Rick Owens: awesome or absurd? - YouLookFab Forum

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Rick Owens: awesome or absurd?

ironkurtin

Veteran

So a clothing designer friend of mine has been passing along many samples and other things. This is a Rick Owens jacket which is intentionally dirty, of all things. Is it crazy awesome on me, or just ridiculous? I'm not keeping something nuts in my closet just because of a label.

The front is drapey and the back is tight, I'm assuming this is intentional. If this jacket were any bigger the front would be mad fabric!

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28 replies

Latest reply was from catgirl

rute

Veteran

I'm not crazy about the front, but I kind of love the style! I can see it with black skinnies and boots and a fitted top!

Anonymous

It looks to me like the back is pulling, that it is too narrow across shoulders and causing that puffing on the shoulder line.

The front looks interesting but I think it would annoy me how floppy it is. Is it made of some kind of canvas? How stiff is it?

JR

Veteran

Intentionally dirty? No thank you. It is still dirty and nobody seeing you will know that it's on purpose. I think designers sometimes jump the shark and if you need footnotes to explain an outfit, it's not a keeper.

Can't say I'm crazy about the cut either. If you shortened the sleeves, it might work, but from the front right now, it just looks several sizes too big.

This is, of course, just my opinion, but I just can't vote awesome on this one.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I'd say if it's a freebie, give it a wash and see what happens! I kinda love the quirky asymmetry of it. Now, the intentional dirty look . . . maybe on boots, but not so much a white jacket!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

And if it needs a good home, I'd foster it with care lol

lynne

Veteran

I like it. There's an insouciant quality about it.

biscuitsmom

Veteran

I agree with JR on this

cinnamon fern

Veteran

I love it! It does look a teeny bit too tight across the back, but if it's denim or something like that it should stretch out a bit and be perfect. If you don't want it you are welcome to send it to me

I have no opinion on the intentionally dirty aspect, since I can't see that in the picture.

ironkurtin

Veteran

Ceit - It is a very soft, very lightweight corded cotton. It drapes very easily. I'm wearing it in the office now with no issue typing. Also, the pockets are in really the best possible place. The back is definitely a bit tight, but not impossibly so.

Mo, I have now washed this twice and given it a 30-minute bleach dip. This is as clean-looking as it is going to get. TBH that doesn't bother me - let other people think it's dirty, whatever.

Anonymous

The jacket is nice! I'm just not sure everyone will 'get' the intentionally dirty bit. Is the 'dirt' woven into the fabric, or can it be cleaned? Cos if it could, I'd say it's a winner. If not, I'm afraid it's 'tacky' IMO! Sorry!

ironkurtin

Veteran

LF - The "dirt" is a fabric treatment, it's not coming off. The 30-minute bleach dip I did definitely lightened it all, but it's still there.

I guess I'm not really fussed about the dirty part. The jacket really just looks like it's been worn a while - not like I got thrown to the grown and trampled or anything.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

To my eye it's somewhere in-between. Not awesome and not ridiculous. Just okay. There is slightly too much volume in the front (and it's too long too) for it to look amazing.

FWIW, that's my opinion.

ironkurtin

Veteran

Eh, maybe Rick Owens doesn't work for my body. Hardly a tragedy. Will wear it the rest of today and see how I feel about it.

rachylou

Veteran

It's you. I rather like it.

MNsara

Veteran

Adorable in the back, maybe* too much* in the front. But have you tried it with a black turtleneck? Admittedly not for August, but I could see that combo coming out in TX in the "winter".

The intential dirt may or may not bother me. What shade of dirt is it - taupe, grey, ? What happens if you intentionally layer it over a turtleneck or *high* crewneck of that same color?

P.S. This is only if it's free to you. If you are buying it, I'd probably move on. . .

judy

Veteran

I vote awesome! Consider yourself blessed. Nice friend, too. How is it buttoned up? If it's thin enough, it can be a great layering piece under a bigger thicker coat in winter.

Diana

Veteran

I like it, although it does look a wee bit tight in the back. The dirt thing - I'd have to see it in person, because it could look very cool or it could look just dirty.

And totally jealous that you have such a friend. I think most of my friends wouldn't even know who RO *is*.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I think it's kind of cool, but I really can't get past the "dirty" aspect. Perhaps a dye job?

catgirl

Veteran

Dye it. Love the cut but not the dirt factor.

Then again, I've bought two intentionally destroyed and chopped up leather jackets, so maybe I should shut up.

ironkurtin

Veteran

Guys, seriously, I am not dyeing a RO jacket! I'm intrigued why so many people think the "dirty" thing is a dealbreaker. It kinda looks like a tea stain. I might give this jacket a tougher bleach bath, but otherwise, it's really not a thang for me. (Maybe this is a 90s nostalgia thing for me, Helmut Lang and others put out paint-spattered and deliberately "dirty" clothing, remember?)

I checked with fashion friend and she says RO intentionally cuts them tight to the shoulders in back for some reason, and all of her RO jackets are like that. This fits the way it's supposed to. Now I just need to decide if I like it. Kinda do, so far... it feels very me and I'm trying to figure out why. I will also say I think it looks better in motion than in still shots.

Don't want to be a fashion victim, or the-label-makes-it-great, but there's some confluence in this jacket that is intriguing to me. Although it doesn't seem to be batting win on YLF!

Jem

Veteran

I think it's kindof cool and fits your style. You seem to like things that are a funky and different and interesting and that's what this is. I can see why you like it. Hey, it's free and it's kinda cool. I think you should just wear it when you feel like it.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I don't know why -- it might be my slight OCD manifesting itself (and I've just spent two solid hours scrubbing my studio clean!) -- but deliberately ripped/shredded somehow doesn't bother me the way deliberately "dirty" does.

If it doesn't bother you, enjoy!

Anonymous

The "dirty" part doesn't bother me. I like that sort of look as well and gives it a RATE dimension. But the front drapey part seems like just too much fabric. Is there a way to alter or tailor it to reduce the amount of fabric? I have a simular style jacket (front drapey, slim in back) with much less fabric in the front and I think that makes it much more wearable and tip it into the "awesome" category. The volume seems to be overwhelming your frame.

ironkurtin

Veteran

Enginemom - it may be, but I think it's supposed to. I think RO makes these jackets to deliberately incite the kinds of reactions I got above because he's playing with ideas of fit, function, fabric, etc. I guess that doesn't make the item always flattering, but it certainly makes it interesting.

This chick wears all sorts of RO items and to be frank I don't find them terribly flattering even on her very tall and slim frame, but I am drawn to them anyway.
http://www.thedivinitus.com/

Debbie

Veteran

If you like it you should wear it. It is very different and not everyone can pull it off but you can! You are not loosing anything by experimenting with it so I thik you should.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Um, if you decide not to keep it, I'll wear it, dirt and all! Seriously, I love this. Call me crazy, but the idea of faux dirt makes me smile, and it reminds me of my white Bebe jacket because of the draping. And yes, I DO remember those crazily paint spattered jeans, and now I want some for myself!

Lyrebirdgully

I am on Team RATE, Team Neutral and Team Muted so the shaded, subtle "dirty" surface effect is right up my alley! LOVE!
I do think the pairing of this item with the black pants and white top is throwing off the look for some viewers, as these colours read as high contrast /bright when combined, and tend to show up the "dirty" aspect -- not in a good way.
I agree that the jacket is a bit voluminous on you - it appears to be sized for someone taller, possibly with a larger bust; but as you clearly love it, here's how I would deal with the volume. I would play up/ intensify the intentionality of the dirty surface by wearing this jacket with similar "dirt" colours- earthy brown, camel, fawn, perhaps dark grey, etc. I am thinking lighter mid tones -( rather than a dark chocolate, for example) - to create a head-to-toe column of colour which will tend to take the eye down beyond the bulk at the hips. The following example colour schemes are Rick Owens
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YHha.....-xxxvi.jpg
RO again-- I know it's a man, but just for the colour scheme, the leggings and the fab snakeskin boots!
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_tqVlqoet.....NE/ro2.jpg
Do you have any fawn SUEDE boots or sandals/ wedges?
PS I think earrings that are either compact or chunky or bold will look extra interesting with this jacket too.

catgirl

Veteran

Okay, I'm logging back in to record my change of heart, since my own beloved blush leather jacket is also a little dirty by design. What is throwing me off, as LBG said, is the white. I'm not a big fan of white in general. So dirty and white is not my cuppa. If this were dirty and grey, you know I'd love it!