Rick Owens: Unleashed

Rick Owens is the man no one can beat. For over two decades, he has astonished the fashion world with his dark and unconventional collections. From caged headpieces to glowing, metallic pants, he has done it all. The American designer, born and raised in California, is no stranger to the absurd. In fact, he openly leans into it. Along his winding journey through the fashion world, he fell in love with art and design. Additionally, he worked as a pattern cutter before starting his brand in 1994.

A model wearing full Rick Owens for the Rick Owens Fall 2025 Menswear show.  Photographed by Acielle / Style Du Monde and made available via Vogue. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Well, how do you tell if a designer is worthwhile? The answer: if American Vogue sponsors their first runway show. Rick Owens's Fall 2002 Ready-to-Wear collection laid the foundation for his creative genius to flourish. His distinct pattern cutting and technical design skills set him apart from the other traditionally-taught designers. This collection was an opportunity for him to grow his audience (and what a cult following he has today!).

It’s clear from examining the runway photos that this was his first sponsored collection. Take the scenery, for instance. Rick Owens is known for having shows outside the grand Palais de Tokyo in Paris. For his more recent followers, the plain backdrop might seem shocking. However, this was a necessary step for him to break into the industry. Later, there would be time for finding the perfect scenery for his following collections.

The first collection, titled “Sparrows,” flew his designs into the public’s eye (figuratively, of course). The contrast and overall cohesion of the looks were pure Rick Owens. Small, tight jackets constricted the model’s torsos. Tailored pants and skirts flowed at the bottom with ease. Shades of white, brown, and black created a simple color palette. Like figures emerging from harsh conditions, the models showed little skin. Fabric enveloped their bodies whole (with the exception of the occasional sleeveless dress).

Models walk the runway for Rick Owens Fall 2002 Ready-to-Wear collection “Sparrows.” Photographed by Brian Edwards/Shoot Digital for STYLE.com and made available via Vogue. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Similarly, the shape of the garments matches Rick Owens’ design style. Proportions, relating to the torso and legs, were elongated by lengthier pants and coats. The models wore shirts with skin-tight hoods. Notably, this constriction of the head and arms is a recurring detail within his collections. Elements like these make up what the Rick Owens brand is: daring and unconventional. Even though “Sparrows” seems more minimalist, this runway show gave the fashion world a taste of the genius to come.

Specifically, the hints of his future designs were in the details of these pieces. Leather jackets and boots completed a number of the looks. The roughness of that material contrasted well with the soft cotton draped over the models. Unexpectedly, the layering of materials made the models look rather cozy. Maybe collections can be both peculiar and calming all at once?

Additionally, a few of the skirts and trousers incorporated slits or small holes. This effect highlighted the sheer fabrics and minimal areas of bare skin. Nowadays, Rick Owens takes these design elements to the extreme. This is what sets him apart from other designers: with each collection, he kicks things up a level.

Models walk the runway for Rick Owens Fall 2025 Menswear collection. Courtesy of OWENSCORP and made available via Vogue. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Speaking of kicking, Rick Owens’ emphasis on footwear stunned during his Fall 2025 Menswear show. The star of the collection, in this humble writer’s opinion, was the spikey, cactus-esque boots. These shoes were creatures themselves, shaking to life with the models’ movements. The beauty of these monster-steppers remains within their structure. Specifically, triangular pieces of fringed leather interlocked to create the sharp illusion. Notably, Rick Owens collaborated with Parisian designer Victor Clavelly to produce these iconic boots.

In addition to the spiketacular footwear, this collection properly represents Rick Owens. Black leather and asymmetric silhouettes ran wild. Models wore colored contacts that blacked out their eyes, giving their looks an other-worldly appeal. Tailored jackets stuck out at the shoulders and slimmed down to the models’ wrists. Contrasting this tightness, the hoodies practically swallowed the models up. The fabric of these loungewear essentials swung over their arms and waists. Shape, in terms of this collection, was stretched out and compressed to the extreme.

In contrast to “Sparrows,” the Fall 2025 Menswear collection was shown in the Palais de Tokyo. Inside the building, fog filled the runway room, creating a dark and ominous essence. The cohesion of the runway scenery and the individual looks proved a point: Rick Owens knows who he is as a designer. His cult following is only getting bigger, and it’s anyone’s guess as to what will come for his Spring 2026 collection. Hopefully, more monsters and aliens will receive the footwear inspiration they deserve.