetic into more wearable pieces, look no further than his DRKSHDW Double-pocket Short-sleeve Shirt model above. It features a camp collar, front button fastening, and two front patch pockets with a distinctive black tie detailing along its hem. It’s made from 100% organic cotton, too!
Finishing Details: The Owens Touch
Concealed Front Closures: Multiple pieces have concealed front closures either through hidden buttons/snap. Patch/Flap Pockets: These can be found on several of our pieces providing additional functionality along with aesthetic appeal. V-Neck Designs: This style appears on multiple lines throughout the Owens collection such as the Larry & Concordian shirts above. Concealed Snap Buttons: We love how these elements contribute both aesthetically as well as structurally especially within some of our more experimental designs.
Styling the Owens Shirt: Versatility in Silhouette
As we’ve noted before, this diverse selection means that there are plenty of ways to style these shirts – both the classic work shirt/Camicia variants go very nicely with tailored trousers, whereas the Jumbo and Tommy styles will want you to invest in either the brand’s signature wide-leg pants or some good cargo trousers. Owens has created yet another frontier for the styler’s imagination this week, by developing what seems like a completely different sort of garment altogether: the “modular” Headon shirt. With its zippered hem allowing you to easily connect to a matching vest — imagine taking an expandable jacket into more urban settings if you’re feeling particularly adventurous — this allows you to transform shirts from your closets into one element within a much greater system. As a testament to Owens’ increasing interest in how we might use clothing as adaptable architecture, I’d venture.
Conclusion: The Shirt as Statement
Rick Owens transforms the plain piece into an art object through minimally-altered versions of work-shirts to experimental modular creations. Owens’ latest collection illustrates that versatility there’s no limit to what you can do with a shirt, he seems to suggest, regardless of how simple it might seem. In Owens’ hands, the humble shirt is a great medium for exploring different aspects of creativity within the world of fashion. From the organic cotton work shirts to the cupro island shirts, the collection encompasses everything between simple button-ups and elaborate embroidered collaborations, reflecting the designer’s refusal to be constrained by conventional boundaries. Whether crafted in sustainable organic cotton, luxurious cupro, or the historically woven whipcord fabric, every shirt in the Rick Owens range embodies the brand’s distinctively visionary outlook on fashion where functionality meets architecture, accessibility converges with avant-garde artistry.
