What do you get when you put Jane Fonda, Paco Rabanne, and a sexually charged comic book together? That’s right folks – Barbarella! On a mission to find the missing scientist Durand Durand who had invented a machine that makes you die from pleasure, Barbarella (Jane Fonda) stylishly tries to defeat the bad guys and stop the weapon from getting into the wrong hands. While the movie is entertaining the greatest part of it are the fabulous costumes by Paco Rabanne that Barbarella sports.
Original Cover of the graphic novel
The original comic strip was created in 1962 in France and written by Jean-Claude Forest. Foreseeing the arrival of the sexual revolution Forest wanted to make his own commentary on the sexual freedom of individuals. The French magazine, V-Magazine, published the individual strips until 1964 where they were put together for one book, also known as a graphic novel for those of you who aren’t comic nerds (don’t worry though you are still a chic geek to me).
The graphic novel sparked much conversation in the French world about the erotic ideals the comic was portraying. Barbarella was known as an ‘adult comic book’ despite the fact that it was not the first of its kind and by far not the worst. On a side note America had already published from the 20’s to the 60’s an actual pornographic novel called the Tijuana Bible. Who knew America at one time was more risque than France (but that is a whole other post).
I’m sorry, but I totally want this leotard. I mean a pair of tights, great heels and a sharp, enough blazer- come on, kind of an awesome/ risque outfit (I can dream I can pull is off, right?)
The original character was said to be modeled after Brigitte Bardot, but it was Jane Fonda who perfectly played in the role in the 1968 film, directed by her husband at the time, Roger Vadim.
Architectural Transparency Dress
Gold plate unitard that was an original design from Paco Rabanne. I’ll take one, thank you!
Jane Fonda portrays the wild heroine in numerous outfits full of sheer materials, metallic plates, and of course uni-tards. I feel that it would be hard to travel from planet to planet in these seemingly heavy yet non existent costumes and of course with thigh high boots, but to each their own. Paco Rabanne was already known for using nontraditional materials and experimenting with the structure of a garment. He would commonly use aluminum, Rhodid (a rigid plastic), and even pieces of scrap metal. He was able to bring the controversial character to life by not shying away from the story’s pr0vacativeness, but embracing it and bringing it into the new modern era.
Chic Geek Speak 