A Rabanne X H&M collection is here just in time for party season. After months of speculation – rumours have been flying since early 2023, when the Mugler collection was first announced – the Swedish retailer finally confirmed its latest designer collaboration a few months back during Paris fashion week.
The ELLE UK office has been abuzz with discussions about the upcoming collaboration ever since the big launch party back in September. Rabanne x H&M was unveiled in the legendary nightclub Silencio; a starry bash that saw the likes of Jared Leto, Damson Idris, Irina Shayk, Ashley Graham, Iris Law and Elle Fanning in attendance.
'Where better to reveal a collection made for floor-filling moments than at an iconic nightclub? It was a joy to unveil the Rabanne H&M collaboration in Paris with our guests revealing the show-stopping potential of this versatile collection,' commented Ann-Sofie Johansson, head of design womenswear at H&M.
Rabanne’s house codes are loud and clear in the lineup. Think liquid-like chainmail separates, sequinned sportswear, swirling intarsia knitwear, crystal-embellished twinsets, and statement dresses dripping in shimmering paillettes. If you're poised to purchase, browse ELLE's edit of the best bits now while you wait for that sweet 9am drop:
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Rabanne X H&M Partywear
Party spirit has been deeply embedded in Rabanne's house codes since its inception. The label's pailette dresses are iconic (and won't date, we hasten to add). The best bit is: these H&M X Rabanne iterations retail for considerably less than the originals.
Rabanne X H&M Knitwear
We're thrilled to see nods to Rabanne's signature knitwear in this designer collaboration. We love the label's swirling 1960s-inspired intarsia looks and the fluffy, embellished Fifties-inspired twinsets inspired by the label's AW19 collections (and worn by Iris Law at the launch party).
Rabanne X H&M Accessories
If you'd rather dip your toe into the metallics trend, there are plenty of accessories to choose from in the lineup; from elaborate chainmail headpieces (for bold, Moloko Sing it Back vibes) to glittering skinny scarves and various Nano sequin clutches and handbags.
On October 24, H&M unveiled a campaign video to accompany the collection; a glittering exploration of light, energy and movement directed by Xavier Dolan. (The Canadian actor and arthouse filmmaker claimed to 'quit' the movie business back in June, so we're excited to see this new foray into fashion).
The short film is exactly what we needed to see of the upcoming collection. Rabanne established itself in the 1960s with its avante garde materials that felt like so much more than fabric. And these dynamic materials are designed to move – to shimmy, to slither and to glint iridescently in the light. If you ever needed proof that these metallic pieces were worth the price tag, Dolan's depiction of them bathed in half-light or submerged in water will have you instantly convinced.
This designer collaboration feels particularly significant give recent changes at the Spanish fashion house. First, founder Paco Rabanne died in February of this year, aged 88. Then, Creative Director Julien Dossena (who took over from the late founder when he retired back in 1999) reimagined the house simply as 'Rabanne', dropping the founder's first name that’s been with the brand since the 1960s.
The lineup couldn't be more relevant, given that metallics are the order of the day for AW23. And there’s no other label that epitomises this trend quite like Paco Rabanne. Strung together from metal and mirrored pailettes, the Spanish designer named his first collection of futuristic pieces '12 Unwearable Dresses in Contemporary Materials'.
In reality, these designs were lightyears ahead of their time (they still translate today), and they helped shape the space age aesthetic that soon became synonymous with the decade. Google Jane Fonda in the Barbarella (1968), Audrey Hepburn in Two for the Road (1967) or the glitzy Guard girls in the original Bond film Casino Royale (1967) if you need a reminder.
These intricately crafted dresses retail for around £3000 in today’s market. And while we think that any Rabanne partywear will go the distance in your occasion wardrobe, we’ll be the first to admit this is quite the investment. Enter: H&M, which has been democratising luxury fashion since the first designer collaboration dropped back in 2004.
Over this near-20 year span, we’ve seen the Swedish retailer team up with greats such as Stella McCartney, Versace (another lineup featuring beautiful chainmail creations), Maison Margiela, Comme des Garçons, Balmain, Lanvin and Simone Rocha.
Never in two decades has any of these collections included interiors in their lineup, so Rabanne X H&M will be the very first. Reflecting the rise and rise of H&M Home, you can expect to see architectural vases and homeware accessories in certain markets once the collaboration drops.
The Rabanne X H&M collection – which is all about high-octane glamour – is perfectly timed, given that Christmas and New Year's Eve are just around the corner.
Abigail Southan is our Senior Fashion Ecommerce Editor and has five years' experience as a writer and editor in the industry. Abigail has a BA in History from the University of Bristol and an MA in Fashion Journalism from Central Saint Martins. Abigail currently covers all things style and shopping across titles including Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE, Esquire and Red. On a daily basis, she helps readers buy better with how-to-wear guides, first-person product reviews and deep dives into the latest trends. Previously, Abigail has worked for The Sunday Times’ Style and Fabulous magazine as their first ecommerce writer and was a founding editor of Sun Selects. She has also written for Net-a-Porter, I-D, Man About Town, Wonderland and 1 Granary, and has interviewed the likes of Paris Hilton, Dua Lipa and Christopher Bailey. You can follow Abigail on Instagram at @abigailsouthan.
