In 1998, Rick Owens made an appearance on Club MTV. While Owens was a relatively unknown designer at the time, his impact would soon reverberate throughout the fashion world. Before achieving widespread fame, Owens held the position of Michèle Lamy’s menswear designer. This role allowed him to explore his creative vision alongside Lamy, a force in her own right.
Club MTV, hosted by the effervescent Downtown Julie Brown, marked MTV’s foray into dance-centric programming, where music and fashion intersected seamlessly. The show featured special episodes with fashion designers from the '80s, providing a platform for them to discuss their brands within the context of music and its influence on the dance scene.
In this unearthed video, a 17-year-old Rick Owens appears, clad in a tight-fitting ensemble; a tank top paired with lilac lycra leggings, cinched by a thick belt. As the camera captures him being interviewed, Owens shares insights into Michèle Lamy’s menswear aesthetic at the time. He describes their ideal wearer as someone confident and a little bit reckless, but perhaps the most poignant part of the interview is when Owens discusses masculinity and confidence, rejecting the notion of self-consciousness, he champions a relaxed and free approach to fashion—one that celebrates bodies without conforming to rigid standards.
This moment would lay the groundwork for Rick Owens’ remarkable career, where his own chiseled edge of relaxed freedom and controlled chaos would become iconic on the runway.
