Paco Rabanne Rare
1960s French Day Dresses
Vintage 1970s Swiss Modern Wall-mounted Sculptures
Plastic
1960s French Coats
1990s French Skirts
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
Vintage 1980s Belgian Brutalist Dining Room Tables
Brass
Vintage 1960s French Modernist Drop Necklaces
Enamel
1970s French Belts
1960s French Cropped Jackets
Recent Sales
1960s French Structured Shoulder Bags
1970s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
1990s French Evening Dresses
Late 20th Century French Blazers
Early 2000s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
1960s French Accessories
1960s French Hoods
1960s French Top Handle Bags
1960s French Chemise Dresses
1960s French Jumpsuits
1960s French Handbags and Purses
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Dry Bars
Wood, Lacquer
1990s French Belts
Late 20th Century French Belts
21st Century and Contemporary French Belts
20th Century French Cuff Bracelets
Vintage 1960s French Dangle Earrings
1960s Italian Evening Bags and Minaudières
1960s Jackets
1960s Accessories
Vintage 1960s French Dangle Earrings
1970s French Suits, Outfits and Ensembles
1960s Shoulder Bags
1960s Clothing
1970s Italian Handbags and Purses
21st Century and Contemporary French Evening Bags and Minaudières
1960s Shoulder Bags
1970s Evening Dresses and Gowns
People Also Browsed
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses
1950s American Evening Dresses and Gowns
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary American Sofas
Bronze
1990s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
2010s South African Minimalist Night Stands
Poplar, Burl
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Brass
1990s French Bodices
2010s Bosnian Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Fabric, Beech, Velvet
Early 2000s French Blouses
1940s French Evening Dresses
1990s English Jeans
Early 2000s Italian Cocktail Dresses
1990s Italian Coats and Outerwear
1990s Italian Corsages
Vintage 1930s Italian Art Deco Beds and Bed Frames
Brass
Paco Rabanne Rare For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Paco Rabanne Rare?
Paco Rabanne for sale on 1stDibs
Visionary designer Paco Rabanne first made a name for himself in the 1960s when he introduced dresses, handbags and other clothing and accessories that went against the common sensibilities of the time and challenged the public's perception of what fashion should be. By working with unlikely materials such as paper and Rhodoid — a cellulose acetate plastic often used to line baking pans — Rabanne forced the fashion world to reconsider materials and form.
Rabanne was born Francisco Rabaneda y Cuervo in Spain’s Basque region. His mother was the head seamstress at Balenciaga when she relocated herself and her son to France in 1939 to escape the Spanish Civil War. Once in France, he took on the name Paco Rabanne.
Rabanne studied architecture at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris but pivoted toward fashion and began to design accessories and costume jewelry. Rabanne collaborated with many acclaimed luxury houses — his early clients included Charles Jourdan, Givenchy, Pierre Cardin and Dior.
By 1966, Rabanne was working on avant-garde designs in his own newly-opened studio. He introduced a couture collection titled “Twelve Unwearable Dresses in Contemporary Materials.” The garments — made of aluminum, plastic and eco-friendly paper and fastened with wire — were unveiled at a show that featured music and models of color (both uncommon characteristics for such an event). Sculptural, sexy and solidly Space Age in appearance, Rabanne’s experiments turned heads. Pop star-actresses Brigitte Bardot and Françoise Hardy would soon be seen in the designer’s iconic metallic dresses, and Rabanne found enthusiasts in the likes of revolutionary couturier Elsa Schiaparelli and art collector Peggy Guggenheim. In 1968 Rabanne designed leather boots and erotically charged dresses made of molded plastic and chain-mail mesh for the science fiction film Barbarella.
Rabanne called Salvador Dalí a close friend and drew on the Surrealist movement in his designs. He continued to use unconventional materials in his work. From aluminum jersey and fur to ostrich feathers and Velcro, everything was suitable for his pioneering garments. And Rabanne’s talents are diverse — his prolific output even includes stylish furniture.
In 1999 Rabanne retired from the fashion business. In 2010 he was named Officer of the Legion d’Honneur by the French culture minister. Today, under the creative direction of French designer Julien Dossena, the Paco Rabanne brand continues to innovate and offer looks that nod to the past as well as the future.
Find vintage Paco Rabanne clothing and accessories on 1stDibs.