Vintage Yves Saint Laurent Russian Collection Passementerie Tassel Belt 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 belt 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.

This passementerie belt is beautifully crafted from cords of olive, chartreuse green, and teal blue. The wide sash alternates the colors in stripes, long chords end in robust tassels. It’s a piece with timeless boho chic appeal for the fashion lover or collector.

Size estimate: M

Measurements:

Length 30.5 inches (not including rope and tassel)

Width: 2 3/4 inches

Rope and Tassel length: 48 inches on longer side and 23 inches on the shorter end.

This vintage Yves Saint Laurent passementerie belt is in excellent condition. The belt interior includes a gold metal etched Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche logo plate. 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.