Paco Rabanne: Collection ‘83

The Manila Hotel was the venue of Paco Rabanne: Collection ’83, showing the spring-summer creations of the noted Spanish designer. He was from Basque, a region of Spain, but grew up in Paris.

Society writer Maurice Arcache described Rabanne’s dresses as ‘pure sensual creations’ and the fest were for ‘evening by virtue of the shimmering materials, metals, silk, silk in caftan styles, strapless with cutwork all over the bodice.’

Maurice added that the Rabanne professional mannequins were all from Europe, each girl with her own dramatic style and face. They are shown on this page.

The house of Paco Rabanne was also into perfume, chinaware, furniture and house accessories. Rabanne was an architect.

Before the fashion show at The Manila Hotel, Maurice had a chance to talk to Rabanne…in Spanish and French. The designer spoke English but he disliked the language being ‘barbaric.’ Asked what he taught of Yves Saint Laurent, his stern answer was: ‘He and Nina Ricci are the worst designers as far as I am concerned. They are nothing but copiers.’ He said, ‘Pierre Cardin and Courreges are the best! They create, they inspire, and they are always ahead of their time.’

In the book Star Style by Patty Foz, it was disclosed that in the Audrey Hepburn film Two for the Road, director Stanley Donen rejected Hubert de Givenchy in favor of Paco Rabanne and Mary Quant. Audrey refused more than 76 dresses and settled for 23. When the film was shown, the actress was sporting a totally new look: clinging jersey mini dresses in frenetic stripes and vibrant colors. — RKC