Vintage Yves Saint Laurent YSL Passementerie Gold Nugget Beads Tassel Belt

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 as mundane. This macramé belt is an example of his design genius. Macramé, which involves knotting fibers—rather than weaving or knitting them—to make fabric and trims, dates back to ancient times. In the Seventies, however, the art form had become kitsch as hippie culture popularized it and patterns became available to the masses. 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, bejeweled and macraméd belts hand-finished by France’s storied passementerie makers. The runway show revived a taste for excess and made passementerie details a brand signature.

This passementerie belt is crafted from teal cords that are braided into a diamond pattern. Each diamond encloses beadwork of gold nuggets (some etched with designs) in various sizes. Finishing the sash are gorgeous tassels that are made robust by unraveling the six finishing cords and embellishing the singular strands from them with additional gold nugget beadwork. It’s a piece with timeless boho chic appeal for the fashion lover or collector.

Measurements:

Size estimate: One size fits most

Full belt length: 60 inches

Detailed belt length: 29 inches

Tassels: 5.5 inches each

This vintage Yves Saint Laurent passementerie tassel belt is in excellent condition. It is handmade in France from teal cords macraméd into a pattern of diamonds. Within each diamond shape is beadwork of gold nuggets—some etched with designs—in various sizes. The detailed part of the sash coalesces into six strands and then 5.5-inch tassels.

The tassels also feature gold nugget beadwork. 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.