The following story was published in Inquirer RED’s June-July 2022 issue and has been edited for length and clarity.
The mini-skirt is having a moment. It’s returned from the throwbacks to the catwalk as our sartorial curiosities are still basking in the glory of the ‘90s and Y2K. Many luxury houses have presented their mini-skirt archives for the “look at me now” generation. When it comes to eye-catching, only a few of them do it like Paco Rabanne.
That this Mini Skirt with Circular Mirror-Effect Discs is placed under the Essentials category of Paco Rabanne tells you much of what you need to know. It is a statement piece paired down with a basic white t-shirt and your best heels. You may also wear it with your boots and beloved leather jacket for that ‘80s vibe. It belongs to the club, but it wouldn’t be out of place at the beach with a bikini top for outdoor cocktails. Wear it with your bodysuit and a blazer and it still works. If you want to make it more casual, it goes well with white sneakers and a rock band shirt.
Made of plastic and brass, the skirt is made of circular silver discs connected by metal rings, the skirt is quintessential of the brand. Francisco Rabaneda y Cuervo or Paco Rabanne, as he established himself in the ’60s, was fascinated by the concept of creating garments out of sculptural materials. One of his most definitive looks is the metallic paillette dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in the film, Two for the Road.
Rabanne moved from Spain to France with his mother, who was a sewer for Balenciaga, to escape Spanish Civil War. He trained as an architect and used that know-how for avant-garde accessory design. Current creative director of Paco Rabanne Julien Dossena describes the founder’s spirit best, “When I think of Paco Rabanne, I don’t think retro – I think revolution, rebellion, and renaissance.
