MODELS WITH GOLD AND SILVER METAL DRESSES: WHITE DRESS AND CAPE: GOLD TRIMMED DRESSES: METAL-STUDDED DRESS; PINK FEATHERED MINI-DRESS: METALLIC MINI WITH CLEOPATRA HEAD-DRESS.




Initials PW/V/MR/EEH



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Background: PACO RABANNE, THE PARIS DESIGNER WHO PREFERS TO CALL HIMSELF AN ENGINEER RATHER THAN A COUTURIER, KEPT TO THE METAL LOOK WHEN HE PRESENTED HIS AUTUMN AND WINTER COLLECTION IN PARIS TODAY.

HIS MODELS CLANKED INTO VIEW WITH STAINLESS STEEL, ALUMINUM, GOLD AND SILVER METALS FASHIONED INTO GOWNS WITH BRIEF SKIRTS AND THE OCCASIONAL SEE-THROUGH BETWEEN THE CHINKS.

IT WAS RABANNE WHO SET THE TREND WITH METAL EARLIER IN THE YEAR, AND TODAY'S SHOW CONTINUED THE TREND. EVEN HIS DRESSES IN MORE CONVENTIONAL MATERIALS WERE OFTEN TRIMMED WITH METAL STRIPS.

SKIRTS WERE CONSISTENTLY SHORT -- THIGH LENGTH -- AND MANY WERE SEE-THROUGH.

HOWEVER, RABANNE DID ALLOW THE OCCASIONAL NON-METALLIC GOWN - AND MANY CHOSE FEATHERS FOR MOST OF THEM.

ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SHOW WAS A METAL DRESS WITH A MATCHING METAL-STRIP HEAD-DRESS, CLEOPATRA STYLE.