#Repost @rachel.elspeth.gross ・・・ Today’s Inspiration: Paco Rabanne Paco Rabanne, who “Salvador Dalí simply called him the second genius of Spain,” designed distinctive, innovative haute couture that stood out in the era of Space Age chic. When Chanel said that Rabanne “was not so much a couturier but a metalworker,” it was snide, but Rabanne was using metal wire and plastic to “push the boundaries of acceptable clothing to wear on the street.” In 1979 he released Métal “a fragrance for young women who adore metal accessories.” He had a flighty reputation, which he didn’t help by making some wild public claims about his spiritual beliefs. Born outside San Sebastián, Spain in 1934, mom was chief seamstress at the Spanish Balenciaga atelier. Dad, a Colonel, was executed by Fascists during the Spanish Civil War. They became refugees in 1939 when they fled to France “where he [first] assumed the name Paco Rabanne.” Rabanne got an architecture degree from Ecole des Beaux Arts in 1964, covered the costs of his education by designing ostentatious costume jewelry (and buttons!) “for Givenchy, Dior and Balenciaga.” In 1965, at 30, he presented a collection of dresses he called “Manifesto: 12 unwearable dresses in a row; contemporary materials,” which included his first plastic dress. Rabanne “eschewed needles and thread for pliers.” His couture runway shows used music (which simply wasn’t done when he started the practice) and featured models of color. Rabanne showed his first couture collection in 1966, “complete with hair by Vidal Sassoon,” and then opened a boutique in 1966, “where he earned international repute for his metal-linked plastic-disc dresses, sun goggles and jewelry made of plastic.” Peggy Guggenheim was one of his most faithful, and first, clients; Donyale Luna, arguably the first Black supermodel, was a muse. Rabanne sold “Paco’s Sewing Kit” for DIY enthusiasts to remake one of his pieces at home (I need one, BADLY). He won the Golden Thimble in 1989, published a book of his spiritual beliefs in the 90s and retired in 1999. In 2005, an exhibition of his drawings was held in Moscow. He was made an Officer of the Legion d’Honneur in 2010. Rabanne's death was announced yesterday. https://www.instagram.com/p/CoRFqyEudtI/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=