With sleek silver packaging and an ‘of now’ name change – Rabanne, and only Rabanne – there’s less than four weeks to wait until another fashion house’s cosmetics is shoppable
News first hit headlines about Paco Rabanne’s imminent launch into cosmetics some time back, with WWD reporting on the Puig-owned brand’s news in a June-published scoop. Two months on, the brand is finally going to be seen on the walls of one of London’s most prestigious beauty halls, housed in very Paco Rabanne silver packaging.
It’s all part of a re-brand at the Spanish heritage house, in a statement it said: ‘On the eve of its 60th anniversary, Paco Rabanne becomes Rabanne. Simplified and more international in spirit, the name change to ‘Rabanne’ represents a pivotal moment for the maison as it celebrates a decade of remarkable growth and looks forward to shaping a new future uniting fashion and beauty as a one unique signature and lifestyle.’
Beauty isn’t worlds away for the Rabanne brand, which has had a firm hold over the scent industry since the 1970s – from its first release Calandre to its 2008-gold-encrusted 1 million, we’ve all had a spritz of the house’s fragrance at some point. However, its launch into cosmetics plunges it into the future with 90, gender-free SKUs, including lipsticks, foundations and eye colour.
The person at the forefront of the rebrand? Diane Kendal, the brands first Global Beauty Creative Director. She was tasked with packing up Paco Rabanne’s space-age femininity and sending it into 2023 – and, she’s seemingly done just that.
Duo and quad eyeshadow palettes and paints made up of metal hues and glitters sit alongside a three step mascara routine, undoubtedly designed to make the wearer take that extra time compiling their eye look. Whereas, the skin and lip offerings are more pared-back and offer high-impact colour pay off combined with moisture so that they can be built up or blotted.
But, where the collection comes into its own is its ‘Arts Factory’ line, which takes the line’s overarching metallic narrative to the next level. ‘Shimmer bomb’ is a very un-Claire’s Accessories glitter spray which is designed to be apply as a thin veil over a finished look – think a Studio 54 setting spray. The line also features a loose glitter and two types of easy to apply metal and glitter highlighters, that are perfectly designed to fit into you handbag.
Rabanne beauty will be available at Selfridges from September 1st.