Building a travel wardrobe around Rick Owens requires thinking differently than everyday dressing. Comfort during long transit, wrinkle resistance, versatility across multiple outfits from a limited selection, and practicality for varied activities all matter more when traveling than they might for a typical day at home. Some pieces within the brand genuinely excel for travel; others are better left for more controlled, everyday situations.
Here's a practical breakdown of what actually works well for a travel-focused wardrobe.
Prioritize Versatility Above All Else
Travel wardrobes benefit enormously from pieces that can be mixed and matched across multiple outfits, minimizing the total number of items needed for a trip. Given the brand's https://rickowenn.com/ consistent black, grey, and bone color palette, most Rick Owens pieces naturally coordinate well with each other, making it relatively easy to build a compact, versatile travel capsule compared to brands with more varied seasonal color stories.
DRKSHDW Basics: Ideal Travel Foundations
Simple DRKSHDW tees, jersey tops, and relaxed bottoms make excellent travel staples. These pieces are generally more wrinkle-resistant than structured or delicate mainline items, hold up well to the wear and tear of travel days, and wash relatively easily if access to laundry becomes necessary during a longer trip. Their casual, comfortable construction also suits the practical demands of travel days — extended sitting, walking, varying temperatures — better than more structured, occasion-specific pieces.
Rick Owens Shoes: One Versatile Pair Over Multiple Options
Rather than packing multiple footwear options, choosing a single, versatile pair of Rick Owens shoes that can handle both daytime activity and slightly elevated evening settings simplifies packing considerably while still delivering the brand's signature aesthetic. Lower-profile sneaker styles generally work best for this purpose, offering more all-day comfort during travel than the brand's most dramatic platform silhouettes, while still being distinctive enough to elevate an otherwise simple travel outfit.
Lightweight Layering Pieces
A single lightweight jacket or draped top that can be added or removed easily works well for managing the temperature fluctuations common during travel — air-conditioned airports, varying climates between departure and destination, evening temperature drops. Choosing one adaptable layering piece, rather than packing separate options for every possible temperature scenario, keeps a travel wardrobe efficient without sacrificing comfort.
What to Generally Avoid Packing
Heavily Structured Wool Coats
While excellent for everyday cold-weather wear, bulky wool coats take up significant luggage space and don't offer the same packing efficiency as lighter alternatives, making them a less practical travel choice unless absolutely necessary for the specific climate.
Delicate Draped or Asymmetrical Pieces
Garments requiring careful handling to avoid creasing or distortion add unnecessary stress to travel, where luggage handling is rarely gentle. These pieces are generally better reserved for situations with more controlled transport, like a garment bag carried directly rather than checked luggage.
Multiple Pairs of Footwear
Packing several different Rick Owens shoes styles for a single trip adds significant weight and space to luggage without proportional benefit, especially when a single versatile pair can typically handle the range of activities most trips actually require.
Heavily Distressed Denim
Given how much care distressed denim requires to avoid unintended tearing, and how much rougher travel handling tends to be compared to everyday use, these pieces are generally better left at home for most travel situations unless the trip specifically calls for that particular aesthetic.
Building a Practical Travel Capsule
A well-considered Rick Owens travel wardrobe might include:
- Two to three DRKSHDW basics that can be mixed and matched across multiple days
- One lightweight layering piece for temperature flexibility
- One versatile pair of Rick Owens shoes, ideally a lower-profile style suited to extended wear
- One slightly more elevated piece, if the trip includes any dressier occasions, chosen specifically for its wrinkle resistance and packability
This kind of focused, limited selection tends to work far better for travel than attempting to bring a broader range of the brand's more elaborate or delicate pieces.
Considering Your Specific Destination and Activities
City Trips With Significant Walking
Comfortable, lower-profile footwear and simple, breathable layering pieces generally work best, prioritizing practicality over the brand's most dramatic silhouettes.
Trips With Formal or Elevated Occasions
A single more structured or distinctive piece, chosen specifically for its ability to travel well without excessive wrinkling, can elevate a simple travel wardrobe for those specific moments without requiring multiple dressy items.
Active or Outdoor-Focused Travel
DRKSHDW's more casual, durable materials generally suit these situations better than the brand's rickowenn.com more delicate or structured mainline offerings, which aren't designed with rugged, active use in mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Rick Owens pieces travel best overall? DRKSHDW basics, given their durability and wrinkle resistance, along with a single versatile pair of Rick Owens shoes, tend to form the most practical foundation for a travel wardrobe.
Should I pack multiple pairs of Rick Owens shoes for a trip? Generally not necessary. A single versatile, lower-profile pair typically handles the range of activities most trips require without adding unnecessary weight and space to luggage.
Are structured wool coats good travel pieces? Not particularly, given their bulk and space requirements. They're better suited to everyday wear than travel unless the specific climate absolutely requires that level of warmth.
Is it safe to pack distressed denim for travel? Generally not recommended for most trips, since the rougher handling involved in travel increases the risk of unintended damage to already-weakened, distressed fabric areas.
How many Rick Owens pieces should I pack for a typical trip? A focused selection of two to three versatile basics, one layering piece, and a single pair of shoes generally covers most travel needs without overpacking.
Final Thoughts
Building a travel-friendly Rick Owens wardrobe comes down to prioritizing versatility, durability, and packing efficiency over the brand's most elaborate or delicate pieces. DRKSHDW basics and a single well-chosen pair of Rick Owens shoes tend to form the most practical foundation, letting the brand's aesthetic travel with you without the stress of managing pieces that weren't really built for the demands of a trip.
Ready to build your own travel capsule? Explore the current DRKSHDW collection to find pieces suited specifically for life on the road.
