Rick Owens' Temple
Spring/Summer 2026 Menswear
Will I ever have something negative to say about Rick Owens? Probably not.
I’m just so in love with his mind… that precise vision that always pushes boundaries, sometimes even for the sake of provocation. (Out of context, but also not—because we’re talking about Rick Owens, and he is the context. He’s the epicenter of it all. His message and his brand are simply extensions of his own life.) As he’s said himself, “I will be doing transgression till the day I die, because that is my protest.” He was referring to his latest endeavor—opening an OnlyFans account dedicated entirely to his feet. And honestly? You’ve got to love that. When will we ever again see a world-famous fashion designer selling feet content as artful protest?
Rick’s work unfolds like a continuous narrative. Everything lives under the same umbrella—dark, yet to the point of lightness. A world built on radical acceptance, in a society that punishes individuality and crassness. He’s become a poetic protest in motion. A force living by his own standards.
“It is my way of saying, ‘Lighten up, don’t take it all so seriously.’ A little bit of wicked fun is elegant.”
The iconic mermaidian “long Rick” silhouette finally returned to its natural habitat: the rectangular, shallow fountain at Palais de Tokyo. I love when brands let their creations exist as more than just expensive, untouchable pieces. Fashion shouldn’t always live behind velvet ropes.
A few days ago, I saw Michèle Lamy working out in full Rick Owens—Kiss boots included. I can’t remember where I saw the reel (lost in the endless flood of content we scroll through daily), but the image stuck with me. And just so you can witness her ultimate fitness vibe too, here’s a photo. Because of course she’d wear Rick to the gym. Could you even imagine her in Lululemon?
So naturally, Rick would make his models climb a towering metallic structure in platform boots, like hot mermaid monkeys, only to then submerge themselves in that shallow pool. In hindsight, it feels shockingly obvious that this was the space to use. And mind-boggling that he hadn’t done it before.
“Love is a word really worth promoting right now,” he said. And right now not as in trendy, but as in timely. Rick has been exploring that word since SS24, inspired by a Björk concert. So this show felt like a culmination of that journey. A baptism of love, perhaps. Not soft, but metallic. Unhinged. Determined. Because what is love if not extreme?
Even the practical elements meant to ensure the safety of the models—who might as well be called acrobats—felt like part of the mystique. Everything was aligned with the universe he builds season after season.
In Rick’s own words, this collection was: “Sleek. Reckless. Elegant sleaze.”
This is the summer of love. A warped, sensual kind of love. And maybe even true love?
Who says you can’t meet the love of your life wearing an oversized leather fringe jacket, mermaidian trousers, and no shirt? Because as we all know, the body is also part of the outfit. And at Rick Owens… abs always are.
this was one of the first results that came up when i searched for commentary on temple. i'm genuinely blown away...rick continues to outdo himself. i love your view of the show, i feel like i might have misinterpreted i but who knows, we all take different things away from art. anyway, thanks for putting how breathtaking that show was into such beautiful words. gained a new subscriber!