I have a lot of beautiful clothes but I cannot wear most of them to the supermarket or work.

What am I gonna do? Show up at aisle 5 in a full-length ball gown knocking off bottom shelves of cereal boxes with the train?

This is my ideal everyday outfit.

It’s all black—all the better to show off the trims and the beadwork of the sandals.

Top: Only Hearts, Pants: Morgan de Toi, Shoes:  yard sale find; earrings: inherited

My philosophy in fashion is that of eclecticism. A mix of contrast—high/low, artificial/natural, simple/complex, etc.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to cultivate a style. But it will take some time. It takes a lifetime to build a wardrobe—for every day, and every occasion.

I love finding vintages and heirlooms. It’s almost impossible to find something truly unique to wear in this world, more than ever. No matter how expensive something is, most likely someone has something identical to yours manufactured in mass.

And it seems like the only way to counteract this is to perfect your body and develop an individualistic style.

You already have a body like no one else’s. It’s faster and easier to get a “perfect” physique than to perfect a style. The first might take months, even years. The latter will take at least a decade to a lifetime—a  personal style is a work in progress. It’s never complete until you die and what you have achieved is the body of work.

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Working out is modern couture. No outfit is going to make you look or feel as good as having a fit body. Buy less clothing and go to the gym instead.

-Rick Owens