RICK OWENS SS26 MENS TEMPLE

SS26 TEMPLE MEN’S THURSDAY 26 JUNE 2025 PALAIS DE TOKYO, 13 AVENUE DU PRÉSIDENT WILSON, 75116 PARIS THIS MEN’S COLLECTION IS NAMED ‘TEMPLE’, AFTER MY RETROSPECTIVE, NAMED ‘TEMPLE OF LOVE’ (‘LOVE’ IS A WORD REALLY WORTH PROMOTING RIGHT NOW), WHICH WILL BE OPENING IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE RUNWAY SHOW AT THE MUSÉE PALAIS GALLIERA RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET. A RETROSPECTIVE SUMMONS UP THOUGHTS OF PEAKING, FINALITY AND DECLINE AND I WAS DELIGHTED TO LEAN INTO THAT. THE EXHIBITION TRACKS THE PURSUIT OF GLAMOUR AND SLEAZE THAT I WAS LOOKING FOR ON HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD, AND EVENTUALLY, IMPROBABLY, ENDING UP IN A PARIS MUSEUM. I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT OF WHAT I DO AS A FASCINATION WITH THE DENSENESS OF EUROPEAN AESTHETIC SOPHISTICATION SEEN THROUGH A FILTER OF AMERICAN BLUNTNESS. THE BLUNTNESS HERE IS IN THE FIELDS OF FLESH SHOWN BETWEEN GAPS OF BLACK LEATHER. STUDDED STRAPS FROM HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD ARE DRAPED AND SWAGGED TO RECALL GARLANDS HELD BY NYMPHS TO TRAP A SATYR IN WILLIAM-ADOLPHE BOUGUEREAU’ S SYLVAN NEOCLASSIC AL PAINTINGS. STRAPS ARE ALWAYS A GOOD EXCUSE FOR MEN TO COMFORTABLY INDULGE INSELF ADORNMENT THAT ALSO PROVIDES A WHIFF OF ACTION. HEAVYWEIGHT LEATHERS VEGTANNED IN SANTA CROCE SULL’ARNO, TUSCANY, ARE ALSO SLASHED, FRINGED, SPIKED AND ZIPPED TO MOVE, SWAY AND BREATHE. VOLUPTUOUSLY PROPORTIONED FLIGHT JACKETS AND PARKAS ARE REND ERED IN EITHER SILK TAFFETA, OR INDUSTRIAL NYLON CANVAS WOVEN IN THE COMO REGION OF ITALY BY A FAMILY OWNED MILL FOUNDED IN 1952. THE NYLON USED IS