Who is Rick Owens wife, Michèle Lamy?
The fashion industry has been graced with a powerful couple: designer Rick Owens and eccentric entrepreneur Michele Lamy.
Their work — both for Owens’ namesake label and on joint collections of furniture— has become some of the most recognizable in the world.
Early life
Lamy was born in 1944 in Jura, France. Her grandfather made accessories for one of France's most famous couturiers, Paul Poiret. In 1979, Lamy moved to New York and later settled in Los Angeles, where she established a fashion line and ran two cult restaurants/nightclubs – Café des Artistes and Les Deux Cafés.
Career
In 1984, Lamy created a clothing line called Lamy and hired Rick Owens, who would later became her business partner, companion and husband. Rick worked for her for two years, initially struggling to understand her due to her "heavy French accent," Whether he was unable to comprehend her or eventually did, what’s clear is that he fell in love with the small, dark Frenchwoman.
In 2003, Lamy and Owens left Los Angeles for Paris, marrying in 2006.
The couple established their own fashion company, Owenscorp, in 2004.
In 2017, they featured in Lou Stoppard's book, where Rick remarked,‘I don’t think anyone would ever think of Michèle as a passive muse. I think that’s why she sparks people’s interest—because she doesn’t fit the typical role of a muse. I think it’s more “mate” than “muse.” “Mate” suggests you are doing something together.’
Lamy’s appearance is strikingly severe yet meticulously cultivated. Vintage rings pile high on her heavily tattooed fingers, a scribbled black line runs down her forehead, and dark makeup highlights her rugged features. Most notably, her smile reveals a partial gold grill. Though her bold style may seem unorthodox to some, this renaissance woman’s dedication to her various crafts and devotion to her talented spouse is undeniable, making her a remarkable role model for those who dare to be different.
Though many might describe her as an "artist,"she considers herself a storyteller.
What Lamy wants to do is use the formidable circle of artists, musicians, designers, philosophers, chefs, and even boxers around her to piece together an idea of where our lives are headed.