I love Rick Owens' style but not the price. What are some good alternative brands?

Absolutely. If what you love about Rick Owens is the long/oversized proportions, black-on-black palette, draping, chunky footwear, and slightly dystopian feel, there are several good routes depending on how much you want to spend.

My picks

Current fashion guides consistently put Julius and The Viridi-Anne among the closest stylistic matches to Owens, while Entire Studios, Y-3 and AllSaints are better if actually lowering the budget is the priority.

If I were building a Rick-inspired wardrobe

1. Start with Entire Studios.
Probably the best bang-for-buck for the modern Rick silhouette: oversized hoodies, huge outerwear, wide trousers and muted colors. You get the proportions without paying designer prices.

2. Hunt Julius secondhand.
If you want something that genuinely feels like it belongs in the same universe as Rick Owens, I'd take Julius over most "Rick-inspired" brands. Its Japanese dark avant-garde aesthetic leans heavily into elongated black layers and asymmetric silhouettes.

3. Look at Y-3 for footwear.
The Yohji Yamamoto/adidas combination gives you chunky, sculptural footwear and oversized sportswear without going all the way to Geobasket-level prices.

4. Use AllSaints selectively.
Particularly good for black leather jackets, boots, and washed-black pieces. I wouldn't try to recreate an entire Rick wardrobe with it, but individual pieces can work extremely well.

5. Buy Rick Owens DRKSHDW on sale/resale.
This is technically still Rick Owens, but it's probably the most sensible answer if what you actually want is Rick Owens. DRKSHDW takes the Owens aesthetic into denim, jersey and canvas and generally sits below mainline.

One important trick

Don't search for "Rick Owens dupes." Search for the individual silhouette you want:

• Long, oversized tee → Entire Studios / Fear of God
• Pod/drop-crotch trousers → Julius / Y-3 / secondhand Yohji
• Long black coat → Yohji / Julius / Damir Doma
• Chunky black sneaker → Y-3 / Maison Margiela
• Leather jacket → AllSaints / secondhand Julius
• Long tank/tunic → Entire Studios / Julius
• Heavy black boots → secondhand Guidi / Ann Demeulemeester

The silhouette is doing most of the work. A $100 pair of extremely wide black trousers styled correctly can look much more Rick than a $1,000 designer pair with the wrong proportions.

If you tell me your budget (e.g. <$100, <$300, <$500 per piece) and whether you're shopping men's, women's, or unisex, I can narrow this down to ~10 specific brands/pieces worth hunting.

Finding Rick Owens alternatives means looking for brands that lean into draped silhouettes, monochromatic and dark aesthetics, avant-garde tailoring , and industrial/goth-ninja vibes —ideally without the staggering runway price tag.

Here are some great alternative brands ranging from mid-tier to more accessible streetwear:

• AllSaints - Known for asymmetrical leather jackets, draped jersey knits, and a heavy dark/neutral color palette. It's one of the easiest ways to get that distressed, grunge-tailored look on a budget, especially during their sales.
• Y-3 - Yohji Yamamoto’s collaboration with Adidas brings avant-garde, oversized streetwear, technical fabrics, and dark futuristic silhouettes. It still carries a cost, but it's significantly more approachable than mainline Rick Owens (and great for alternative sneakers).
• Demobaza - Features post-apocalyptic, sci-fi, and minimalist silhouettes with raw edges, oversized layers, and comfortable dropped-crotch shapes that heavily mirror the Owens/Carpe Diem aesthetic.
• Drkshdw (Budget-friendly hunting) - While technically Rick's diffusion line, buying Drkshdw pieces secondhand on platforms like Grailed or Vestiaire Collective often brings prices down close to contemporary brand levels.
• COS - For the cleaner, highly architectural, and minimalist side of Rick’s draping. While much more restrained, COS frequently offers oversized, structurally interesting coats, trousers, and heavy cotton basics.
• Nemen / Stone Island - If your favorite part of Rick Owens is the technical, garment-dyed, and utilitarian outerwear, these Italian technical wear brands offer intense textural finishes and moody colorways.

If you want to narrow this down, let me know:

• What specific Rick piece or element are you trying to replicate (e.g., the Geobasket sneakers, drop-crotch pants, or leather jackets)?
• What is your target budget range?

Absolutely. If what you love is Rick Owens’ dark palette, exaggerated proportions, draping, long silhouettes, and slightly dystopian feel, there are some much better alternatives than simply buying cheap “Rick-inspired” copies.

My picks

If you want the most Rick for the least money

I'd start with Entire Studios + COS + secondhand Julius.

COS is especially useful for building the foundation: you can get oversized black cotton pieces with deliberate paneling and structure without spending designer money. For example, its current oversized interlock tee is $79.

Then spend your money selectively on one great pair of boots or dramatic trousers, rather than trying to recreate a whole Rick Owens outfit brand-for-brand.

And don't overlook DRKSHDW itself. It's still expensive, but it's the obvious way to get authentic Owens design at a lower tier; current DRKSHDW pieces can still run several hundred dollars, though.

My ranking for a Rick Owens fan on a budget:

1. 🥇 Entire Studios — closest affordable everyday vibe
2. 🥈 Julius — closest actual aesthetic
3. 🥉 COS — best value for silhouettes
4. Y-3 — best for footwear/sporty pieces
5. Represent — best heavyweight basics
6. Secondhand Yohji Yamamoto — best way to get genuinely interesting designer pieces cheaply

If you tell me your budget per piece (e.g. under $100 / $200 / $500), I can narrow this down to specific brands and pieces worth buying.

If you love the dark, draped, architectural, and "goth-ninja" aesthetic of Rick Owens but want to avoid the $1,000+ price tags , you have a few solid avenues. You can look at mid-tier avant-garde designers, contemporary industrial streetwear, or smaller independent labels that capture the same moody palette without the luxury markup.

Mid-Tier Avant-Garde & "Goth-Ninja" Brands

• Thom Krom : Known for asymmetric cuts, longline drapes, heavy cottons, and an almost entirely black/grey/neutral palette. It gives you that textured, layered Rick Owens DRKSHDW vibe at a fraction of the cost.
• Army of Me : A Stockholm-based label focusing on structural draping, distressed treatments, and dark, muted tones. The construction feels high-end, but retail and secondary-market prices are much friendlier.
• First Aid to the Injured : An experimental, minimalist baseline brand focusing on raw edges, comfortable jersey fabrics, and an industrial aesthetic . It's great for layering pieces like long tanks and distressed tees.
• Julius / The Viridi-Anne : Japanese avant-garde labels . While mainline Julius can still be pricey, looking for older seasons or their sub-lines offers incredible leather work, bondage detailing, and super-slim or super-dropped crotch silhouettes that rival Rick Owens.

Streetwear & Industrial Silhouettes

• Entire Studios : Heavily leans into the exaggerated, heavily-washed, oversized proportions . If you love the puffy outerwear, oversized hoodies, and dramatic stacked pants look, they offer that silhouette heavily inspired by high-end proportions for a lot less.
• AllSaints : A more mainstream alternative, but reliable for textured leather jackets, dark grungy knitwear, and moody asymmetrical cardigans . Shop their end-of-season sales for deep discounts.
• Riot Division : Leans a bit more toward technical/cyber-wear , but their draping, modular black cargo pants, and militaristic outer layers fit seamlessly into a dark avant-garde wardrobe.

Footwear Alternatives

• Free World Order (FVVO) : Frequently cited as a go-to alternative for chunky-tongued, oversized-silhouette avant-garde sneakers if you want the aesthetic of Rick Owens geos/ramones without paying resale.
• Converse Lift Ripple / Platform Chucks Go to product viewer dialog for this item. : A classic budget workaround for the iconic Ramones look, especially when paired with extra-long laces wrapped around the ankle.

Community Wisdom

“I highly recommend Thom Krom. Much cheaper than RO and meshes together we´ll. Quality will be better than certain plagiarizing fast-fashion brands.”

“Julius is worth checking out. No lie especially some of his stuff 2008-2015 I honestly like better than Rick. The quality feels better.”

If you want to narrow this down, let me know:

• Are you looking more for clothing/drapes or footwear/sneakers?
• What is your target budget per piece?

I can point you toward specific items or tell you how to hunt for them on the second-hand market like Grailed.

If you love the gothic, dystopian, oversized drapery and avant-garde "lord of darkness" aesthetic of Rick Owens but want to avoid paying mainline luxury prices, several independent, darkwear, and mid-tier alternative brands capture a similar vibe.

Direct & Mid-Tier Avant-Garde Alternatives

• Thom Krom — A German-based label that heavily leans into monochromatic, asymmetrical, and elongated silhouettes. It features raw edges and soft, muted cottons that give a very similar draped look to Rick Owens DRKSHDW, but at a fraction of the cost.
• Entire Studios — Known for heavily washed-out, exaggerated, and ultra-minimalist streetwear proportions. If you like Rick's voluminous puffer coats, heavy hoodies, or gimp-style silhouettes, Entire Studios delivers a similar swollen silhouette much more affordably.
• First Aid to the Injured — A conceptual basicwear brand focusing on comfortable, distressed, and elongated jersey pieces, longline tees, and distressed layering items that fit right into a dark avant-garde wardrobe.
• MD75 — An Italian dark-aesthetic brand specializing in knitted, wool, and linen garments with twisted seams, muted tones, and an unforced, grungy drape.
• La Haine Inside Us — Another exceptional Italian blackwear/avant-garde project. They specialize in dropped crotch trousers, technical asymmetry, and dark, structural outerwear that mirrors high-end gothic streetwear.

Footwear & Sneaker Alternatives

Converse x DRKSHDW (Turbodrk / Drkstar) — If you want actual Rick Owens-designed footwear without paying mainline prices, his ongoing collaboration with Converse gives you the elongated tongues and distorted toe caps of the Ramones/Geobasket lineage for closer to regular sneaker pricing.

Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Lugged / Lift — A classic, budget-friendly hack for the chunky platform-sneaker look often styled with Rick Owens fits.

Community Perspectives

When looking for adjacent designers that pair well with or mimic the structural attitude of Rick, enthusiasts often point toward the broader darkwear ecosystem:

“I highly recommend Thom Krom. Much cheaper than RO and meshes together well. Quality will be better than certain plagiarizing fast-fashion brands.”

“Stuff that goes well with Rick: Julius, Yohji Yamamoto, Guidi.”

If you want to narrow this down, tell me:

• Are you looking more for apparel/drapes or footwear/sneakers?
• What is your target price range per item?

Absolutely. If what you love is the Rick Owens combination of oversized proportions, long/draped silhouettes, black/charcoal palettes, chunky footwear, and a slightly post-apocalyptic feel, there are some much cheaper ways into it. That aesthetic is usually described around avant-garde, deconstructed, and monochromatic silhouettes.

My picks

A particularly good rabbit hole is Thom Krom, Blackmerle, Jonny Cota, and Nicholas K—they've been specifically recommended by avant-garde-fashion communities as more attainable alternatives.

If I were building a Rick-inspired wardrobe on a budget

I'd actually mix brands rather than look for one perfect Rick Owens substitute:

• Tops: Thom Krom / Demoo — long, oversized, slightly distressed
• Pants: wide-leg or drop-crotch trousers; don't be afraid of a very exaggerated silhouette
• Outerwear: Hyein Seo / Nicholas K
• Boots: look for chunky black combat/platform boots rather than literal "Rick Owens dupes"
• Basics: COS or Uniqlo in oversized black/charcoal
• Best money-saving move: buy genuine DRKSHDW or older Rick Owens secondhand rather than trying to duplicate the most recognizable pieces new. Even DRKSHDW is substantially less expensive than the mainline, though it's still not cheap.

One underrated option: Yohji Yamamoto has the same love of volume and monochrome, but it's generally more "Japanese avant-garde" and less aggressively gothic/industrial. His aesthetic overlaps with Owens particularly in oversized silhouettes and manipulation of fabric.

If you tell me your budget (e.g. <$50, <$100, <$200 per piece) and whether you're shopping men's, women's, or unisex, I can narrow this down to ~10 brands that are genuinely worth your money rather than just brands that happen to wear a lot of black.

If what you love about Rick Owens is the combination of dark minimalism, oversized silhouettes, draping, and architectural tailoring, you have quite a few options that capture parts of that aesthetic without charging Rick Owens prices.

Here's how I'd break it down:

$–$$: Best value

• COS – Clean, oversized tailoring with interesting proportions. Great for wide-leg trousers, boxy outerwear, and minimal basics.
• Weekday – Relaxed fits, monochrome colors, dropped shoulders, and longline pieces.
• Zara Studio / Zara Origins – Occasionally releases surprisingly Rick-inspired silhouettes (especially outerwear and trousers), though quality varies.
• ASOS DESIGN – Oversized tees, longline tops, and wide pants that borrow some of the DRKSHDW vibe.

$$: Mid-range brands

These are where I think the best value is.

• Thom Krom – Probably the closest overall "wearable Rick" aesthetic. Lots of washed blacks, draped jersey, drop-crotch pants, and elongated basics. Frequently recommended by Rick fans.
• First Aid to the Injured – Soft fabrics, longline cuts, monochrome palette, understated avant-garde styling.
• Represent – More streetwear than avant-garde, but oversized silhouettes, heavyweight fabrics, and muted colors scratch a similar itch for much less money.
• AllSaints – Slimmer than Rick, but great if you're after distressed leather, washed blacks, and a gothic edge.

$$$: Expensive, but noticeably cheaper than Rick

These aren't "budget," but they often cost 30–50% less than comparable Rick Owens pieces.

• Julius
• Ann Demeulemeester
• Yohji Yamamoto

These designers share the same avant-garde DNA but each has its own personality:

• Yohji = flowing tailoring
• Ann = poetic, romantic goth
• Julius = futuristic industrial

They still aren't cheap, but sales can make them much more attainable.

Small independent labels worth checking out

These don't always get the same attention but are often recommended by the dark-fashion community:

• Joe Chia
• Professor.E
• Demobaza
• Psylo (opinions on quality are mixed)

The smartest way to get the Rick look

Rather than hunting for one brand, build the silhouette:

• Oversized heavyweight black T-shirts
• Wide or drop-crotch trousers
• Cropped bomber or oversized leather jacket
• Tall combat boots or chunky sneakers
• Stick mostly to black, charcoal, off-white, and dust tones

Rick's look is driven as much by proportion as by branding, so getting the silhouette right often matters more than the label. This is advice that comes up repeatedly among Rick enthusiasts.

Don't overlook secondhand

Rick Owens has a strong resale market, and previous-season pieces often sell for 40–70% below retail. Community favorites include Grailed, eBay, and waiting for end-of-season sales from luxury retailers like SSENSE.

If you tell me your budget (for example under $100, under $300, or under $500) and whether you're after menswear, womenswear, or unisex, I can narrow it down to brands that are the closest match.

If you love the dark, draped, architectural, and avant-garde aesthetic of Rick Owens but want to keep your bank account intact, several mid-tier and budget-friendly alternatives capture that moody, industrial vibe.

Mid-Tier & Avant-Garde Alternatives (Better Quality/Price Balance)

• Thom Krom : A German label that is frequently recommended as a direct aesthetic cousin to Rick Owens' draping and asymmetrical cuts. It heavily features neutral, dark palettes, elongated tees, and dropped-crotch pants at a fraction of designer prices.
• Entire Studios : Known for heavily washed, exaggerated, and oversized silhouettes. If you like Rick's voluminous puffers, heavy hoodies, and dystopian outerwear proportions, this is a great contemporary brand to check out.
• First Aid to the Injured : Great for minimalist, raw-edged, and dark-avant-garde layering pieces like tanks, long-sleeves, and unstructured basics.
• mnml : Excellent for capturing specific trendy shapes—like stacked or flared denim and cargo trousers—that mimic the striking lines of pants like the Rick Owens Bolan Banana cuts without the luxury markup.
• AllSaints : A more mainstream high-street option, but reliable for textured leather jackets, distressed knits, and dark, moody layering if you want an industrial edge that is easy to find.

Smart Shopping Strategies for Real Rick Owens

“Thom Krom and Nostrasantissma are goated when it comes to tops. Can't go wrong with their jeans either, lots of avant garde pieces.”

“The quality is good yeah! Not as high quality as Rick Owens. But then again, lots of Rick Owens is delicate, so you wont have to worry too much with Thom Krom.”

Another smart way to wear Rick Owens without paying retail is hunting for specific sub-labels and sales:

• Look for DRKSHDW : Rick’s diffusion line, DRKSHDW, is significantly cheaper than his mainline runway collections, especially when picked up during end-of-season clearance.
• Shop Major Sales on SSENSE : Waiting for seasonal markdowns on avant-garde stockists can drop DRKSHDW or related designer pieces drastically.
• Scour Secondhand Markets : Platforms like Grailed or Vinted are goldmines for lightly used DRKSHDW pants, pod shorts, or Ramones sneakers where prices often plummet close to mid-tier retail levels.

If you want to narrow this down, let me know:

• Are you looking for apparel (drapes/hoodies) or footwear (chunky boots/sneakers)?
• What is your target budget per item?

If you love Rick Owens ’ signature "goth-ninja," asymmetrical, and draped avant-garde aesthetic but want to spare your bank account, you have a few strategic routes. True avant-garde craftsmanship is rarely cheap, but several independent, diffusion, and dark-wear brands hit a similar moody chord at lower price points.

Dedicated Alternative Brands (The Dark-Avant-Garde Space)

• Thom Krom : A Berlin-inspired label heavily leaning into monochromatic, asymmetrical, elongated, and distressed cotton basics that mirror Rick Owens DRKSHDW.
• Army of Me : A Swedish brand offering structured draping, technical fabrics, and dark utilitarian outerwear that captures a refined industrial look.
• First Aid to the Injured : Known for minimalist, raw-edged, and comfortable layering pieces with a distinct post-apocalyptic/monochromatic edge.
• Joe Chia : Hailing from Malaysia, this label focuses on oversized silhouettes, drop-crotch proportions, and a heavy dose of neutral-to-dark minimalism.
• BLACK Comme des Garçons : Rei Kawakubo’s more accessible, black-on-black diffusion line. While still designer, it offers a stark, gothic, street-ready wardrobe at a fraction of mainline luxury prices.

Footwear & Sneaker Alternatives

• Converse x DRKSHDW Collaboration : Rick Owens has an ongoing partnership with Converse. Snagging a pair of TURBODRK or DRKSTAR Chucks gives you the distinct oversized, extended-tongue, double-bumper toe aesthetic with official Rick branding for a fraction of the cost of mainline leather Ramones or Geobaskets.

Sourcing & Smart Shopping

Community Insights on Sourcing

Getting the Rick look on a budget often comes down to looking in the right corners of the internet or trusting second-hand platforms rather than buying fast-fashion copies.

“Honestly man with a lot of these brands your best bet is gonna be ebay or grailed …the cheaper alternatives either don't really exist or aren't the same”

“All these brands have enough output that you can definitely find stuff on the second-hand market”

• Grailed & eBay : Search for secondary market items from the brands listed above, or look for deals on Rick Owens' own diffusion line, DRKSHDW.
• End-of-Season Sales : Retailers like SSENSE slash prices deeply on avant-garde and dark-wear lines during their major seasonal clearance events.

If you want to narrow this down, let me know:

• Are you looking more for clothing/draping or footwear/sneakers?
• What is your approximate budget per item?

If what you love about Rick Owens is the dark palette, elongated silhouettes, oversized proportions, draping, and architectural cuts rather than the logo itself, you can get surprisingly close without spending $1,500 on a jacket.

Here's how I'd break it down by budget.

Under $150: the vibe without the luxury price

• COS – Clean oversized tailoring, wide-leg trousers, long coats, and heavyweight basics. Great for a minimalist Rick-inspired wardrobe.
• Weekday – Boxy tees, washed black denim, oversized outerwear, and relaxed fits.
• ARKET – More understated, but excellent for monochrome layering.
• ASOS DESIGN – Frequently releases draped tops, drop-shoulder pieces, longline tees, and exaggerated silhouettes inspired by runway trends.
• Zara Studio / Zara Origins – Occasionally produces architectural outerwear and wide-leg trousers that scratch the same itch.

$150–500: best value

These feel much closer in spirit.

• Thom Krom – One of the best "darkwear" brands. Longline tees, drop-crotch pants, washed fabrics, and muted colors.
• First Aid to the Injured – Minimal, draped, monochromatic basics.
• HAMCUS – More technical and dystopian than Rick, but similar experimental silhouettes.
• Manière De Voir – Surprisingly good oversized tailoring and modern proportions for the price.

$500–1,000: designer, but noticeably cheaper

• Julius – Industrial, monochrome, heavily inspired by dark avant-garde fashion.
• Boris Bidjan Saberi – One of the closest aesthetic cousins, though still expensive.
• 11 by Boris Bidjan Saberi – Slightly more accessible.
• Isaac Sellam – Incredible leather pieces with a similar sculptural feel.

If you can stretch a little

These aren't really "budget," but they're often less expensive than Rick Owens mainline:

• Ann Demeulemeester – Romantic, draped, poetic black clothing.
• Yohji Yamamoto – Oversized tailoring and masterful draping.
• Comme des Garçons – More conceptual but similarly avant-garde.

Don't overlook secondhand

Rick Owens has an unusually strong resale market, so you can often buy authentic pieces for the price of contemporary brands.

Look for:

• Grailed
• eBay (authenticated listings)
• Vestiaire Collective
• The RealReal
• SSENSE end-of-season sales

Many enthusiasts recommend buying a single authentic Rick piece secondhand—like a pair of DRKSHDW pants or a longline tee—and building the rest of the outfit with more affordable basics.

Focus on the silhouette

The easiest way to capture the Rick Owens aesthetic isn't necessarily by buying Rick-like brands. Instead, look for:

• Heavyweight oversized T-shirts
• Longline tops
• Wide-leg or drop-crotch trousers
• Cropped bombers
• Funnel-neck jackets
• Monochrome (black, charcoal, dust, off-white)
• Boots with chunky or elongated shapes

Those design choices create much of the signature look regardless of the label.

If you're shopping for menswear, I'd recommend Thom Krom and First Aid to the Injured as the strongest value picks. For womenswear, COS mixed with secondhand Ann Demeulemeester can achieve a very similar mood without approaching Rick Owens prices.