Rick Owens A/W 2018

Mood board: A Jeff Judd remix of Marlene Dietrich’s Baubles, Bangles and Beads – a reflective song focused on human adornment and the physical trappings of seduction – served as the soundtrack to Rick Owens’ A/W 2018 show, which was held inside the confines of the Palais de Tokyo. Owens was thinking about the ‘voluptuousness’ and ‘sumptuousness’ of panniers and bustles, and the hyperbolic clothing of the past. These volumes he translated into padded and bulbous forms, like tunics in camel hair and linen felt, bumbags like pillows, and oversized parkas with swaddling sleeves. Owens played with voluminous and spongy forms in his S/S 2018 women’s collection, likening his squidgy silhouettes to meringues. His autumnal silhouettes were both protective and provocative, comforting and crude, an amplified version of the female form.
Best in show: Owens is a master of balancing avant-garde catwalk pieces with commercial hits, and amongst the extreme shapes and padded silhouettes, there were deconstructed coats with frayed panels inspired by Bauhaus, parkas with trailing iridescent threads, cashmere running shorts and draped tops.
Finishing touches: There was a clean athleticism to the looks, which were paired with futuristic trainers with exaggerated soles. Slouchy sock boots with curving inverted heels had the same distorting silhouettes as Owens’ ready-to-wear, a wearable and futuristic take on the classic wedge heel.
Rick Owens A/W 2018.
Rick Owens A/W 2018.
Rick Owens A/W 2018.
Rick Owens A/W 2018.
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
-
Rolex and photographer Cristina Mittermeier work to protect our oceans
The conservation photographer and Rolex Testimonee is highlighting the need to support marine life
-
Omar Degan to curate first Pan-African architecture biennale
The first Pan-African architecture biennale has been announced, taking place in Nairobi in 2026; we caught up with its inaugural curator, architect Omar Degan, to discuss the festival's mission, vision and scope
-
Slate is an ultra-simple EV truck intended as an affordable and customisable workhorse
Slate designer Tisha Johnson discusses her role at the US electric truck start-up, a company that wants its customers to have complete freedom of expression
-
Palace unites with Rapha to celebrate inaugural Tour de France Femmes
Marking the first time women will compete in the historic cycling race since the late 1980s, this new collaboration sees Palace Skateboards and Rapha create uniforms for both on and off the bike – including an ‘outlandish’ pair of Crocs
-
At home with Rick Owens
As California-born fashion designer Rick Owens is named one of the Wallpaper* USA 300 – a celebration of creative America – we revisit our conversation with Owens in the run-up to his S/S 2023 menswear show last year
-
Paris Fashion Week A/W 2022: Chanel to Miu Miu
In this extended report, Wallpaper* updates you live from Paris Fashion Week A/W 2022 shows, with rolling coverage as runway events unfold
-
Scene-stealing runway sets from S/S 2022 womenswear shows
From giant roulette wheels to Olympic diving boards and multi-city synchronized extravaganzas – our pick of the best fashion show sets from S/S 2022 womenswear
-
Paris Fashion Week A/W 2021: discotheque chic to apres-ski sleek
-
Walk this way: navigating S/S 2021's Paris Fashion Week
How the City of Lights looked to the sartorial realities of our much changed lifestyles
-
Louis Vuitton A/W 2020 Paris Fashion Week Women's
-
Chanel A/W 2020 Paris Fashion Week Women’s