Yves saint Laurent Black Passementerie Gripoix Hearts Clutch / Belt Bag YSL

The suit, the safari jacket, the peasant dress—Yves Saint Laurent was a master at seeing the high-fashion potential of that which others might have dismissed. This passementerie purse is an example of his design genius. Passementerie, the art of making elaborate trimmings such as galloon, gimp, tassels and fringes, flourished from the sixteenth century when guilds were first established in France to the early-twentieth century.

On clothing and furniture, these handcrafted embellishments were a sign of wealth and rank. With modernity, however, they fell out of favor and became passé. Yves Saint Laurent turned that perception on its head. For his fall/winter 1976/1977 Russian-themed collection, which was inspired by the ornamental beauty of Léon Bakst’s costumes for the Ballet Russes, he accessorized the lavish looks with tasseled and braided belts hand-finished by the storied passementerie makers. The runway show revived a taste for excess and made passementerie details a brand signature.

The half-moon shape of this mini passementerie bag is crafted from lustrous black cord interlaced to form its exterior. A variety of gold and Gripoix hearts bejewel the flap closure. The back of this clutch has two belt loops if you would like to slide this on to your belt and go hands free. Pair this special piece with evening wear or use it as a belt bag on the weekends.

Measurements:

Width: 8 inches across top

Height: 5.5 inches

Depth: 1 inch

This vintage Yves Saint Laurent passementerie purse is in very good condition, with an area of irregularity to the weave which can be seen in image #3. A gold logo pendant dangles from its side. High-quality vintage pieces like this are yours to live in and love while increasing in value every year. It’s never too soon to start collecting them, as an investment in your wardrobe—and in yourself.