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Rick Owens just teamed up with Dazed Digital to host a Tumblr "Answer Time" Q&A with his fans today, and as you would expect from the designer responsible for visible runway peen and simulated 69ing, the chat wasn't boring. Here are some of Owens's best quotes in response to questions from the general public:
Where he got the idea to have his runway models carry each other in BabyBjörn-like harnesses for the spring 2016 show: "There was an Annie Leibovitz image of Leigh Bowery carrying his wife Nicola in a harness they would use for a birthing performance that I always loved. It was transgressive and sweet at the same time. I thought doing it with women would be a nice interpretation and developed other poses from there."
All of Rick Owens's career advice from the Q&A: "Learn to not take anyone too seriously and learn to listen to your gut. There are so many ways to learn — not just academically...Logic tells me that you have to decide what you really want to do, do a lot of it all the time so you can throw away your mistakes and your voice will emerge for better or for worse...I wish I knew that I didn't have to try to be someone else — that I could just work with what I had...Be a hungry real artist."
His feelings on social media: "I think social media is a fascinating evolutionary phenomena and disapproving of it would be like insisting on using a rotary phone. Like any change its gonna have an awkward start but its inevitable and cringy and fun to watch develop…"
His philosophy on life: "Happiness is gratitude for what you have."
On plus-size fashion: "I love a big girl who owns it unapologetically. Enjoy your juiciness."
The streetwear brand he's into lately: "I am loving Marques Almeida. Would they be considered street?"
When asked "do you wanna suck me off?," he responds: "Dunno, dick pic please."
Why does he like to shock? "I like to be shocked."