FEBRUARY 2024

DAZEDDIGITAL.COM — RICK OWENS TALKS WEIRD TRIPS, TECHNO & 2024 INS-AND-OUTS WITH SISSY MISFIT — FEBRUARY 5, 2024 — BY EMMA ELIZABETH DAVIDSON



THE DESIGNER AND RISING MUSICIAN LINK UP FOR A CONVERSATION SPARKED BY THEIR MEGA NEW DR MARTENS COLLABORATION

WHEN RICK OWENS FIRST JOINED FORCES WITH THE SUBCULTURAL BEHEMOTH OF A FOOTWEAR BRAND THAT IS DR MARTENS IN 2021, THE PARIS-BASED DESIGNER STIRRED THINGS UP ON SOCIAL MEDIA BY INCORPORATING A PENTAGRAM PATTERN INTO THE LACES OF HIS TAKE ON THE CLASSIC BOOTS. ACROSS SOME OF THE DARKEST CORNERS OF THE WEB, CLAIMS OF SATANISM WERE BLASTED WITH WILD ABANDON, WHILE GOSSIPY, RED-TOP TABLOID RAGS, AS THEY SO OFTEN DO, ALSO GOT IN ON THE ACT. FOR A GOOD FEW DAYS, HEADLINES WHIPPED UP A WAVE OF HYSTERIA, WHEN IN ACTUAL FACT, OWENS WAS JUST HAVING A BIT OF FUN. “DO PEOPLE REALLY BELIEVE IN SATAN?” HE ASKS ME WITH A WRY SMILE AS WE SPEAK OVER ZOOM. “I MEAN, IS THAT A JOKE?”

IN OWENS’ DESIGNS, BOTH ON THE RUNWAY AND WITHIN HIS EARLIER DMS COLLAB, THE PENTAGRAM IS USED AS WHAT HE CALLS “A GENTLE HECKLE” TO THE BIGOTS OF THE WORLD, AND A WAY OF BALANCING THINGS OUT. “INTOLERANCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE, AND IT’S NEVER GOING AWAY,” HE SAYS. “WHEN I USE PENTAGRAMS, IT’S ABOUT OTHERNESS. IT’S ABOUT CELEBRATING THE FREAK IN ALL OF US, OR THE YOUNG FREAKS OUT THERE WHO NEED SUPPORT AND WHO NEED ENCOURAGEMENT AND WHO NEED RECOGNITION.”

DR MARTENS MIGHT SIMILARLY BE A BRAND ROOTED IN SUBCULTURE, KITTING OUT THE FREAKS AND WEIRDOS OF THE WORLD – FROM PUNKS, GOTHS, AND GRUNGERS, TO SKINHEADS AND EMOS – FOR CLOSE TO A CENTURY, BUT IN OUR CAPITALISM-RAVISHED WORLD YOU’D PROBABLY EXPECT IT TO RUN A MILE AT THE PREMISE OF A SECOND COLLAB GIVEN THE SATANIC PANIC THE LAST ONE SPARKED. BUT INSTEAD, THE LABEL PUT ITS MONEY WHERE ITS MOUTH IS, INVITING OWENS BACK FOR ROUND TWO. NOW, HE’S FLEXING HIS DESIGN MUSCLES AS PART OF THE FIRST WAVE OF 14XX – A NEW INCUBATOR LAUNCHED AT THE BACK END OF 2023, WHICH FOCUSES ON INNOVATIVE, FASHION FORWARD DESIGN AND TECH.

THIS TIME AROUND, OWENS HAS CRANKED THE DIAL UP CLOSER TO 11, DEBUTING A TRUE STOMPER OF A STYLE. WITH A MASSIVE, HEAVY DUTY SOLE AND THE SIGNATURE ‘MEGALACE’ SYSTEM THAT LITTERS THE FOOTWEAR OF HIS MAINLINE COLLECTIONS – SERIOUSLY, DO NOT TAKE THESE OUT UNLESS YOU’RE DEEPLY SKILLED IN SHIBARI OR SIMILAR – THE DESIGNER REVEALED HE WANTED TO GO HARDER, BETTER, FASTER, STRONGER WHEN IT CAME TO REUNITING WITH DR MARTENS. THAT HE’D NEED SOMETHING SO HEAVY DUTY MAKES SENSE, SINCE, WHEN ASKED WHERE HE’D WANT TO WEAR THEM, HE REVEALS “TO DANCE NAKED IN THE WOODS AT MIDNIGHT TO SISSY MISFIT”. HIS KISS BOOTS MIGHT BE GREAT FOR POUNDING THE PAVEMENTS OF PARIS, BUT TRAMPING THROUGH MULCHY LEAVES AND CLAMBERING THROUGH THICKETS? PROBABLY NOT SO MUCH.

SISSY MISFIT, IN CASE YOU’RE WONDERING, IS THE STAR OF OWENS’ 14XX CAMPAIGN. THE ISTANBUL-BORN, LONDON-BASED MUSICIAN IS CURRENTLY LIGHTING UP DANCEFLOORS WITH HER EAR-SHATTERING, TOOTH-LOOSENING TECHNO SETS AND TRACKS LIKE “LULLABY”, AND CAUGHT THE DESIGNER’S ATTENTION ON INSTAGRAM. “ISN’T INSTAGRAM GREAT FOR THAT?” OWENS ENTHUSES. A DM SLIDE HAPPENED SOON AFTER, AND THE REST, AS THEY SAY, IS HISTORY – THE TWO FIRST MET ON SHOOT DAY AND IMMEDIATELY CLICKED CREATIVELY AND PERSONALLY. HERE, AS OWENS’ 14XX AND THE CAMPAIGN ITSELF GET THEIR DEBUT, THE DESIGNER HIMSELF AND SISSY MISFIT DIAL IN TO DISCUSS WEIRD TRIPS, WEARING KNOCK-OFF DMS, AND WHY ED BANGER SHOULD ABSOLUTELY SIGN THE RISING TECHNO STAR – CALL HER, IF YOU’RE READING XOXO.

SO FIRST OF ALL, RICK – WHY DID YOU ASK SISSY TO BE THE STAR OF THIS CAMPAIGN?

RICK OWENS: I REACHED OUT TO BECAUSE I WANTED TO CELEBRATE A RAW AND FEROCIOUS SELF-INVENTED ABANDON LIKE SISSY MISFIT, WHO BLASTS TECHNO WITH TRANS POWER. EVERY CREATIVE GESTURE IS A COMPOSITION OF CODES AND ASSOCIATIONS AND HOW IT’S PRESENTED. THIS IS JUST A SHOE. BUT IT’S A SHOE BRAND WITH A CERTAIN QUALITY SOMEHOW EMBRACED BY UNDERGROUND SUBCULTURE FOR A LONG TIME, ENDORSED BY A SLEAZY DESIGNER WITH A PISS-DRINKING HISTORY WHO USES IT AS AN EXCUSE TO ROPE A TECHNO TRANS JAGUAR TO CORRUPT THE WORLD. SOMEONE JUST ASKED ME ‘WHAT DOES THE 14XX MEAN TO YOU?’ AND I SAID “I JUST WANT [TO WEAR THEM]] TO DANCE NAKED IN THE WOODS AT MIDNIGHT TO SISSY MISFIT.”

SISSY MISFIT: I LOVE THAT! [LAUGHS]



HOW DID YOU TWO FIRST MEET?

RICK OWENS: I REACHED OUT TO HER ON INSTAGRAM – ISN’T INSTAGRAM GREAT FOR THAT? I JUST SAID “HI, RICK OWENS HERE, I’M A FASHION DESIGNER IN PARIS. WOULD YOU CONSIDER DOING SOME PICTURES WITH ME FOR DOC MARTENS?”

SISSY MISFIT: IT HAPPENED EXACTLY LIKE THAT! BUT OF COURSE I KNEW OF RICK AND RICK’S WORK BECAUSE I’M A GOTH AT HEART MYSELF – I’VE ALWAYS LOOKED TO DARK DESIGN, DARK DESIGNERS, MUSIC, AND ART. IT WAS SUCH A SURPRISE TO RECEIVE THAT MESSAGE!

RICK OWENS: I DON'T REALLY GO THROUGH PEOPLE. I'M A LITTLE OFFENDED WHEN PEOPLES’ SECRETARIES REACH OUT TO ME BECAUSE I WANT TO TALK TO SOMEBODY DIRECTLY. I FOUND A LOT OF PEOPLE ON INSTAGRAM THAT I'VE JUST REACHED OUT TO DIRECTLY. I REACHED OUT TO ANTHROMOPRH, I REACHED OUT TO SALVIA, I REACHED OUT TO FECAL MATTER, I REACHED OUT TO GENA MARVIN. THESE ARE ALL PEOPLE THAT I ADMIRE FOR CREATING SUCH A POWERFUL IDENTITY AND STICKING WITH IT AND COMMITTING TO IT. I'M ALWAYS SO IMPRESSED WITH THAT, I ALWAYS WANT TO CELEBRATE THAT, I ALWAYS WANT TO CELEBRATE SOMEBODY THAT COMPLETELY LIVES THEIR AESTHETIC UNAPOLOGETICALLY. I CAN SEE HOW IT CAN BACKFIRE WHERE PEOPLE ASSUME I'M A BIG COMPANY THAT'S TAKING ADVANTAGE OF YOUNG PEOPLE. I KIND OF GET THAT. BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, SHOULD I STOP? SHOULD I NOT DO THAT? SHOULD I NOT CELEBRATE THESE PEOPLE? IT COULD BE PERCEIVED AS A GIMMICK OR AS A STUNT, BUT THE MAIN THING FOR ME IS TO CELEBRATE CREATIVE JAGUARS, LIKE SISSY.



I DON’T THINK IT FEELS LIKE A GIMMICK OR A STUNT AT ALL, BUT EVEN IF IT WAS, IT’S STILL A GOOD WAY TO USE THE PLATFORM YOU HAVE TO UPLIFT YOUNG CREATIVES. SISSY, WHAT WAS IT LIKE WORKING WITH RICK ON THE SHOOT? :

SISSY MISFIT: RICK'S DESIGNS ALWAYS FELT SO MONUMENTAL AND KIND OF COLD WHEN I’D LOOK AT THEM ONLINE OR SEE THEM IN MAGAZINES. STEPPING ON TO THE SET TO SHOOT THE CAMPAIGN FELT KIND OF LIKE ENTERING A BRUTALIST BUILDING? HIS WORK GETS UNDER YOUR SKIN. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO EXPECT [WORKING WITH HIM] BECAUSE, AS AN INDEPENDENT ARTIST, I NEVER DID ANY WORK OF THIS CALIBRE BEFORE. I’D NEVER STEPPED OUT OF MUSIC, SO I WAS NERVOUS! BUT JUST BEING IN THE PRESENCE OF RICK AND HIS TEAM AND WORKING TOGETHER I FELT SO WELCOME – THERE WAS THIS WARM ENERGY YOU DON’T REALLY EXPECT WHEN YOU HEAR IN THE MEDIA AND FROM FRIENDS WHAT IT’S LIKE WORKING WITH BIG DESIGNERS AND FASHION HOUSES. IT WAS LIKE TWO FRIENDS JUST TALKING AND TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN EVEN THOUGH IT WAS OUR FIRST TIME MEETING.



CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE FIRST PAIR OF DOCS YOU OWNED?

SISSY MISFIT: WHEN I WAS GROWING UP IN TURKEY I WAS ALWAYS PART OF THE PUNK OR GOTH SCENE, SO WAS OBSESSED WITH DMS FROM BEING ABOUT 14 OR 15, BUT THEY DIDN’T REALLY EXIST IN MY COUNTRY – IT WAS ONLY KIDS WHOSE PARENTS HAD TRAVELLED TO EUROPE AND BROUGHT THEM BACK THAT WOULD BE WEARING THEM. SO MY FIRST PAIR WERE ACTUALLY KNOCK-OFFS THAT I BEGGED MY FATHER TO BUY ME FROM THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND SHOP IN TURKEY. MY FIRST REAL PAIR I DIDN’T GET UNTIL I WAS ABOUT 18 WHEN I CAME TO LONDON TO VISIT. I REMEMBER WEARING THEM AND BEING IN A LOT OF PAIN, BUT I JUST LOVED THEM.

RICK OWENS: I GUESS I MUST HAVE BEEN IN MY EARLY 20S BECAUSE I WAS LIVING IN LA. I’D JUST MOVED TO LA TO GO TO ART SCHOOL AND I GOT THEM AT THE STORE CALLED COWBOYS AND POODLES ON MELROSE. I DON'T REMEMBER THEM BEING THAT HARD TO BREAK. I HAD THEM FOR A LONG TIME – THEY WERE MY BASIC STAPLE AND THEY WERE THE ONES THAT LACED KIND OF HIGH UP THE ANKLE. I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, BUT ON CERTAIN GUYS IT'S ALMOST LIKE A CORSET. IF YOU HAVE MUSCULAR CALVES, IT KIND OF EMPHASISES THEM, AND I WONDER IF THAT'S PART OF THE APPEAL. THE CORSETRY ELEMENT OF THEM. AT SOME POINT, I CUT THEM A LITTLE BIT LOWER. I WORE THEM FOR A REALLY, REALLY, REALLY LONG TIME. I HAVE NO IDEA WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THEM.



RICK, YOU GOT A LOT OF SOCIAL MEDIA USERS, AND ACTUALLY ALSO THE PRESS, RILED UP WITH YOUR DR MARTENS COLLABORATION A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO – PEOPLE WERE FROTHING AT THE MOUTH ABOUT THOSE PENTAGRAM LACES, AS WELL AS THE ONES YOU PUT ON THE PANTS ON YOUR AW21 RUNWAY. WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THE FURORE?

RICK OWENS: I WAS DELIGHTED TO PROVOKE JUST THE PEOPLE THAT I WANT TO PROVOKE. USING A PENTAGRAM IS KIND OF LIKE A GENTLE HECKLE TO A POPULATION OR A SEGMENT OF OUR WORLD, THAT IS WHAT I CONSIDER BIGOTED, DISAPPROVING, AND INTOLERANT. PEOPLE USE THE WORD SATANIC ABOUT ME, AND DO PEOPLE REALLY BELIEVE IN SATAN? I MEAN, IS THAT A JOKE?

BUT I GET IT – PEOPLE WHO ARE CONSERVATIVE AND HAVE A CERTAIN SET OF VALUES THAT ARE VERY SEVERE IN JUDGING AND AFFRONTED BY ANYTHING THAT CHALLENGES THAT. I JUST THINK IT'S KIND OF FUNNY TO PROVOKE, BECAUSE THAT'S KIND OF BEEN MY MISSION SINCE DAY ONE. TO BLUR THE LINES OF WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE AND WHAT IS WHAT IS TOLERATED.

I WAS NOT TOLERATED AS A YOUNG SISSY, GROWING UP IN A SMALL CONSERVATIVE TOWN, AND THE RESPONSE TO ME WAS HOSTILE. WHEN I GREW UP, I ACCEPTED THAT KIND OF ATTITUDE AS PART OF THE GLORY AND THE DISAPPOINTMENTS OF THE HUMAN CONDITION. THAT INTOLERANCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE, AND IT'S NEVER GOING AWAY. BUT I CAN BE PART OF THE BALANCE OF THINGS. BY PROMOTING CHEERFUL PERVERSITY, I CAN BE PART OF MAINTAINING A BALANCE IN THE WORLD THAT OPPOSES INTOLERANCE.

THAT'S WHAT ARTISTS LIKE SISSY MISFIT DO TO BALANCE THE WORLD OUT, WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT THING. WHEN I USE PENTAGRAMS, IT IS ABOUT OTHERNESS. IT IS ABOUT CELEBRATING THE FREAK IN ALL OF US, OR THE YOUNG FREAKS OUT THERE WHO NEED SUPPORT AND WHO NEED ENCOURAGEMENT AND WHO NEED RECOGNITION. SO I KNOW THAT WHEN I USE PENTAGRAMS, IT'S A POKE. IT'S A POKE AT THE CONSERVATIVE AND JUDGING ELEMENT METHOD THAT WE ALL LIVE WITH, AND IT DOESN'T REALLY DO ANYTHING EXCEPT HELP MAINTAIN BALANCE TO ME. THAT'S ONE OF MY VALUES.



DO EITHER OF YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE CONSPIRACY THEORY – EITHER ONE YOU’RE SO INCREDULOUS ANYONE COULD BELIEVE, OR ONE YOU BELIEVE YOURSELF?

SISSY MISFIT: I DON’T REALLY BUY INTO CONSPIRACY THEORIES, BUT SOMETIMES WHEN I WIND DOWN AND RELAX I’LL SMOKE A SPLIFF AND START IMAGINING THE PLANETS ARE LITTLE BLOOD CELLS AND WE ARE ALL JUST GOING THROUGH THE VEINS OF A HUGE BODY. LIKE I’M JUST A LITTLE PARTICLE ORBITING A HUGE BODY [LAUGHS].

RICK OWENS: THAT SOUNDS REALLY HEALTHY TO ME, BECAUSE YOU'RE CONSIDERING YOURSELF AS A SMALL ELEMENT OF SOMETHING LARGER THAN YOURSELF, WHICH IS MODEST, WHICH IS REALISTIC. CONSIDERING THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND IT'S A COMMUNITY, I THINK THAT'S KIND OF LOVELY. THAT'S A CONSPIRACY I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH. I THINK THAT'S A GREAT ATTITUDE.

SISSY MISFIT: IT GETS SCARY WHEN YOU OVERTHINK IT THOUGH. LIKE, WHOSE BODY ARE WE IN?

RICK OWENS: WELL YEAH, THAT'S EVERYBODY'S BIGGEST FEAR. I FIRST TRIED EDIBLES DURING LOCKDOWN IN LOS ANGELES. MY MOTHER WAS ABOUT TO START CHEMOTHERAPY SO I HAD TO QUARANTINE FOR TWO WEEKS BECAUSE OF COVID. SO I WAS IN THE CHATEAU MARMONT BY MYSELF, AND I BOUGHT THIS BIG BAG OF EDIBLES WITH THE INTENTION OF SLIPPING SOME TO MY MOTHER – OTHERWISE SHE’D BE TERRIFIED, SHE’S AFRAID OF BECOMING ADDICTED TO ASPIRIN.

ANYWAY, I TRIED THE WRONG ONES – I THINK I GOT THE THC ONES BY MISTAKE – AND I GOT SO HIGH AT THE CHATEAU MARMONT THAT I THOUGHT “OH THIS IS WHY I DON’T SMOKE POT OR ANYTHING ANY MORE.” I’M ALREADY A PESSIMIST, SO WHEN I GET HIGH I JUST THINK ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT’S WRONG AND HAVE TO REMIND MYSELF “NO NO, YOU’RE JUST HIGH STUPID, PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER” OVER AND OVER BEFORE GOING DOWN ANOTHER DARK RABBIT HOLE AGAIN. I’LL HAVE TO TRY AGAIN, THOUGH, WITH THE OTHER ONE… CBD? I’VE BEEN BUYING CBD OIL IN ITALY BUT IT DOESN’T DO ANYTHING. SOMEBODY WILL HAVE TO BRING ME SOME GUMMIES FROM THE STATES OR BERLIN OR AMSTERDAM OR SOMETHING.

SISSY MISFIT: YEAH CBD IS MORE ON THE LIKE RELAXING SIDE AND THC IS MORE ON THE PSYCHEDELIC, HIGH SIDE.

RICK OWENS: I REMEMBERED WHY I DON’T DO PSYCHEDELICS ANY MORE IN LOCKDOWN ALSO. MICHELE [LAMY] AND I, DURING THE FIRST COVID LOCKDOWN, THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A NICE TIME TO REVISIT ACID AND MUSHROOMS. SO WE DID THAT IN THE GARDEN TOGETHER AND IT WAS ACTUALLY LOVELY. BUT THEN WE WERE ON ACID AND I REMEMBERED YOU CAN’T JUST STOP. AFTER A LITTLE BIT I'M KIND OF BORED AND I JUST WANT TO GET BACK TO NORMAL.



YOU’RE BOTH BIG INTO YOUR TECHNO, AND MORE BROADLY MUSIC IN GENERAL. WHAT ARE YOU OBSESSED WITH LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?

SISSY MISFIT:I'VE BEEN REVISITING THE BACK CATALOGUE OF ED BANGER RECORDS. I AM OBSESSED WITH ED BANGER. WHEN I WAS PLAYING A SHOW IN PARIS, I KEPT TAGGING THEM ON MY STORIES AND BEING LIKE “COME TO MY SHOW! YOU NEED A TRANS GIRL ON YOUR ROSTER, IT'S A BOYS CLUB!” I LOVE ELECTRO HOUSE. I’VE BEEN LISTENING TO IT A LOT RECENTLY.



DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE ED BANGER TRACK AT THE MOMENT?

SISSY MISFIT: I REALLY LOVE “DISMISSED” BY UFFIE.

RICK OWENS: I HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO UNICORN ON KETAMINE. IT'S JUST LOUD, OBNOXIOUS, AND DELIRIOUS. I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO THAT WHEN I WORK OUT OR JUST WHEN I WALK AROUND PARIS. BUT SOMETIMES IT’S THE ABSOLUTE OPPOSITE. I’VE ALSO BEEN LISTENING TO A LOT OF SHIRLEY HORN’S JAZZ – THIS REALLY SOFT, LOST LOVE, LOST YOUTH JAZZ. I HAVE IT ON A PLAYLIST CALLED ‘BOOZE’ THAT IS ALL TRAGIC ALCOHOLIC SOULS WHO'VE LOST LOVE – LIKE JUDY GARLAND SINGING “THE MAN THAT GOT AWAY”. I WONDER WHY I'M ATTRACTED TO IT AND THINKING “I WONDER IF IT'S JUST BECAUSE I'M GETTING OLDER” AND THERE'S THIS KIND OF THIS SENSE OF ACCEPTANCE IN THIS KIND OF MUSIC, THIS KIND OF GRACEFUL ACCEPTANCE THAT APPEALS TO ME RIGHT NOW. ON THE ONE HAND, I LIKE THIS VICIOUS PRIMAL TECHNO AND ON THE OTHER HAND, I HAVE GENTLE ACCEPTANCE. I THINK I NEED BOTH OF THEM.



ALL OCCASIONS COVERED. WE’RE MULTIFACETED! WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE TO PARTY RIGHT NOW?

SISSY MISFIT: THE DEFINITION OF THE BEST PARTY REALLY DEPENDS ON THE PERSON. FOR ME, THE BEST PARTY IS WHEN I'M WITH MY MOST LOVED ONES. I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE CLUB. I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE SETTING. I DON'T CARE ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING. BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT ISTANBUL WITH MY GIRLS WILL ALWAYS BE MY BEST PARTY, BECAUSE I FEEL MYSELF AND I FEEL THE MOST FUN AND LOVED AND SAFE WHEN I'M WITH THEM. I’M NOT A HUGE PARTYGOER, I DON'T REALLY RAVE THAT HARD, LIKE MAYBE ONCE A MONTH. SO I'M NOT SURE I CAN'T GIVE AN ANSWER LIKE “LONDON IS THE PLACE TO BE”, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT IS.

RICK OWENS: I MISSED YOUR SHOW IN PARIS SISSY, WAS IT GOOD?

SISSY MISFIT: IT WAS REALLY CUTE. I REALLY ENJOYED IT. I WASN’T EXPECTING A REALLY RESPONSIVE CROWD FROM FRANCE, I DON’T KNOW WHY.

RICK OWENS: PARIS DOESN'T HAVE THE STRONGEST YOUTH CULTURE TO ME. THE YOUTH CULTURE IS VERY SAFE FROM WHAT I SEE, BUT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE I GO TO A PARTY IN PARIS. I USUALLY TAKE A DISCO NAP AND WAKE UP AROUND TWO IN THE MORNING, AND I HAVE AN ESPRESSO AND THEN I GO BY MYSELF AND I ENJOY IT. I NEVER REALLY KNOW WHERE I’M GOING. I HAVE THIS GUY THAT I CALL MY CONCIERGE AND HE UPDATES ME. HE’LL SEND ME AN ADDRESS AND I’LL JUST GO. I'VE BEEN TO SOME REALLY GREAT THINGS. IT’S ALWAYS KIND OF ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF PARIS. THE LAST TIME I WENT OUT WAS LAST FASHION WEEK, TO CICCIOLINA. THAT’S ALWAYS A CUTE CLUB, IT’S A GOOD COMMUNITY. I GO AND I DANCE BY MYSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CROWD.

SISSY MISFIT: I LOVE THAT, I DO THAT TOO SOMETIMES. IT FEELS REALLY LIBERATING TO JUST GO TO A PARTY ON YOUR OWN AND STAND, SOAK IN THE MUSIC AND THE VIBE, AND JUST LEAVE WHENEVER YOU WANT TO.

RICK OWENS: PEOPLE ALWAYS ASK YOU’RE BY YOURSELF, YOU’RE NOT WITH A POSSE? NOPE, JUST GOING OUT FOR A DANCE.



SISSY, LAST TIME RICK AND I SPOKE, I ASKED HIM WHO WOULD PLAY HIM IN A MOVIE OF HIS LIFE AND RICK YOU ANSWERED CHER WITHOUT SKIPPING A BEAT, WHICH I LOVED AND THOUGHT WAS GREAT CASTING.:

SISSY MISFIT: YOU’RE KIDDING ME, DID YOU SAY CHER? THIS IS INSANE BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO SAY CHER. THIS IS A COSMIC MOMENT FOR ME RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I’VE BEEN LOOKING AT THAT QUESTION [SENT OVER AHEAD OF THE CALL], LIKE “WHO WOULD IT BE” AND I WAS THINKING CHER. SHE LOVES WIGS AND HAS A DISTINCTIVE FACIAL FEATURE.

RICK OWENS: SORRY, SHE’S TAKEN!

SISSY MISFIT: OK, MY OTHER ANSWER WILL BE ANGELINA JOLIE. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE HER TRY.

RICK OWENS: THAT’S GOOD, THAT WOULD BE BETTER.



MAYBE IT COULD BE KIND OF THE BOB DYLAN BIOPIC I’M NOT THERE -IN-REVERSE VIBES. CHER COULD PLAY BOTH OF YOU.

RICK OWENS: I’VE NEVER SEEN THAT, BUT I SHOULD. SOMEBODY GET WORD TO CHER’S PEOPLE.

SISSY MISFIT: I THINK SHE’D BE DOWN.



WHAT ERA IN HISTORY WOULD YOU MOST LOVE TO GO BACK TO?

SISSY MISFIT: I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY LATE 90S, EARLY 2000S, BECAUSE FOR ME, IN ART, MUSIC, PHOTOGRAPHY, THERE IS A SENSE OF IT BEING REALLY EXPERIMENTAL BUT CLASSY AND THERE’S THIS REAL ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND EXECUTION IN EVERYTHING. I’M OBSESSED WITH HOW THEY THOUGHT ABOUT THE FUTURE. I’M REALLY NOSTALGIC ABOUT THAT TIME AND EACH PIECE OF ART CREATED IN THAT MIDDLE ERA IS SO FASCINATING TO ME, I WOULD LOVE TO BE THERE.

RICK OWENS:: I WOULD DO THE 1930S, JUST BECAUSE I LIKE THE AESTHETIC. AS FAR AS PEOPLE’S RIGHTS AND TOLERANCE GO, IT PROBABLY WASN’T THE BEST TIME FOR THAT. BUT JUST FOR PURE AESTHETICS, THAT’S ALWAYS BEEN MY FAVOURITE PERIOD IN FURNITURE AND FASHION AND ART.



WHAT ARE YOUR INS AND OUTS FOR 2024?

SISSY MISFIT: IN IS JUST DOLL DOMINATION ALL OVER THE WORLD. TRANS GIRL SUPREMACY! OUT IS INFLUENCER CULTURE, ESPECIALLY IN MUSIC.

RICK OWENS: TOLERANCE IS IN, WAR IS OUT.