Rick Owens Spring Summer Menswear 2019 Collection

In the retail world, fashion is always about optimism. High fashion and luxury brands make it a point to sell an idealized world through their clothing, products, and marketing imagery. But from an artistic standpoint, fashion is still very much a form of expression. And sometimes, that expression can be somber, dark, and downright apocalyptic. Rick Owens is the master of dystopian-style fashions, and his spring 2019 menswear show was a particular showing of such strength. Amidst a smoke-filled runway, Birkenstock-footed models came out in deconstructed shirts and patchwork leather and nylon pieces. Some clothes were even falling off of them as they walked, making it seem like they’d just got back from a fight or survived the apocalypse. Despite the freeform approach, there was still a number of well-tailored looks that’ll be easy to put together for the office or an elegant evening affair. Still, the cryptic message on the runway was as clear as day, and no other designer could have conveyed it with such prowess as Rick Owens.