Chicago loves Rick Owens. I’ve spotted his pieces several times recently everywhere from the street to the cocktail party. While Amber is not wearing anything by Rick Owens himself his influence is clearly visible in the structure of her H&M dress. The futuristic shape of her shoulders and the off-black fabric’s sheen are Owens signatures. Although her Sam Edelman Zoe boots (yes, the nearly impossible to find pair) were actually “inspired” by a pair of Balenciaga boots, they could easily fit into the Rick Owens oeuvre as well.

I found the Sam Edelman “Zoe” shoes in stock, click here to view.

The combination of Owens’ post-apocalyptic vision and subtle illumination (whether it’s the shine of a fabric or the outline of a body through transparent fabric) aptly reflects the optimism of Chicago’s gritty urban environment. Not everyone can afford to wear Rick Owens but everyone – especially Chicagoans – can appreciate his aesthetic and perspective on fashion. At first glance it might seem strange to use a street-style image of someone not wearing any Rick Owens pieces to illustrate his profound influence, but if you think about it this actually makes perfect sense. His design has trickled all the way down through the fast-fashion retailers onto the street level where it is being lapped up by price-conscious young adults and college students who cannot afford the real thing – yet!