As an avid consumer and reviewer of clothing brands catering to young, trendy shoppers, I was keen to test out Rockstar Original. Known for their urban-inspired looks blended with laidback California vibes, I wanted to see if their products live up to the hype.
After extensive research and hands-on testing of some of their most popular items, I‘m ready to share my complete Rockstar Original review. Read on for a detailed look at their backstory, quality, sizing, costs and more to help you determine if their streetwear aesthetic is right for your wardrobe.
Origins of an Edgy Streetwear Brand
Rockstar Original was launched in the late 2000s by Frank Mechaly and David Mathey, two French fashion designers and entrepreneurs. The childhood friends have a strong background in the apparel world as co-owners of Starship LLC, a company specializing in premium denim.
They built on this success by founding Rockstar Original as an extension of their relaxed yet rebellious design aesthetic. The Los Angeles-based brand focuses on creating sustainably-made clothes representing the laidback confidence and individuality of the city.
As creatives with their fingers on the pulse of youth culture, Mechaly and Mathey produce collections speaking to what they call "empowered customers." These are people who want to make a statement and stand out from the crowd with their clothing choices.
Product Line Highlights
Rockstar Original has expanded from its denim roots to offer trendy streetwear options for men, women and kids. They‘ve also recently introduced some matching sets so the whole family can rock their signature urban look.
Here is an overview of some of their most popular current items:
Women
- Hoodie dresses – oversized and flattering with bright colors and graphics
- Tracksuits – velour and jersey material, perfect for lounging in style
- Jogger sets – relaxed cotton sets in neutral tones like olive green
Men
- Bomber and puffer jackets – sleek with multiple color options
- Graphic hoodies – tie-dye and bold prints made of soft cotton
- Distressed jeans – several fits like slim and skinny with unique details
Unisex Accessories
- Hats – logo caps and beanies
- Socks – colorful patterns and stripes
The brand offers extended sizing for most items, generally ranging from XXS-3XL so more body types can rock their look.
The Signature Rockstar Original Style
In analyzing the Rockstar Original aesthetic across their products, a few key descriptors come to mind:
Urban – The streetwear vibe shines through with pieces like oversized hoodies, bomber jackets and joggers. There‘s an urban edge while still being wearable.
Bold – Bright colors, graphic prints and sleek materials command attention. Their clothes help you stand out in a crowd.
Comfortable – They balance eye-catching details with soft fabrics. Most pieces seem to prioritize both style and comfort.
Rebellious – Ripped details, leather accents and graffiti-style logos give off punky inspo.
Overall the look straddles an intriguing line between chill and rebellious. The brand empowers people to reveal their inner rockstar.
Rockstar Original Reviews: What Do Customers Think?
Scouring through customer reviews on both their website and third-party review platforms, the majority seem very satisfied with Rockstar‘s clothing. They have an average rating of 4/5 stars.
Positive feedback includes:
- True to size fit
- Soft, quality materials
- Trendy yet classic style
- Items hold up well over time
- Great for layering
- Flattering cuts
Critical feedback centers around:
- Some items running smaller than expected
- A few complaints of items tearing/breaking after a couple wears
- Occasional shipping delays
However, even most negative issues seem to have been resolved by their customer service team issuing refunds or exchanges.
As an influencer frequently testing new clothing launches, I have pretty high expectations. Overall I’m impressed with the mostly glowing reviews and loyal fan base Rockstar has built.
Rockstar Original Pricing
This streetwear brand is positioned at the high end of mid-tier pricing. Their regular prices run on the steeper side, with graphic tees starting around $45 and hoodies at $89. Outerwear like leather jackets reach upwards of $200.
However, I discovered they run sales extremely often. I rarely came across items at full price while browsing. They offer sitewide discounts like 30% off along with constantly adding pieces to their Sale section.
Signing up for their email list and following their social accounts is wise for getting notified about all the latest deals and coupon codes too.
Considering the frequent promotions bringing costs down substantially, I found Rockstar Original to offer solid value for the quality. The products seem well-made with premium details that warrant the higher price tags.
Especially when buying during a site-wide 30% off sale, you can grab trendy streetwear looks at friendly mid-tier prices. Their sale section offers the best deals where you can snag tops and bottoms for $25-$35.
Sizing and Fit Guide
I always closely analyze sizing when reviewing brands, as finding your ideal fit can make or break your shopping experience.
The general feedback across thousands of customer reviews indicates Rockstar Original‘s clothing runs true-to-size for the most part. However, it‘s useful to keep a few categories in mind:
Tops
This includes hoodies, t-shirts and long sleeves. These tend to fit very consistently with just about every buyer saying they found their normal size in other brands to fit well. Rockstar‘s cotton tops don‘t seem prone to shrinking or loosening over time either based on customer photos.
Bottoms
The jeans and joggers also don‘t appear to cause sizing issues for most. They offer men‘s waist sizes from 28"-48" and standard women‘s numbering from 00-20+ so you can find an option suiting your build. One thing to note is some shoppers say certain skinny jean fits run smaller in the thighs/hips than expected so sizing up once is wise if you carry more weight in that area.
Outerwear
This category has more mixed feedback in terms of matching up with the size chart consistently. Several reviewers recommended ordering your jacket or coat a size up from your usual. Since the outerwear pieces tend to have a more generous, oversized fit to begin with, following the size chart may end up too small if you want room for layering underneath.
Matching Sets
Pay close attention to reviews on the coordinating lounge sets and joggers to see if they tend to run small/large compared to the listed sizing. Sets should theoretically be cut for pairing together but occasionally customers report issues with getting the top and bottom to fit.
So while Rockstar Original‘s size chart is mostly accurate, I suggest reading detailed reviews on the specific item you want to gauge the ideal fit.
Shipping and Return Details
One perk I discovered is Rockstar Original offers fast, affordable shipping options for domestic purchases:
- Standard – $7 for delivery within 7-8 business days
- Expedited – $18-20 for arrival within 2 business days
- Rush – $45 for next day delivery
They also ship internationally at reasonable flat rates calculated during checkout.
In the event you need to make an exchange or return, Rockstar Original offers a streamlined process:
- 30-day window for returns/exchanges
- Initiate claims via online portal within 3 days of delivery
- Refund will be issued as store credit
- Customer covers return shipping costs
I‘m pleased to see they have generous shipping timelines when so many brands are struggling with supply chain issues lately. Their affordable domestic rates and easy system for returns also stand out.
Where Should You Buy Rockstar Original?
At the moment you can only purchase Rockstar Original products through their website. The site makes it simple to sort items by gender, category and size.
Make sure to create an account for faster checkout and access to your order history. You‘ll also get exclusive discounts and early access to sales sent to your inbox which is invaluable.
In terms of other online presence, you can browse their latest offerings on social platforms:
- Instagram (@rockstaroriginal)
- Facebook (Rockstar Original Denim)
- YouTube (Rockstar Original)
Following them on social can give you a preview of items before release. But all actual orders must be placed through their website checkout as of now.
Down the road, I could envision their products getting picked up by major ecommerce retailers. Their strong branding and loyal Gen Z following seems ripe for getting featured on platforms like Revolve or Nordstrom. But buying direct through RockstarOriginal.com remains your only option today.
How Rockstar Compares to Similar Streetwear Brands
In my extensive fashion research, these labels most closely align with Rockstar Original‘s laidback streetwear vibe and price points:
Madewell
Similar aesthetic of comfortable, quality basics for day-to-day wear. Known for an effortlessly cool look pairing back with more rugged pieces. Pricing is almost identical especially during Madewell‘s frequent discounts. Madewell edges them out slightly on denim variety while Rockstar wins on graphic prints and sets.
Liverpool Jeans Company
Also LA-based focusing on premium denim along with casual tops and jackets. Liverpool is rockstar‘s parent company. Near identical branding and pricing but Liverpool has a wider selection of jeans washes and fits. Rockstar has more standout lifestyle pieces.
Neuw Denim
Eco-friendly label specializing in eye-catching jeans made sustainably. Comparable price points to Rockstar and known for their standout washes. Rockstar Clothing has a wider assortment beyond denim though. Great alternative for the sustainability focused.
While Madewell, Liverpool and Neuw share similarities with Rockstar Original, none fully deliver that bold streetwear look blended with the laidback SoCal vibe. Rockstar fills a nice niche fusing casual pieces with rebellious flair.
Final Verdict: Who Should Buy Rockstar Original?
Based on my extensive evaluation of quality, style, sizing, costs and more, I believe their target demographic fits:
- Gen Z and young Millennials
- Those wanting comfort with elevated basics – joggers, hoodies, jackets
- Seekers of streetwear style on a budget
- Fans of athleisure looks and coordinating lounge sets
- People aiming to build an everyday capsule wardrobe
I would not necessarily recommend Rockstar Original to:
- Strictly special occasion dressers over function
- Workwear focused shoppers needing business formal
- Luxe designers buyers with unlimited budgets
For the young, laidback fashionista wanting to make a subtle statement, RockstarOriginal delivers. Their clothes fuse an effortlessly cool vibe with just enough edge. Given their frequent discounts sweetening already fair prices, I believe investing in their staples makes sense.
While sizing inconsistencies pop up here and there, their easy returns process gives peace of mind to try new pieces.
So if you identify with wanting affordable streetwear basics exuding casual confidence, scroll through Rockstar Original‘s latest at RockstarOriginal.com. Sign up for their newsletter so you never miss a sitewide promo, either.
When reviewing brands catering to young, independent spirits like Rockstar Original, I keep an eye out for those capturing a unique aesthetic while making buildable wardrobe staples accessible. This LA label undoubtedly checks both boxes through melding urban edge with laidback comfort in an empowering way.
