2023-11-19 16:44:38
When Tom Ford released his Gucci winter campaign in 2001, the world’s eyes were on a belt. In contrast to his colleagues, who used entire looks to promote their collections, the image photographed by Terry Richardson only showed part of a male torso. The young man in the photo was dressed in faded jeans, and in his left hand he was holding the end of a wide belt with oversized, interlocking Gucci G’s. A very suggestive motif that said everything. Ford put everything on the belt – which, with its logo buckle, is still the Gucci brand’s best seller to this day.
The term “vintage belt” was probably first used in connection with that Gucci belt. The belt was made of leather that looked like it had been worn for years and had aged accordingly. New was suddenly out, and the casualness was doubly emphasized by the fact that jeans and belts had apparently been loved for years.
Bring on the vintage belt from Yves Saint Laurent, Miu Miu or Barry Kieselstein corduroy
Belts not only have the function of holding up your pants, but they also often replace a piece of jewelry and add zest to an outfit, even if the clothing is no matter how basic. You can also give items of clothing different proportions by wearing particularly wide belts at the waist or using belts with striking, large decorative clasps as an accent.
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Photo gallery
Spring 2024 preview: At Paris Fashion Week, the low waist was celebrated at Louis Vuitton and Miu Miu (from left).Imago/Avalon
The current belt situation at Prada and Gucci (from left).Prada/Gucci
Second-hand Hermès: vintage belts with authenticity checks are available from Vestiaire Collective.Vestiaire Collective
A vintage Yves Saint Laurent belt, available on Vestiaire Collective.Vestiaire Collective
Stars and their belts: on the left, cinema legend Barbara Stanwyck with a cognac-colored belt (circa 1944), on the right, Hollywood star Bette Davis painted black (1934).Cinema Legacy Collection/The Hollywood Archive/Imago & Everett Collection/Imago
In addition to the status-oriented classics with H-buckles from Hermès or the successors to Ford’s Gucci belts, there is also a wide selection of truly spectacular models on the second-hand market that made fashion history and are now making a comeback. For example, Yves Saint Laurent’s belts from the 70s: the wide, embroidered or tied waist belts are perfect for a reinterpreted bohemian look. With rhinestones and colorful stones, the Miu Miu belts from the early 2000s are still a hit today, and those who like something a little more “butcher” can go for studded Prada belts or the belts with sterling silver alligator buckles from Barry Kieselstein. Corduroy well advised.
It doesn’t always have to be Chanel
If you want to add glamorous accents, especially to dresses, you should buy a chain belt à la Coco Chanel. However, the originals are also a real investment in the vintage sector. In the 90s, however, many fashion brands released similar models and variations that can now be had for little money and achieve the same effect: Vintage Escada, Saint John or Rena Lange are also widely represented in German second-hand shops and you will quickly find them found it.
Anyone who has closely followed the last shows in Milan or Paris knows that a lot is happening in the middle. The trouser silhouettes with a high waist and a wider front almost scream to be crowned with a decorative belt and to attract attention with chic buckles.
#Cheers #belt