For his SS26 show during Paris Fashion Week, Rick Owens transformed the iconic terrace of Palais de Tokyo into a kind of apocalyptic water world. There was no sleek runway or studio. Instead, it became a fountain, a metal climbing structure, with models dripping as they climbed out of the water. We were there on behalf of Winkelstraat, and yes, this is a show you won't forget.
Photo: @rickowens
Harnesses and Leather
The collection itself was a classic Rick Owens, but with a twist. Think leather pants that graduate into boots, fringes, vests, and harnesses with plenty of straps, along with fabrics printed with urinals. Yes, really.
Silhouettes were grand and sculptural, but never too much. There was a kind of lightness that made even heavy materials like leather and canvas feel more like a second skin. The harnesses came in all sorts of shapes: from classic kinky to architectural.
Photo: @koso Backstage at Rick Owens SS26
Black with a Touch of Sunshine
As always, black dominated, but there were nuances. Muted grey, burn orange, and sandy knitwear added depth. It was, as always, distinctly Rick Owens, but with a slightly softer tone.
There was also something very nostalgic in the collection, which makes sense considering his new exhibition Temple of Love just opened across the street. This show was also an ode to who Rick has always been.
The finale was everything. Models climbed the scaffolding like some sort of drenched, gloomy performance art about collapsing and rising again—something this generation can definitely relate to. Just like the models underwater felt like a kind of baptism. The show concluded with the large fountains, creating a spectacular end to the event.