Fashion And Model: Runway Report: Paris Fashion Week Spring 2012--Paco Rabanne

Viva Paco!

Paco Rabanne Spring/Summer 2012

Last week, the House of Paco Rabanne showed its first Pret-a-Porter/Ready-to-Wear runway show in a long time. It was a much-anticipated fashion event, even for the jaded Paris Fashion Week crowd.

Manish Arora, Creative Director of Womenswear Collections, Paco Rabanne

The Puig fragrance-and-fashion brands-owned powerhouse hired India-born fashion designer Manish Arora to bring "life" into the Paco Rabanne fashion brand. Arora is famous for his extreme and very directional designs. He's like the "Alexander McQueen of India". So, it make sense that he was chosen. The show? AMAZING!

If you know your fashion history--and you should!--Spanish-born Couturier Paco Rabanne was one of the 1960's Couturiers--like Pierre Cardin--who turned the entire fashion world upside down with his chain-link and metal space-age dresses (above photo). Cut to Spring/Summer 2012--Manish Arora sent out a bevy of sexy dresses and skinny pant looks, filled with all the metal to make Rabanne blush.

Paco Rabanne Spring/Summer 2012

Tight mini dresses with strong shoulder definitions as well as hip-enhancing shapes were abundant. Lots of sequins as well, in studded jackets. Milliner DIVA Philip Treacy created the amazing saucer hats on display and Nicholas Kirkwood designed the crystal-encrusted pumps.

Paco Rabanne Spring/Summer 2012

The Finale was NOT TO BE MISSED: A parade of GORGEOUS black models--from Sudan, Martinique, the UK, France--in the most extravagant creations with the undeniable Paco Rabanne stamp! Paco Rabanne was one of those rare Couturiers who worshiped the Black Woman and used black models in many of his shows and so it was wonderful to see the new Creative Director Manish Arora continue this tradition:

The Finale: