Paco Rabanne's Impractical & Outrageous Dresses: A Look Back (PHOTOS)

French designer Paco Rabanne burst onto the fashion scene in the early '60s with his plastic jewelry but by the end of the decade, the supposed enfant terrible had created a collection of dresses dubbed "the Unwearables," opened his own atelier and dressed Jane Fonda in "Barbarella."

Impracticality seems to be an idea that underlined Rabanne's entire career until his formal retirement in 1999 (although he has done some collaborations and fragrances since) -- his dresses certainly weren't made to sit down in, and one might argue that his birdcage neck brace is just a bit much for the average night on the town. But his over-the-top creations are what won over critics...and us, of course.

Take a look back at Paco's impractical designs:

Jane Fonda as "Barbarella" in 1968

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Jane Fonda as "Barbarella" in 1968

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Jane Fonda as "Barbarella" in 1968

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Comments

[caroline gray]

06:30 PM on 11/09/2010

I've always loved this guy, big inspiration to me as a teenager.

[ibnewshawk]

09:40 PM on 11/07/2010

Paco Rabanne certainly has imagination!

[Linda Williams]

09:26 PM on 11/07/2010

Will this be a sit down dinner?

[rubygreen]

12:25 PM on 11/07/2010

Lady Gaga could take some lessons. Paco is King.

[PaticaDeGato]

02:07 PM on 11/07/2010

Lady Gaga has nothing on Monsieur Rabanne. Indeed, when it comes to Shock Fashion, she is a dilettante at best.

[LemonGrass2]

02:31 AM on 11/07/2010

I loved Paco Rabanne ever since I was a kid. He rocked then, and he still does. He should have been a superstar designer. Jason Wu and the like have NOTHING on him!!

[JaneDoeHere]

12:49 AM on 11/07/2010

Ahhhh- born for Lady Gaga

[wolfiegirl]

11:24 PM on 11/06/2010

I've seen Edwina Monsoon march down her kitchen steps in at least 3 or 4 of these.

[Dantee]

08:29 PM on 11/06/2010

I've never understood the 'fasion shows' and the ridiculous outfits they use in those shows because those are not the styles that go to market! What is the purpose of the shows and why must they be so bizarre? Is it just a private party that is filmed for our intertainment?

[lightist]

07:13 PM on 11/06/2010

It's easy to look at these inspired pieces and feel the greater degree of liberated creativity in the commercial world. Face it folks, at least those who were not old enough to experience what was happening back then, the spirit in the air, things were really jumping, creators were truly on fire. It was a great time for greatness to happen. I wish upon wishing that that kind of liberated energy would visit upon us again. It's time for it.

You wanna know why? I'll tell ya anyway. The commercial and creative atmospheres are stifling, boring, repressive, dull, insanely commercially stupid beyond measure. We are living in a time when idiots rule and dumb everyone else down.

It's time for us, the people apart from the stifling influences of "backward leaning people" to learn from the real and living spirit of those who came along in the 60's and changed the world for the lots and lots better, and to absorb what inspired them. They had their finger on the big pulse. Now we have our finger on the pulse of the contemporary corpse. Come on sleepers. Wake up and do great things again. Show the world that the creators are the ones who really lead the way.

[right Alice]

07:17 AM on 11/09/2010

Well said. It will come again. We're just going thru Corporate Faceless Era.

[lightist]

02:14 PM on 11/09/2010

Thanks, right Alice (like your moniker). I already fanned ya so I guess it's time to favorite you.

[gguy]

06:06 PM on 11/06/2010

I don't know what the outfits showed in the slide show from 1970 are made of, but they look like they could be shown today.

[JR Jake]

05:16 PM on 11/06/2010

who cares about Paco Rabanne's dresses maks a good men's cologne though: pour homme.

[mazaza]

04:30 PM on 11/06/2010

Totally wild creativity. No bounds. There is a lot of joy in that.

[PlutocratsSuck]

04:08 PM on 11/06/2010

Far out man!

[blitznstitch]

04:03 PM on 11/06/2010

"Move! Out of my way! Walking Chandeliers coming through!"

[Alba Tuninetti]

02:46 PM on 11/06/2010

I feel like Lady Gaga should look to him for future designer costumes...